Atherholt v. De Muth

14 Pa. D. & C. 573, 1930 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 301
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County
DecidedNovember 24, 1930
DocketNo. 5000
StatusPublished

This text of 14 Pa. D. & C. 573 (Atherholt v. De Muth) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Atherholt v. De Muth, 14 Pa. D. & C. 573, 1930 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 301 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1930).

Opinion

Smith, J.,

This action was instituted by a bill in equity, wherein the plaintiffs averred that Bernard MacMacMn, by indenture dated June 25, 1915, and duly recorded, conveyed unto Robert Ferguson, inter alia, a lot of ground, situate on the north side of Latona Street, beginning at a point 101 feet 6 inches east of the east side of Sixtieth Street, in the City of Philadelphia; thence extending north at right angles to Latona Street 101 feet 6 inches to a three feet wide alley running east and west from the west side of Fifty-ninth Street north of Latona Street; thence east along the south side of said alley 421 feet 71 inches to the west side of Fifty-ninth Street; thence south along Fifty-ninth Street 95 feet and I of an inch to the northwest side of Baltimore Avenue; thence southwest along the northwest side of Baltimore Avenue 11 feet and i of an inch to the north side of Latona Street; and thence west along the north side of Latona Street 478 feet 7! inches to the place of beginning, under and subject to conditions and restrictions that the land should not be divided into lots of less than a width of 16 feet in front, and that all buildings to be erected on the ground should front on Latona Street, excepting that three stores and dwellings, or store-flats, might be erected on the triangle formed by Latona Street and Baltimore Avenue; that the fronts on Latona Street should be finished generally as dwellings; that the store front doors or entrances must be on Baltimore Avenue; and that no buildings should be erected except private dwellings, except the three stores and dwellings, or store-flats, to be erected on the triangle; but the grantees, their heirs and assigns, were given the right of building stores and garages [574]*574on the portion of a lot included in the same deed, fronting on Baltimore- Avenue; that by sundry conveyances the land became vested in the plaintiffs; that dwelling houses were erected on the lots of ground and occupied as residences by plaintiffs or their tenants; that the conveyances to plaintiffs were subject to the restrictions; and that they are entitled to enforce the restrictions against all other owners of property constituting a portion of the tract conveyed by MacMackin; that there was conveyed to Reinhold Edelschein, one of the defendants, a lot of ground on the north side of Latona Street, beginning at a point at the intersection of the north side of Latona Street with the northwest side of Baltimore Avenue; thence extending west on the north side of Latona Street 45 feet II inches; thence north on a line at right angles to Latona Street 84 feet II inches to a point on the southwest side of Fifty-ninth Street; thence southeastward along the southwest side of Fifty-ninth Street 95 feet and 8 of an inch to the northwest side of Baltimore Avenue; thence southwestward along the northwest side of Baltimore Avenue 11 feet and Í of an inch to the place of beginning. That the lot bounded on the south by Latona Street, on the east by Fifty-ninth Street, and by the three feet wide alley on the north is strictly residential in character, and that it will be of great advantage to plaintiffs to enforce the restrictions; that the lot of Edelschein immediately adjoins the property of Margaret D. Atherholt, one of the plaintiffs, at No. 5903 Latona Street, and is in the immediate vicinity of the properties belonging to the other plaintiffs; that the defendants have commenced tearing down and removing the dwelling house erected on the lot belonging to Edelschein, to erect a public service gasoline and oil station; that work is proceeding, and, unless restrained, they will continue the erection of a public service gasoline and oil station, which, according to the plans, will cover a large part of the lot, and be of the character of such stations usually erected in the City of Philadelphia, consisting of a central building or office, with underground tanks for holding gasoline, and other tanks above ground for holding oil, and will consist of apparatus for pumping gasoline from the tanks and supplying it to motor cars; that the whole will be illuminated by brilliant lights at night; and plaintiff is informed that the. public service gasoline and oil station will be leased by the defendant, Reinhold Edelschein, to the Texas Company for the purpose of operating a public service gasoline and oil station.

It is averred in the bill that the operation of the public service gasoline and oil station at this location will be offensive, and that the construction will be of buildings prohibited by the restrictions contained in the deeds of conveyance; that it will be offensive by reason of the fact that a great number of automobiles and heavy trucks will stop there to procure gasoline and oil, horns will be sounded to attract the attendants’ attention to get service, and drivers will race their motors when starting and backing into place before the gasoline pumps, thereby making loud and disturbing noises; heavy trucks starting and stopping will cause serious vibrations to plaintiffs’ premises; lifting and dropping of heavy hoods and tools and the explosion of gas from the rear of machines will cause offensive noises; great quantities of fumes and noxious odors from burnt gasoline, oil, smoke and carbon monoxide will be emitted, annoying and offending plaintiffs; these continuous and annoying odors will be present by night as well as by day and make it difficult for persons in the same neighborhood, including plaintiffs, to sleep and secure rest in the rooms in the premises which face Edelschein’s premises.

It is further averred that plaintiffs served notice upon the defendants that the construction and operation of a public service gasoline and oil station at [575]*575this location will be in violation of the building restrictions, and that plaintiffs would seek legal means to prevent it.

The bill contains prayers for an injunction and for general relief.

Upon motion, after hearing, a preliminary injunction was issued, restraining defendants until final hearing from constructing on the lot No. 5901 Latona Street, or conducting thereon, a gasoline or oil station for the service of motor vehicles belonging to the public. Security was entered in the sum of $5000.

A joint answer was filed by the defendants, Edelschein and Edgar De Muth, in which it was denied that the defendants intended to or were violating the restrictions, and averred that the lot of defendants is not correctly described in the bill of complaint, but that it faces the southeast side of Baltimore Avenue and the northeast side of Fifty-ninth Street, and does not in fact face any portion of Latona Street and could not rightfully be regarded as a portion thereof; that it should be described as comprised within the area covered by the three feet wide alley, by the Cobbs Creek Parkway, and Latona Street and Fifty-ninth Street on the north and east sides, and by the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad on the south side, and by the line which would run through the west wall of premises Nos. 5927 and 5914 Latona Street, through Latona Street and Baltimore Avenue to the railroad.

It is denied that the neighborhood surrounding the property is residential in character.

It is further averred in the answer that the restrictions have already been violated in that the triangle formed by Baltimore Avenue and Latona Street, according to the restriction, should have contained three stores and dwellings, but now contains four stores and dwellings; that the buildings should have been finished generally as dwellings, but Nos.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
14 Pa. D. & C. 573, 1930 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 301, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/atherholt-v-de-muth-pactcomplphilad-1930.