The Fitler Focus

The Fitler Focus

Meet the Family Behind Fitler Square’s Iconic “Birdhouse” Home

Chris Dawson and Susan Harner are dedicated to keeping the legacy of the birdhouse collection alive. Susan’s mother, Mrs. Pat Harner, started it more than 20 years ago.

Jensen Toussaint
Sep 02, 2023
∙ Paid

If you walk down 23rd Street in Fitler Square, it’s hard to miss the “birdhouse house.”

More than two dozen birdhouses sit on the side of the house, creating a spectacle for those who walk by on a regular basis.

Susan Harner, who owns the house along with her husband, said her mother Pat started the birdhouse collection in the late 1990s. When Susan inher…

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Jensen Toussaint's avatar
A guest post by
Jensen Toussaint
I am a Philadelphia-based journalist and editor with a passion for writing.
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