The building complex known as Workman Place consists of thirteen structures, six facing on the west side of South Front Street in the 700 block, and seven small houses to the rear surrounding a court, and often numbered 1 to 7 on old city plans. The site was acquired in 1740 by George Mifflin, grandfather of Thomas Mifflin, who was the first governor of Pennsylvania. The small buildings at the rear were used by George Mifflin’s servants. They cannot be dated precisely, although one can still see the glazed bricks in the gabled north wall, reading “G M” and 1748.

George Mifflin’s will of 1758 mentions a lot in Moyamensing Township between Front and Second Streets, with four small brick tenements. George Mifflin left the buildings to his son John who died the following year. The estate then went to his sons Thomas and George Mifflin, and eventually the properties were deeded by John F. Mifflin to John Workman, a lumber merchant from South Carolina. Workman proceeded to erect the three buildings at 742, 744, and 746 South Front Street in 1812-13. The other three Front Street buildings 748, 750, and 752 were probably built in the mid-eighteenth century.

The entire property was acquired by Edward W. Clark in 1909, and finally by Octavia Hill Association in 1942. There were no heating facilities when Octavia Hill took over the complex, and so they proceeded to renovate the buildings and rent them on very modest terms.  In 1961 the thirty-five units which had been fashioned in the complex were renting for an average of $40 per month.

Pemberton Street on the north was formerly known as Sheetz, and then Congress Street. Fitzwater on the South was known variously as German, Mead, and Merritt Street. Thomas Mifflin, the governor, also rebuilt Fort Mud into Fort Mifflin, another historic site located near Philadelphia International Airport.