203 N. 34th Street

The appearance of this house can be imagined

from the photo of its twin, 201 N. 34th.

 

The History of the Building

 

201-217 N. 34th St. were built on land owned by William Howell.  His house had the address 3311 Race St.

 

1969: The houses on the east side of the 200 block of 34th St. were slated for condemnation and demolition by an agreement between the Powelton Village Homeowners Association and the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. (see Powelton Quarterly, vol 1(1); pp 1 &3.)

 

203-217 N. 34th St. were demolished to make room for Drexel University’s Kelly Hall.

 

Previous Residents

 

1900:

Caroline H Woodruff *            46        Widowed, one child; owned free of a mortgage

Frank O Woodruff                  30        Son-in-law; secretary and treasurer of a corporation

Martha W Woodruff                26        Daughter; married 6 years, no children

Julie Morris                              47        Servant; single; born in Md., father in Del., mother in Md.

* Is her last name the same as her son-in-law’s?  His name is correct.

            1898-‘99 Blue Book list Frank O. Woodruff next door at 201 N. 34th.

            1895 Directory: Woodruff, Frank O. (Jno Woodruff & Sons), h 133 N 18th

                                      Woodruff, John Sons (J. Addison and Frank O.), printing inks, 1217 Cherry

 

1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. Charles F. Anck

 

1910:

Charles F Anck            39        Real estate “promoter;” married twice; parents born in Germany; owned with a mortgage

Rose P Anck                39        Own income; Married twice, 8 years in current marriage; mother born in Ireland

Dorothy J Anck           14        Daughter [of Charles]

Charles F Anck              7        Son

John H Anck                 5        Son

William Anck                 3        Son

Katie McDonnell         42        House [?] girl; single; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1882

Mary Phillips                32        Cook; single; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1905

            In 1880, Charles was 9 years old, living with his mother in his grandfather’s house, 1308 N. 5th St.  His grandfather, Charles F. Glading, was a butcher.  Charles’s father was born in Hesse, Germany, but was not living with them (he may have been deceased).  His mother was apparently born in Pa., not Germany (he corrected this in the 1930 census).

 

1920:

Phileman (?) A Hemsley          54        Doorman at a soap manufacturing co.; born in Md.; owner with a mortgage

Catherine Hemsley                  38        Wife; born in Md.

– 2nd household:

John P Yergey                          42        Railroad foeman

Annie N Yergey                       40

– Others are also listed as head of household (probably lodgers rather than boarders)

Mary M Patton                         38        High school teacher

Elsa Butz                                 38        Chief operator for telephone co.

Maude G Hopkins                   63        Single; born in Md., parents born in Mass.

John G Rodgers                       34        Works for maker of locomotives; born in Va.

<205 N 34th                                                                                                          201 N 34th >

Visit the Powelton Village Historical Interactive Map

Contact Us                                                                               About Powelton Village