205 N. 36th St., Philadelphia

205 N. 36^th Street

205 N. 36^th St. in 1961

(From: PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia Department

of Records, accessed Jan. 2, 2009).

The History of the Building

1878 Scott Atlas: George S. Gerhard

1883, July 7: Deed transfer registered from George Gerhard to Frederick G. Thorn (120, 352)

1883: Designed by Frederick G. Thorn of Wilson Brothers & Co. for his own family.

“Victorian red brick house with side entrance; original front and side wood porch. Red slate shingles face third floor. Pressed brick ornaments in front external chimney. wall which also has arcuated stained glass window. Circa 1940 one-story brick addition and garage to north”

(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the national register of Historic Places, 1985)

Previous Residents

1886 Directory (Fall, 1885): David C. Thorn, bricklayer

Frederick G. Thorn, Wilson Brothers & Co.

In 1870, they lived at 5 N. 32^nd St. In 1880, they were at 3519 Hamilton St. and the 1884 directory (Fall, 1884) lists them at that address.

1890 Directory: David C. Thorn, bricklayer, h 205 N 36^th [grandfather]

Frederick G. Thorn, architect, 1345 Arch, h 205 N 36^th [father]

Frederick G. Thorn, Jr., civil engineer [son]

1892, Apr. 21: Marriage of Anna Thorn to A. Waldo Stevenson performed by Rev. Thomas P. Stevenson, the groom’s father, at the home of the bride's parents.

1895 Directory: Lawrence Power (L. Power & Co.), h 205 N. 36^th St.

L. Power & Co. (Lawrence Power & John L. Murphy), machinery, 20 S 23^rd St.

Lawrence Power and Katherine Maginnis were married in Worcester, Mass. on May 10, 1870. In 1870 (July), they ages 32 and 23 and were living at 3418 Sansom St. He was born in Ireland. She was born in Mass. of Irish parents. Lawrence was a machinist. In 1880, they were living at 3261 Woodland (near Market). In 1891, they had moved to 3410 Race St. for a few years before here. He was a partner in L. Power & Co. with John L. Murphy. They were machine manufacturers located at 20 S. 23^rd St.

1897, Feb. 18: Death of Lawrence Power, 59 years old

1898 Blue Book: Mrs. Lawrence Power, Miss Katherine Power, and John A. Power

1900:

Katherine M. Power 52 Widowed, 7 children; born in Mass., parents born in Ireland; owner free of a mortgage

John A. Power 27 Wood working machinery; father born in Ireland, mother in Mass.

Katherine T. Power 25 Father born in Ireland, mother in Mass.

Thomas J. Power 22 Wood working machinery; father born in Ireland, mother in Mass.

James J. Power 20 Mechanical draftsman; father born in Ireland, mother in Mass.

Mary M. Power 17 Father born in Ireland, mother in Mass.

Lawrence C. Power 15 Father born in Ireland, mother in Mass.

Margaret A. Power 11 Father born in Ireland, mother in Mass.

Mary Obounor 21 Servant; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1897

Rose A. Mcgurk 29 Servant; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1889

Sarah G. Hinkle 36 Lodger; dress making

In 1910, James J. Power and his wife, Josephine K. Power, lived at 4242 Spruce St. They had been married for 5 years. He died on Jan. 16, 1919. He was 38 years old.

Mary M. Power married Daniel S. Eagen in 1906. In 1910, they lived at 315 N. 34^th St. with her brother, Lawrence, and sister, Margaret.

In 1918, Lawrence C. Power lived at 1815 Pine St. He married Mary S. Wilmarth in Philadelphia in 1920.

1904, Dec.: Marriage license issued to Bertha F. Sommer and Thomas J. Power of 205 N. 36th St.

He died July 7, 1939 when they were living at 4309 Chester Ave. He was 61. He manufactured wood making machinery.

1906 Blue Book: Mrs. Katherine M. Power, The Misses Power, and Lawrence Power

1909, Jun. 14: Death of Katherine M. Power, 62 years old, of 205 N. 36th St.; funeral at her late residence; solemn requiem mass at St. Agatha's Church; internment in Worcester, Mass. She was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Maginnis.

1914-1917 Directories: Marie F. Robb, apartments

1920:

Maud G. Barry 40 Widowed; mother born in MD.; renting

Robert Barry 15 Born in N.J.

Charles E. Asnis 30 [sic.] Lodger; civil lawyer; born in U.S. [sic.]

— next household

Houston Mason 22 Commercial salesman

Ruth Mason 20 Sister; born in Philadelphia as were parents

---

Herndon Sharp 40 Mechanical engineer; born in Va. [?]

Eleanor Sharp 35 Born in Louisiana [?]

Bruce Sharp 7 Born in Wyoming, father born in La. [?], mother in La.

---

Julia Kirk 57 Born in Philadelphia, father born in Ireland, mother in Philadelphia

Edna H. Kirk 26 Daughter; clerk

Catherine Gilpin 25 Lodger; teacher

Charles Edward Asnis was born in Russia, July 25, 1884 (different documents give 1883, 1884 or 1885). He was Jewish (his family spoke Yiddish). In 1900, he lived with his parents, Abram and Rebecca Asnis, at 816 N. 6^th St. His father was a cigar maker. He graduated from the Univ. of Pennsylvania in 1907. He received second prize in a debating contest in his junior year. In 1910, he was 26 and had been married 2 years. He and his wife, Eva, had a 7 month-old daughter and lived at 3215 W. Berks St. In 1912, he was still affiliated with Penn. In 1920, when he lived here, his wife and two daughters lived with her mother, Hannah Levin, at 1735 N. 32^nd St. In 1930, Charles and Eva lived at 5438 Arlington St. (Parkside) with their two daughters. Later, he was a member of the Pennsylvania Securities Commission, but was fired by Gov. Pinchot in 1932 for being a “monumental liar.” However, given the political climate in 1932, any such charge made against a Jew is highly suspect.

In 1900, Herndon Sharp lived in New Orleans. His birthplace was listed as S.C. His father was a schoolteacher. In 1910, he was living at Ft. McKenzie in N. Sheridan, Wyoming where he was a 2^nd lieutenant. He and Eleanor had been married one year. Her place of birth is listed as W. D. C. and her parents were born in Md.

In 1900, Julia Kirk was living at 3211 Race St. with her son, Howard (age 13), and Edna (6). She was still married, but not living with her husband.

< 209 N 36^th St. 201 N 36^th St. >.

Revised 8/19/2022

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