The
History of the Building
“Second
Empire style double with stone facade over brick construction. Full-height first-floor
windows, porches removed. Mismatched porch scars, window heights, cornices,
roof angles dormer treatments. and slate shingle shapes suggest these houses
may have been built individually but faced together.”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
1867, Apr. 20: Title for 202-208 N. 36th St.
transferred to Henry DuPont et al. by Francis Lightfoot
Previous Residents
1875, Jun. 27: Title for 202-208 N. 36th
St. transferred from Henry DuPont et al.
to George S. Gerhard, by Trustees
Then immediately transferred to
Thomas D. Crispenn
Crespin
usually identified himself as a bricklayer, although he is listed as a builder
in the 1881 city directory. From at least 1856 until the 1870s, he lived at 116
N. 39th St. (which no longer exists) with his wife and seven children. In the
1870 census he declared $25,000 in real estate and $1,400 in personal property.
His younger brothers, James C. Crispen and Joseph Crispen, probably worked with
him. They were also bricklayers. In the late 1860s, Joseph lived at 34th and
Filbert Sts. He did not claim any real estate. Thomas Crispen
also apparently built 3400-3410 Baring St., 3509-11 and 3417-3421 Hamilton St. as
well as other buildings in Powelton. (The name was
variously spelled Crespenn or Crispenn.)
1878 Directory (Fall 1877): Darrow Marcus
H., Isaac W. Ranck & Co.
The
1874 directory lists him living at 705 Chestnut St.
1980 Directory: Taggart Martha, widow of
John F.
Taggart Edwin H., clerk
Scott Mary, widow of James W.
1880:
Martha Taggart 51
Edwin H. Taggart 27 Son; store
clerk
Eliza Taggart 77 Mother-in-law;
born in N.Y., father in N.Y., mother in Conn.
Sarah Newell 78 Mother
Bridget Ginley 30 Servant;
born in Ireland
Martha was the widow of John F.
Taggart who died June 1, 1874. The 1877 directory lists them living at 117 S.
34th St. The 1878 directory lists Martha at 130 N. 32nd
St. The 1886 and 1887 directories list Martha at 3707
Powelton Ave. The 1887 directory also lists James N. Taggart, teller, at
that address. He was Martha’s younger son.
1900:
Eliza S. Selby 53 Housekeeper;
mother born in N.J.; renting
Sheppard G. Young 56 Boarder; president
of a storage co.; single; born in Pa. as were parents
Margaretta P. Young 55 Boarder;
born in N.J. as were parents
Frank H. Rhodes 37 Boarder;
insurance agent; father born in R.I.
Annie L. Rhodes 36 Boarder;
married 4 years, no children
Henry Fudge 49 Boarder;
manager of an upholstery co.; widowed; born in England, immigrated 32 years
earlier
Elizabeth Fudge 22 Boarder;
single; father born in England, mother in Md.
Hannah Scott 39 Servant;
married 22 years, 1 child; black; born in Va.
Margaret West 35 Servant;
married 10 years, 3 children, 2 surviving; black; born in Va.
The 1910 census shows Sheppard and
Margaretta Young married for 44 years with 3 children, 2 surviving. They were
living at 257 S. 45th St. It states that both of
them were born in New Jersey.
Frank Hammond Rhodes and Annie Dingee Leeds were married in Philadelphia on Nov. 14, 1895.
He died Nov. 12, 1905 in Salisbury, Wicomico,
Maryland. In 1910, Ann (under her maiden name) lived with her mother, Emma
Leeds, and Emma other grown children at 3428
Powelton Ave. In 1920, Annie and Katie Leeds Rhoades (her sister who was
the widow of Courtland Rhoades, Frank’s brother) lived at 3312 Hamilton St.
Henry Fudge’s wife, Emma, died the
previous year (Nov. 4, 1899) when they were living at 302
N. 35th St.
1909, Oct.:
208 N. 36th St., 13 rooms, offered for rent at $45 per month. (Inquirer)
1910: apparently
not enumerated
1914, Feb. 24: Title transferred from Thomas D.
Crispinn to George B. McCracken, by Sheriff
1915 Directory: Kern William H., lawyer, 621
Hale Bl.
1920:
Thomas Tyson 29 Erector of
steel bldg. born in Brooklyn, N.Y.; renting
Eugenie Tyson 18 Wife; born
in Brooklyn, N.Y.
— Next household
Andrew Samb 24 Riveter
in ship yard; renting
Myrtle Samb 24 Born in
Calif., father in Iowa, mother in Calif.
--- Next
household
Nellie Martin 35 Billing clerk in insurance office;
married (?); born in Md., father in Md., mother in Del.; renting
Linda Martin 14 Daughter;
born in Md.
--- Next
household
William Glennon 30 Electrician in ship yard; born in Ohio,
father in Pa., mother in Ohio; renting
Jessie Glennon 30 Born in Ohio
Elwood Glennon 8 Born
in Ohio
--- Next
household
John Mattson 45 Carpenter
on private houses; renting
Susan Mattson 28
1930:
Robert Heinderman 44 married at age 22; owner, house valued
at $15,000
Martha Heinderman 42 Married at age 22
William Howe 48 Lodger;
handyman in private practice; single
_ Next Hh.
Charles Sharp 39 Plumber; married at age 26; renting for $40 per month
Roberta Sharp 34 Office
clerk for plumber; married at age 22
1940:
Adia Whiteirtt 22 Eight years of schooling; owner, house
valued at $4,000
Alfred Whiteirtt 29 Salesman; 6 years of schooling
Grace A. DeVilbiss 61 Lodger; private nurse; single; one year
of college; born in MD
1968 Directory: Steth R., apt. 1
1973, Jan. 8: “City Probes Model City No-Bid
Pact
“A $115,000 contract awarded without
competitive bidding by Model Cities Administrator Goldie Watson to a business
associate of hers is under investigation by the controller’s office….
“The contract, for art design and
printing services, was awarded on May 6, 1971, by Mrs. Watson – without review
by the city’s Procurement Department – to R. S. Design Associates, also known
as Raymond Smith Design Associates, of 208 N. 36th st.
“An investigation by The Inquirer
revealed that Raymond Steth is also president of an auditorium and catering
business called Adelphi Auditorium Inc. Mrs. Watson is listed as the
secretary-treasurer of that company, which is located at 1453-1455 N. 52d st.” (Inquirer)
Mrs. Watson was apparently fired
from her post. (Inquirer, Jan. 10)
< 206 N 36th St. 210 N 36th St. >.