209 N. 34th Street

 

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

1898-’99 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. Isaiah L. Shoemaker

            The 1881 & 1895 Directories listed: Isaiah L. Shoemaker, builder, h 3109 Powelton Av.

            He was the son of Samuel Shoemaker (1793-1845) and Martha B. Lukens (1792-1883). He and his brother, Nathan, worked together as builders. Nathan lived at 1931 N. Park Ave.

 

1900:

Isaiah Shoemaker        67        Builder; owned, free of a mortgage

Sarah M. Shoemaker    54        Married 16 years, 2 children, 1 surviving

Mary Shoemaker          15

Annie McCue              60        Servant; born in Ireland

            Isaiah L. Shoemaker married Sarah Elizabeth Murphy in 1888. She was the daughter of William C. Murphy and Almira Roberts. In 1880, Sarah lived with her mother and siblings at 2106 Brandywine St. (Mantua). She was working as a public school teacher. In 1910, her sisters Almira and Rachel Murphy were living at 3624 Baring St. In 1920, Almira and Rachel lived with their sister and brother-in-law, Letitia and Robert Simpson, at 201 N. 36th St.

 

1901, Jul. 29: Death of Isaiah L. Shoemaker, 70 years old; burial at W. Laurel Hill Cemetery

 

1906 Blue Book: Isaiah L. Shoemaker

                           Mr. & Mrs. George J. Gundelfinger

                                    The 1910 census lists George J. Gundelfinger as 26 years old. He lived with his wife, Mary, and their son George, Jr., in an apartment building at 747 N. 63rd St. He was a clerk in a tailoring house. His parents were born in Germany.

 

1910:

Sarah M. Shoemaker    60        Own income; widowed, 2 children, 1 surviving; mother born in N.J.; owned free of a mortgage

 

1913, May: Marriage license issued to Sarah M. Shoemaker and Joseph I. Knight of Somerton, Pa.

 

1920:

Sarah S. Knight            73        Widowed; owner

Florence Johnson         20        Servant; black; born in Va.

 

<211 N 34th                                                                                                          207 N 34th >

Revised 5/31/2015

Visit the Powelton Village Historical Interactive Map

Contact Us                                                                               About Powelton Village