209 N. 36th
Street
The
History of the Building
209-211 “two-and-one-half
story Second Empire style double; stone facade over brick construction. Circa
1920 Colonial Revival style door surround, and pent roof where porch would have
been. Original bracketed wood cornice, central paired dormer window and two
outer ones projecting from slate-shingled mansard”
(Inventory of Buildings
in Powelton from
the application submitted to the national register of Historic Places, 1985)
Previous Residents
1871, Jan. 2: Title
transferred to Archibald Freeman by George S. Gerhard
Freeman acquired the twin lot (211)
on the same day. The 1868 directory lists him as a “carman” living at 3527
Rockland. The 1872 directory lists him as a contractor living at 3314 Haverford
Ave. The 1870 census lists him as a 46-year-old paving contractor who was born
in Ireland. He listed personal property worth $1,000, but no real estate. He
was married with two children.
1871, Dec. 1: Title
transferred to William G. Fischer by Archibald Freeman
1872 Directory (Fall, 1871):
William G. Fischer of Gould & Fischer, home: N. 36th near Race
St.
The 1871 directory lists him at 207 N. 13th
St.
1876 Directory: William G.
Fischer Gould & Fischer (William G. Fischer) Steck & Co.'s, Haines
Bros' & Decker Bros' pianos & Mason & Hamlin's cabinet organs, 1210
Chestnut St.
In 1870, they lived in 207 N. 13th St. He was a
music dealer. He listed real estate valued at $10,500 and personal property of
$11,000.
1880:
William
G. Fischer 44 Merchant; born in Md., father in Wittenberg, mother in Md.
Mary
Ann Fischer 43 Born in Del.
Charles
H. Fischer 16
Fanny
L. Fischer 13
Wm.
G. Fischer, Jr. 11
Edgar
S. Fischer 6
Blanch
W. Fischer 4
Sallie
Willing 45 Sister-in-law single; born in Del.,
parents also in
Mary
Bewley 24 Servant
William G. Fischer sold musical
instruments. He was director of music at Christ Methodist Episcopal church, 435 N.
38th St. (see more below)
Mary Ann and Sallie Willing were the
daughters of Charles Willing and Henrietta Taylor.
Charles Fischer was baptized at the
Church of St John the Evangelist (Episcopal), Philadelphia on May 14, 1866.
1887: William
Gustavus Fischer, Jr. entered Haverford College, but left after his freshman
year.
1891 Directory:
William G. Fischer, pianos
Charles H. Fischer, salesman
In 1905, he was president of Charles H.
Fischer Co., pianos at 1710 Chestnut and living at 243 Wiona St., Germantown
William G. Fischer Jr., clerk
In 1905, he was in insurance at 400 Walnut
and living at 5219 Archer, Germantown
1892, May 1: Death of
Mary A. Fischer, 55 years old, wife of William G. Fischer of 209 N. 36th St..
Burial at Mt. Moriah Cemetery
1894,
Aug. 29: Edgar Simpson Fischer left the U.S. He applied for a new passport in
Berlin a few weeks later. He was a student.
In 1907, he collected music of
“aborigines” for E. S. Curtis of Seattle. He was the first conductor of the
Wala Wala, Washington Symphony Orchestra and had a private music school there.
In 1914, he was president of the Northwest Music Teachers' Association.
1896, Sep. 24:
Marriage of Theodora Phillips to Charles Henry Fischer
1898 Blue Book: William G. Fischer was a member of the Powelton Club. (For a brief history of
the club, see the Powelton History Blog.)
1899, October: Marriage license issued to Laura L. Henson and
William G. Fischer, Jr.
William G. Fischer, Jr. died of
pneumonia in Philadelphia on Jan.5, 1915.
1900:
William
G. Fischer 64 Widowed; born in
Fannie
L. Fischer 33 Daughter; single; parents born in Md.
Blanche
W. Fischer 24 Daughter; single; parents born in Md.
Sarah
Willing 66 Sister-in-law; single; born in
Mary
Purner 20 Servant; black; born in
Annie
Gallagher 18 Servant; born in Ireland
Sarah
Lynch 24 Servant; born in
Sarah Lynch and Annie Gallagher were
also enumerated next door at 209 N. 36th St.
1905 Directory:
Blanche W. Fischer, Secretary at 1515 Pine St.
Fanny L. Fischer, treasurer at 1515 Pine St.
William G. Fischer, secretary, 1710 Chestnut
(his son Charles’s piano store)
1908, Feb. 17: Death
of Sallie Willing, 76 years old; cause of death was arteriosclerosis.
1910:
William
G. Fischer 74 Born in
Fanny
F. Fischer 43 Single
Blanch
W. Fischer 34 Advertising writer; single
Beatrice
Myles 19 Servant; black; born in W.D.C.
“William G.
Fischer was the composer of the tune set to the hymn of William McDonald in The
Revivalist. He also composed the music set to, and always sung with,
Katherine Hankey’s hymn, “I
Love to Tell the Story.” This
latter music is said to have been written expressly for Bishop Charles C. McCabe.
Mr. Fischer composed over two hundred tunes. Besides the ones already mentioned
he wrote “Whiter Than Snow,” which had a
long popularity, “I Am Trusting, Lord, in Thee,” and “A Little Talk with
Jesus.” He was born in Baltimore October
14, 1835, and at the age of eight was chosen to lead the singing in a church of
that city. For the ten years from 1858 to 1868 he was professor of music in
(American Writers and Compilers of Sacred Music. Frank J.
Metcalf. 2007. P 323.)
For more information about Fischer,
see The Cyber Hymnal.
1912,
Aug. 12: Death of William G. Fischer, 70 years old. He was buried at Mt. Moriah
Cemetery by a pastor from the Christ Methodist Episcopal Church,
The title was transferred to Fanny
L. and Blanch W. Fischer by will. Later, after Fanny’s death, the title was
transferred to Blanche.
1918 Directory:
Blanche Fischer
Frances Fischer
1920:
Blanche
Fischer 48 Advertising writer; father born in
Baltimore, mother in Delaware
Frances
Fischer 45 Sister; father born in Baltimore, mother
in Delaware
1930:
Frances
L. Fischer 63 Father born in Maryland, mother in
Delaware; owner, house valued at $9,000
Blanche
W. Fischer 59 Sister; ad writer
in advertising; father born in Maryland, mother in Delaware
Marie
Ashford 29 Servant; black; widowed; born in
Georgia, parents born in N.C.
1941, Jan. 30: Title
transferred to Herbert F. Bordman and Adelheid, his wife, by Blanch W. Fischer
They acquired the twin (211) on May
2, 1941.
1952, May 16: Title
transferred to George Wolfman and Ruth, his wife, by Herbert F. Bordman and
Adelheid, his wife
They acquired the twin (211) on the
same day.
1954, Dec. 20: Title
transferred to Isadore Stonberg and Freda, his wife, by George Wolfman and
Ruth, his wife
They acquired the twin (211) on the
same day.
< 211 N 36th St. 207 N 36th St. >.
Revised
8/19/2022