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)
1871, Nov. 1: Title transferred to Phebe
Ann Brooks by Samuel P. Ferree
1874, Oct. 27: Title transferred to James
C. Brooks by Phebe Ann Brooks
1874, Oct. 31: Title transferred to Thomas
D. Crespenn by James C. Brooks
1876, May. 17: Title transferred to Howard
R. Kern by Thomas D. Crespenn
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.)
Previous Residents
1877 Directory: Kern Howard R.,
brickmaker, Torr Ave. cor. N. 50th St.
The
1876 business directory lists 3944 Lancaster Ave. and N. 53rd St.
cor. Market St. The 1875 directory lists him living at 3625
Hamilton St. which he owned.
He was a son of the late William H. Kern, a former sheriff and prominent figure
in Philadelphia politics.
1880:
Howard R. Kern 31 Brick yard
Mabel E. Kern 8 Daughter
Maude C. Kern 6 Daughter
Emily D. Bentz 47 Housekeeper
Annie Ahern 24 Servant; born in Ireland; cannot read or
write
Ellen Sheehan 16 Servant;
born in Ireland
Howard Kern was the son of William H
Kern and Margaret Muir. In 1870, they lived 1536 Green St. His father had
$125,000 in real estate and $25,000 in personal property. Howard had a younger
brother, Walter R. who lived at 206 N. 36th
St. in 1900 and 1910.
In 1894, there was a very complex
court case involving Howard R. Kern, his father (William H), other members of
his family and Emily L. Bentz, “an inmate of H.R. Kern’s house, and guardian of
his minor children.” The case was
brought about by the failure of the William A. Baeder
Glue Co. in which Howard Kern was a partner with Louis C. Haughey.
The case involved numerous financial transactions and loans including loans by
William Kern to the company and to his son, Howard. At one point, William Kern
found himself in possession of receipts of 2,200 barrels of glue. The case
involves all kinds of financial entanglements among family and friends.
A full discussion
is available at Pennsylvania state reports, Volume 193. Pennsylvania. Supreme
Court (available
at Google Books), starting on page 59.
The 1878 directory lists Emily E.
Bentz living at 315 N. 10th St. She died in 1905 when she was living
at 576 N. 34th St.
1900:
Howard R. Kern 51 Gentleman; widowed; owned with a
mortgage
William C. Gray 31 Son-in-law;
cashier for customs; father born in Ireland, mother in Scotland
Mabel E. Gray 28 Daughter;
married 4 years, 1 child
Caroline M. Kern 25 Daughter
Emily L. Bentz 67 Aunt;
widowed, no children
Mabel E. Gray 3 Granddaughter
Maggie C. Dwyer 28 Servant; born in
Ireland, immigrated 5 years earlier
Annie C. Grogan 34 Servant; born
in Ireland, immigrated 4 years earlier
Howard Revere Kern died in 1922 at
his home in Atlantic City, N.J. at age 74.
Emily L. (Dietrich) Bentz died May
2, 1905 of “valvular heart disease.” She
was the widow of Jacob K. Bentz. The 1870 census shows him as age 35 with no
occupation. He owned $60,000 in real estate and $2,000 in personal property.
The funeral was at the home of her son-in-law, Henry. R. Shirk, 516 N. 34th
St. where she lived at the time of her death. (In 1880, Shirk lived with his
uncle at 206 N. 36th St.)
1910:
William C. Gray 42 Cashier at
customs house
Mable E. Gray 38 Married
14 years, 2 children
Mable A. Gray 12
Dorothy Gray 5
Mary Suresmay
[?] 22 Servant; born in Ireland
Susan Darby 30 Servant;
born in Ireland
In 1920, the Gray family lived in
Lower Merion.
1910, Dec. 5: Birth of Emily Revere Gray
1920:
Abraham B. Clarke 83 Widowed;
born in England, immigrated in 1856; owner with a mortgage
Tillie J.
Browning 54 Daughter; widowed; parents born in England
Evelyn Bennett 35 Lodger; nurse with private patients;
single; born in Canada, immigrated in 1905
In 1900, Abraham Berry Clarke lived
at 1184 Unity St. with his (second?) wife, Mary Ann. He was working as a
machinist at the shipyard.
1920: For rent “New, unfurnished, 3 rooms,
bath, built-in tub, stationary stand, medicine cabinet, and fixings, parquetry
floors, handsome mirror in living room, hall mail box, phone, door opener,
corner view, near 4 car lines, 210 N. 36th St.” (Inquirer,
April 28)
1922, July28: Death of Abraham B. Clarke, 85
years old, of 210 N. 36th St. He was a retired tool dresser who was born in
England. Burial at Oakland Cemetery.
1930:
Tillie Browning
65 Widowed; parents born in England; owner, house valued at
$7,000
Fred Russell 40 Renter; forester for the railroad;
single; parents born in Germany; renting for $35 per month
Bessie G. Hanley 46 Renter; public school teach; single;
mother born in N. Ireland; renting for $35 per month
Mary Hall 73 Renter; widowed; renting for $60 per
month
1940:
Tillie Browning 77 Widowed; 8 years of schooling; owner,
house valued at $6,300
_Next Household
Mildred Larson 27 Single;
unable to work; 3 years of high school; renting for $30 per month
_Next Household
Bessie Hanley 30 Renter; private care nurse, earned $800
in 1939 for 20 weeks of work; widowed; 8 years of schooling; renting for $25
per month
Anne Sullivan 28 Renter; unemployed private care nurse,
not employed in 1939; single; one year of high school
1950, Jan. 12: Death of Tillie J. Browning née
Clarke, 86 years old, of 210 N. 36th St.
1968 Directory: Cavallini
N.
Brockington R. J., 1st floor
Carrington T. E., 3rd floor
< 208 N 36th St. 3600 Powelton Ave. >.