210 N. 36th Street

 

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. >.

Revised: 1/29/2022

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