217 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 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. Louis N. Kates [sic., J. Louis Kates]

            Laura Kates was the daughter of Michael and Caroline A. Riley. She grew up at 3702 Hamilton St. The 1885 and 1886 directories list him living there. In 1895, he was listed at 1811 Berks St. The 1891 Directory lists him in working in real estate. In 1870 and 1880, he was living with his parents at 1606 Arch St. His father died in the 1870s. His brother, John L. Kates, Jr., still lived there in 1895.

 

1900:

J. Louis Kates              39        Married 19 years

Laura Kates                 35        Married 19 years, 4 children; father born in Ireland; [she was actually 39 or 40]

Charles L. Kates          18

Mortimer R. Kates       15

Arthur Kates               14

Florence D. Kates       12

Laura M. League          22        Niece

Carolyn R. League       21        Niece

Mary T. Mulligan         24        Chambermaid; born in Ireland

Bessie Garra                25        Chambermaid; born in Ireland

Catharine Quinn          24        Cook; born in Ireland

            Laura and Caroline League were the daughters of Henry C. and Minnie (Riley) League. In 1880, they lived at 3706 Hamilton St.

 

1901, Aug. 19: Marriage license issued in New York City to Carolyn R. League of 217 N. 34th St. and Edward L. Mack of New York

 

1902, Mar. 8: Death of Florence D. Kates

 

1910:

John L. Kates              49        Estate executor; owned free of a mortgage

Laura Kates                 47        Married 27 years, 4 children, 3 surviving

Charles L. Kates          28        Assistant manager for telephone co.

Mortimer R. Kates       28        Electrical contractor

Arthur Kates               24        Real estate collector

Carolyn R. Mack          30        Niece; married; own income; father born in Md.

Mary T. Mullegan        32        Chambermaid; born in Ireland

Mary Gara                   28        Chambermaid; born in Ireland

Winnie Gara                25        Cook; born in Ireland

 

1911, Nov.: Marriage license issued to Helen S. Christman of 1242 W. Allegheny Ave. and Arthur Kates

 

1917 Draft Cards: Arthur Kates worked on "auto trucks" for H. W. Sofield, 1714 N. Broad St

                           Mortimer Riley Kates electrician for John Ellingsworth at Tacony and Lewis Sts.

 

1920:

Louis J. Kates              53        Real estate agent with own business

Laura Kates                 50        Parents born in Ireland

Riley M. Kates             34        Electrical contractor

Arthur Kates                33        Real estate agent; married

Helen Kates                 30        Daughter-in-law

Florence Kates             1 yr., 6 months  Granddaughter

Cora Bush                    44        Nurse

            In 1930, Arthur, Helen and Florence were living with her mother and step-father at 249 Washington Lane. Arthur and Helen were divorced some time before her death in January, 1843.

 

1930, Feb. 8: Death of John Louis Kates, 69 years old

 

1930:

M. Riley Kates 44        Electrician; single; owner, house valued at $20,000

Laura L. Kates 69        Widowed; father born in Irish Free State

            Laura Kates died Dec. 3, 1935. She was living in Wynnewood, Pa. She was 75.

            In 1942, Mortimer Riley Kates was living at 344 Haverford Ave. in Wynnewood with his wife, Marie. They were probably married in 1933 as they took a cruise to the Caribbean that year. He died in 1955.

 

<219 N 34th                                                                                                          215 N 34th >

Revised 5/25/2015

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