219 and
during the construction of Kelly Hall.
Photo courtesy of Drexel University Archives.
The
History of the Building
1969: The houses on the east side of the 200 block of
For many years 219 and
2009: 219 and 221
are the site of Drexel’s Millennium Hall
dormitory.
Previous Residents
1887
Directory: Annetta L. Baker, widow of Robert
Robert B. Baker, clerk
In
1880, the Baker family lived at 3613 Powelton Ave.
1890 Directory: Bonsall, E. Warner, clerk, 219 N 34th
The 1887 directory lists Ellwood
Bonsall, (Bonsall Bros.) 904 Filbert, h 3412 Baring St. From
at least 1906-1930, they lived at 208 N. 35th
St.
1893: Ellwood Bonsall was elected to serve as a director of the Powelton
Club.
1895 Directory: Ellwood Bonsall (Bonsall Bros.) & treas, 116
N. 9th, h 219 N. 34th
1900:
Pierre Degerberg 50 Merchant
Tailor; born in
Mary Degerberg 41 Married
23 years, four children; parents born in Germany [Prussia]
Karna Degerberg 21 Daughter
Godfrey Degerberg 20 Cloth
salesman
George Degerberg 16
Lizzie Bryan 45 Cook; widowed, no children, born in
His name is Per
but it is variously given as Pere, Pierre or Peter. He was born in Lund in southeastern
Sweden. He immigrated in 1872. The 1895 lists him living at 814 Preston St. Mary’s maiden name was Maule. They were members of Grace Church Episcopal
Chapel.
His
tailoring firm was P. N. Degerberg. His
store was at 1431 Chestnut. E-Bay
occasionally offers tuxedos and ladies riding habits made by the firm in the
1920s and 1930s.
1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. P. N. Degerberg
1909: Per, Mary, George and Godfrey Degerberg are listed in the
directory for Atlantic City, N.J. at 4407 Atlantic Ave.
1910:
Per N. Degerberg 56 Retail
tailor; born in Sweden; renting
Mary C. Degerberg 49 Married
30 years, 4 children, 3 surviving; parents born in
Godfrey N.
Degerberg 28 Retail tailor
George N. Degerberg 22 Retail
tailor
Karne N.
Degerberg 29
Florence N.
Degerberg 23
Annie McLaughlin 25 Cook;
born in
Rose Myers 20 Chambermaid
George Nelson Degerberg married Katherine
Hunsicker in Philadelphia about 1917. In 1918 when he registered for the
draft, they were living at 3420 Chestnut St.
The 1920 census lists Mary and Karne living in an apartment at 3450
Chestnut St.
1910, Oct.: Marriage license issued to Florence N. Degerberg and
George C. Decker of New York
1911, April 17: Death of Florence Nelson Decker, daughter of P. N.
and Mary C. Degerberg of 219 N. 34th St. She died at the home of her
parents. The cause of death was listed
as intestinal obstruction.
1911, Nov. 19: Death of Pere N. Degerberg, 64 years old, of acute
dilation of the heart; myocarditis; burial was at West Laurel Hill Cemetery
“Peter N. Degerberg, one of the
oldest merchant tailors in the city, who died last Sunday, was born in Lund,
Sweden, June 18, 1848, came to Philadelphia in 1872. He started for himself in 1880 at 1415
Chestnut St. He was a member of the
Manufacturers’ Club and the founder of the Swedish Society of Philadelphia. In
1907 he was presented with a medal by King Oscar of Sweden for his charitable
work. He is survived by a widow, one
daughter, Carrie, and two sons, Godfrey and George. Death was due to heart failure.” (Inquirer,
Nov. 22)
1914, June 24: Marriage of Nora L. Shields to Godfrey Nelson
Degerberg at St Philip´s Protestant Episcopal Church.
In 1920, they lived in Lower Merion.
1920:
Henry Swartley 52 Druggist
in a retail store
Charlotte
Swartley 45 Wife; born in N.J.
Charlotte
Swartley 16
Catherine Foley 26 Servant;
born in
Annie Mood 64 Servant; born in N.J.
In 1906 they lived at 108 N 34th
St. Charlotte’s
maiden name was Ernst. They married in
Aug., 1902. His father was a farmer and
miller in Montgomery Co. Henry died at
age70 in 1938 when they were living in Phoenixville, Pa. He was buried in Doylestown.
Revised 5/25/2015