219 N. 34th Street

 

Description: Description: 219-225 N 34th

219 and 221 N. 34th St. (the double on the right)

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 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.)

 

For many years 219 and 221 N. 34th St. were tennis courts for Drexel University.

 

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 Sweden, immigrated 20 years earlier, naturalized citizen; renting

Mary Degerberg           41        Married 23 years, four children; parents born in Germany [Prussia]

Karna Degerberg         21        Daughter

Godfrey Degerberg      20        Cloth salesman

Florence Degerberg     18

George Degerberg       16

Lizzie Bryan                 45        Cook; widowed, no children, born in England

            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 Germany

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 Ireland

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 Ireland, immigrated in 1912

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.

 

<221 N 34th                                                                                                                   217 N 34th>

Revised 5/25/2015

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