227 N. 34th
Street
Photo courtesy of Drexel
University Archives
The
History of the Building
Architect: Thomas
Preston Lonsdale (1855-1900)
“three-story
rusticated stone eclectic style house. Medieval-inspired with crenelles faces
Powelton; wrap-around porch (enclosure, a later alteration); and two-story
metal- sheathed turret with conical red slate-shingled roof address street
corner. Main facade has two projecting bays, each with third-floor grey slate.
One bay topped by small conical dormer projecting from large octagonal roof and
one by projecting third-floor gable with Palladian-inspired tripartite window.
End bay has same stone rectangular tower with crenelles as
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the
national register of Historic Places, 1985)
Previous Residents
1887, Feb. 26: Max
Riebenack purchased the southwest corner of 34th St. and Powelton
Ave. from John Sellers, Jr. for $14,000.
1890
Dir.: Riebenack, Max, asst. comptroller, office: 233 S. 4th
The 1873 and
1874 city directories list him living at 3718
Baring St. The
1880 census and the 1889 directory list him at 3701 Powelton Ave.
Maximillian
Riebenack was born in Bavaria on October 12, 1844 and immigrated with his
parents in 1850. From 1850 to 1861 they lived in Hollidaysburg and Altoona,
Pennsylvania. His father was naturalized as a citizen in 1856. According to
Max’s passport application, he was 5’3½” tall. In 1869, he married Eleanor
Gertrude Simpson, daughter of Thomas M. Simpson, a prominent Philadelphia
merchant.
1893: Max
Riebenack was one of the founders of the Powelton
Club.
Max
Riebenack (Inquirer, 1891) Eleanor
Riebenak (Inquirer, 1894)
1894: Max and
Eleanor Riebenack celebrated their silver wedding anniversary.
“Auditor of Passenger Receipts
Riebenack, of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Congratulated.
“A largely attended reception was
given last night at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Max Riebenack, at
Thirty-fourth and Powelton avenue, on the occasion of
the silver anniversary of their wedding. The house was handsomely decorated and an orchestra furnished music in the spacious
hallway from behind a fern-covered nook. The house was lighted up throughout
with electric lights and crowded with guests.
“Mr. and Mrs. Riebenack were
assisted in receiving their guests by Mrs. Conrad T. Clothier. Many of the
presents were handsome and valuable.” (Phila. Inquirer, Dec. 11, 1894)
1895 Directory: Riebenack, Henry G.
Max Riebenack, asst comptroller, Broad St.
Station
Max Riebenack, Jr.
1895: Henry Gwimmer Riebenack graduated from the University of
Pennsylvania
1900: (listed as 229 N. 34th)
Maximilian
Riebenack 55 Railroad accountant; born in
Eleanor G.
Riebenack 51
Eleanor J.
Riebenack 29
Henry G.
Riebenack 28 Engineer
Max Riebenack 26 Railroad clerk
Gertrude E. Riebenack 23 Daughter-in-law
Eleanor G.
Riebenack 1 Granddaughter
William B.
Riebenack 20 Son; student
Edwin E.
Riebenack 18 Son; student
Frederick Wm.
Rauch 46 Step-brother; railroad clerk; parents
born in Germany
Elizabeth G. Reed 22 Step-niece
Estelle G.
Chapman 7 Niece;
father born in N.Y.
William Martin 38 Cook; black
William A. Ayre 30 Butler; born in England, immigrated 1897
Theo A. Forman 25 Servant; black; born in N.J.
Rachel A. Forman 17 Housemaid; black; born in N.J.
Mary E. Forman 14 Housemaid; black; born in N.J.
1899-1900: William B. Riebenack was a member of the
Episcopal Academy Club at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated from the
College in 1901.
1903, Sep. 16: Death of Max Riebenack, Jr. of 227 N. 34th St.
Max Riebenack, Jr.
"Max Riebenack, Jr., Dies at His Home
"Son
of Pennsylvania Railroad's Comptroller Victim of Typhoid Fever – A Promising
Career Cut Short
“Max
Riebenack, Jr., son of Max Riebenack, assistant comptroller of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, died of typhoid fever at the residence of his parents,
southeast corner Thirty-fourth street and Powelton
avenue, last Sunday evening. He was born June 24, 1873.
"He entered the service of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company on June 1, 1890, in the office of the auditor of
the Empire Line. On May 1, 1895, he was transferred to Dock
street freight station, where he remained until January 1, 1896, when he
was appointed an acting route agent, and on April 1, 1903, he was promoted to
the position of second chief accountant of the same office. His apprenticeship
in the auditor's office and freight office, and subsequently as traveling
auditor, well fitted him for the position he occupied.
"He was passed Master of
Meridian Sun Lodge, No. 138, F. and A. M.;
a member of Oriental Chapter, No. 183, R. A. C.; St. John's Commandery, No. 4, K. T.; president of the Route Agent's Association of
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; a member of the Union League, of
Philadelphia; Past Regent of St. Paul's Senate, No. 28, Order of Sparta; a
member of the Pennsylvania Railroad Y. M. C. A., and a member of the Athletic
Committee of that association.
"Funeral services will be held
on Thursday, at 1 o'clock P. M., at St. Andrew’s P. E. Church, Thirty-sixth and
Baring streets. A lodge of sorrow will be held by Meridian Sun Lodge, No. 138, F. and A. M.… at Masonic Temple.…" (Inquirer,
June 16, 1903)
1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. Max Riebenack (SE cor 34th & Powelton)
E. Earl Riebenack
Miss Riebenack
Mrs.
Max Riebenack, Jr.
Max Riebenack is listed as Treasurer
of the Union League, President of the Five O’Clock Club (
1908, Sep. 21: Death of Henry Gwinner Riebenack
"Henry Riebenack Dead
"Son
of Comptroller of the Pennsylvania Railroad
"Atlantic City, N. J., Sept. 22
– After a brief illness Henry Gwinner Riebenack, son of Max Riebenack,
Comptroller of the Pennsylvania Railroad, died last night at his father's
cottage at 108 South North Carolina avenue, from pneumonia. Funeral services
will be held Friday at 2 o'clock at the home of his father, S. E. corner
Thirty-fourth street and Powelton avenue, Philadelphia. Rev. J. H. Townsend, of
Atlantic City, and Rev. W. Arthur Miller, West Philadelphia, will conduct the
services. Interment will be made in Woodlands Cemetery.
"Mr. Riebenack was one of a
family of sons noted for athletic prowess and conspicuous in University of
Pennsylvania athletic achievements. He held the collegiate records for the
broad jump and the 120 yards hurdles. After his college career, Mr. Riebenack
continued his interest in athletics at the University.
"He was born in 1872, was
graduated from the Episcopal Academy and later from the Engineering School of
the University of Pennsylvania. Shortly after his graduation, Mr. Riebenack
became a member of the engineering corps of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He left
the railroad employee some years ago and had since devoted much of his time to
inventing and marketing a patented automatic cleaner for carpets and upholstery
operated by electricity. This mechanism was only recently put on the market.
"Mr. Riebenack was a brother of
Max Riebenack, Jr., who died in 1903 and who had acquired fame as a football
player in baseball player for the University of Pennsylvania." (Inquirer,
Sept. 23, 1908) Note: Max
Riebenack, Jr., did not attend the University of Pennsylvania. He was, however,
an accomplished baseball player who played for a YMCA team. In 1909, his father
donated a memorial cup in Max, Jr.’s name to the Pennsylvania Railroad
Department of the YMCA, Philadelphia.
1910:
Maximilian
Riebenack 65 Comptroller for steam railroad; born in
Eleanor G.
Riebenack 61 Married 40 years, 7 children, 3 living;
born in N.Y., parents in Pa.
Eleanor J.
Riebenack 39
Gertrude E.
Riebenack 32 Daughter-in-law;
widowed
Eleanor G. Riebenack 10 Granddaughter
Max Riebenack 9 Grandson
Charles B.
Rosenberger 26 Servant; born in
William Marton 49 Servant; mulatto
Katharine E. Bell 23 Servant; mulatto
Collis L.
Wood 19
Servant; mulatto; born in Va.
Max Riebenack
1910, May. 14: Death of Max Riebenack
"Max Riebenack Dies; Prominent As
Railroad Man
"Comptroller
of P. R. R. and Treasurer of Union League
"Had
Wide Circle of Acquaintances
"Max Riebenack, comptroller of
the Pennsylvania Railroad and, until a few days ago treasurer of the Union
League, died at 108 South North Carolina avenue,
Atlantic City, at 715 o'clock last night. He was in his sixty-sixth year. He
had been in poor health for some time, having been the sufferer from heart and
kidney trouble.
"Mr. Riebenack is survived by
two sons, Earl and William Riebenack and by one daughter, Miss Riebenack.
"Mr. Riebenack had a wide
circle of acquaintances in the railroad world, his long affiliation with the
Pennsylvania Railroad and auxiliary companies as a comptroller of exceptional
knowledge and administrative force causing him to be recognized everywhere as a
man of unusual ability.
"As president of the
Association of American Railway Accounting Officers from 1880 to 1891 he did
much to make that organization the influential one that it is today, while his
services as treasurer of the Union League contributed largely to its excellent
financial condition.
"It was only on last Tuesday
that he resigned from the treasurership of that club because of ill health,
being succeeded by James E. Mitchell. He had been a member of the club since
November 15, 1880.
"Mr. Riebenack was appointed
comptroller of the Pennsylvania Railroad by the Board of Directors of the
company on February 1, 1905, succeeding W. R. Downing, who then retired under
the railroad's pension plan.
"Successful Career
"He was born October 12, 1844,
and entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1863 as clerk to the
military agent stationed at Altoona, Pa.
"In 1872 he was appointed
assistant auditor of passenger receipts, and in 1880 was promoted to the
position of auditor a passenger receipts. His ability was still further
recognized when in 1881, in addition to his duties as auditor passenger
receipts he was appointed assistant comptroller. In 1899 he resigned the former
position in order to devote his entire time to the duties of assistant
comptroller of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, as well as of the
Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington Railroad Company, West Jersey and
Seashore Railroad Company, and of the various auxiliary companies.
"To Mr. Riebenack was due to a
considerable extent the success of the Pennsylvania Railroad voluntary relief
department, the Pennsylvania Railroad Employees Saving Fund and the
establishment of the Pennsylvania Railroad pension department. He was a member
of the Advisory Committee of the relief department by appointment of the Board
of Directors of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and chairman of the
Supervisory Committee of the same department.
"When the pension department was
organized on January 1, 1900, he was appointed by the boards of directors of
the various affiliated companies as one of the members of the Board of Officers
of the department, and was selected as secretary of such board on account of
his thorough knowledge and familiarity with the intricate problems affecting
the pension plans." (Inquirer,
May 15, 1910)
1916-’17:
Mas Riebenack, 3rd was a student at the Friends’ Select School.
1917: Edwin Earl Riebenack registered
for the draft in Atlantic City, N.J. He listed his nearest relative as Eleanor
Gertrude Riebenack, also of Atlantic City.
In
1930, he was living at 5016 Pine St. In 1920, Gertrude Riebenack,
Eleanor and Max, 3rd were living at 3519
Hamilton St. (see photo of Max, 3rd there).
1930:
Paul Dalsimer 25 Solicitor
for insurance company; married at age 21; father born in N. J.; renting for $75
per month
Annette Dalsimer 24 Married
at age 21; father born in Tennessee
Walter F.
Dalsimer 2 years, 1 month
-- 2nd household
Luther C.
Manifold 58 Claims agent for steam railroad; married at age 38; renting
for $75 per month
Edna Manifold 42 Married
at age 22
Edward Sellicimer
40 Lodger;
collector for telegraph company; father born in N. Y.
Joseph Keoff 35 Lodger; steam fitter at a club house; married at age 25; born
in the Irish Free State, immigrated in 1920
Ann Keoff 38 Lodger; telephone operator; married at age 28; born in
Northern Ireland, immigrated in 1913, naturalized citizen
Olive A. Williams
35 Lodger;
public school teacher; born in N. Y., father born in Wales, mother in England
Paul David Dalsimer was the son of
Walter C. and Clara (Shoneman) Dalsimer.
He was born in Philadelphia in 1905. He was a member of the Class of 1926 at
the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the Phi Sigma Delta Fraternity.
He married Annette Freidberger Eshner
on Dec. 21, 1926. She was also born in Philadelphia in 1905, the daughter of
Dr. Augustus A. and Julia (Friedberger) Eshner.
Luther Manifold was born in 1868 to
William H. and Margaret Manifold. In 1880, they lived in New Freedom, York Co.,
Pa. In 1920, Paul and Edna lived at 3209 Summer St. They had a daughter, Marie,
who was 11 years old. In 1940, they lived at 3600
Powelton Ave.
The building was
acquired by Drexel University in 1928 and was used for the Domestic Science
program.
“The
house stayed with the Riebenack family until 1928 when the Drexel Institute of
Technology acquired the building and three separate plots of land owned by the
Riebenack estate for $125,000. It then became the third location of the Home
Management House for female majors of the Domestic Science and Arts Department
in 1929. A nursery school was located on the first floor and Home Management
offices and spaces on the top floors. Women living in the house would
experience many skills first-hand, including childcare and tending a home. In
the 1950s, the building was named the Grace Godfrey Home Management House,
after Grace Godfrey, the second Director of Home Economics and Advisor to
Women. One photograph in the 1957 Drexel University yearbook depicts women
sitting around the piano and entertaining in the dining room….
“In
1991, an electrical fire on the first floor daycare closed the building for ten
years. In 2001, a generous donation from alumnus and former chairman of the
Board of Trustees, George Ross '55, Hon. '99 and his wife Lyn, made possible
the renovations to the mansion, converting it into a student center on the
north side of campus. Following an extensive $5.2 million renovation project,
on June 5, 2003 the building was dedicated and renamed the Ross Commons in
honor of benefactors George and Lyn Ross…. Victorian style found in tiled
fireplaces, opulent furnishings, and a grand staircase, combined with Drexel
technology - including wireless internet - makes Ross Commons a significant
landmark on the Drexel University campus.”
(from Drexel Business Services)
1968 Directory: Drexel Institute of Technology Nursery School
(1st floor)
H. M. Zearley (apt. A)
Revised 11/27/2022