The lot was original part of a parcel that included
303, 305, 307, and 309 N. 37th St. as well as 3627 and 3629 Powelton
Ave. The history of that parcel is as
follows:
1867, May 17:
Deeded to John Magraw by Louisa E. Baring, et al.
John
Magraw is listed in the 1867 city directory as a clerk at 4131 Chestnut
St. That was the home of real estate
agent Enoch G. Hopkins whose office was on 41st St. near Haverford
Ave.
1867, June
28: Deeded to Joseph Dallas Hall by John Magraw
1867, Sept.
21: Deeded to John K. McCurdy by Joseph Dallas Hall
1869, April
1: Deeded to Thomas Foster by John K. McCurdy
1869, April
2: Deeded to John M. Mole by Thomas Foster
John
M. Mole almost certainly built 303-309 N. 37th St. He was a carpenter who was born in England
about 1841. He was probably the brother
of Thomas H., John, Walter and James Mole all of whom were carpenters. They may have been the sons of a W. Mole who
was a builder. In 1866, all of them were
living near 17th St. and Ellsworth. They
probably arrived in the U.S. about 1860 and they all left Philadelphia between
1870 and 1880 except for James.
In
1870, John and Elizabeth A. Mole lived in West Philadelphia, probably west of
40th St. Elizabeth was born in
Ireland. She claimed real estate worth
$15,000 and personal property valued at $2,000.
John Mole was involved in about 50 land sales in Philadelphia between
1869 and 1873, possibly as a builder. He
probably left Philadelphia about 1874.
“two-story.
red brick double… Number 305 has Victorian porch, corbelled brick, metal
cornice with consoles”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
Previous Residents
1869, Nov.
22: 305 N. 37th St. deeded to T. Graham Ashmead by John M. Mole
Thomas
Graham Ashmead was the son of Albert Ashmead and Elizabeth Graham. In 1860 and 1870, he lived with them at 3500 Hamilton St.
Thomas purchased both 305 and 307.
He sold 305 two days later (see below), but kept 307 until April
1870. The same day his brother, Albert
S. Ashmead, purchased 309. In 1860 and
1870, Albert and Elizabeth Ashmead claimed $50,000 in real estate. In June, 1870, Thomas claimed $3,000 in real
estate.
1869, Nov. 24:
Deeded to Charles G. Blatchley by T. Graham Ashmead
Charles
G. Blatchley was a pump manufacturer who was born in Connecticut. In 1880, he lived at 614 Wood St. in
Philadelphia.
1870: blank
lines in the first and second census enumerations suggest this house was empty
in June, 1870 and Nov., 1870.
1870, July
2: Deeded to Daniel M. Boring by Charles G. Blatchley
1880:
Garrett B.
Hibbard 30 Milk dealer
Anna Hibbard 34
Clarence Hibbard
8
Enos D. Hibbard
6
In the 1890 City Directory, he is
listed at 4032 Powelton Ave.
1885, Nov. 2: Deeded to Jacob W. Stelffrich by Daniel M. Boring
1889, Nov. 12: Deeded to David J. Myers, Jr. by Jacob W.
Stelffrich
1889, Dec. 6: Deeded to Jeanne Sherer by David J. Myers, Jr.
1896: “Bicycle Rider Hurt.
Josephine Sherer, of 305 North Thirty-seventh street, was yesterday run
down and injured while riding a bicycle at Powelton avenue above Thirty-seventh
street, by a wagon driven by Andrew Cavins, of 756 Taylor street.” (Phila. Inquirer, Sept 25)
1898: “The Misses Sherer,
305 North Thirty-seventh street, gave a euchre party at their home on Monday
evening.” (Phila. Inquirer, March 6)
1900:
Joseph E. Sherer 51 [occupation
illegible]; born in France, immigrated 1850
Jeanne (Jane) Sherer 48 Married
22 years, 3 children; born in France, immigrated 1855
Marie Sherer 22 Born in Philadelphia
Josephine A.
Sherer 19 Stenographer-typist; born in Philadelphia
Jeanne Sherer 13
Born in Philadelphia
The 1880 census says his parents
were born in Holland and he was a fireman for a meter company. She was listed as a dress maker. The 1890 City Directory lists him as a
painter living at 3627 Lancaster Ave.
1903, July 24: Deeded to Hannah E. Lyster by Jeanne Sherer
Hannah Lyster was the widow of
Edward Lyster, a coal and lime dealer.
She was 70 years old. They lived
at 3845 Powelton Ave. She died Oct. 5,
1904.
1905, March 31: Deeded to Paul R. Heyl deed by [??] Lyster, et al.
executors for Hannah E. Lyster
1910:
Hunbrass Dixon 36 Merchant
selling tea & coffee; born in Maryland; renting
Eunice Dixon 25 Married 5 years, 1 child; born in
Maryland
Ambrose Dixon 4
Ethel Tull
18 Sister-in-law; born in Maryland
Charles Odell 40 Boarder;
dentist; single; born in Ohio, father born in Virginia, mother in Ohio
1911, March 13: Deeded to George B. McCracken, by sheriff sale
1911, March 22: Deeded to William J. Bowden by George B. McCracken
1920:
William J. Bowden 37 Machinist;
father born in England, mother in Ireland; owner, free of a mortgage
Ann M. Bowden 35 Parents
were born in Ireland
Ann Bowden 7
William J. Bowden 6
Leo Bowden
5
Paul Bowden
3
Thomas Bowden
2
Elizabeth Bowden 1
In 1910, William Bowden was living
with his 51-year-old widowed mother and five of his seven siblings at 3417
Haverford Ave He was an assistant superintendent at Baldwin Locomotive
Works.. In 1911, he married Anna M. Shallow. She was the daughter of Edward F. and
Elizabeth C. Shallow who lived at 3621 Hamilton St.
in 1910 and 1920. In 1910, she was
living with her parents and working as a stenographer for a telephone company.
1930:
William Bowden 47 Machinist in locomotive works; married
at age 28; owned, house valued at $2,500
Mary Bowden 46 Married
at age 27
Anna M. Bowden 18 Daughter
William J. Bowden 16 Son
Leo A. Bowden 15 Son
Paul V. Bowden 14 Son
Thomas P. Bowden 12 Son
Elizabeth G. Bowden 11 Daughter
Helen G. Bowden 10 Daughter
John J. Bowden 8 Son
Mary Bowden 7 Daughter
Edward K Bowden 5 Son
1940:
William J. Bowden 57 Machinist
for Baldwin Locomotive, earned $2,250 in 1939; 4 years of high school; owner,
house valued at $4,000
Anna Bowden 55 Four
years of high school
Anna M. Bowden 27 Secretary
at Girard Trust Building, earned $1,300 in 1939; 2 years of high school
Leo A. Bowden 25 Salesman
for Fuller Brush Man, earned $2,080 in 1939, worked 60 hours in previous week;
3 years of high school
Paul V. Bowden 24 Demonstrator
for International Machine Co., earned $780 in 1939; 4 years of high school
Elizabeth Bowden 21 Clerk
for a florist, earned $572 in 1939; 4 years of high school
Helen Bowden 20 Hospital
librarian, not employed in 1939, currently working 40 hours per week; 4 years
of high school
John J. Bowden 18 Student;
2 years of high school
Mary E. Bowden 17 Student
Edward Bowden 15 Student
Thomas Bowden 22 Florist
for Callahan Florist, earned $1,480 in 1939; 4 years of education
1941: Marriage license issued to Helen G. Bowden and Edward F.
Hanlon
1942, Dec.12: John J.
Bowden enlisted as a Warrant Officer.
1943, Oct. 2: Thomas
Phillip Bowden began active service. He
was in the 284th Combat Engineers.
He served in the U.S. until Oct. 1944 when they went to Europe. He served until March, 1946. The history of the 284th is
detailed in their website.
1945, July 16: Paul V. Bowden began service in the Army. He served until Nov. 1946 in the HO Co., 1st
Regiment achieving the rank of Sargent.
1947, Aug. 30: Marriage of Helen Louise Howden to Thomas P. Bowden
1950 Directory: William J. Bowden
1952, Aug.
21: Death of Thomas P. Bowden, 34 years old
1956, July
30: Deeded to William J. Bowden and ?? by William J. Bowden
Revised 5/18/2015