The
History of the Building
304-306,
308-310: “two
two-and-and-half story, four-register, Second Empire-style double built by same
developer. Stone facade over brick construction; Victorian ,wood porches with
minor alterations. Carved wood cornices, carved gabled dormers projecting from
slate-shingled mansard.”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
1865, Dec. 6: Title for Block of land starting at
the NW corner of Powelton and N. 37th, proceeding north to 310 N. 37th, then
west to Lancaster Ave. transferred to John H. McIlvan by Lydia E. Baring
The property became part of the
McIlvain lumber business.
1867, Dec. 4: Title for Block of land starting at
the NW corner of Powelton and N. 37th, proceeding north to 310 N. 37th, then
west to Lancaster Ave. transferred to Charles J. McIlvain by John H. McIlvan
1875, Mar. 4: Title for Block of land starting at
the NW corner of Powelton and N. 37th, proceeding north to 310 N. 37th, then
west to Lancaster Ave. transferred to Joseph Doyle by Charles J. McIlvain
Previous Residents
1880: [the census incorrectly lists them as 310]
William D. Heston 52 Iron
dealer
Laura M. Heston 46
Lizzie F. Heston 25
Henry M. Heston 19 Clerk
Laura L. Heston 10
Jessee M.
Magonegal 14 Niece; father born in N.Y.
Sarah Jacobs 40 Servant
The 1878 and 1880 directories list
him at 3614 Hamilton St. The 1881 directory
lists William D. Heston and Henry Heston at N 53rd St. near
Wyalusing Ave.
1882 Directory: David H. Parkhill, filemaker
1883 Directory: Harry G. Hovey, clerk
E. F. Hovey, photographer at 9 N. 13th St.
The 1880 census lists E. F. Hovey
(56 years old), his wife, Maggie E. (39), and their son, Harry G., living at 409 N. 36th St. E. G. was born in
Massachusetts and Maggie was born in Scotland.
1890-‘91 Blue Book: Miss Annie E. Massey
1900:
Margaret M. Hart 67 Milliner; single; renting
Elizabeth Hart 70 Sister; single
Mary T. Hart 66 Sister;
single
John Hansell 65 Boarder
Mrs. Hansell 57 Boarder;
married 31 years, 2 children
Frances Hostetter 41 Boarder;
trained nurse; single
Eva Kelly 28 Boarder; trained nurse; single
1906, April 21: House sold by John T. Murphy
to Sarah A. Osmond for $5,300 which included a mortgage for $4,000. (Phila. Inquirer, 4/30/1906) A week
later, Sarah Osmond sold 303 N. 37th St.
for $4,000.
1908 Directory: Howard B. Osmond, manager, J. H. Osmond, heaters,
156 N. 7th St.
1910
Howard B. Osmond 36 [occup.
not readable]
Charlotte Osmond 34 Married
13 years, 2 children
Catharine Lee Osmond 11
Sarah Osmond 10
Francie Grenier 42 Servant;
married 3 times, 8 children, 6 surviving; black; born in
Howard Best Osmond and Charlotte
Bowen Conway were married in Philadelphia in 1897. He had been living at 303 N. 37th St.
1920:
Howard B. Osmond 46 Manufacturer
[rest illegible]; owner, free of a mortgage
Charlotte Osmond 42 born
in Maryland
Catherine Osmond 21
Sarah Osmond 19
Charlotte Osmond 8 months
1925, Aug. 5: Death of Howard Best Osmond, 52
years old, husband of Charlotte C. Osmond of 306 N. 37th St. Internment at West
Laurel Hill Cemetery.
1930:
Myron Mitchel 35 Supervisor
for insurance company; married at age 21; born in N.Y.; renting for $80 per
month
Mildred [S.]
Mitchel 40 Married at age 24
Vance Mitchel
8
Lathrop Mitchel 8
Katherine Mitchel 50 Aunt;
teacher at music school; born in N.J., father born in Ohio, mother in N.Y.
Allan [B.] Smith 33 Brother-in-law;
office manager for wholesale yeast company; father born in N.Y.
When Myron Jesse Mitchel registered
for the draft, he gave his occupation as assistant secretary at the S.
Philadelphia High School for Boys. He was born in Southold, Long Island in 1894.
They lived at 4207 Regent St. In the 1920 census, he stated his parents were
born in Ohio. When he registered for the WWII draft, they were living in
Lansdowne, Delaware Co. He had his own business at 12 S. 12th St.,
Philadelphia.
1940:
S. V. Bergen 59 Church minister, worked 60 hours in past week; four years of
college; renting for $50 per month
Nell H. Bergen 50 Four
years of college
In 1930, Stanley V. and Nell (Hopkins)
Bergen lived at 2168 York St. In 1950, they lived at 3018 W. Girard Ave. Nell
died in 1952 and Stanley died in 1955.
“The Rev. Stanley V. Bergen, pastor
of the 136-year-old Mariners’ Presbyterian Church, 332 S. Front st., died Saturday at Burnbrae
Hospital, Primos. He was 74.
“Mr. Bergen was appointed pastor of
the Union Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, E. York and Coral sts.,
in 1925 after resigning as pastor of the Congregational Church at Niagara
Falls, N. Y. He later served as pastor of the East Park Presbyterian Church, 25th
st. and Indiana ave.
“In 1948 he was appointed pastor of
the Mariners’ Church and superintendent of the Landsman’s and Seamans’ Aid
Society.” (Inquirer Sept. 26, 1955)
1968 Directory: Seymour E. S.