307 North 37th
Street
307-09:
“two-and-one-half story brick Second Empire-style double. Some slate shingles
remain. Fenestration and facade radically altered circa 1925. First-floor front
brick addition; 309 later stuccoed.”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
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.
Previous Residents
1869, Dec.
11: 307 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.
1870, April
1: Deeded to Jacob W. Helffrich by T. Graham Ashmead
Jacob
W. Helffrich and his family lived at 1225 Cass St.
1870, June: The
census first enumeration included a blank line indicating the house was empty.
1870, Nov., 2nd
enumeration
John McClain 35-39
Sadie McClain 30-34
William McClain 10-14
Fannie McClain 10-14
Clark McClain 5- 9
Tilly Extell [No
age given]
Note: the second
enumeration of the census only provides broad age groups.
1871 Directory (Fall 1870): McLean John
N., President at 4 N. 8th St.
1877 Directory: Helffrich
Jacob W., machinist
The 1874 directory still
lists him at 1225 Cass St.
1880:
Jacob W. Helffrich 44 Machinist
Sally
S. Helffrich 38
Charles B. Helffrich 16 Clerk
in bank; unemployed 8 months in past year
Harry B. Helffrich 14 Errand boy;
unemployed 8 months in past year
Annie A. K. Helffrich 6
1883 Directory: Samuel W. Latta, physician
He
lived at various addresses in Powelton, most prominently at 3500 Hamilton St. and 3626
Baring St. (See photos and biography at those addresses.)
1889, Dec. 12: Deeded to Henry B. Helffrich by Jacob W. Helffrich
1893, Dec. 18: Deeded to John L. Fry by Henry
B. Helffrich
1893, Dec. 19: Deeded to Henry B. Helffrich by John L. Fry
1894,
Nov.: Marriage license
issued to Louisa F. Bushnell and Henry B. Helffrich
of 307 N. 37th St.
1900:
Jacob W. Helffrich 63 Boarding and Livery stables; renting
Sarah S. Helffrich 58 Married 37
years, 4 children, 3 surviving
Annie A.
Helffrich 26
1904, June 8: Marriage of Annie Amelia K. Helffrich
to Arthur Lowrie Reeder
The marriage was performed at 307 N.
37th St. by Rev. J. Addison Henry of the Northminster
Presbyterian Church.
1907, Apr. 14: Death of Sarah Snyder (Boon) Helffrich,
65 years old; burial at West Laurel Hill
Jacob Helffrich
died in 1912. He was living at 3715
Lancaster Ave.
1907, July 13: Deeded to Andrew Botto by Henry B. Helffrich
Andrew Botto
lived at 3626
Hamilton St.
1910:
John W. Atkinson 45 Father born in
N.J.; [no occupation listed]
Martha C. Atkinson 38 Married 6 years, no
children; born in Md., father in Md., mother in Va.
1916, Nov. 24: Deeded to James Somerville by
Andrew Botto
1920:
Robert
Somerville 50 Police sergeant;
born in [Northern] Ireland, immigrated in 1892, became a citizen in 1897
Jean
Somerville 40 Born in N.Y., parents born in Scotland
James
Somerville 39 Brother; police officer; born in
Ireland, immigrated in 1905, became a citizen in 1910
Fidel
Barreras 19 Lodger; student; born in Cuba,
immigrated in 1917
In 1930, Robert and Jean Summerville
were living at 5419 Woodcrest Ave. He was working in a bank.
1925, Feb.
20: Deeded to William D. Martin and Robert McCracken by James Somerville
1925,
April 24: Deeded to William D. Martin int. of Robert McCracken by William D.
Martin and Robert McCracken
1925,
April 24: Deeded to Lydia Becker by William D. Martin int. of Robert McCracken
1930:
Lydia
Becker 61 Widowed; owner, house valued at $7,000
Edward
K. Becker 22 Son; electrician at stock exchange
-2nd
household
William
Nixon 67 Restaurant chef; renting for $40 per
month; age at first marriage 30
Chrissie
Nixon 85 Wife; age at first marriage 20
Irene
Marshall 62 Daughter
Lydia Becker was the widow of Theodore
Becker. In 1910, they lived at 1427 S. 20th St. He was a packer for
a furniture manufacturer and she was the proprietor of
a cigar store. They lived with their three children and her mother, Clara
Buckley. Clara was the widow of David F. Buckley. She died Oct. 13, 1910 at the age of 65. Theodore Becker died April 19, 1921 at age 47. He was the son of Josephine and Theodore
Becker, Sr. At the time, they were living at 2707 Somerset St.
Christine Nixon was previously
married to William H. Jones, her second husband. She had 5 children by her
first husband was David H. Marshall. Four were still alive in 1900 including
Irene. Christine and William were married about 1890. He was retired from the
Navy. In 1900, they and her daughter, Irene, lived in Bethlehem, Northampton
Co. Pa.
1931, Oct.
5: Deeded to Edgar E. Moon by sheriff sale
1932,
Jan. 18: Deeded to Subsidiary Realty and Securities Corp. by Edgar
E. Moon
1932,
Aug. 22: Death of Irene Marshall of 307 N. 37th St.; burial at Arlington
cemetery; cause of death was heart failure.
She suffered from tabis dorsalis
(syphilitic myelopathy).
The informant for the death
certificate was Clarence J. Marshall who listed his residence at this house.
1940: Not enumerated
in this census. It was probably empty.
1942,
Mar. 9: Deeded to Rebina (?) Rosenberg by sheriff sale
1943,
Nov. (?) 27: Deeded to Frank Lindsey and Sarah, his wife by Rebina (?)
Rosenberg
1948, Apr. 14: Marriage license issued to
Audrey E. McConkey of Glenside, Pa. and Wilbur C.
Lindsey of 307 N. 37th St
1955,
March 16: Deeded to Alton Davis by Frank Lindsey and Sarah, his wife