The History of the
Building
309-311: “two-and-one-half story red brick double, mansard
roof; projecting front gables; pressed and corbelled brick detail; appears to
have been sandblasted. Same as 313. Stoop alteration.”
(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
1877, Jan. 4: Title for 3319-3331 Powelton Ave., 309-313 N. 34th St. and
3319-3321 Pearl St. transferred to Emma W. Shipper by Henry H. Houston and wife
1882, Oct. 12: Title for 3319-3331 Powelton Ave., 309-313 N. 34th St. and
3319-3321 Pearl St. transferred to William S. Kimball by Emma W. Shipper
1883, Apr. 23: Title for 3319-3331 Powelton Ave., 309-313 N. 34th St. and
3319-3321 Pearl St. transferred to John Rea by William S. Kimball
then
immediately to Sanford P. Campbell.
Previous Residents of
1886, Dec. 16: Title
transferred to William S. Kimball by Sanford P. Campbell
1889 Directory
(Fall, 1888): Percival
S. Hill (Boyd, White & Co.)
In 1880, he lived with his parents,
W. George and Sarah J Hill at 1805 Spring Garden St. His father was President
of American Life Insurance Co., the first American Life Insurance Company
incorporated in the U.S. The 1884 to 1888 directories list him living at 3221
Powelton Ave.
He “left college [Harvard] in April,
1880, and owing to the illness of his brothers who were in the jobbing-carpet
business in Philadelphia, went into the business to look after their interests.
After winding up their affairs continued the business in his own name, changing
it gradually to that of selling cotton and woolen yarns chiefly to carpet
manufacturers. Was married April 3, 1883, to Cassie Rowland Milnes of Philadelphia, and with his wife spent three
months in travel in
“‘The uneventful tenor of my life
was interrupted on October 22, 1884, by the birth of a son, George W. Hill,
Jr., but the novelty of this change has now nearly worn off and from present
indications my ship is floating gently on the sea of life, moored to its
present location, and there seems to be no prospect of my spreading its sails
to the winds to seek new pastures.’" (Baccalaureate
Sermon, Class Day Oration, Etc, Harvard University
Class of 1882)
In 1912, he replaced James Duke as President
of the American Tobacco Co. as part of an anti-trust reorganization. His son
George W. Hill, succeeded him as President in 1925. He emphasized the Lucky
Strike brand.
“Percival S. Hill died at age 63,
president of American tobacco co. 12/7/1924.” (American Decades 2001.
The 1920s: Business and the Economy.).
1894 Directory: Percival S. Hill, secretary & treasurer at
1332 Chestnut
1896 Directory: Percival Hill, segars
1896, Aug. 23: Offered for rent for $66 per
month (Inquirer)
1897, Apr. 4: Offered for sale for $11,000 (Inquirer)
1900:
Ellen Wigton 72 Widow with 2 children; renting
Eleanor W. Hoch 36 Daughter; married 7
years, no children
William R. Hoch 42 Son-in-law;
physician
William W.
Wallace 67 Nephew; coffee manufacturer
Ellen was married to Robert B.
Wigton, a coal shipper. They had four children. In 1880, they lived at 1811
1910:
Mary E. Eyre 62 Boardinghouse keeper; widowed, 8 children, 7 surviving
Miriam Eyre 21 Typewriter for an insurance co.
Irving Bramer 23 Boarder;
pharmacist; born in N.Y.
Clara Bramer 25 Boarder; married 2 years, 2 children; born in N.J., parents
born in
Lewis Bramer 13 months
James D. Bramer 13 months
Alex Hutchinson 49 Boarder;
foreman; parents born in Ireland
Grace Etta 27 Boarder; stenographer
--- next
household
Joseph E. Wise 55 Lithographer;
single; father born in Maine
Mary J. Wise 65 Sister; single, a clerk; father born in
Francis I.
Wise 57 Sister; single; occupation illegible;
father born in Maine
The Bramer family moved to Fairport,
N.Y. in 1910 or 1911.
Clara (DaCosta) Bramer
(1884-1913)
1914, May 5: Title transferred to Maris M. Barton by Kate C.
Kimball estate executor
1920:
Maris M. Barton 73 Retired
carpenter; owned free of a mortgage
Matilda
Barton 74
Elsie M. Barton 34 Single
Raymond M. Barton 21 Grandson;
phonograph salesman; single
Maris was born and raised in Martic,
Lancaster Co. Where his father was a carpenter. In 1864, he enlisted in the 203rd
Pennsylvania Volunteers and served during the last nine months of the Civil
War. In 1910, they lived at 3623 Hamilton St.
--- 2nd
household
Martha (Levers)
Seiders 34 widowed
Harvey L. Seiders 6
Elsie M. Seiders 3
Martha was the widow of Theodore M.
Seiders who would have been 56. They were married at the United Church of
Christ in Harrisburg in Dec. 14, 1907. He was a clerk for the railroad. In
1910, they lived at
1921, Apr. 26: Title transferred to Elsie M. Barton by Maris M.
Barton
1923, Aug. 12: Death of Maris M. Barton, 77 years old, of chronic
myocarditis; burial at Greenwood Cemetery, Lancaster, Pa.
1927 Directory:
E. M. Barton
1930:
Matilda Barton 84 Widowed;
owner, the house was valued at $7,000; apparently, she did not own a radio
Ira J. Barton 59 Son; a public accountant; divorced
Elsie Barton 44 Daughter; single
Francis J.
Burgher 64 Lodger; divorced, a gold miner
In 1920, Ira Barton and his wife
lived at 437 42nd St.
In 1910, Francis Burgher was living
in NY City with his wife of 16 years. They had three children. He listed his
occupation as real estate agent. In 1920, he was divorced and living with his
daughter and son-in-law. His occupation was private investigator/investigator.
1936, Dec. 13: Death of Mathilda (Paxson) Barton, 91 years old, of
uterine cancer; ; burial at Greenwood Cemetery, Lancaster, Pa.
1938, May 3: Title transferred to Elsie M. Garner by Elsie M.
Barton
1940: Not
enumerated in this census
1941, Oct. 20: Title transferred to Philadelphia Federal Savings
& Load Ass'n. by sheriff
1942, Apr. 23: Title transferred to Minna Martin & Edith P.
Martin by Philadelphia federal Savings & Load Ass'n.
1953, Apr. 20: Title transferred to Edward Vandereen and Hazel,
his wife by Minna Martin & Edith P. Martin
1968, Dec. 5: “Let it be known that estimates
are being received for the rehabilitation of the property known as 311 N. 34th
St., City of
Philadelphia.
“Bids must be submitted to the
Redevelopment Authority no later than 12:00 Noon December 16, 1968.” (Inquirer)
A similar notice was published at
the same time for 309 N. 34th St.
1983, Oct.: Sold by Gerd G. Maul to Jeanne
Murray Walker for $68,500. (Inquirer, Oct. 30)
1998: Sold by Jeanne Murray Walker to Michael A.
Jones