The
History of the Building
3711-3713,
3715: “three-story
brick rowhouse with Circa 1890 Colonial Revival porch; first-floor projecting bays
(except for 315); segmental lintels. and bracketed wood cornice”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
311-315
N. 37th were built by John Shedwick and his sons. In 1870, they lived
at 3624
Baring St.
Previous Residents
1868, May 8:
Title transferred to John Shedwick by William N. West
1868, Dec. 15:
Title transferred to Joseph S. Siddall by John Shedwick
1869, Feb.
17: Title transferred to John H. Weeks by Joseph S. Siddall
1870:
Robert Tumbleston 50 Clerk
at Adams Express
Anna M. Tumbleston 45
Alice Tumbleston 22
William H. Tumbleston 20 Clerk
at Adams Express
Mary Tumbleston 18
Abigail Tumbleston 87 Born
in N.J.; property: $5,000
In
1850 Robert, Anna and their two youngest children (Alice and William) lived in
the household of William W. and Anna C. (Hart) Weeks. Anna was probably Week’s
daughter. Also in the household was John
H. Weeks, the owner of the house, who moved into this house about 1882 (see
below). When Robert registered for the
draft in 1863, he was a clerk living on N. 39th St. The 1876 directories show that Robert, Anna
and William moved to 250 S. 40th St.
William ran a grocery at 248-250 S. 40th St. and Anna sold trimmings
at 248. Robert continued as a clerk.
William
ran for congress from West Philadelphia on the Prohibition Party ticket in
1888. He was Supt. of Powelton Avenue
Baptist Sunday-school, West Philadelphia in 1887.
1873 Directory: William W. Tumbleston, clerk
1877 Directory: Richard Morrell, upholsterer
1879 Directory: Richard Morrell, upholsterer's
materials at 34 S. 2nd St.
1879, Jan. 18: Title transferred to Anna E.
Atkinson by John H. Weeks
1880:
Henry S.
Talman 29 Clerk in a bank; born in N.J.; single
H. M. P. Allen 52 Female; Widowed
Maria K. Stanton 21 Servant;
born in
In 1870, H.M.P. Allen was a widowed
dressmaker with a daughter, Sarah M. Allen (Ward 10, ED 28). In 1887, she purchased 318 N.
37th St. where she still lived in 1900.
1880 & 1881 Directories: Hannah M. P. Allen
1880-‘82 Directories: Henry S. Talman, clerk [in a bank]
In April 1882, he purchased 318 N. 37th St. and moved there. In 1886, he married Elizabeth Pratt who lived
at 316 N. 37th St. In 1887, he sold 318 N. 37th
St. to Hannah Allen.
1882, Nov. 8: Title transferred to Lydia S. Weeks by Anna E.
Atkinson
1883 Directory (Fall, 1882): John Hart Weeks, conveyancer at 144
S 4th St.
Mrs. R. T. Tumbleston was a
vice-president of the Union Home for Old Ladies at the corner of Lancaster and
N. 48th St.
1894 Directory: John Hart Weeks, conveyancer at 913 Walnut St.
1900:
John H. Weeks 71 Conveyancer;
father born in England; owner with a mortgage
Lydia S. Weeks 71 married
48 years, 2 children; father born in N.J.
Emily S. Weeks 42
Anna E. Atkinson 69 Sister-in-law
John H. Weeks married Lydia Sharpless
Atkinson Oct. 13, 1853.
1901, Jan. 5: Death of John H. Weeks, 72 years old
1910:
Lydia S. Weeks 80 Widowed, 2 children; father born in
N.J.; owns free of mortgage
Emily S. Weeks 50 Daughter;
single
Anna E. Atkinson 78 Sister;
single
1912: Death of Emily S. Weeks
1914, Sept. 10: Death of Ann E. Atkinson, 88 years old, of 313 N.
37th St.
1918 Directory: Lydia S. Weeks, widow of John H.
1920:
Lydia S.
Weeks 90 Widowed; owner, free of a mortgage;
parents born in N.J.
Emily S. Weeks 62 Daughter;
single; mother born in N.J. (?)
1920, April 27: Death of Lydia Sharpless Weeks, 91 years old, of
313 N. 37th St.
1930:
Emily S. Weeks 72 Owner,
house valued at $5,000
Revised 11/5/2014