The
History of the Building
“three-story. two-register, brick house
with Victorian porch; bracketed flat overhanging roof; louvered shutters added to
third floor; two-story addition to rear circa 1895.”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
It is
not indicated on the 1862 Smedley Atlas.
Previous Residents
1864 Directory (compiled in fall, 1863): Robert W. Truitt,
merchant at 528 Market St., house: 37th below Baring.
In the 1863 directory, he is listed
at the southwest corner of Walnut and 38th streets. Truitt & Co. sold hardware. He was the son of Charles B. Truitt who lived
at 3609 Bridge (Spring Garden).
1867 Directory (fall, 1866): R. W. Truitt, merchant at 528 Market
St., house 316 N. 37th St.
In 1880, he lived at 3505
Baring St.
Robert Chewett, merchant at 528 Market St.
1867, Jun. 24: Title for 312-318 N. 37th St. transferred to Elizabeth J.
Askin by George E. Askin
On the same day, he transferred title to 3708-3712 Baring
St. to her.
George E. Askin and Elizabeth J. Askin were siblings of
J. Henry Askin. They were early
investors in and residents of Powelton having moved to 3509
Baring St. in late 1858/59. The
family sold much of their Powelton properties in 1867-‘68 and purchased 297
acres in Delaware Co. The development
they began building there became Wayne.
1867, Feb. 15: Title transferred to Anna L. Pratt and Anna L.
Pratt by Elizabeth J. Asken
1870 Directory: Mary Pratt, teacher
1870:
Martha Pratt 60
Anna Pratt 30
Lizzy Pratt 23 School teacher
Mattie Pratt 21 School teacher
Mary Downing 21 Domestic servant
Martha V. Pratt was the widow of
Nathan Pratt.
1874 Directory: Elizabeth Pratt, principal
1880:
Anna L. Pratt 41
Elizabeth
Pratt 35 Sister; teacher
Martha W. Pratt 29 Sister;
teacher
1886, Sep. 7: Title for 2/3rds share transferred to Elizabeth
Pratt by Anna L. Pratt
1886, Sep. 21: Marriage of Elizabeth Pratt to Henry S. Talman
Talman lived next door at 318 N. 37th St. which he owned. He died Oct. 5, 1908 in Woodbury, Gloucester
Co., N.J. (He may have died in
Philadelphia or buried here as his death was registered here.) He was a banker. His parents were Edward C. and Lydia Talman,
both were born in the N.J. He grew up in
Woolwich, Gloucester Co., N.J. where his father was a manager of a boot and
shoe business.
1889 Directory: Theodore W. Scott, clerk
The 1887 directory lists him living
at 3728 Lancaster Ave.
1890, May 7: Title transferred to Villeroy D. Reed by Henry S.
Talman and his wife, Elizabeth Pratt
1900:
Villeroy D. Reed 83 Minister;
widowed; born in N.Y.; owns free of mortgage
Emily W. Reed 53 Daughter; single; born in N.Y.
Anna S. Reed 50 Daughter;
single; born in N.Y.
Villeroy D. Reed, Jr. 28 Son;
bank clerk; born in N.J.
1901, Apr. 1: Title transferred to Alex K.
Pedrick by Villeroy D. Reed
Rev.
Villeroy Dribble Reed died June 26, 1901 at the residence of his son-in-law, Rev.
W. P. Schwartz at Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Alexander
K. Pedrick lived at 310 N. 37th St.
1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. Franklin T. Cheney
1910:
George A. Whitcomb 50 Bookkeeper for [unreadable]; born in
Wisconsin, father in Vt., mother in N.Y.; renting
Leonore B. Whitcomb 50 Married
23 years, 1 child
Hazel B. Whitcomb 22 Daughter;
stenographer for glass establishment; single; born in Wisconsin
In 1900, they lived in West Chester.
1921, June 10: Title transfer to Eugene K. Pedrick, et al. by will
of Alex K. Pedrick registered
The property was reduced in width
from 30’ to 27’6”.
1921, May 18: Title transferred to Charlotte G. Allen, wife of Rodney
D. by Eugene K. Pedrick, et al.
In 1910 and 1920, Roadney and
Charlotte Allen lived at 3321 Hamilton St. In 1930, they were living at 307 W. Ashdale
St.
Rodney D. Allen was the son of William
W. Allen and Elizabeth G. Coanes. He was
probably born at 3614 Hamilton St. In 1880, the family lived at 3602 Hamilton St.
She was the daughter of Charles
Gilpin, Jr. and Ida R. Davis and the granddaughter of Mayor Charles
Gilpin. She was born at 3631 Hamilton St.
1940:
Rodney D. Allen 69 Unemployed
laborer at a wood mill; one year of college; had no income in 1939.; paying
rent of $30 per month.
Charlotte Allen 67 One
year of college
1951, Dec. 1: Death of Rodney D. Allen, 81 years old of 316 N.
37th St. He was employed by
the Dept. of Housing and Sanitation.
1955, Mar. 5: Death of Charlotte Gilpin Allen, 82 years old.
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314 N. 37th “Pearl Court” 318 N. 37th
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Revised 1/25/2018