317 North 33^rd Street

The History of the Building

315-317: “Italianate style double, three stories with four-story entrance tower. Roughcasting over brick, scored to simulate stone. Original wood porch and full-height first-floor windows. Arcuated windows at third floor and in towers. Large brackets with pendants below overhanging flat roof.”

(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic Places, 1985)

Previous Residents of 317 North 33^rd Street

1866, May 15: Title transferred to Charles H. Marot by Alfred B. Justice

In 1870, Alfred B. Justice lived next door at 319 N. 33^rd St.

1867 Directory (Fall, 1866): Charles H. Marot, bookbinder at 605 Arch St.

The 1861 Directory lists Marot Charles H., bookbinder (811 Spring Garden), Marot Charles H., bookbinder (52 N 6^th), and Marot William Jr., books and stationery (811 Spring Garden). The 1865 Directory lists Charles H. Marot, bookbinder, 25 N. 6^th, h 1002 Mr. Vernon.

1870:

Charles H. Marot 30 Book manufacturer; real estate: $8,000, personal: $25,000

Hannah S. Marot 30 Born in N.J.; both parents foreign-born [see below]

Mary S. Marot 10

Elizabeth Marot 7

Nellie [Helen] Marot 5

Deborah Marot 70 [Charles’s mother]

Elizabeth Marot 30 [Charles’s sister]

Sarah Smith 20 Domestic servant; born in N.J.

Charles Henry Marot was the son of William Marot (1790-1864) and his second wife. Deborah. He was born in 1825 in Philadelphia. In 1857, he married Hannah Stewart Griscom in Woodbury, N.J. Their first children, Sarah, died at about age 16 months in 1860. (History of the Woodcock Family from 1692 to Sept. 1, 1912 by William Lee Woodcock)

Charles Marot was the publisher of The Gardener’s Monthly at 814 Chestnut St. It “started January 1, 1859, as a quarto, but became an octavo with its second volume. It continued until the close of 1887, when upon the death of its publisher, Charles Marot, it passed into the hands of American Garden, New York. It had a long and useful career under the editorial management of one of the most accomplished and conscientious of American horticulturists, Thomas Meehan, whom all the younger generation has learned to love.” It merged with the Horticulturalist in 1875. (Cyclopedia of American Horticulture, L H Bailey, 1904.)

Many volumes of The Gardiner’s Monthly are now available on-line.

For more on Charles Marot and his daughter Helen, see the article in the Powelton History Blog for April 11, 2011.

1871, Feb. 1: Title transferred to John C. Allen, Jr. by Charles H. Marot

On Feb. 11 it was transferred to Hannah S. Marot.

1871, Dec. 5: Birth of William Griscom Marott

1877, Feb. 21: Death of Jane T. Jones, 66 years old, of 317 N. 33rd St.

1877-‘78: Mary S. Marot was a member of the freshman class at Swarthmore College.

1879: The Philadelphia Board of Health received a communication “from Mr. Charles Marot, No. 317 North Thirty-third street, complaining of the shocking and filthy condition in which the streets of West Philadelphia have been for a long time, and objecting to the contractor being paid for the current term. It was referred to the Street Cleaning Committee.” (Phila. Inquirer, Oct. 22)

1880:

Charles Marot 55 Publisher; father born in Del., mother in N.J.

Hannah Marot 50 Born in N.J., father in Pa., mother in N.J.

Mary S. Marot 19

Bessie [Elizabeth] G. Marot 17

Helen Marot 14

William G. Marot 8

Elizabeth Marot 44 Sister

Emily Hazzard 30 Servant; widowed or divorced; born in Ireland

Laura J. Hugg 24 Servant; born in Md., father born in N.Y., mother in Md.

1887 Directory: Charles H. Marot, publisher at 814 Chestnut

1887, Dec. 21: Death of Charles H. Marot

“Charles H. Marot, the publisher of the Garden Monthly, died at his residence, No. 317 North Thirty-third street, yesterday morning after a brief illness. He was in his 63d year, and was well known among periodical publishers.” (Phila. Inquirer, Dec. 22) The funeral was held at his residence with burial at Fair Hall.

1889 Directory: Alfred W. Sumner, purchasing agent

1889: Helen Marot was one of the founders of the West Philadelphia Hospital for Women in 1889. For a brief history of the hospital, see the Powelton History Blog, April 5, 2013.

In 1891, Hannah Marot bought the twin, 315 N. 33^rd St., and the Marot family moved there. See photos, biographic, genealogical information about Helen and William Marot at that address.

1891 Directory: Alfred W. Sumner., assistant purchasing agent, 233 S. 4^th St.

This was the address of the Sunbury, Hazelton, & Wilkesbarre Railway Co.

1895 Directory: Alfred W. Sumner, purchasing agent, Broad St. Station.

1897 Directory: Charles F. Steel of Steel & Brinckle (Charles F. Steel & Addington L. Brinckle), detectives at 30 S. Broad St.

1898 Directory: Charles Steel [Steel & Brinckle is not listed; there is a separate listing for him at this address under Steele as a clerk]

1900 Directory (fall, 1899): Louis Coulomb

Marie Coulomb

1900:

Anna Coulomb 48 Widowed, 8 children, 4 surviving; mother born in Scotland; renting

Henry R. Coulomb 23 Law Student; father born in Conn.

Marie M. Coulomb 20 Student

Louise H. Coulomb 19 Student

Boarders:

Allen Kelly 45 Journalist; born in Mass., father born in N.H., mother in Mass.

Florence F. Kelly 32 Married 15 years, 3 children, 1 surviving; born in Ill., father born in N.Y., mother in Ohio

Sherwin F. Kelly 4 Born in New Mexico

1901, Jan. 26: Death of Hannah S. Marot, 71 years old (owner) at 315 N. 33^rd St. Burial at Laurel Hill Cemetery

The property passed to her children.

1901 Directory: Ann C. Coulomb, widow of Henry

Henry R. Coulomb, lawyer

1908 Directory: William C. Beecher

Margaret J. Beecher, librarian

1908-1911 Directories: Walter R. Moore, weigher

1910:

Caroline Beecher 64 Widowed, 6 children, 4 surviving; renting

Margaret Beecher 34 Librarian; father born in Missouri

Grace Beecher 32 Father born in Missouri

Mary Beecher 28 Father born in Missouri

Jacob F. Pirches 55 Servant; single

Caroline was the widow of William C. Beecher, a dry goods salesman. In 1900, they lived in Pottstown.

1913, April 22: Marriage license issued to Grace Beecher of 317 N. 33rd St. and Charles E. Epler of Wildwood, N.J.

1920 (January):

Caroline Beecher 75 Widowed; renting

Margaret Beecher 45 Librarian at mercantile library; father born in Missouri

Charles Epler 42 Son-in-law; [no occupation]

Grace Epler 42 Daughter

May Beecher 40 Daughter

1920, Apr. 12: Title transferred to C. May Beecher by Mary S. Marot, et al.

1927 Directory: Mrs. W. C. Beecher

1930:

Charles Epler 50 Accountant for real estate co.; married at age 34; owner

Grace Epler 33 Married at age 33; father born in Missouri

1940:

Margaret Beecher 65 Four years of high school; owner, house valued at $6,000

Mae Beecher 59 Sister; four years of high school

Charles Epler 59 Brother-in-law; Accountant, earned $1,800 for 36 weeks of work in 1939; eight years of education

Grace Epler 63 Sister; eight years of education

They all lived here in 1935.

1945, May 16: Title transferred to Clara J. Pierbower by C. May Beecher

1952, Sep. 18: Title transferred to Carl J. Carns & Harriet A., his wife by Clara J. Pierbower

1968 Directory: Laurence Elselohr

2009: owner: Caroline Millett, purchase date: March 1986

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Revised 7/25/2022

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