3234 Powelton Avenue
& 221 N. 33rd St.
(1872 G. M. Hopkins Atlas)
This became the American Oncologic Hospital.in
1911.
The photo shows the original mansion with the
1914 hospital addition at left.
The history of the house,
its occupants and the American Oncologic Hospital are given in the blog “The
American Oncologic Hospital.”
History of 3234
Powelton Avenue
1858 Directory: John
C. Keffer, secretary of Merchantile Mutual Insurance
Co. at 222 Walnut St.
The 1857 directory lists
him living at 724 Pine St.
1859 Directory: John
C. Keffer, Powelton Ave. & N. 33rd St.
1860 Directory: John
B. [sic.] Keffer, corner of Powelton Ave. & N. 33rd St.
1860:
John C. Keffer 32 Editor;
real estate: $30,000, personal property: $10,000
Harriet Keffer 27
Bertha Keffer 7
John Keffer 5
George Keffer 4
Mary Keffer 1
Fred A. Keffer 21 Chemist; real estate: $3,000, personal
property: $2,500
Harriet Brandon 25 Servant; born in Ireland
Mary Conway 29 Cook; born in Ireland
James Bell 38 Gardener; born in Ireland
Sarah Bell 35 Dairy woman; born in Ireland
Mary E. Bell 6 months
John C. Keffer was born
in Philadelphia, July 4, 1827.
1861 Directory: John
C. Keffer, distiller, home: corner of Powelton Ave. & N. 33rd
St.
1861, Nov.: The firm
of Cantwell and Keffer (John R. Cantwell and John C. Keffer) was dissolved (Phila. Inquirer, Nov. 11)
In the 1860 directory,
Cantwell listed his business as hotel and liquors at Germantown Ave. and Master
St.
1862 Directory: John
C. Keffer, rectifier at Germantown Ave. & Master, home: corner of Powelton
Ave. & N. 33rd St.
(The Daily Age, weekly July 31 to Nov. 7,
1863)
1863, Nov. 30:
For sale: “Thirty-third and Powelton avenue, splendid large stone
cottage, stable and carriage house and first class
green house, lot 165 [?] by 252 feet…. B. F. Glenn, 123 north Fourth street and
S. W. corner Seventeenth and Green streets.”
(N. American and U. S. Gazette)
1865 Directory (Fall, 1864): Lewis, Edward,
agent, 421 Commerce, h 33d & Powelton
The
1864 directory lists him living at 315 Marshall.
His
brother, Enoch Lewis, moved to 3405 Powelton Ave.
about 1886.
1865, Jan. 14: Titles to three lots on Powelton
Ave. and two lots on Race St. transferred to Bartold Schlenger by Estate of John C. Keffer (sheriff)
After
the Civil War, John C. Keffer went to Alabama to work on Reconstruction. The Weekly Patriot and Union (Harrisburg)
reported: “A correspondent of the World says
that among the delegates to the Alabama ‘convention’ appeared 16 negroes, 7 men
from Massachusetts, 3 from Maine, 3 fron Iowa, 2 from
Illinois, 4 from Virginia, one each from Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, and
five from undiscovered portions of the North. The Pennsylvania fellow is John
C. Keffer, who is known to the malignant as the ‘head devil’ of the Radical
league. ‘He is a protégé of Forney’s,
has been connected with the Philadelphia Press, and by virtue of strict
patriotism, has put money in his purse.’
This is the usual way. Those who have put most money in their pockets
have the largest amount of gall and wormwood in their hearts.” (Nov. 14, 1867)
In
the 1870 census, the Keffer family was listed in Montgomery, Alabama where he
listed his occupation as Commissioner of Indians. In 1880, they were living in
Cleveland, Ohio where he was an editor.
1870:
Edward Lewis 50 Wholesale iron and steel merchant; real
estate: $20,000, personal $60,000; born in Del.
Elisabeth Lewis 49
Bertha Lewis 18
Wilfred Lewis 15
Emily Lewis 12
Edward S. Lewis 10
Edmund B. Lewis 8
Jane Connor 37 Domestic
servant; born in Ireland
Margaret Connor 21 Domestic
servant; born in Ireland
1875, Dec. 18: Titles to three lots on Powelton
Ave. and two lots on Race St. transferred to Edward Lewis by sheriff as of John
C. Steffer
1880,
April 15: Marriage of
Emily I. Lewis to Alfred R. Roberts. They moved to 310 N. 33rd
They
moved into 310 N. 33rd St. He was listed
at that address in the 1888 directory. She is listed in the 1891 directory
living with her parents (see below). The 1900 census lists him as a patient at
the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane at 49th and Market. He was
46. His occupation was listed as civil engineer. He died Feb. 15, 1901 and was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery. In 1910, Emily and
their son Sydney lived in Willistown, Chester Co.
where they ran a dairy farm. Her sister, Bertha, was living with or near them.
1880:
Edward Lewis 68 Gentleman; born in Del.
Elizabeth Lewis 59
Bertha Lewis 28
Wilfred Lewis 25 Mechanical
engineer
Edward S. Lewis 20 Clerk
Edmund B. Lewis 22 Clerk
Jane Connor 49 Servant;
born in Ireland
Anna Sausen 22 Servant; born in Sweden
Elizabeth Mc Garvey 23 Servant; born in
Scotland
Richard Clark 40 Servant;
black; born in Del.
1890 Directory: Edward Lewis
Edward B. Lewis, Clerk
1891 Directory: Emily L. Roberts
1898 Directory: Edmund Roberts
1900:
Edward Lewis 81 Retired; born in Del. Feb., 1819, father
born in Pa., mother in Del.
Elizabeth J. Lewis 79 Married 49
years, 5 children; father born in N.J., mother in Ireland
Bertha Lewis 48 Daughter;
physician
Emily L. Roberts 42 Daughter;
married 20 years, 1 child
Sidney P. Roberts 18 Grandson
Richard Teal 49 Servant,
coachman; black; married 26 years, 1 child; born in N.J.
W. E. Mundle 27 Male;
Servant, gardener; born in Alaska, father in Germany, mother in Ireland
James Brogan 56 Servant, laborer; born in Ireland,
immigrated in 1856
Julia Haferty 20 Servant, married 2 years; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1897
Annie Griffen 22 Servant,
chambermaid; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1894
Geraldine Douglas 25 Servant, nurse;
born in Canada, immigrated in 1897
Dr.
Bertha Lewis was a graduate of Women’s Medical College and a pediatrician. She
was a charter member of the Ethical Society and was “actively involved in
welfare work with the Public Charities Association and the Southwark
Neighborhood House Settlement, of which she was a manger. She was a member of
the Civic, Contemporary, and Acorn Clubs, and an ardent suffrage workers
particularly in the Equal Franchise League, headed by her sister-in-law, Mrs.
Wilfred Lewis.” For a
number of years before her death, Dr. Lewis lived in Bryn Mawr with Dr. Frances R. Sprague, one of the physicians to
Bryn Mawr College. Dr. Sprague inherited all of Dr.
Lewis’s belongings plus $20,000 and she received income from part of the estate
through her lifetime. (quoted from her obituary, Phila. Inquirer, Feb. 2, 1917 and the Evening Public Ledger, Feb. 16, 1917)
1901, May 23: Death of Edward Lewis, 82 years
old, of 3234 Powelton Ave.
“Edward
Lewis Dead. After an illness of six weeks, Edward Lewis, a well known member of the Board of Education from the
Twenty-fourth Ward, died yesterday morning at his residence, 3234 Powelton
avenue. Born in Wilmington, Mr. Lewis came to Philadelphia in 1831. For many
years he was actively engaged in the mercantile business, retiring in 1875. Mr.
Lewis was made a member of the Board of Education in 1879. He was chairman of
the Property Committee from 1879 until 1890 and was among the originators of
the cooking classes in the Normal and grammar schools. Mr. Lewis is survived by
a widow, five children, and five grandchildren.” (Phila.
Inquirer, May 24, 1901)
1902 Directory: Emily L. Roberts, widow of
Alfred R.
1902: Miss [sic.] Emily L. Roberts, 3234
Powelton avenue was named a county visitor by the State Board of Public
Charities. (Phila. Inquirer, May 20,
1902)
1903, May 4: Death of Elizabeth Lewis, 84 years
old, of 3234 Powelton Ave.
1904: Ad: “COOK – A good girl as cook.
Scandinavian preferred. Apply 3234 Powelton avenue.” (Phila. Inquirer, Oct. 3, 1904)
1906 Blue Book: George T. Gwilliam
John Gwilliam
Mrs. Grace Welsh-Piper
1907 Directory: George T. Gwilliam,
civil engineer and resident manager, Webster Manuf. Co., 1209 Pennsylvania
Building
John Gwilliam
W. Grace Piper, teacher at 1626 Chestnut
1909, Philadelphia
Inquirer: “Mrs. Eva K. Ayers, 3234 Powelton avenue, last Friday evening
gave a dinner dance for her debutante daughter, Miss Nancy Ayers.”
1910:
Eva K. Ayres 43 Widowed with 7 children; born in Maryland; renting
Nancy K. Ayres 22 born
in Maryland
Eva L. Ayres 20 born in Maryland
Robert B. Ayres 18 born
in Maryland
Lambert P. Ayres 16 born
in Maryland
William H. Ayres
9 born in Maryland
John B. Ayres
7 born in Maryland
Robert B. Lane 40 Brother;
automobile salesman; born in Maryland
Mary P. Marshall 25 Lodger;
single; own income
George M.
Marshall 30 Lodger; single; manager of men’s clothing store
Mary J.
Newby 40 Servant, cook; mulatto; born in
Virginia; married with 8 children
[The census gives the address as 221
N. 33rd St.]
Eva K. (Lane) Ayers was the widow of
Lambert P. Ayers who died September 2, 1907. At the time of his death, the Inquirer published the following
dateline Harrington, Delaware:
“Two men of means whose aggregate
wealth reaches over a million have died this week on the Delaware peninsula –
John W. Hall… and Lambert P. Ayers of Golden Quarter, near Berlin. Mr. Ayers,
beside his own estate, recently inherited $300,000 from abroad.” (Sept. 8)
Nancy and Eva Ayes were both married
in 1912. They were both living at 3302 Baring St. Eva
married Dr. Willard B. G. Terry of 3718 Baring St.
Nancy married Budd E. Van Sweringen of Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
1910: Marriage license issued to Alleta
M. Wentz of 212 N. 33rd St. and George M. Marshall
1911 Directory: Robert B. Lane, automobiles
1911 August: “Hospital Changes Quarters
“Horace D. Reeve & Co. representing
Wilfred Lewis and Theodore J. Lewis, trustees, have sold through Dakin &
Kilpatrick to the American Oncologic Hospital the large property at the south east corner of Thirty-third street and Powelton
Avenue. The property consists of a large stone dwelling, with stone stable and
a plot of ground with a frontage of 275 feet on Thirty-third street and 170
feet on Powelton Avenue, extending in the rear to Natrona
street. The consideration of the sale was $40,000. The hospital will at
once occupy the property, removing from its present location at 45th and
Chestnut streets. It was organized some years ago for the treatment of cancer
and similar diseases, and in addition to resident patients it cares for a very
large dispensary practice, for which its new location is more convenient than
the former one…. The property now purchased was formerly the home of Edward
Lewis, and was one of the largest of the many fine residential properties in
the section.” (Phila. Inquirer, Aug. 12, 1911)
1912 Directory: American Oncologic Hospital
1914, June:
The American Medical Association held meetings in Philadelphia which
were attended by 4,000 physicians. A number of
hospitals demonstrated treatment practices. The Philadelphia Inquirer noted:
“One
of the demonstrations which attracted a great deal of attention because of the
publicity which has been given the matter recently was an application of radium
at the American Oncologic Hospital, Thirty-third street and Powelton avenue.
The staff of this institution for the treatment of cancer apply the radium on
the flesh, refraining from using the injection method. A demonstration of the
X-ray in advanced malignant diseases was also given.” (Phila. Inquirer, June 28)
1914, Aug. 29 Philadelphia Inquirer:
“LAY HOSPITAL CORNERSTONE
“Prominent speakers attend ceremonies in
West Philadelphia.
"This elaborate ceremonies the cornerstone of the new
building of the American Oncologic Hospital, Thirty-third street and Powelton
Avenue, was laid yesterday afternoon by George H. Stuart, Jr., president of the
institution.
"It
is expected that the new building will be completed by the end of the year,
when the operating room and the x-ray room, which at present occupied the
basement of the main building, will be transferred to the new quarters.
Addresses were made by Edward J. Cattell, City Statistician, George H. Stuart,
Jr., and C. Wilson Roberts, secretary and legal counsel of the hospital."
1968: The American Oncologic Hospital moved to
its new campus and became the Fox Chase Cancer Center.
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Revised 1/2/2015