3308 Race Street
This
house was demolished by Drexel University in 2008.
The
History of the Building
“two-and-one-half
story Victorian brick house with wood porch supported by turned posts.
Two-story projecting bay and Palladian-inspired tripartite window configuration
below -large front gable. First--floor windows and door boarded up currently.”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
Previous Residents of
3308 Race Street
1895 Directory: Nathan Sellers, treasurer, 26
S. 15th, h 3308 Race
In
1880, they lived at 3612 Baring St. In 1891
directory, he was listed at 3314 Race St.
1900:
Nathan Sellers 63
Mary K[een]
Sellers 57 Married 37 years, 3 children
Hannah McBride 42 Servant; born
in Ireland
Mary
Sellers was the daughter of John Sidney Keen and Hannah McIlvain. The Keen and
McIlvain families were long-term residents of the area. The McIlvains settled
on Market St. about 1805. The Keen family lived at 32nd and
Chestnut, now the site of the original building of the Drexel Institute. A
brief overview of the Sellers family appeared in the Powelton Post, March, 2009.
1904, Feb. 9: “Nathan Sellers, treasurer of the
Commercial Exchange, and one of the best known grain and flour men in
Pennsylvania, is lying in critical condition at his home, 3308 Race street. He
is suffering from a serious complication which followed a relapse after
apparent recovery from a severe attach of the grip about three weeks ago. It
was stated at his home last night that little hopes were held for his
recovery.” (Phila. Inquirer)
1904, Feb. 17: Death of Nathan Sellers, 67
years old, of 3308 Race St.
1906 Blue Book: Mrs. Nathan Sellers
1910:
Mary K. Sellers 65 Widowed, 3 children; owner, free of a
mortgage
Howard K. Bunting 26 Nephew; civil
engineer in iron & pipe mill
Ralph Jackson 25 Boarder;
clerk, iron & pipe mill
Frank Eves 36 Boarder; clerk for a trust co.
Mary A. Graham 21 Servant,
cook; born in Ireland
In
1920, Howard Bunting was living with his parents in Chester, Delaware Co.
1911, Oct. 18: Death of Mary Keen Sellers, wife
of the late Nathan Sellers. Funeral services from her late residence, 3308 Race
St.
1930:
Harry F. Haas 55 Shop
keeper (type unreadable); married at age 24; owner, house valued at $20,000
Laura B. Haas 53 married
at age 22
Mildred N. Chase 29 Daughter;
married at age 26
Donald Chase 32 Son-in-law;
ladies wear (rest unreadable); born in Michigan, parents born in Pa.; married
at age 29
Henry L. Haas 21
Dorothy H. Haas 17
Harry
F. Haas and Laura Noros were married in Philadelphia
in 1899. In 1920, he was a furniture buyer. He died in 1945 when they were
living at 214 N. 34th St. Laura died in
1959 when she was living at 4436 Van Kirk St.
Henry
Latham Haas served during WWII from October 1943 to November 1945. He had had
four years of college and was working as a salesclerk when he enlisted.
Revised 1/21/2015