3311 Race Street
Hopkins Atlas of West Philadelphia, 1872
The
History of the Building
The
Howell residence was demolished to make room for 201-227 N. 34th St. Of these only 227 N. 34th St. remains. The others
were later demolished to make room for Drexel University’s Kelly and Millennium
Halls.
Previous Residents of
3311 Race Street
1860 map show “Howell St.” E-W between Arch
and Race
The 1858 Directory lists his office
at 622 Chestnut and his home at 914 Spruce St.
1866 Directory: Howell, W. H.G., paperhanging, 602 Arch, h 34th
& Race
“John B. Howell, an Englishman, who had come to the United
States from London about 1793, and who established a manufactory of
paper-hangings at Albany, N. Y., came to Philadelphia about 1817, and commenced
business as a paper-stainer back of No. 351 North
Second Street. In 1820 his factory was at No. 125 North Front Street, in 1822
he was at No. 34 North Third Street, and in 1825 his shop was at No. 72 North
Sixth Street. The business subsequently went into the hands of his sons, --
John A. Howell, George Howell, Zophar Howell, Darius C. Howell, and William
Howell -- who built up by their industry a great manufacturing house.”
(History
of Philadelphia, 1609-1884. By John Thomas Scharf, Thompson Westcott. P 2322.)
“HOWELL & BROTHERS, Limited, 21st St. and Washington ave. Expires Jan. 1, 1905; Capital, cash, §100,000; property,
§500,000; total, $600,000; shs., 6,000, par §100.
Manufacture and sale of wall paper. Officers –
Zophar C. Howell, Chairman; William Howell, Secretary; William Wilson,
Treasurer.”
(Philadelphia
Securities: a Descriptive & Statistical Manual of the ..., Volume 3, 1892,
p 147.)
1870:
William Howell 53 Manufacturer
of paper hangings; real estate: $500,000, personal: $350,000
Henry G. Howell 29 Clerk in a
factory
Rebecca T. Howell 46
Charles B. Howell 12
Edward [Edgar] C. Howell 11
Kate R. Howell 14
Bella Howell 9
Lillie Howell 5
Ella Howell 2
Mary Hough 22 Servant; born in Ireland
Mary O’Brien 28 Servant;
born in Ireland
Maggie Sweeny 25 Servant;
born in Ireland
Henry
was the son of William Howell and his first wife, Ann Jane Griven
(1810-1843). They also had an older son, William H. Howell (1840-1915). Their
daughter, Anna Jane Howell, married Thomas Ross Hanson married in 1866. In
1870, they lived at 3617 Powelton Ave. and in
1880 they lived at 304 N. 37th St. In
1900, they lived at 3604 Baring St.
He then married Rebecca Thorn Robbins who was
the mother of his other six.
1873, June: Marriage of Kate Robbins Howell to
George Deardroff McCreary
In
1900 and 1910, they lived at 3301 Arch St. He was a
banker who served in the U. S. House of Representatives.
1880:
William Howell 63 Paper
hanging manufacturer; father born in England, mother in N.J.
Rebecca F. Howell 55
Charles Howell 23 Law student
Edgar C. Howell 21 Paper
covering
Isabell Howell 18
Lillian Howell 14
Ella Howell 12
Mary Rogers 30 Servant;
born in Ireland
Margret Sweeney 35 Servant; born
in Ireland
Mary A. Everett 24 Servant
John McCall 20 Servant;
parents born in Ireland
Edgar
C. Howell married Mary Dixon White (1860-1899), the daughter of William A.
Wilson..
Edgar
Carpenter Howell (1859-?)
1881 Directory: Charles B. Howell, treas., 140
S. 4th & lawyer, 506 Walnut, h 3311 Race.
1891 Directory: Charles B. Howell, treas.,
1221 Arch, h 3311 Race
1900:
Edgar C. Howell, Westtown Township, Chester, Pa.
Revised 12/14/2014