3313 Spring Garden (Bridge) St.

 

This whole block was owned by Robert Steen. The 1878 Scott’s Atlas shows a 1 block estate of Robert Steen with a large house in the block between 33rd and 34th, N. of Spring Garden and S. of Rockland (Plate I). It was divided up into smaller lots and developed as smaller homes about 1900.

 

History

 

1853, Feb. 21: Title transferred to Estate of Robert Steen by Samuel C. Ford, et al.

 

1860:

Robert Steen                71        Retired grocer; born in Ireland; real estate: $150,000, personal property: $50,000

Margaret Steen             54

Mary S. Steen               21

John Steen                   20

William Steen              18

Robert Steen                14

Kate Steen                   10

Anna Stevens              27        Domestic servant; born in England

Elizabeth Gourlay       24        Domestic servant; born in Ireland

Maraget McAnally       26        Domestic servant; born in Ireland

Mary Demsey              27        Domestic servant; born in Ireland

William Betz                48        Post Office clerk; personal property: $500.

            Robert Steen arrived in Philadelphia on Sept. 9, 1831 on the ship Envoy Ackerman. He listed his occupation as merchant. The city directories for 1845-1856 listed him as a merchant at 186 High (Market) St. and living on Walnut above Broad. He was married to Margaret Service.

            Steen invested in many other properties in Powelton where he built houses. Many of them were owned by his estate and rented out until the deaths of his children around 1920. They included: 315 and 317 N. 35th, 3412, 3414, 3416, and 3418 Baring, the whole north side of the 3400 block of Hamilton (including houses at 3403, 3405, 3409, 3411, 3413, 3415, 3417, and 3419) and the corner of 35th and Hamilton St.

            “WILLIAM SERVICE STEEN, Son of Robert and Margaret Rea (Service) Steen, was born Aug. 7, 1841, in Philadelphia, Pa. He made a public confession of his faith in the Fourth Reformed Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, at the age of sixteen. His preparatory studies were pursued in Philadelphia at the Classical Academy of the Rev. John W. Faires, D.O., and he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1861. He spent the next year in study under a private tutor in Philadelphia, and the year following as assistant classical instructor 1n the Academy of Prof. F. W. Hastings, [207 N. 35th St.] Philadelphia. He entered the Seminary at Princeton in 1863, taking the full three years' course there and graduating in 1866. He returned for a fourth year as a resident graduate, but remained only a few months. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Philadelphia Central, Oct. 1, 1866, and ordained by the Presbytery of Lackawanna, June 7, 1881. He engaged in missionary work in Bradford County, Pa., from 1866 to 186), and then took up his residence in Philadelphia, where he remained until 1879. He was stated supply of the church at Wysox, Pa., from April 1879 to April 1882. From this time until 1884 his residence was in Washington County, Pa., and then in Cranbury, N. J.., until 1891. He engaged in teaching in Wayne, Pa., from 1891 to 1896, and was superintendent of the Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia from 1896 to 1912, He continued his residence in Philadelphia until his death, which occurred Aug. 12, 1914, in the Presbyterian Hospital of that city, in the 74th year of his age. He was buried in the West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia. He was twice moderator of the Presbytery of Monmouth. For a short time in 1864 he was in the service of the United States Christian Commission, and served in the Pennsylvania Volunteers during the Civil War.

“He was married June I9, 1879, at Ewing's Mills, Washington Co., Pa., to Ellen Ewing Hallock, who, with one son and three daughters, survives him.” (Necrological Report Presented to the Alumni Association of Princeton Theological Seminary, May 4th, 1915.)

 

1866, Feb. 22: “Death of a Prominent Citizen. Robert Steen, for many years a prominent grocer of this city, died this morning at his residence in West Philadelphia, in his 80th year. Mr. Steen was a native of Ireland, but has been in this country for fifty years. He was a man of sterling integrity and patriotism, and was a contemporary and friend of the late William R. Thompson. He was a Directory in the Mechanics’ Bank and Reliance Insurance Company, and his loss will be generally regretted.” (Telegraph, Feb. 22, 1866)

 

1866: The estate of Robert Steen was listed in IRS records at 33rd and Bridge (Spring Garden) St. He listed income of $11,695. His taxable belongings included a watch, a piano, and silver plate which was listed in 1863 at 311 ozs.

 

1870, May 10: R.J.S. Steen married Jessie E. Davis, both of Philadelphia. They were married by the Rev. R. W. Dana, assisted by the Rev. J. Addison Henry at the Walnut St. Presbyterian Church. (Inquirer, May 11, 1870).

 

1870:

John Steen       43        Gardener; born in Ireland

Mary Steen       36        Born in Ireland

Eugene Steen   14

Ellen Steen      7

John Steen       11 months

Sarah Steen      11 months

James Steen     34

 

1870 Oct. 28: death of Margaret Service Steen, burial at Laurel Hill Cemetery (Inquirer, Nov. 1)

 

1876-’77 and 1877-’78 Catalogues, University of Pennsylvania: Thomas French, Assistant in Physics, Towne Scientific School

 

1878 Harvard Class of 1872 directory: Thomas French

“THOMAS FRENCH. Born at Clifton, Ohio, Jan. 15, 1848. Went abroad in July, 1872. He writes as follows, April 20, 1878:

‘Entered the University at Munich in October, where he attended lectures on Roman Law, German Literature, and History; at the end of that term, he decided to study science with a view to teaching, and chose Physics as his specialty; in pursuance of this plan, entered the Polytechnic School in Munich, still keeping up his connection with the University; in August, 1873, visited the Vienna Exposition, and after travelling in Switzerland and Italy returned again to Munich, and resumed his work. At the expiration of his third term in Munich, he went to Berlin, and spent one term at the University there; from October, 1874, till March, 1876, he studied at Heidelberg, where he received the degree of Ph.D.; after a short sojourn in Paris, returned to America in June, 1876; since September, 1876, has held the position of Assistant in Physics in the University of Pennsylvania.’  In March, 1876, he also received the degree of A.M. On Dec. 27, 1876, was married to Laura S. Hildreth, at Cambridge. Resides at Philadelphia.” (Pp 15-16)

 

1887 Journal of the Select Council of Philadelphia: J. Dallas Hall, chief clerk, Tax Bureau

 

1890 Directory:

Fuller Alan J.,   engineer

            In 1900, Alan J. Fuller lived at 3417 Hamilton and in 1911, he was at 3402 Baring.

Fuller Herbert M., surveyor, 1862 N 27th, h 3313 Spg Garden

Hall J. Dallas (J.D.Hall & Co. [publishers in R.I.] ), & chief clerk City Hall

            He was the brother-in-law of Alfred Chapman, 3610 Baring St. He lived with them in 1880.

Kelley George D.B., sashes, 2110 Filbert & 4 S 20th h 3313 Spg Garden

                        In 1870he lived at 3612 Hamilton St. In 1900, he was at 3711 Powelton Ave.

Taplin John C., manager, 18 N 7th, h 3313 Spg Garden

Ward Matilda M., boarding     

            In 1900, Matilda Ward lived at 3417 Hamilton.

Whitmer Robert F. (William Whitmer & Sons)            [lumber and coal]

 

1899, April 25: Title transferred to Samuel H. Hicks by Estate of Robert Steen

 

Added 1/31/2019

Visit the Powelton Village Historical Interactive Map

Contact Us                                                                                                      About Powelton Village