3325 Powelton Avenue

 

The History of the Building

 

Built by William S. Kimball

 

3321-31: “red brick Victorian double houses with wood porches; 'segmental windows at first and second floors; pressed brick rosettes in facade between third floor windows; each house has two gabled wood dormers, except for 3329-31, where each half has one dormer. Probably by designed G.W. and W.D. Hewitt.”

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

 

1877, Jan. 4: Title for 3319-3331 Powelton Ave., 309-313 N. 34th St. and 3319-3321 Pearl St. transferred to Emma W. Shipper by Henry H. Houston and his wife.

 

1882, Oct. 12: Title for 3319-3331 Powelton Ave., 309-313 N. 34th St. and 3319-3321 Pearl St. transferred to William S. Kimball by Emma W. Shipper

            The 1883 city directory lists William S. Kimball as a builder at S. 41st and Chestnut streets living at 404 S. 42nd St.

 

1882, Nov. 16: From the Inquirer: “Building improvements are active at this time. Among the more important permits issued recently by the building inspectors:… seven three-story, northeast corner Thirty-fourth and Powelton avenue….”

 

1883, Apr. 23: Title for 3319-3331 Powelton Ave., 309-313 N. 34th St. and 3319-3321 Pearl St. transferred to John Rea by William S. Kimball

It’s likely that Kimball had ran into financial difficulties. In September 1883, he advertised his 15-room mansion for sale “at reduced price.” (Inquirer, Sept. 26)

            The next day, title was transferred to Sanford P. Campbell.

 

Previous Residents of 3325 Powelton Avenue

 

1886, Dec. 1: Title transferred to Elizabeth Liddy Moody by Sanford P. Campbell & wife

 

1886 Directory: Potter Marie E., Widow

                         Van Hook William F.

            The 1884 directory lists Marie E. Potter as a dressmaker living at 1629 Wood St. William F. Van Hook was living at 1601 Tioga.

 

1887 Directory: Potter Marie E.

  Van Hook William F., Real estate

 

1890 Directory: John W. Croskey, M.D., 1509 Walnut St.

 

1900:

John W. Croskey          42        Physician; born Jan. 1858

Elizabeth B. Croskey   40        Born in N.J., Dec. 1859; married 20 years, four children

Henry B. Croskey        18        Printer

Mary E. Croskey          16

Marion L. Croskey       15

John W. Croskey, Jr.    13

Johanna Cleary             49        Servant; born in Ireland

Ellen Cleary                 33        Servant; born in Ireland

            1880, John was living with his parents at 1912 Rittenhouse St.  His father was a lumber merchant.

            “CROSKEY, John Welsh,  M. D.:

            Physician; born on the 26th day of January, 1858, in the family residence on historic Rittenhouse Square; son of Henry Croskey; educated at Dr. Faires' institution. and Eastburn Academy, and Medico-Chirurgical College, in Philadelphia, 1889 and on graduation was elected Chief of the Surgical Clinic of the Medico-Chirurgical, and later in the Adjunct Faculty as lecturer on Minor and Operative Surgery and Demonstrator in bandaging; 1897 succeeded Dr. P. D. Keyser, attending surgeon at the famous Will's Eye Hospital; 1901 elected Ophthalmic surgeon to the Philadelphia Hospital (Blockley), 1902 elected Ophthalmic surgeon to Samaritan Hospital, also to the chair of Ophthalmology. Laryngology and Otology in Temple College Medical Department. Member Masonic Order, the St. George Society; Pennsylvania Historical Society,  Philadelphia County Medical Society, Medico-Chirurgical Society and the American Medical Association. Editor of the Medico-Chirurgical Journal. Married on the 15th day of December, 1880, to Elizabeth Estes Browning. Address, 3325 Powelton Ave., W. Philadelphia, Pa.” (Who’s Who in Pennsylvania, 1904, p 154.)

            Henry Croskey married Myrtle K. Scott in 1920 in Ohio.

 

1905: John Welsh Croskey was editor of the Medico-Chirurgical [Surgical] Journal

 

1910:

John W. Croskey          52        Physician, general practice

Elizabeth B. Croskey   51        Married 30 years, four children; born in NJ, father in NJ, mother in MA

Marion L. Croskey       25        Born in NJ

Mary M. Higgins          26        Servant; born in Ireland

Bridget A. Higgins       24        Servant; born in Ireland

 

1913, Feb. 12: Death of John W. Croskey, Jr., 26 years old, of Tuberculosis

 

1920:

John W. Croskey         61        Physician

Elizabeth B. Croskey   60        Born in N.J.; mother born in N.H.

Marian L. Croskey       34

 

1930:

John W. Croskey          72        Physician, eye specialist

Elizabeth Croskey        71

Marian L. Croskey       44

 

1931, Jan. 29: Death of Elizabeth Croskey, 72 years old, of 3325 Powelton Ave.

            In 1940, John lived in Upper Dublin, Montgomery Co., Pa. with his second wife, Marie who was born in France.  She was 30 years his junior.  Her two sons, Gordon and Louis Bretschneider, lived with them.

 

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Revised 8/13/2021

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