3331 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 designed by 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

 

1883, Aug. 22: Title transferred to Louisa S. Austin by Sanford P. Campbell & wife

 

1885, Apr. 21: Title transferred to William Anderson by Louisa S. Austin

1890 Directory: William Anderson, (Anderson & Barry) & (S. C. Wilson & Co.)

                                    S. C. Wilson & Co. manufactured woolen yarns.

                         William Anderson, Jr., manager

 

1898 Blue Book: William Anderson was a member of the Powelton Club. (For a brief history of the club, see the Powelton History Blog.)

 

1900:

William Anderson        52        Woolen manufacturer; born in Canada; born Feb. 1848

Hannah Anderson       62        Married 33 years, four children, 3 surviving; born in N.Y., born Mar. 1838

William Anderson        31        Woolen manufacturer; born Dec. 1868

George Anderson         25        Woolen manufacturer; born July, 1874

Burnett Anderson        25        Daughter; born July 1874

            Hannah Louise Donaldson married William Anderson. They were members of The Church of the Savior (Episcopal).

 

1910:

William Anderson        65        Wholesale drugs[?]

Hanna L. Anderson     65        married 40 years

Burnett Anderson        34

 

1919: “Lewis, Frederic Hastings [c 88-91. Mfg.'] 3331 Powelton Ave., Philadelphia, Pa.”

(Harvard Alumni Directory. Harvard Alumni Association. 1919.)

 

1920:

Frederick Lewis           49        President of peanut oil co.; born in Mass.; owns house, free of mortgage

Burneth A. Lewis         46        Wife; father born in Canada, mother in N.Y.

            Frederick H. Lewis was president of the class of 1878 at the Univ. of Pennsylvania.

 

            PITTSBURGH TESTING LABORATORY JOHN T. LEWIS, BROS. & CO.

            “The engineering specialty which the Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory represents, as "Metallurgical and Inspecting Engineers," and in which, for ten years past, it has been pre-eminent, is entirely based upon the great supremacy of Pennsylvania in the manufacture of iron....

            “These two facts : Pennsylvania's supremacy in iron, and the civil engineer's conscientous care in his bridge work, constituted the major and the minor premises on which the proprietors of the Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory concluded to start business, ten years ago. They considered that it was clearly impossible for engineers, all over this broad land, to give up home duties and come to Pennsylvania's workshops whenever there was a bridge to build. Hence it was likely that many engineers would be glad to do this by deputy, if they could only find reliable and competent deputies for their purpose....

            “The home of the Laboratory and of its proprietors, Messrs. Hunt & Clapp, is of course in Pittsburgh. The Philadelphia office, under the management of Mr. Frederick H. Lewis, C. E., does a business which rivals that of the parent establishment.

            “The Laboratory is a well known feature of the eastern iron business, and its many inspectors are known at all the great mills and bridge shops….

            The works [at the corner of Duke and Huntington Sts.] were much enlarged and in addition to the manufacture of white lead, linseed oil and arctic acid, they began the manufacture of red seal, orange mineral, acetate of lead, and at a later day many other paints.”

(Philadelphia and Popular Philadelphians. 1891, p 122)

            “MR. FREDERICK H. LEWIS, M. Am. Soc., C. E. has visited the principal cement factories of England and the Continent, and makes a most interesting report.”

(Architect's Hand-book on Cements. Addison H. Clarke.1899.)

 

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Revised 8/14/2021

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