3408 Powelton Avenue

 

The History of the Building

 

3404-18: “two-and-one-half story mansarded Victorian double houses; smooth cut ashlar' granite facades over brick construction. Full-height first floor windows except on 3412 where they are partially filled in; arched doorways with incised brownstone lintels and surrounds. Second floor windows have incised brownstone lintels and sills; double bracketed wood cornice. Most of the mansarded roofs have their original slate shingles. Four gabled dormers with batten-and- board faces project from the mansards, except for 3412, which has only three, with scalloped red clay shingles. Pent roofs added.”

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

 

Previous Residents

 

1880:

William D'Olier           36        Cotton merchant; born in Ireland

Annie D'Olier              30        Born in N.J.

Alice D'Olier                 4        Born in N.J.

Frank D'Olier                3        Born in N.J.

Edith D'Olier                2        Born in N.J.

Bridget McMonagle     19        Servant; born in N.Y., parents born in Ireland

Martha Patterson         32        Servant; born in England

 

1881 Directory: D'Olier, William (William D'Olier & Co.) cotton & yarns, 104 Chestnut

 

1883 Directory: Massah M. Warner, music teacher

            In 1881, they lived at 305 N. 19th St. In 1883, they purchased and moved to 3418 Hamilton St.

 

1890 Directory: Town, Henry W. (Town & Bro.)

            He was in the rubber business at 608 Market St. (Rubber Trade Directory. India Rubber World., 1908)

 

1898 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. Henry W. Town

 

1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. Edward T. Biddle

 

1910:

Edward T. Biddle        35        Book publisher; born in N.J., parents born in Pa.

Anna M. Biddle           39        Married 7 years, 3 children

George D. Biddle          4

Mary T. Biddle               2

John M. Biddle            4 months

Alice A. Windish          25        Governess; born in Del., parents born in Pa.

Isabella Brown             19        Housemaid; mulatto; born in Va.

            Anna McIlvain Biddle was the daughter of George D. Miller and Anna C. Thomas. She and Edward Taggart Biddle were married Nov. 18, 1902. From 1870-1902, she lived with her parents at 313 N. 33rd St.

 

1918 Draft Registration: Edward Taggart Biddle, bookkeeper for George D. Miller at 4757 Upland St., Philadelphia, PA

            George D. Miller was his father-in-law.

 

1920:

Edward T. Biddle         44        Office clerk; born in N.J., parents born in Pa.; renting

Anna M. Biddle           48

George D. Biddle         14

Mary I. Biddle              12

John N. Biddle            10

            The 1928 directory of Camden, N.J. lists Edward and Anna Biddle living at 533 S. High. In 1929, they purchased 315 N. 33rd St.

 

1927 Directory: A. F. Biggins

 

1946, Jan. 2: KING, Homer Lymon, Torpedoman's Mate 1c, USN. Wife, Mrs. Marie Pearl King, 3408 Powelton Ave., Philadelphia.” (Pennsylvania Navy, Marines and Coast Guard World War II Casualty List.)  He was lost when the submarine USS Runner was apparently sunk by a mine north of Hokkaido, Japan. He was born Nov. 1919 in Carlsbad, N.M. (On Eternal Patrol - Lost Submariners of World War II)

 

1997, Sept. 9: Sherriff’s sale of 3408 Powelton Ave. (Phila. Tribune)

 

< 3406 Powelton                                                                                                                       3410 Powelton >

Revised 7/1/2022

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