3414 Race Street
The
History of the Building
3410-3420
Race St. are shown on the 1872 G. M. Hopkins Atlas. They were built by builders,
John Shedwick and his son James C. Shedwick who lived at 3624 Baring St.
in 1870. They built a home for
themselves at 3408 Race St. and moved there about
1872.
3414-3416:
“two-and-one-half
story Second Empire style stone double - same as 3410 - 3412 except for porch
alterations; 3414 enlarged; 3416 rebuilt with Colonial Revival detail, circa
1895, and extended around side to brick one story addition.”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
Previous Residents of
3414 Race Street
1871/’72: Purchased by Elizabeth Highlands from
John Shedwick.
The 1868 directory lists her at 3323
Haverford Ave. (Mantua).
1873 Directory (Fall, 1871]: Joseph L. Keen, agent 1872 at 3316
Spring Garden St.
Edward G. Keen, clerk
Jason F. Keen, coal at S. 30th near Chestnut
Morris L. Keen agent
In 1870, they live at 3316 Spring Garden St.
Joseph L. Keen was the uncle of
Joseph Swift Keen, Jr. (3310 Race St.) & Lucy
Keen Woolman (3312 Race St.).
The 1877 directory lists Jason
living at 3703 Chestnut St. and Morris at 638 N. 18th St.
1874 Directory: Elizabeth Highlands, widow of Finley
Finley Highlands was a stone
cutter. He died in July, 1849 or 1850,
although he is listed in the 1850 census in August, 1850. He was 52 years old.
1874, March 8: Death of Joseph L. Keen, 53 years old. Funeral from
his late residence, 3414 Race St.
1877 Directory: Elizabeth H. Keen, widow of Joseph L.
Harry H. Keen, clerk at 238 S. 3rd
Joseph S. Keen, Jr. of Woolman, Keen & Co.
1880:
Elizabeth Keen 49
Harry Keen 20 Railroad clerk, (SVRR ? Probably B&O)
James Keen 17 Salesman
Emily Keen 10
Elizabeth
Highlands 79 Aunt;
widowed
Amanda Watt 52 Cousin;
single
Elizabeth Watt married Joseph L.
Keen in 1847. Elizabeth
Highlands was the widow of Findley Highlands who was apparently the brother of
Elizabeth (Watt) Keen’s mother, Isabella (Highlands) Watt. He died in 1850 at age 51. In 1860, she lived on Hamilton St. west of N.
33rd St. In 1870, she lived
at 314 N. 33rd St.
1886 Directory: Elizabeth Highlands
Elizabeth H. Keen, widow of Joseph L.
Charles B. Keen, clerk
Harry H. Keen, clerk
James Keen, salesman
James W. Keen, salesman
Elizabeth C. Highlands died Dec. 22,
1898 at age 97. She was living at 2310
Oxford. Burial was at North Laurel Hill
Cemetery.
1899 Directory: Nicholas J. Griffin, liquors at 209 N. 2nd
The 1896 directory lists him living
at 239 N. 18th St.
1900:
Nicholas J.
Griffin 56 Whiskey distiller; born in Ireland; renting
Mary Agnes
Griffin 49 Married 25 years, 6 children, 5 surviving; father born in
Scotland
Nicholas J.
Griffin 23 Advertising agent
Gerald A. Griffin 20 Clerk
at distillery
Edward C. Griffin 19
Mary Elizabeth
Griffin 18
David G. Griffin 12
Rose Martin 32 Cook; born in Ireland
The 1916 directory lists Nicholas
Griffin, Sr. at 3616 Spring Garden St. and Nicholas, Jr. at 331 N. 34th St.
1904: For
rent: 10 rooms, $40, S. Rollason Rainnie, real estate
broker, 3602 Lancaster Ave. (Inquirer)
1913 U. Penn. student: Percy Paul Parsons, A.B. (Allegheny), home: New Castle, residence: 3414 Race
St.
(Catalogue of the University of Pennsylvania.)
1950 Directory: Elizabeth Conway
G. Dougherty
Revised
12/22/2015