3417 Race Street
3417 Race St., c1940
(courtesy of the Alexander
family)
The
History of the Building
“two-and-one-half story Second Empire style
house -with stone facade and patterned slate-shingled mansard. Original
modillioned wood porch and full height first floor windows intact.
Scroll-shaped and simple bracketed cornice border mansard which has two dormers
with arched window heads.”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
Previous Residents of
1873, 1875 &
1876 Directories: Charles M. Biddle, a partner in Biddle Hardware Co., 509
Commerce and 512 North
The
1870 directory lists him at 44 N. 16th St. He was the son of Robert Biddle and Anna
Miller and a cousin of Clement M. Biddle (3313 Baring
St.). Clement and his father, William
C. Biddle, were also partners in Biddle Hardware.
1880:
Benjamin Moore 30 Lawyer
Ella L. Moore 32
Mary M. Imbel 28 Servant
1897: “Mrs. Walter C. Hamm, 3417 Race street,
is a new candidate this year [for a local school board]. Mrs. Hamm was formally
a resident of Providence R. I., and was a student of the high school of that
town. She has lived in the Twenty-Fourth Ward, Philadelphia, for six years. She
is a member of the Church of the Savior and takes an active part in church
work, been secretary of the Pastoral Aid Society and President of the Girl’s
Friendly Society.” (Inquirer, Dec.
19, “Women Candidates for School Boards; Committee of the Civic Club Again
Presents a Number of Names”)
1897, Dec. 1: Marriage of Lucy Marie Phillips (3417 Race St.) to
Thomas C. Davis (3744 Walnut St.). They
were married at the home of the bride by a minister from the Church of the
Savior (Protestant Episcopal), 38th and Chestnut Streets.
In 1900, they were living at 3741
Walnut St. She was 60 and was born in Rhode Island. He was a 56 year-old manufacturer. Two of his daughters lived with them.
1900:
Walter C. Hamm 52 Journalist; born
in N.Y.; renting
Alice A. P. Hamm 51 Married 8
years, no children; born in R.I., parents born in
Annie Byrd 28 Servant; black; born in
They were members of
The Church of the Savior (Episcopal).
1910:
Amanda S. White 45 School teacher; widowed, 4 children, 3
surviving; renting
Maurice S. White 21 Son; life
insurance agent
Arthur J. White 20 Son
Eleanor K. Wunder 38 Sister; singer in
church choir; divorced, 1 child
Eleanor S. Wunder 13 Niece
Rosa Smith 19 Cook; mulatto; born in
1914, Oct.: Marriage of Julian Alexander and Virginia Hill who
moved into this house after their marriage.
He was the son of E. P. and Euretta Alexander 306 N. 35th St. She was the
daughter of Horace G. and Louisa Hill.
Mr. Hill grew up at 3405 Hamilton St. In 1900, the Hill
family lived at 3416 Baring St. In 1910, Louisa Hill was widowed and
living with her three children at 3419 Hamilton St.
1917, Jan. 2: birth of Julian Alexander, Jr.
1917 WWI Draft Registration: Julian Alexander, born Feb. 18,
1889, married with one child. He worked
for Alexander Bros., makers of leather belts at 414 N. 3rd St.
1920:
Julian Alexander 30 Manufacturer
of leather belting; mother born in R.I.; owner with a mortgage
Virginia
Alexander 32
Julian Alexander 2 yrs. and 4 months
Mary Civitts 48 Servant; black; widowed
Ruth Civitts 19 Servant; black
1930:
Julian Alexander 41 Manufacturer
of leather belts; married at age 25; mother born in R.I.; owner, house valued
at $20,000
Virginia
Alexander 43 Married at age 27
Julian Alexander 13
Louisa Alexander 8
Louisa Hill 68 Mother-in-law; widowed
Julia Schlecht 35 Servant; born in Germany
Joseph B. Hill 37 Lodger
[brother-in-law]; chemist for oil refiner
In 1920, Louisa Hill and her son,
Joseph Bennett Hill, lived at 409 N. 36th St.
1933, Jan. 20: Death of Julian Alexander
“Julian Alexander, president of E.
P. Alexander & Son, a leather belting firm, died yesterday at his home,
3417 Race st., of pneumonia. He was
43. He was a graduate of the University
of Pennsylvania, class of 1911; vice president of the Philadelphia Leather
Belting Association; treasurer of the American Leather Belting Association; an
elder in Northminster Presbyterian Church and superintendent of the Sunday
School. He is survived by his wife, a
son, a daughter and two sisters.” (Inquirer, Jan. 21)
1940:
Virginia
Alexander 53 Widowed; owner, house valued at $8,500
Julian Alexander 23 Son;
chemist, earned $1,800 in 1939
Louise Alexander 18 Daughter
Eureta A. Simons 25 Niece
Laird H. Simons 22 Nephew;
researcher for a leather co., earned $782 in 1939 for 20 weeks of work
Eureta and Laird Simons, Jr. were
the children of Laird H. and Amelia (Alexander) Simons. They lived previously at 3412 Baring St. In 1936, they were living in
Wynnewood, Pa. Laird H., Sr. died June
14, 1936. Amelia Simons, sister of
Julian Alexander, Sr., died four months later on Oct. 4. Euretta attended Bryn Mawr. She is named after her grandmother, Euretta
Andrews Alexander. She is listed on the
All-Time Roster for field hockey for her play in 1933. She was staff photographer for the 1936
yearbook.
Louise
Alexander
(Bryn Mawr Yearbook
for Class of 1936)
Laird H. Simons, Jr. was a member of
the Class of 1939 from Haverford College where he was captain of the wrestling
team.
“Laird
H. Simons, Jr. died on July 14 [1999] in Wynnewood, PA, at the age of 81. He
was the husband of Barbara Simons. A leather manufacturer, he spent his entire
career with William Amer Co. He served as president of the family-owned
business for 30 years. He also chaired the Tanner's Council of America. During
World War II, he served in England and Ireland. Serving as a ruling elder and
trustee, Mr. Simons was an active member of the General Assembly Council at the
time of his death. A leader in the Greater Philadelphia community, Mr. Simons
chaired the original board of trustees that founded the Community College of
Philadelphia from 1964 to 1970. He worked for the United Way for years,
chairing the annual fund drive. He ran the Salvation Army's capital improvement
campaign and served as president of the Philadelphia Council of Boy Scouts. Mr.
Simons served on the boards of PSFS/Meritor, Presbyterian Hospital and
Haverford College. He was trustee emeritus of Princeton Theological Seminary
after serving on its board for years. In addition to his wife of 52 years, Mr.
Simons is survived by a son, Laird III '70; two daughters; a sister and three
granddaughters.” (http://www.genealogybuff.com/misc/educators-obits1.htm
accessed 9/23/2012)
Julian
Alexander
(Haverford College Record)
1950 Directory: Mrs. Julian Alexander
Alexander Brothers [the family business],
leather belting, 406 N. 3rd St.
1950:
Virginia
Alexander 63 Widowed; 5 years of college; household income included $6,000
in wage and $10,000 in non-wage income
Louisa H.
Alexander 28 Daughter; secretary at dental institute; single
Euretta A. Simons 35 Niece; photographer for photographing
co.; single
Note: education income only provided
by every fifth individual.