3418 Race Street
The
History of the Building
3410-3420
Race St. are shown on the 1872 G. M. Hopkins Atlas
3418-3420:
“two-and-one-half story
Second Empire style stone double with original dormers with arched, window
heads in slate shingled mansard. circa 1895 Colonial Revival alterations
included. replacing porch with simple post balustrade and wood Tuscan columns,
and adding wood paneled projecting and flat bay windows to front. Original
scroll and bracket cornice intact.”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
Previous Residents of
3418 Race Street
1871/’72: Samuel
S. Davis purchased this house from the builders, John Shedwick and his son
James C. Shedwick. They lived at 3624 Baring St.
They built a home for themselves at 3408 Race St.
and moved there about 1872.
1874
Directory: Samuel S. Davis, clerk
In 1870, Samuel lived at
1880:
Samuel S. Davis 42 Clerk
for Penna. Railroad
Susan Davis 38
Samuel R. Davis
6
Lydida Cragmile 18 Servant;
born in
In 1860, he lived with his widowed
mother and brothers at 318 N. 31st St. In
1870, he lived at 404 N. 32nd St.
(previously 332) with his mother and brother.
1891 Directory: Samuel Davis, clerk
Samuel Davis, Jr., student
1891, May 6: Death of Susan Davis, 49 years old, burial in
Elizabethtown, Pa.
1893: Death of Elouise Davis of . Died at the home of her
brother-in-law, Samuel S. Davis. Funeral at the home of her brother, Dr. Benton
Molony, Norristown.
1896: Samuel Redsecker Davis graduated from Cornell University. He
wrote a thesis entitled “A Comparative Study of the Basilicas of Trajan and of
Constantine.”
1899 Directory: Samuel Davis, clerk
Samuel R. Davis, draughtsman
1900:
S. S. Davis 62 Railroad clerk; widowed; owner, free of a mortgage
S. R. Davis 27 Architect
1901, May 24: Death of Samuel R. Davis of 3418 Race St.
“Samuel Redsecker Davis, a
well-known architect, died suddenly on Wednesday at the home of his father,
Samuel S. Davis, 3418 Race street, from spinal
meningitis. Mr. Davis was taken sick in church last Sunday night and went to a
physician at once. The disease developed so rapidly he lived but three days. He
was a graduate of Central High School class of ’93 and of Cornell, where he took
a prize for architectural work.” (Phila. Inquirer)
“SAMUEL R. DAVIS, '96, B.S. IN ARCH.
“Samuel Redsecker Davis died
suddenly of spinal meningitis, May 24, at his home in Philadelphia. Since
leaving college the deceased had shown great promise in his chosen profession,
and was at the time of his death employed as architect by the Pennsylvania
Railroad and in addition had quite an extensive private practice. He had drawn
plans for the Alumni Hall and had been chosen to take part in the final competition.
“While in college Mr. Davis took an
active interest in University affairs, being a member of the lacrosse team,
pipe custodian of his class, and a member of various clubs. He was a member of
Beta Theta Pi fraternity.” (Cornell Alumni News, May 29, 1901)
1905, Oct. 26: Death of Samuel S. Davis, 69 years old. He was born
in Chester Co. Pa.
1910:
Mary E. Roberts 46 “Own
income;” widowed
Katharine
Reyenthaler 69 Mother; “own
income;” widowed
Elizabeth
Hornkepf 65 Aunt, single
Mary Kelly 25 Servant, cook; born in Ireland
Katherine Reyenthaler was the widow
of Henry Reyenthaler. He was a drover (a cattle
dealer). In 1870 and 1880, they lived at 337
(later 409) N. 32nd St. Mary Elizabeth Reyenthaler
married Charles Paul Roberts in Philadelphia in 1891. He died Oct. 2, 1895 at age 34. They were living at 3217 Wallace St.
1920:
Mary E.
Roberts 56 Widowed
Catherine
Reyenthaler 80 Mother
Elizabeth
Dornketh 74 Aunt
1941, Apr. 25: Death of Mary Newell Cash, 76 years old buried from
The Church of the Savior-Episcopal in Philadelphia.
She was the daughter of George S.
Cash. She lived most of her life at 3500 Race St.
Revised
9/20/2015