3432 Powelton Avenue
The
History of the Building
3420-3432 were built by James
& Charles A. Maguire along with five houses around the corner on 35th
St. They were predicted to cost $100,000. (Phila. Builders Guide, Mar.
20, 1895) They were purchased by Frederick A. Poth (216 N.
33rd St.) in February 1896 (Phila. Builders’ Guide, Feb.
15, 1896) “Messrs. Maguire recently completed a large block of handsome houses
at Thirty-fifth Street and Powelton Avenue, all of which were sold to F. A.
Poth, the sale representing an investment of over $300,000.” (Phila.
Builders’ Guide, Feb. 26, 1896)
3420-3432: “three-story rowhouses, built as a single
row; rusticated stone basements; Pompeiian brick facades. Single porch
supported by wood Tuscan columns extends across front of all seven houses. Each
house has paired windows, repetition interrupted at second floor by alternating
projecting bays and tripartite windows topped by terra cotta panels; most have
tall gables with cast terra cotta ornament; 3422 and 3430 have Dutch gables; a
mansarded roof with red pantiles extends between each gable.”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
Previous Residents
1899, June 24: Death
of Jane M. Thomson, 51 years-old, wife of John L. Thomson of 3432 Powelton Ave.
1900:
John L. Thomson 60 Insurance;
widowed
Theodore P. Thomson 25 Clerk
Helen Thomson 12 Daughter
Sarah A Troxell 64 Housekeeper;
born in
From
about 1877 to 1897, they lived at 206 N. 33rd
St.
1901, April: Marriage license issued to Mary R.
Sinclair and John L. Thomson of 3432 Powelton Ave.
1901: Marriage license issued to Bessie Meesner
of 1425 S. Broad St. and Theodore P. Thomson
In
1900, they lived at 323 N. 32nd St.
1904 Who’s Who in Pa.: THOMSON, John L.:
“Vice President of the Pennsylvania Fire
Insurance Company of Philadelphia; born in that city Oct. 19, 1839. He was
educated in the public schools and began his business life in 1865 in a
wholesale grocery and sugar refinery establishment. In 1864 he entered the office of the
Pennsylvania Fire as a clerk, was promoted to Assistant Secretary in 1877, to
Secretary in 1881, and to Vice President Sept.
1, 1890. Mr. Thomson was Secretary of the National Board of Fire
Underwriters from 1884 to 1888 inclusive. Address,
1910:
John L. Thomson 70 Vice President,
Fire Insurance Co.; married twice; renting
Mary R. Thomson 63 Married twice;
married 9 years
Helen Thomson 22 Daughter
Mary I. Robinson 31 Daughter;
divorced, 1 child
John T. Robinson 9 Grandson
Mary W. Fay 45 Servant,
cook; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1879
Margaret B. O'Dea 40 Servant,
chambermaid; born in Ireland; immigrated in 1887
Robert A. Williams 24 Servant, butler;
mulatto; born in Va.
Mary
(Thomson) Robison was married to Henry M. Robison. In 1900, they lived at 3622 Hamilton St.
1920:
John L. Thomson 80
Mary R. Thomson 72
Mary T. Robison 41 Daughter
John T. Robison 19 Grandson,
clerk in a railroad office
Mary Fay 54 Servant; born in Ireland
Margaret Odea 50 Servant;
born in Ireland
1921, Oct. 25: Death of John L. Thomson, 82
years old, husband of Mary R. Thomson of 3432 Powelton Ave.
“Funeral
of John L. Thomson. The funeral of John
L. Thomson, prominent insurance man of this city, who died on Tuesday, was held
yesterday afternoon at his home, 3432 Powelton avenue, with private
internment. Mr. Thomson, who was former
vice president of the Pennsylvania Fire Insurance Company, maintained an office
in the Drexel Building up to the time of his death.” (Phila. Inquirer, Oct. 29, 1921)
1930:
Gertrude Monroe 49 Widowed;
renting for $140 per month
Lewis Simonet 23 Nephew; [occupation in retail radio illegible]single;
father born in N.Y.
Adrian Simonet 60 Brother-in-law;
bookkeeper; married at age 35; born in N.Y., father born in France, mother in
N.Y.
Phebe R. Hurton 70 Lodger;
works in corset shop; single; mother born in Maryland
Josephine Sennebrell 65 Lodger; widowed
Amdnola J. Maru 75 Lodger;
widowed
Beatrice Hallgo 21 Lodger;
single; born in Ohio
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Revised 7/1/2022