Between about 1857 and 1902, this lot held a large house and grounds. It is shown in the 1872 Hopkins Atlas as follows:
The Hagley Museum has photos of the house as it looked in the 1880s when it was owned by the du Pont family after they had done some renovations. They can be viewed with the following links to their website:
3500 Powelton Ave. 3500 Powelton Ave. 2. 3500 Powelton Ave. 3.
Mrs. du Pont’s Room. Library. Library 2.
Previous Residents
1858
Directory: Directory: Henry C. Blair & Co., drugs, S. W. 8th & Walnut,
h 35th & Powelton av
1857
Directory: Henry C. Blair & Co., drugs, S. W. 8th & Walnut
1860:
Henry C. Blair 41 Druggist; real estate: $50,000,
personal: $15,000
Eliza F. Blair 38
Andrew Blair 18 Salesman
Henry Blair 15
Lillie Blair 12
Sallie Blair 1
MA McCollough 20 Servant; born in Ireland
Anne Linn 26 Servant; born in Ireland
M A Hughes 16 Servant; born in Pa.
John Morgan 22
Hostler [a person who takes care of
horses]; born in Ireland
Henry C. Bliar [R] and Henry C. Blair, Jr.
(American
Druggist, 1893)
Henry
C. Blair’s & Sons “was established in 1820 in the same building now
occupied [1893], though the building has of course been much enlarged and
improved.
“The
first Henry C. Blair was born in Cumberland County, Penn., and went to
Philadelphia when 16 years of age, served his term in the drug business and
graduated in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 1816. He was the first
apothecary to use the title ‘pharmaceutist’ and his
new sign caused considerable comment at the time.
“He
was a competent and conscientious pharmacist, and a Christian gentleman, and
gained for his establishment an enviable reputation.
“The
second Henry C. Blair was born in the building now occupied by the firm,
graduated in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 1866, since which time he
has been a member of the firm of Henry C. Blair's Sons, having had charge of
the formulating and manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations introduced by
the firm during the past 25 years.” (American Druggist, 1893)
1861
Directory: Blair, Henry C., apothecary, 35th & Powelton
Henry
C. Blair, Sr., died in 1862. His oldest
son, Andrew, is listed in the IRS records in May, 1863 as executor. The 1866 directory (compiled in late 1865)
lists Andrew living at the S. E. corner of 36th and Baring (see 3512 Baring St.).
IRS records show his mother living with him and Henry Blair, Jr.
apparently lived there as well. In 1870,
Henry, Jr. was living at 3207 Arch St. with his wife, Mary, their daughter,
Ella D., and their newborn son, Henry, 3rd.
Mrs. Blair sold the property to William T. Snodgrass
sometime in 1863-’66
1866
Directory: Edward H. Williams, engineer
Edward Williams moved to Philadelphia
to become General Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He probably rented here briefly. By 1870, he and his family were living at 101 N. 33rd St.
1866, May:
Real estate ads listing “Desirable Stone Cottages” for sale list one at 35th
and Powelton Ave.
1866, June
8: Title transferred to William A. Piper by William T. Snodgrass
1860s: James G. Hardie married Elizabeth F. Blair,
widow of Henry C. Blair
In
1870, they were living at his house at 3200 Arch St.
1866
Directory: William T. Snodgrass, cloths, etc., 34 S. 2nd & 23
Strawberry, h 35th & Powelton
Walter
C. Snodgrass, salesman, 34 S. 2nd & 23 Strawberry, h 35th &
Powelton
In
1870, William T. Snodgrass was 54 years old.
He lived with his wife, Anna (age 50), their four children and 3
domestic servants. Walter Snodgrass was
22 years old.
1870:
William A.
Piper 50 Physician; real estate: $55,000,
personal: $10,000
William A. Piper
[Jr] 24 Medical student; personal: $5,000
Margaret Piper 40
Wilmer Piper 9 Born
in
Annie Hahn 15 ??
Anne Blair 39 Domestic servant; born in
Johana Carroll 20 Domestic
servant; born in Ireland
William Barnes 21 Coachman;
black; born in
The 1866 Directory lists William A,
Piper, M.D., S. E. 5th & Brown.
1880:
William A.
Piper 61 Physician
Margaret Piper 50 [a
McIlvain?]
Anne Mc Ilvain 25 Niece
William A. Hahn 20 Step-son;
medical student
Mary Ely 50 Servant; born in
James S. Davis 20
Coachman; black
1881 Directory: William A. Piper, physician, 727 N. 5th,
h
1881, June 28: Deed transfer registered from William A. Piper to Lammot du Pont
At the same time, a transfer of the
deed for lot to West from J. G. Hardie to Lammot du
Pont was registered.
“The two Philadelphia properties at
35th Street and Powelton Avenue [3500 Powelton and 207
N. 35th St.] were valued at $110,000, against which there were
mortgages totaling $25,000....”
(Lammot du Pont and the American explosives
industry, 1850-1884. Norman B. Wilkinson. 1984. P 287.)
1884, Feb. 29: Death of Lammot du Pont
of 3500 Powelton Ave.. he died in Gibbstown, Gloucester Co., N.J.
The circumstances surrounding his
death and his funeral are described in the Powelton
History Blog (“The Death of Lammot du Pont”).
1887 Directory: Mary du
Pont, widow of Lammot
The Hagley Museum
has several photos of the du Pont family at 3500 Powelton Ave. A few can be
viewed at the following links:
1890 Directory: Pierre du Pont
1891 Directory: Mary du
Pont, widow of Lammot
1895: G. Martin Brill purchased the estate from Mary E. McIlvain
for $21,000 plus $39,000 for the adjacent land along Powelton Ave.
1898 Blue Book: G. Martin Brill was a member of the Powelton
Club. (For a brief history of the club, see the Powelton History Blog.)
1900:
G. Martin
Brill 55 Car builder; owner, free of a mortgage
Mary E. Brill 50 Married 30 years, 5 children, 4 surviving; born in N.Y.
Julia A. Brill 24
M. Herman Brill 21
Mary Estelle
Brill 17
Martha Johnson 22 Servant,
waitress; black; born in Va.
Rachel Whiting 25 Servant,
cook; black; born in
Robert Ford 39 Servant, coachman; black; born in Va.
In 1870-1887, they lived at 414 N. 32nd St. In 1889-1895, they lived at 3613 Hamilton St.
G. Martin Brill (1845-1906) was president
of the J. G. Brill Co., the largest producer of street cars in
In 1880, John G. Brill and his
family lived at
For more information about G. Martin
Brill and the J. G. Bill Co., see the Powelton
History Blog.
1902, Feb. 25: George M. Brill sells mansion plus adjoining
property on Powelton Ave. to F. A. Poth for $65,500.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Feb. 22, 1902 that Poth planned
to build an eleven-story apartment house on the property. However, he began building houses on the lot
instead. The houses were then combined
into one large apartment building. For
the history, see: Powelton
Apartments.
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