3501 Powelton Avenue
Photo probably from the late 1870s. 302 N. 35th
St. is visible at the right
But there is no evidence of 3515 Powelton at the
left.
Photo taken
about 1960 just before it was demolished.
The
History of the Building
Built by Wilson Brothers for their father and family.
The house was demolished in 1959/60 to make room for
the
Previous Residents of
1867, September: Deed transferred from J. Edgar Thomson to Jane
M. Wilson, wife of William Hassell Wilson.
J. Edgar Thomson was president of
the Pennsylvania Railroad. He lived at 1800 Spruce St.
1870:
William H. Wilson 58 Civil
engineer; born in S.C.; real estate: $50,000; personal: $45,000
Jane M.
Wilson 51
Joseph M. Wilson 32 Civil
engineer
Sarah P. Wilson 31 Daughter-in-law;
personal property: $25,000
Henry W. Wilson 26 Civil
engineer; property: $3,000
Margaret Wilson 24
Susan D. Wilson 16
Alice Wilson 1
mon. (Born May, 1870)
Ellen Gunnon 23 Domestic
servant; born in Ireland
Kate Hughes 22 Domestic servant; born in
Emma Reed 24 Domestic servant
Patrick Sullivan 30 Coachman;
born in
Their oldest son, John A. Wilson,
later lived immediately behind them at 302 N. 35th
St.
“Any account of the history of St. Andrew's Church would be
incomplete that did not take notice of the long and faithful labors of two men
who have gone to their rest and reward : Washington J. Peale... and W. Hasell Wilson, who died in 1902, was one who had carried
the financial burdens of the parish for a quarter of a century, and gave to it,
out of his rare wisdom and experience, counsel and help never to be forgotten.
The names of these two laymen should be indelibly recorded in the history of
the parish and of the church at large.”
(Vieira, M. L.
(1903).
“WILSON, William Hasell, railroad
pres.- eng'r; b.
(Who's Who in
1871, April 11: Death of Mary Wilson, 20 years, 6 months old,
daughter of Jane M. and William Hasell Wilson of 3501
Powelton Ave. She was single and was born in Chester Co.
1880:
William H.
Wilson 68
Civil
engineer; born in S.C., father born in Scotland, mother in S.C.
Jane M. Wilson 68
Sarah A. Wilson 34 Daughter
Susan D. Wilson 26 Daughter
Catharine Odonnel 30 Servant; born in
Catharine Hughes 30 Servant;
born in
Annie Cameron 29 Servant;
born in Scotland
1881: Dir: Wilson, W. Hansell, civil engineer, 233 S 4th,
h 3501 Powelton Ave.
1896: The Girl’s Friendly Society (organized in America 1877; in
Phila. 1881):... St. Andrews Church,
(“Civic club
digest of the educational & charitable institutions & societies ...
Civic Club of Philadelphia,...” Google Books)
1896: Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Wilson,
(AWOSTING
FALLS-LAKE MINNEWASKA... “Is located on the summit of the
.. References:
That this object has been attained, the proprietor would respectfully refer to
"the persons whose names are attached to this circular — nearly all of
whom have remained at the
1898-’99 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. W. Hassell Wilson
William Hassell Wilson Jane
Miller Wilson
1898, May 11: Death of Jane M. Wilson, 87 years, 9 months of 3501
Powelton Ave. Funeral services at St. Andrew's Church with burial at Laurel
Hill cemetery.
1898,
May: Deed transferred from Jane H. Wilson (dec'd)
Wilson to William H. Wilson.
1900:
W. Hasell Wilson 88 Widowed;
railroad president; born in S.C., father in Scotland, mother in S.C. ; owner, free of a mortgage
Sarah H. Wilson 54 Daughter
Susan D. Wilson 46 Daughter
Sarah Berrell 65 Servant; born in
Frances L. Baxter
26 Servant;
born in
Ellen Carr 25
Servant
1902, Aug. 17: Death of William Hasell
Wilson. He was buried at Laurel hill cemetery from St. Andrew’s Church, 36th
& Baring Sts.
“Railroad
President's Death.
“The death of W. Hasell Wilson, for many years president; of the
Pennsylvania Railroad's Belvidere division, occurred yesterday at his
residence, 3501 Powelton avenue. He was ninety-one years of age and has been
suffering from general debility for two months, during which time he has been
absent from business. He was born in Charleston, S. C., accompanied by his
father, Major John Wilson, in locating the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad
in 1828, entered the service of the Pennsylvania in 1836 and became resident
engineer for the entire line in 1859. In 1873 he became president of the Erie
and subsequently of other railroads, continuing till 1894, when he resigned all
but the presidency of the Belvidere division. He leaves one son, Henry W.
Wilson, an architect, and three daughters, Mrs. William A. Baldwin, Miss Sarah
H. Wilson, and Miss Susan D. Wilson.” (Phila.
Inquirer, 8/19/1902.)
After their father’s death, Sarah
and Susan Wilson lived with their brother, Joseph Wilson, at 1106 Spruce st. He died later that year (Nov. 24, 1902).
1906,
May 2: Deed transferred from Henry W. Wilson, executor of will of William H.
Wilson (dec'd) to Edward A. Ryon.
1906,
May 2: Deed transferred from Edward A. Ryon to John
J. Tyler.
John J.
Tyler was a real estate broker. In 1900, he was 47 years old and living with
his wife, Laura, at 1321 N. Broad St.
1910:
Cornelia A. Ulmer
62 Widowed;
owned free of a mortgage
Albert F. Ulmer 34 Hauling
tugs; born in N.J.
Sarah J. Ulmer 40 Three
children
John Richard 34 Servant; black; born in
Ada M. Mullen 28 Servant;
“mulatto”
Susan Taylor 57 Servant; black; born in
Cornelia was the widow of Albert F.
Ulmer, Sr. In 1900, they lived at 3504 Hamilton St.
1918 Draft Registration: 3600
Powelton Ave., Albert Frank Ulmer,
Jr., b Feb 25 1876, Clerk for Penna. R.R.
He lists Sarah C. Ulmer as nearest
relative at 3500 Powelton Ave.
1927: “Library members:... Blumenthal, Hart,
(American
Jewish Yearbook, 1927-28.)
In 1920, he lived at 1921 Park Ave.
1930:
Mary Lutz 48 Born in Irish Free State; renting for
$50 per month [There may have been other renters who were not captured in the
census.]
Louisa Lutz 22 Daughter;
proof reader for a newspaper; father born in
Elizabeth Bartram 40 Lodger; single;
no occupation
Mary Lutz was the widow of Fred
Lutz, a house carpenter. In 1920, they lived at 2443 N. 28th St. It
appears that she was married before and had a son named Frank McDonald, a
laborer in the Navy yard.
1940:
Sadie Markowitz 50 Owner,
house valued at $18,000; born in Austro-Hungary; 8 years of schooling
Cecelia Markowitz 31 Previously
a sales lady in a department store, unemployed for 20 weeks, not employed in
1939; 4 years of high school
Fannie Sharp 36 Maid, earned $300 in 1939; born in Florida
-- next household
Samuel Diamond 36 Attorney
in private practice; 5 or more years of college; renting for $40 per month
Helene Diamond 33 Four
years of high school
Jeanne Diamond
6
Charles Diamond 3 months
Margaret McHugh 34 Maid,
earned $300 in 1939; 6 years of schooling
-- next household
Henrietta Wallace 38 Secretary
for an estate, earned $1,200 in 1939; renting for $45 per month; one year of
college
Joe Anne Wallace 13 Born
in Illinois
Mary Jane Wallace 12 Born
in Illinois
-- next household
Edward Mc Curdy 67 Previously
an automobile salesman, unemployed for 16 weeks, earned $400 for 16 weeks of
work in 1939; 2 years of college; renting for $35 per month
Gladys Mc Curdy 50 Manager
of dress shop, earned $1,000 in 1939; born in Ohio; 4 years of high school
-- next household
Max Jordan 45 Manager of a butcher shop, earned $2,000 in 1939; born in
Germany; 8 years of schooling; renting for $50 per month
Lillian Jordan 43 Sales lady in a department store, worked 33 hours in previous
week, earned $1,250 in 1939; 8 years of schooling
Sadie Magaziner
married Bernath Markovitz in Philadelphia in 1906. She
was the younger sister of architect Henry Magaziner who
lived at 3504
Hamilton St. The Magaziner family immigrated in
1887. Helen Diamond was the Markowitz’s daughter. In 1910, they lived at 4154
Leidy Ave. In 1920, they lived in a
apartment building in the 4000 block of Parkside Ave. He was a partner in a
business that made hosiery and underwear. He died in 1927.
Wallace was divorced from Ray B.
Wallace. In 1930, they lived in New Lenox, Will Co., Illinois. He was a
department store salesman. They were listed in city directories for Joliet,
Illinois.
Edward and Gladys McCurdy lived in
Clementon, Camden Co., N. J. in1920. They had two young children. In 1930, they
lived in Haddenfield.
Max Jordan and Lillian Ferguson were
married about 1921. Before she married, she was an automobile saleswoman. They
lived at 2003 S. 59th St. in 1930. He was born in Odenheim, Württemberg. He immigrated in 1905 with his
parents and a sister. Another sister arrived in 1899. They became citizens in
1916. Lillie’s family lived in Colwyn, Delaware, Pa. in 1900.
1942 Draft Registration: Max Jordan, employed at the Baltimore
Market, 21st & Chelten Ave.
1947: “Others who joined the staff [of the Race Relations
Committee of American Friends Service Committee (Quakers)]...
are Mrs. Etta B. Finkler of 3501 Powelton Ave and ...
both secretaries. Mrs. Finkler, who formerly Workers
of America, CIO, is now FEPC and for the United Steelworkers of America, is new
secretary to G. James Fleming, secretary of the Race Relations Committee.” (The
Richmond Afro-American [newspaper], March 22, 1947.)
1950 Directory: Foster E. Bennett, Dr.
Norman Finkler
George Griffith
Fred A. Sharkey, 3rd
Marilyn A. Williams
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3515 Powelton ^
Around corner to 302 N. 35th ^ 3427 Powelton
>