3503 Race Street
The History of the Building
“two-and-one-half story Second Empire style stone double with original
double scroll and bracketed wood cornice below slate shingled mansard. Four
dormers with decorative wood gables. Segmentally arched brownstone lintels over
first and second floor windows and narrow doors”
(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the
national register of Historic Places, 1985)
Previous Residents of
1870, Oct. 4: Title
transferred to both 3503 and 3505 Race St. Archibald Freeman by Henry Du Pont,
Trustee
1871, July 20:
Title for 3503 transferred to James Dickson by Archibald Freeman
1872: 3503-3505 are
shown on the G. M. Hopkins Atlas of West
Philadelphia published in 1872.
1873 &
1874 Directories: William J. Chapman, salesman at 801 Chestnut
The 1872 directory lists
him living at 62 N. 37th St.
1874, Jan. 21:
Title transferred to Richard Ashhurst by Sherriff
1875 Directory:
James Dickson, stoves at 1116 Market St.
1878 Directory:
Elizabeth Allen widow of John Allen
James Dickson, stoves at 1116 Market St.
Robert Dickson, salesman
1880:
James Dickson 50 Stove
dealer; born in
Emily Dickson 44 Born in
Ireland
Frank S. Dickson 12
Thomas W. Dickson 10
John K. Dickson 8
Sarah Dickson 3
Eliza Allen 67 Mother-in-law;
born in
(ED 487, 12)
In
1870, they lived at
The
1881 Directory lists his business address as
1887 Directory: James Dickson, stoves,
1890 Directory: James Dickson, stoves at
1325 Market St.
Thomas
W. Dickson, real estate, 513 Girard building
1894 Directory: James Dickson, stoves at
1325 Market St.
John Dickson, clerk
1895 Directory: James Dickson, stoves,
Thomas W. Dickson, clerk
1898 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. James
Dickson. Receiving day: Thursday
Thomas W. Dickson
Miss Sarah A. Dickson
1900:
James Dickson 70 Stove & heater dealer; born Feb., 1830;
born in Ireland, immigrated 50 years earlier, was not a citizen; renting
Emily Dickson 59 Married 33
years, 5 children; born in
Thomas W. Dickson 29 Real
estate agent
John K. Dickson 26 Clerk in a
stove & heating store
Sarah A. Dickson 23 School teacher
William T. Dickson 19 Mechanical
drafting
Eliza Allen 88 Mother-in-law;
widowed, one child, born in
(ED 543, 3B)
In
1910, Thomas Dickson lived at 410 Dickenson St.
1901 Directory:: Jennie M. Rainnie, widow of William J.
The
1890 city directory listed Jennie M. Rainnie living
at 1416 S. Penn Sq.
1901, Feb. 15: Title transferred to Samuel R.
Rainnie by Richard Ashhurst
1905, April 9: Death of Samuel Rallason Rainnie, 33 years old,
son of William J. and Jennie M. Rainnie.
“S.
Rallason Rainnie, a real
estate broker, died on Sunday after a short illness. He was connected with the Masonic Fraternity,
being a member of University Lodge, University Chapter and Philadelphia Commandery, K.T.: (Phila. Inquirer, April 11)
1904 Directory: Irvin E. Bennett, physician
Irvin
Edmund Bennett and Lillian R. Rainnie were married
Aug. 23, 1900 at the home of the bride, 15 N. 34th St., by a priest
from the Church of the Transfiguration (Catholic). She was the daughter of Lillian and William Rainnie. (See
below.) Dr. Bennett was a physician at
the Henry Phipps Institute for the Study, Treatment, and Prevention of
Tuberculosis in 1906 at 238 Pine St. The
Institute was founded in 1903 and became part of the
1905, Sep. 14: Title transferred to Jennie M.
Rainnie by will probated Sept. 14, 1905
1906 Blue Book:
Mrs.
J. M. Rainnie
Dr.
& Mrs. Irvin E. Bennett
1909 Directory: Frank V. Homan, electrician
1910:
George B.
Holcomb 30 Inspector at steam railroad; born in N.Y.
Elenor D. Holcomb 29 Married 4 years,
no children
Frank V. Homan 30 Boarder;
electrician
Jabin Coburn 26
Boarder; inspector at railroad
Jennie M Rannie 76 Lodger; widowed, 2 children, 1 surviving;
owner, free of a mortgage
(ED 492, 7A)
1910 Directory: Jennie Rannie, widow
of William
1911 Directory: Frank V. Homan, electrician
1912 Directory: George B. Holcomb, inspector
1915, Jul. 7: Title transferred to Lillian R. Bennett by Jennie M.
Rainnie
1916 Directory: Sherwood G. Boyd, real estate
1920:
Jennie
M. Rainnie 76 Widowed;
father born in
Lillian
R. Bennett 45 Daughter; widowed
Clarence
R. Bennett 14 Grandson; father born in Calif.
Virginia
L. Bennett 11 Granddaughter; father born in Calif.
Paul
N. Sippy [?] 22 Lodger; college instructor
(ED 687, 3B)
1930:
Lillian R. Bennett 55 Widowed; owner, house valued at $8,000
Clarence R. Bennett 25 Switch
manager [?] for telephone company
Virginia L. Bennett 21 Stenographer
at a university
Mae Zerman 62 Boarder; works at printing [?]; single
(ED 397, 1A)
In 1940, Clarence Bennett lived with
his wife, Eleanor, and one child in Springfield, Delaware Co., Pa. He reported have four years of high school
and was a central office manager for Bell Telephone.
1935: Marriage license issued to Virginia L Bennett of 3503 Race
St. and Gilbert S Gillan
He was the son of Dawson and Olivia Gallan who lived at 5220 Locust St. Dawson was a plumber with a construction
company. In 1940, Virginia and Gilbert Gillan lived in Lemoyne, Cumberland Co., Pa. He reported having 2 years of college and she
reported one year of college. He was
working as a special agent for an insurance company.
1941, Oct. 28: Title transferred to Clarence R. Bennett and
Virginia Gillan, wife of Gilbert by Lillian R.
Bennett
1950 Directory: Clarence R. Bennett
1955, Dec. 22: Title transferred to Stanley Sloan and Virginia, his
wife by Clarence R. Bennett and Virginia Giltson (?),
wife of Gilbert
Revised 2/17/2013 About Powelton Village