3505 Hamilton Street
The
History of the Building
The northern edge of this
property was part of the northern boundary of the Bingham-Baring estate.
3505-07: “Second
Empire double, stone. facade over brick, first-floor projecting bays. Slate
mansard, dormer. Late alterations to 3505 entrance.”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
Previous Residents
of 3505 Hamilton Street
1868, October: Deed transferred from Jacob Haines to William H.
McFadden.
1870:
William McFadden 43 Superintendent
at gas works; real estate: $15,000, personal: $20,000; parents foreign-born
Sarah McFadden 45
Catharine D. Yocum 45
Mary A. McFadden 15
Kate McFadden 14
William McFadden 12
Harry McFadden 8
Jennie McFadden 6
Sally McFadden 3
“WILLIAM HENRY McFADDEN, .M.D., is of
Scotch-Irish ancestry, his father, Robert McFadden, having been born near Bush
.Mills, in the vicinity of the Giants' Causeway, in County Antrim, Ireland. His
ancestors were originally of Danish and French Huguenot extraction. Robert's
father's name was also Robert, and his mother's Martha Laverty, from the French
La Verite, "the truth." The name McFadden comes from the Danish
Faderen, "the father," and by contraction, the "er" being
dropped and a "d" added for euphony, Fadden was the result. Mc or Mac
was added in Scotland, meaning "the son of." William Henry McFadden's
mother was Jane Maffitt, or Moffett. Her father's name was Henry and her
mother's Mary Ann Sharpe. She was born in Coote Hill in County Caven, Ireland,
of Scotch and English ancestry. Both Mr.
McFadden's parents came to Philadelphia in 1821. They met in this country as
strangers, and in 1825 became man and wife. The subject of this sketch was born
in Philadelphia, November 4, 1827. He early entered the public schools, which
he attended until 1843, when he was sent to Dr. S. W. Crawford's Academy, in
Fourth Street below Arch, to be prepared for College. In 1845 he matriculated
in the Freshman class at the University of Pennsylvania in the College
Department where he was a member of the Zelosophic Society and was graduated
with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1849. Three years later he received the
degree of Master of Arts from the University, having in the meantime taken up
the study of medicine. For one session he taught in the McVeytown Academy in
Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, and then entered the Pennsylvania College of
Medicine, situated in Ninth Street below Locust in Philadelphia, graduating
with the Doctor's degree in 1852. Dr. McFadden practiced his profession for
about one year. In 1853 he became Superintendent of the Germantown Gas Company,
a position which he filled until 1861. From 1856 until 1868 he was engaged in
the plumbing, steam and gas-fitting business in Germantown, and from 1864 to
1870 in the manufacture and sale of gas meters. For three years, 1870-1873, he
was Superintendent of the Gas Light Company of Camden, New Jersey, and for ten
years, 1873-1883, he was Chief Engineer of the Water Department in
Philadelphia, being at the same time an ex-officio member of the Park
Commission. For the next ten years, or until 1893, Mr. McFadden was associated
with the American Meter Company. He is the compiler of a little book entitled
the " Gas Superintendents' Pocket Companion." In 1854 he married
Sarah Evans Yocum, the daughter of Jacob Harris Yocum, the Yocums being among
the earliest Swedish settlers in Pennsylvania. They have six children. Mr.
McFadden voted in 1856 for James Buchanan, but in 1860 he supported Abraham
Lincoln and has been a Republican ever since. He is a member of the Presbyterian
Church, but attends the services of the Methodist denomination. He resides in
Philadelphia.” (University of Pennsylvania: its history,… J. J. Chamberlain, 1902:
72-3)
1876: Topographical map of Philadelphia showing
water mains and street grades, “shows water mains and street elevations
throughout the City of Philadelphia. Also includes profiles of 2 proposed
sewers.” by William H. McFadden
1876, Sept. 26: Death of Catherine B. Yocum, 55
years old, of 3505 Hamilton St. "funeral from the residence of her
brother-in-law, No. 3505 Hamilton street…. To proceed to Kinhgsessing Church
Ground." (Inquirer, Sept. 29)
1879: Philadelphia Water Dept. Annual Report,
by Chief Engineer William H. McFadden
1880:
William H. Mc Fadden 52 W.D.
engineer; parents born in Ireland
Sarah E. Mc Fadden 52
Mary A. Mc Fadden 24
Kate Y. Mc Fadden 23
William M. Mc Fadden 21 Draftsman
Harry B. Mc Fadden 18 Dental student
Jennie Mc Fadden 16
Sarah G. Mc Fadden 13
1881 Directory: William H. McFadden, chief
engineer
William
M. McFadden, draughtsman [sic.]
1892-‘93: Harry B. McFadden, D.D.S., Demonstrator of Mechanical
Dentistry, Univ. Of
1887 Directory: William H. McFadden, supt., 100 N. 22d, h
3505
William
M. McFadden, clerk
1889 Directory: William H. McFadden, vice president, 100
N. 22d, h 3505
William
M. McFadden, clerk
1889, July 9: Death of Sarah Evans (Yocum)
McFadden, 61 years old; burial at West Laurel Hill Cemetery
1890 Directory: William. H. McFadden, M.D.
William M. McFadden
Harry
B. McFadden, D.D.S.
1891 Directory: Henry B. McFadden, dentist
Mamie
McFadden
William
H. McFadden, vice president, 100 N. 22d
William
M., clerk
1895 Directory: William H. McFadden, physician
William
M. McFadden, supervisor
1895-‘96: Harry B.
McFadden, Chairman of Executive Committee, Society of the Alumni of the Depart.
of Dentistry, University of Pennsylvania. (Catalogue
of the University of Pennsylvania).
1898 Blue Book: H. B. McFadden, M.D. was a
member of the Powelton Club. (For a brief history of the club, see the Powelton History Blog.)
1900:
William H. McFadden 72 Physician; parents born in
Mary A. McFadden 45 Daughter;
single
Catherine Y. McFadden 43 Daughter;
single
Henry B. McFadden 38 Son;
dentist; single
Jennie McFadden 36 Daughter;
single
Sarah Y. McFadden 33 Daughter;
single
1900, November: Deed transferred from William H. McFadden to Mary
A. McFadden.
c1906: “State Chairmen for Clinics....
(The
Dental Cosmos. J. D. White, et al. S. S. White Dental Manufacturing Co.,
1907)
1908, June 16: Permit granted: “John H. Goodwin, third-story rear
addition, 3505 Hamilton st., for S. McFadden; cost
$1,200”
This
might have been intended for Sarah McFadden’s use as an artist studio.
1910:
Mary A. McFadden 54 Owner
free of a mortgage
William H. McFadden 82 Father; parents
born in Ireland
Catherine Y. McFadden 52 Sister;
single
Henry B. McFadden 48 Brother;
dentist; single
Jannie McFadden 44 Sister;
single
Sarah G. McFadden 42 Sister;
artist; single
Emma Walker 28 Servant;
black; widowed, no children; born in Mexico, father in Pa., and mother in Texas
1912, Oct. 2: Marriage of Sarah Yocum McFadden (3505 Hamilton St.)
to Frederic Alexander
“Miniature
Painter Weds”
“Miss
Sarah Y. McFadden Married F. A. Boyle”
“With
her prospective father-in-law, Rev. Dr. John Richards Boyle, pastor of the
Cooper Memorial M. E. Church, acting as the officiating clergyman, Miss Sarah
Yocum McFadden, a well-known miniature painter, was married last evening to
Frederic Alexander Boyle. The wedding ceremony took place at the bride’s home,
3505 Hamilton street, following which a reception was held at a Chestnut street
hotel.
“The
bride, who wore a gown of Carrickmacrose [Irish] lace
and white satin, was attended by her sister…. Following the reception, the
bridal couple started a month’s honeymoon.” (Inquirer)
1913, July 2: Death of William H. McFadden,
M.D., 85 years old, of 3505 Hamilton St. Relatives and friends are invited to
attend the services at his late residence.
“DR. W. H. McFADDEN
“Physician, Engineer and Business Man Dies
at Home
“Dr. William McFadden, well-known at one time as a physician, later as
an engineer in the Bureau of Water, and in business circles, died yesterday at
his residence, 3505 Hamilton street. He was 80 years old. For the last, twenty
years he had lived practically a retired life.
“Dr. McFadden was a graduate of the arts course of the University of
Pennsylvania in the class of 1849. Later he studied medicine and practiced the
profession in several cities. At the breaking out of the Civil War Dr. McFadden
offered his services to the army as a surgeon, but they were not required at
the time.
“He took up engineering and became attached to the Bureau of Water in
1873, serving until 1883, when he went into business. He lived with his son, Dr.
H. B. McFadden. He is survived also by another son, William M. McFadden, and
four daughters.
(Inquirer,
July 3, 1913)
1920:
Jane M. McFadden 59 Owned free of a mortgage
Mary A. McFadden 62 Sister;
single
Catherine Y. McFadden 60 Sister;
single
Marion E. McFadden 19 Niece
William M. McFadden 13 Nephew
1930:
Mary A. McFadden 75 Single;
owner, house valued at $6,000
Catherine Y. McFadden 72 Sister;
single
Annie McFadden 66 Sister;
single
William M. McFadden 23 Nephew;
single
1931, June 18: Marriage of Ruth Brehm to William Moffett McFadden,
M.D.
She was daughter of Dr. Ludvig T. Brehm, vice-council of Denmark. She was a
graduate of Friends' Select School. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William
Moffett McFadden and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of
Medicine. (Inquirer)
1940:
Jane McFadden 76 “Lady,
never worked,” single; 4 years of college; owner, house valued at $5,000
Sarah M. Boyle 73 “Lady,
never worked,” widowed; 4 years of college
Both
lived in this house in 1935. Jane McFadden died Aug. 13, 1945 at Columbus Ohio
where she had apparently moved.
1943, Feb. 14: Death of Sarah McF. Boyle
of 3505 Hamilton St.
1974 Public Records Index: William A. Johnson
1989 Public Records Index: Jeremy Holl, born
1964
Shellie Holl, born 1960
1993 Public Records Index: George
Charalambides, born 1968
Nancy E Frankel, born 1956
Mary A Johnson
Andres P Nicolini
Michael A Skorka, born
1969
Shellie E Steier, born
1960
Donald T Williams, 3rd
floor, born 1960
1997: purchased by Bridgitte
Blanco
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