3512 Spring Garden Street

 

The History of the Building

 

3510-12:three-story, four-register, Italianate double, stuccoed. Overhanging flat roof with modillioned wood cornice; full-height, first floor windows; second entrance added to altered east facade.”

(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic Places, 1985)

 

Previous Residents

1870, Apr. 2: Title transferred to Belle C. Hixson by Henry C. Young

            The 1866 Directory lists Henry C. Young, cashier Commonwealth Bank living at 1427 N. 7th. The 1870 and 1880 censuses list him at 3502 Spring Garden St.

 

1870:

Anderson Hixson        35        Clerk in dry goods store, born in Ohio; real estate: $15,000, personal: $2,000

Belle Hixson                32        Born in Ohio

Laura Hixson                 8        Born in Ohio

Harry Hixson                 5        Born in Ohio

Elisa Kelly                   48        Domestic servant; born in Ireland

            The 1870 census 2nd enumeration actually lists them at 3506 Bridge (Spring Garden) St. but the numbering is wrong or was changed.

            The 1866 Directory lists A. Hixson, salesman at 28 N. 3rd, house: 421 Wetherill

 

1871 Directory: Hixson Anderson, Salesman at 515 Market St.

 

1880:

Anderson Hixson        45        Salesman, D. G. [dry goods]; born in Ohio

Bell C. Hixson             40        Born in Ohio

Laura M. Hixson          18        Born in Ohio

Rea H. Hixson             15

Helen Hixson                 6

 

1881 Directory: Anderson Hixson, salesman

 

1886 Directory: Anderson Hixson, salesman

                         H. Rea Hixson, bookkeeper

 

1900:

Anderson Hixson        65        Manufacturer; born in Ohio, parents born in Pa.; owner

Belle C Hixson             61        Married 43 years, 4 children, 1 surviving; born in Ohio

Jane Cooper                 87        Mother-in-law; widowed

Delia Carney                 ?          Servant; place of birth not reported

            Isabelle Hixson died June 18, 1907 in Cumberland, MD. Anderson Hixson died there Oct. 31, 1908. Both were buried at Mt. Moriah Cemetery. (Inquirer)

 

1901, Aug. 11: Death of Jane Chambers Cooper, 90 years old, of 3512 Spring Garden St. She was born in Ohio. Internment at Mt. Moriah Cemetery.

 

1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Aikens & daughters

            Perhaps this is Alexander (50, born in Ireland) and Ellen (46, born in England) Aikens with 3 daughters. He was a policeman. They lived at 304 Vine St. in 1900.

 

1909, Oct. 2: Title transferred to George H. Denney by Belle C. Hixson

 

1909, Nov. 3: Title transferred to Harry R. Rust by George H. Denney

            In 1910, Henry and son Harry, were boarders at 1708 Green St. Henry was a builder and Harry was a shop apprentice. Henry was widowed. In 1900, Henry was boarding with the James Truitt family at 642 N. Franklin. He listed his birth date as April 1866. He was widowed and working as a builder. He was listed as having had 3 children, with 1 surviving (although this question was supposed to be answered only by women).

 

1910: Not enumerated in census

 

1917 Draft Card: Harry Bradbury Rust; born in Philadelphia, July 19, 1892; works for his father at 19 S 8th St.; a private in Co. F, engineers, Penna. Guard (?)

 

1920:

Henry R. Rust              52        Carpenter and builder; born in England, immigrated in 1888, became a citizen in 1896

Blanche Rust               43

Harry B. Rust               27        Building draftsman; born in England

Catherine McGrath      58        Servant; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1893

            In 1930, Blanche (now widowed) and her stepson Harry were living at 6025 Overbrook. Harry was a building carpenter.

            Henry R. Rust died Jan. 21, 1923. He was living at 6025 Overbrook Ave. He was 57 years old.

 

1921, Jan. 6: Want ad: “HOUSEWORK – middle-age white woman for general work, small family. Call 3512 Spring Garden st.” (Inquirer)

            Want ads for housework for all houses in Powelton were very common up until the 1930s. They sometimes mentioned race or ethnicity.

 

1923, Feb. 23: Title transferred to Alice B. C. Atkinson by Estate of Harry R. Rust

 

1930:

Alice B. Perkins           56        Widowed; born in Honolulu, parents in W. Virginia; owner, house valued at $17,000

George B. Atkinson     38        Son; manager at valve factory; single; born in WDC, father in WDC, mother in Hawaii

Alice B. Atkinson          6        Granddaughter; parents born in PA

Alfred F. Atkinson         7        Grandson; parents born in PA

 

1933, Sep. 25: Title transferred to Blanche Rust and Harry B. Rust by sheriff

 

1940:

Benjamin DeStefano    28        Tailor for men and women, earned $1,500 in 1939; 4 years of college, renting for $60 per month

Mildred DeStefano      24        Sales lady at retail store, earned $900 in 1939; two years of high school

_ Next Hh.

William Amenta           26        Architect for building contractor, earned $2,000 in 1939; one year of high school

Madeline Amenta        26        Secretary for collection agency, earned $750 in 1939; 2 years of high school

_Next Hh.

Hugh Quinn                33        Tailor, mass production, earned $1,500 in 1939 for 46 weeks of work; 8 years of college; renting for $45

Breta Quinn                 38        Born in NY; 2 years of high school

            Benjamin DeStefano and Mildred T. Amenta were married Philadelphia in 1937.

 

1941, May: Selected for the Draft: Benjamin De Stefano, 25, tailor (Inquirer, May 7)

            In 1950, he lived at 825 Atwood Rd.

 

1941, May: For Sale “3512 Spring Garden St. – 3 apts, shop, & 2-car gar. Lot 50x115. Possession of 1 apt. Ideal for contractor, etc. Hot-water heat, oil.” (Inquirer, May 1)

 

1942, Jun. 5: Title transferred to William A. Amenta and Madeline, his wife by Blanche Rust

 

1947, Jul. 18: Title transferred to A. Ernest Hartel by William A. Amenta and Madeline, his wife

 

1951, May. 3: Title transferred to R. Ernest Hartel and Isabelle R., his wife by A. Ernest Hartel

 

1953, Oct. 30: Title transferred to Wilber G. Walker and Marie, his wife by R. Ernest Hartel and Isabelle R., his wife

 

< 3510 Spring Garden                                                                                                     3514 Spring Garden >

Added: 2/6/2022

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