3513 Hamilton Street
The
northern edge of this property was part of the northern boundary of the
Bingham-Baring estate.
3513-15: “Second
Empire style double, stone facade; Victorian wood side porches; two-story front
projecting bays. Circa 1890 elaborate two-and-one-half story Queen Anne style
addition with porch added to 3515”
(Inventory of Buildings
in Powelton from
the application submitted to the National Register of Historic Places, 1985)
History
1866, May: Deed for 3511-3523 Hamilton St. was transferred from
Evans W. Shippens to James P. Bruner.
In the early 1860s Evans Shippen
lived at 35th and Bridge [Spring Garden] St. In 1860, he was a 35 year-old coal dealer and iron founder. In 1870, he and
his family were living in Vernon, Crawford Co., Pa. where he was a farmer.
James P. Bruner was a mill owner who
lived at 3509 Spring Garden St.
1868, March 5: Sale of property: Owners:
Samuel P. Ferree, gentleman, and Annie A. (husband & wife), sold to T. D.
Crispenn, bricklayer, and Catherine, (husband & wife) six contiguous lots
[3511-3523 Hamilton St.] for $5,416.67.
Samuel and Annie Ferree lived at
3514 Spring Garden St.
3513-3515
Hamilton St. was built by Thomas D. Crespin. He usually identified himself as a
bricklayer, although he is listed as a builder in the 1881 city directory. From
at least 1856 until the 1870s, he lived in various house near 39th and Powelton
with his wife and seven children. In the 1870 census he declared $25,000
in real estate and $1,400 in personal property. His younger brothers, James C.
Crispen and Joseph Crispen, were also bricklayers and probably worked with him.
In the late 1860s, Joseph lived at 34th and Filbert Sts.
He did not claim any real estate. Thomas Crispen also built 3509-3511,
3517-3519, and 3521-3523 Hamilton St. and 3400-3402, 3404-3406 and 3408-3410
Baring St. (The name was variously spelled Crespenn or Crispenn.)
1869, February: Deed transferred from Thomas D. Chrispenn to
Phebe A. Brooks.
Phebe Ann Paxson (or Paxton) Brooks
was born in Pennsylvania but moved to Indiana where her father was born. She
was married to James Brooks (1810-1867), a wealthy hardware merchant who was
originally from Maine. They lived in New Albany, Indiana. During the Civil War, James Brooks was the
virtual business Superintendent of the Government operations on the upper
Mississippi River and worked closely with Secretary of War Stanton. They had
eight children, but only James Croxall Brooks lived to adulthood. Their
daughter, Francis, died in January, 1869 at age 11.
1870 Directory (Fall, 1869): James C. Brooks
Phoebe A. Brooks, widow of James
1870:
James [C.] Brooks 27 Superintendent
in machine shop; born in Indiana
Phebe Brooks 58 Real
estate: $12,000, personal: $38,000
Anna Paxson 26 Born in Indiana
Hannah Tinsdale 22 Domestic
servant
Phebe Paxson was married to James
Brooks. He died in 1867. In 1871, she married Joseph J. Lewis, a distinguished
lawyer and widower. He was appointed by President Lincoln the first
Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 1863. He was a warm personal
friend of President Lincoln and was with him when he died. In 1880, they
lived in West Chester, Chester Co., Pa.
James C. Brooks was born in New
Albany, Floyd Co., Indiana. He served in the Civil War as Captain and
Commissary and afterward in the Mississippi Marine Brigade for one year. He was
at the siege of Vicksburg and at Memphis.
In 1860, Anna Paxson was living with
her mother, Sarah Paxson, in New Albany, Indiana. Sarah was born in Virginia
and may have been Phebe (Paxson) Brooks’s sister-in-law.
1872 Hopkins Atlas shows “Mrs. Brooks”
1872, Jan. 25: Marriage of Mary Catherine Murtagh to James C.
Brooks
1878 Directory: James C. Brooks, William Sellers & Co.
They lived at 117 N.
33rd St. from about 1879 to 1904. They had two children.
1880:
Elijah Lathburry 40 Flour
merchant; parents born in
Frances Lathburry 39
Mammie H.
Lathburry 16
Carrie B.
Lathburry 10
Charles W.
Lathburry 6
Ella B. Lathburry 1
Kate Donahue 27 Servant;
born in
The 1887 and 1890 directories list
him at 3407 Baring St. In 1888, Mary H. “Mammie”
Lathbury married Francis S. Walton of 3412 Baring St.
1883, January: Deed transferred from Phebe A. Brooke married
Joseph J. Lewis deed from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Lewis to Margaret R. Smith.
Margaret R. Smith was the wife of
Levi Smith, a dairyman. They lived at 3817 Baring St. In 1883, they were ages
45 and 47.
1890 Directory: Hannah S. Marot
Emily P. Shoemaker
In 1880, Hannah Marot was living at 317 N. 33rd St. with her husband and daughter.
1895 Directory: John R. Gormley of Sutton & Rooney.
The 1890 Directory lists John
Gormely at 3511 Hamilton St. The 1889 Directory lists John R. Gormley at
1900:
Mary Gormley 50 Janitress;
single; parents born in
John R. Gormley 40 Brother;
single; salesman in produce store; parents born in
John J. Gormley 13 Boarder
In 1900, this house was part of Mrs.
Sutton’s School for Girls which occupied 3509, 3511 and 3513 Hamilton St. Annie
Sutton lived at 3507 Hamilton St. (See a
description of the school there.)
1910:
John C. Townsend 61 Tea
and coffee merchant; born in
Clara M. Townsend
52 Married
32 years, 3 children; born in
Charles Townsend 26 Tea
and coffee merchant; born in
Oliver Townsend 25 Tea
and coffee merchant; born in
Dorothy Townsend 20 Born
in
Ula McDonnal 20 Servant;
black; born in
In 1900, they lived at 3714 Brown St.
In 1920, John, Clara and Oliver lived at
1917 Draft Registration: Wilfred Anderson, born Feb. 7, 1899 in Belfast, Ireland. He was working as an electrician
for the American Ship Building Co. on Hog Island.
1917: Marriage license issued to Clara Irene Beardmore of 423 N.
33rd St. and William J. Menah of 3513 Hamilton St.
In 1920, they were living with her
parents at 423 N. 33rd St.
1920:
Walter C. Menah 51 Clerk in a drug store; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1892,
became a citizen in 1909; renting
Susan M. Menah 47 Dressmaker working at home; born in England, immigrated in
1892, became a citizen in 1909
Maggie L. Menah 43 Sister; seamstress working at home; born in Ireland,
immigrated in 1892
Alice Anderson 44 Sister-in-law; widowed; born in England, immigrated in 1905
Wilfred Anderson 20 Nephew; electrician for Home Electric Co.; born in Ireland,
immigrated in 1905
Theodora G. Anderson 15 Niece;
born in Ireland, immigrated in 1905
Robert S. Osborn 49 Lodger; nurse in a penitentiary; born in Ireland, immigrated
in 1888, became a citizen in 1895
Amanda G. Osborn 44 Lodger; nurse
John P. Bethel 40 Lodger; physician in general practice;
single
Walter Costello Menah was born in
No. 6, Belfast, Antrim, Ireland June 17, 1868 to James
Menah and Charlotte Costello. He married Susan Marie Ferrett in 1892 in Belfast and they immediately departed
from Glasgow, Scotland for the Philadelphia where they arrived May 11, 1892. She
was born in Manchester, England in 1871. When he applied for naturalization in
1909, they were living at 3911 Haverford Ave. He listed his occupation as nurse.
Before migrating, he lived in Londonderry, Ireland. He was 5’1” tall.
In 1900, Walter and Susan Menah
lived at 3809 Haverford Ave. He was working as a conductor. In 1910, they lived
at 3911 Haverford Ave. They had a son, William J. Menah, who was born in 1894. In
1920, Susan Menah returned to England and Ireland to
visit relatives and took a holiday in France.
Alice Anderson, her son Wilfred and her infant daughter arrived in Philadelphia
March 7, 1905. They were from Belfast, but departed
from Liverpool. They came to live with her sister and brother-in-law, Walter
and Susan Menah.
In September 1921, John Bethel and
his new wife purchased 3419 Hamilton St. They
were living there in 1930.
1922, February: Deed transferred from The Board of Foreign Missions
of the Presbyterian Church in the
1930:
Walter C. Menah 60 Bookkeeper
at a coal yard; born in Ireland; married at age 24; owner, house valued at
$9,000
Susan A. Menah 57 Married
at age 21; born in England
Alice M. Anderson
53 Sister-in-law;
widowed; born in England
Theodora Anderson
25 Niece;
clerk in a department store; born in England
Charles Derie 70 Lodger; clerk at a publishing house; widowed; born in Md.,
father born in Scotland, mother in Md.
Mary E. Reed 38 Lodger; nurse for a private family; single; born in N.J.
Daniel H. Davis 40 Lodger;
superintendent for steam railroad; widowed; born in Va.
Daniel C. Davis 14 Lodger;
born in N.J., father born in Va., mother in N.J.
1932: Marriage license issued to Theodora G. Anderson and Orsen
Decker
In 1939, he was living at 329 N. 34th St.
1940:
Walter C. Menah 71 Bookkeeper
for coal co., earned $1400 in 1939; born in Northern Ireland; 4 years high
school; owner, house valued at $5,800
Susan Menah 67 Born in England; parents both born in England; 4 years high
school
Orsen Decker 35 Nephew-in-law;
collector for an agency, earned $1000 in 1939; born in NY; 4 years college
Theodora A.
Decker 35 Niece; clerk with publishing co., earned $700 in 1939; born
in N. Ireland; 2 years college
Mary E. Reed 48 Lodger; registered nurse at sanatorium; born in NJ; 4 years
school; single
1950 Directory: Orsen Decker
Mrs. W. C. Menah
<
3515 Hamilton 3511 Hamilton >
Revised:
5/8/2018