3515 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)
Previous Residents
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, probably in 1869. 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, July: Deed transferred from Thomas D. Crispenn
to Charles K. Merklee.
Charles K. Merklee
was a carpenter who ran a planning mill and sash and door factory. He lived at
1500 Cadbury Ave. At the same time, he also purchased 3519 and 3521 Hamilton
St. from Crispenn.
It is likely that Crispenn sold 3515, 3519, and 3521 to Merklee
unfinished. It was common for builders to build the shell then sell to someone
(often a door and sash maker or carpenter) to do the finishing.
1870, 2nd enumeration (Nov.)
William Oliver 60-65
William Chor.
Oliver 20-24
Horatio Oliver 30-34
Collin A. Oliver 20-24
Mary Oliver 20-24
Elizabeth Keller 30-34
James Slone 30-34
W. Isabina
(female) 20-24
Edwin Isabina
1
In
1860, William Oliver, Sr. and Jr. were listed as printers and Horatio was
listed as a “stenotypist.” They lived in the 6th Ward, 1st
Div.
The 1881 Directory
lists William Oliver, printer living at
1870 & 1872 Directories: James Thom
1877,
September: Deed transferred from Charles K. Merklee
to Robert Arthur.
Robert
Arthur worked for Charles K. Merklee & Co. In
1881, he lived at 1605 Poplar St.
1879
Directory: Caleb D. Peirce of I. Reifsnyder & Co.
The 1880
census lists him as a wool dealer living at 3406
Powelton Ave.
1880:
Caleb
Clothier 73 Insurance
broker; born in [Mt. Holly,] N.J.
Anne S. Clothier 67 [Born
in Moreland Twp., Montgomery Co., Pa.]
Lucretia Mott
Clothier 45 Teacher
Anna B. Clothier 28
Sally A. Clothier
30
Ann Welsh 70 Servant; single; born in
Caleb Clothier died in Jan., 1881. 1885,
January: Deed transferred from Robert Arthur (dec'd)
to Willhelmina Arthur.
1892,
February: Deed transferred from Robert Arthur (by Sheriff) to Joseph Keller.
Joseph S. Keller (1853-1939)
1900:
June 8th,
listed as: J. S. Kelley “house closed”
Sometime after
June 11:
Joseph S. Keller 43 Manufacturer;
father born in
Eliza H.
Keller 38 Married 15 years, 3 children
Walter J. Keller 14
Albert S. Keller 9
Elizabeth Keller 7
Albert Hunter died at age 17 on Jan.
2, 1907 from septicemia. They were living in Hamilton
Court apartments at 39th and Chestnut St.
Albert
Keller (1889-1907) Elizabeth
“Betty” Keller (1891-?)
1904,
September: Deed transferred from Joseph S. & Elizabeth H. Keller to Channing
Bingham.
1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. Channing Bingham
Mrs. Florence B. King (their daughter)
In 1900 Channing and Alice Bingham
lived at
1910:
Alice C. Bingham 62 Widowed with one child; born in N.Y.,
father born in N.Y., mother in Scotland; owner free of a mortgage
Florence B. King 37 Daughter; city
school teacher; divorced, 1 child; born in N.J., parents born in N.Y.
David King 8 Grandson
Anna Jones 40 Servant; black; born in
1917, November: Deed transferred from Alice Bingham (widow) to
Annie S. H. Bush (widow).
1920:
Annie S. H. Bush 70 Widowed;
owner, free of mortgage; born in Maryland, father born in Pa., mother in
Maryland
Anna P. Kollock 55 Lodger; clerk for fire insurance co.
Hatty Hutchens 53
Lodger
Minnie Bache 39 Lodger; stenographer; born in N.J. parents born in Germany
Addie N. Key 60 Lodger;
widowed; born in Illinois
Marguerite Roy 29 Lodger;
clerk for emergency [illegible]; born in Illinois
Elizabeth Henry 28 Lodger;
clerk for life insurance co.
Hazel Chipman 24 Lodger;
clerk in real estate office
In 1910, Annie Busch lived at 3624 Baring St. with two daughters and a son-in-law. She
had been married twice and had 4 children, 2 were still living.
1931, January: Deed transferred from William R. Augur and Margaret
H. R., his wife to Florence R. Carpenter.
The property had been transferred to
Margaret H. R. Auger by will.
1940:
Joseph Hopper 60 Laundry
marker, earned $800 in 1939; 8 years school; renting for $35 per month
Margaret Hopper 73 Sister;
8 years of school
— next household
Francis Lyons 24 Construction
co. laborer, earned $600 in 1939; lived in Ardmore, Delaware Co. in 1935; 2
years high school; renting for $35 per month
Dorothy
Lyons 23 Lived in Ardmore, Delaware Co. in 1935;
4 years high school
Laura L.
Lyons 6
mos. Daughter
— next household
James M. McDowell 58 Retired
minister; widower; born in MD, lived in Moorestown, Burlington Co., N.J. in
1935; 5 years college: renting for $30 per month
— next household
Catherine
McDonell 55 Telephone operator in a hotel, earned $900 in 1939 for 48 weeks
of work; single; born in Eire; 4 years high school; renting for $20 per month
Joseph Oakes Hopper and Margaret
Hopper lived at this address in 1935. In 1942 when he registered for the draft,
they were living at 3526 Haverford Ave. He was working at the John Wanamaker
department store. He was born in Philadelphia on Dec. 10, 1879. He was 5’10 and
weighed 180 lbs.
1956, Sept. 9:
Florence Riggs Carpenter at 3511 Hamilton St. with her husband and children
from 1920 until the early 1930s. In 1940 and 1950, she lived at 3417 Hamilton St.
1960: Betsy Acheson was chair of the Fair Committee for Powelton
Neighbors
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Revised 5/28/2014