3519 Hamilton Street
The
northern edge of this property was part of the northern boundary of the
Bingham-Baring estate.
3517-3519: “three-story
Italianate double, stuccoed…; 3519 has flat roof... has circa 1915 pressed
metal two-story addition; circa 1935 streamlined first floor addition”
(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.
3517-3519
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,
July: Deed transferred from Thomas D. Crispenn to Charles H. 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, November, 2nd Enumeration
Joseph Bennett 50-54
Virginia Bennett 40-44
William Bennett 20-24
[John]
Grier Bennett 10-14
Lillie (?)
Bennett 10-14
Joseph Bennett
5-9
The 1870 census 1st
enumeration in listed Joseph Bennett as a wholesale druggist with real estate
valued at $5,000 and personal property worth $2,500. All except Lillie and
Joseph, Jr. were born in Delaware. In 1860, they lived in Ward 11. Joseph was
probably a son or a nephew of John Bennett who ran a banking house, Joseph was
a clerk. In 1880, they lived at 3410 Race St.
M. Grier (or Greer) Bennett died
Aug. 8, 1877. He was about 20 years old.
William D. W. Bennett died July 30, 1879 at age 29. He was single and a lawyer. He was living at
3703 Hamilton St.
1871 Directory (Fall, 1870): Joseph S. Bennett of Joseph S.
Bennett & Co., druggists at 609 Market St.
The 1870 directory lists his home as
1617 Brown St.
1871-1873 Directories: Samuel R. Skillern,
physician
In the 1860s he lived at 3419 Hamilton St. and he briefly owned 3407 Hamilton St. before moving here. The 1873 and
1874 directories list him at 3501
Spring Garden St. In 1880, they lived at 3416 Baring St. and later, they lived at 3509 Baring St.
1878 Directory: David C. Thorn
Frederick G. Thorn of Wilson Brothers &
Co.
1880:
Frederick G. Thorn 42 Architect
Sarah E. Thorn 40 Born in
N.J.
Susan M. Thorn 18 Born in
N.J.
Frederick G. Thorn 14
Anna Thorn 10
Margaret Thorn 2
David C. Thorn 66 Father;
brick mason; mother born in N.J.
Francis B. Cattell 39 Boarder;
seamstress; born in N.J.
Melvina W. Cattell 23 Boarder; born
in N.J.
In 1870, they lived at 5 N. 32nd
St. Frederick G. Thorn was an architect and partner in the firm Wilson Brothers.
In 1883, he designed and built a house for himself and his family at 205 N. 36th St. He also designed 3512 Baring St.
1884 Directory: David C. Thorn
Frederick G. Thorn of Wilson Brothers &
Co.
1884, November: Deed transferred from Charles K. Merklee to
Willhelmina Arthur.
1885, January: Deed transferred from Willhelmina Arthur to Harry
W. Arthur.
1888, December: Deed transferred from Harry W. Arthur to J.
Roberts Foulke.
1890, September: Deed transferred from J. Roberts Foulke to
Samuel E. Baily.
1896 Blue Book: Mr.
& Mrs. George W. Ryan. Receiving day Tuesday.
In 1890, they lived at
1898 Blue Book: George W. Ryan was a member of the Powelton Club.
(For a brief history of the club, see the Powelton History Blog.)
1900:
Joseph T. Dolby 36 Optician
manufacturer
Rachel M. Dolby 29 Married 10
years, one child; born in N.J.
Irene M. Dolby 3
Esther Holland 20 Servant;
black; born in
Louis M. Hernz 39 Boarder;
civil engineer; born in
Mattie W M Hernz 35 Boarder,
married 12 years, no children; born in N.Y.
Emma D. Spence 37 Boarder;
bookkeeper; born in N.J., parents born in
In 1891,
Louis M. Hernz lived at 3412
Baring St. and in 1889, he lived at 3603 Baring St.
1902, June: Deed transferred from Samuel E. & Clara Baily to
Joseph & Rachel Dolby.
1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. Joseph T. Dolby
Joseph Thompson Dolby of
Philadelphia and Rachel Stevenson McCray of Cape May City, N.J. were married on
April 29, 1890 by Rev. Samuel E. Appleton, D.D.
1910:
Rachel Dolby 38 Optician; widowed, 3 children, 2 surviving; born in N.J.;
owner free of a mortgage
Irene Dolby 13
Louis Dolby 9
William H.
Whitinds 41 Lodger; bank clerk; married for second time
Anna Whitinds 42 Married
11 years (for second time), one child
Carry Tilghman 34 Servant;
black; single; born in
In 1920, the Dolby family lived at
2126 Walnut St. Irene was a teacher in a private school and Louis was a
concrete contractor. They were renting.
1920:
Gertrude E.
Riebenack 42 Widowed; born in N.J.
Eleanor G.
Riebenack 20 Clerk for
Penna. railroad; born in N.J., father in Pa, mother in N.Y.
Max Riebenack, 3rd
19 At college
-- 2nd household
Elliot R. Andrews 35 Manager at steel and wire co.; born in Illinois
Helen D. Andrews 30 Born in Illinois, father born in France, mother in Missouri
Elaine D. Andrews 6 months
Gertrude E. Dodd married Max
Riebenack, Jr. in 1898. He died in 1903. She and her children lived with his
parents at 227 N. 34th St. (corner of
Max Riebenack, 3rd,
Penn State, 1921
1925: The Philadelphia
Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide for June 10, 1925 lists a contract
for an apartment building to Franklin P. Albright, Jr., architect. The client
was Alex M. DeHaven.
1950 Directory: J. H. Barrett
Ethel K. Lemont
John M. Mackenzie
Warren F. Spencer
2009: Current owner: Marsha Irons Mason
apartments
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3521 Hamilton 3517 Hamilton>
Revised 4/15/2015