The
northern edge of this property was part of the northern boundary of the
Bingham-Baring estate.
3521-23:
“two-and-one-half story Second Empire-style double with stone facade; side wood
Victorian porch; first-floor projecting bays, large and small bracketed
cornice, slate-shingled mansard with dormers”
(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.
3521-3523
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 3515 and 3519 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 Directory (Fall, 1869): Henry P. Atkinson of Adams, Atkinson
& Co.
The 1868 directory lists his home as
1738 Mt. Vernon.
1870:
Henry P. Atkinson 36 Wholesale dry goods; born in N.J.; no real
estate, personal: $30,000
Sally Atkinson 31
Cora Atkinson 14
Walter Atkinson 11
Lewis Atkinson
9
Samuel Atkinson 6
Barton Sweeny 14 Domestic servant; born in Scotland
Bridget Lynch 27 Domestic
servant; born in
The 1866 Directory lists Henry P.
Atkinson, dry goods, 33 N 3rd, h 1728 Mount Vernon.
1874 Directory: Henry P. Atkinson, dry goods
In 1880, they lived at 3618 Hamilton St.
1880:
Isaiah Matlack 42 Merchant
Mary H. Matlack 40
W. Carroll Matlack 13
Adelaid F. Matlack 3
Caroline W. Eagle 65 Mother-in-law;
bother born in
Charles J. Bechdolt
28 Boarder;
civil engineer; born in
Mary E. Coyne 21 Servant;
parents born in
Emily Grugan 36 Boarder;
mother born in Mass.
Fanny Grugan 30 Boarder;
mother born in Mass.
1887 Directory: Robert Comly of Comly & Flanigen, grocers, 36
S. Front St
In 1880, they lived at 3408 Hamilton St.
1889, Aug. 24: Death of Elizabeth N. Comly,
12 years old, daughter of Robert and Lydia T. Comly
of 3521 Hamilton St. Burial at West Laurel Hill Cemetery.
1890 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. Robert Comly
& daughter
The Comly’s
daughter, Helen, married Elis Bacon. They were the parents of Edmund Bacon. (Powelton History Blog, July 9, 2009.)
The 1898 Blue Book lists them at 3311 Arch St. where they lived for many years.
1897, October: Deed transferred from Charles K. Merklee to William White, Jr.
1900:
Martha A. Carre 48 Widowed,
2 children; father born in
Emelie G. Carre 19
Helen M. Carre 16
Albert Jodocius 39 Teacher; born in France, immigrated in
1891
__ Jodocius 30 Married 13 years, 1 child; born in
1903: List of Members
of the American Historical Association.... Coffin, Mrs. Elizabeth F.
(http://www.archive.org/stream/officersactofinc1903ameruoft/officersactofinc1903ameruoft_djvu.txt)
1910:
Martha Carre 58 Occupation: roofing; widowed, 2
children; parents born in
Emily G. Carre 29 Single
Louis Henry 60 Lodger; civil engineer for railroad; born in
Martha W. Henry 42 Lodger;
married 21 years; born in N.Y.
1911: Marriage of Emelie G. Carre to
Thomas H. Ingram of 3223 Summer St.
1919 Obituary: Dec. 20, Elizabeth M. Caulk, daughter of late
Thomas McDonough and Mary A. Caulk, aged 75. Relatives and friends invited to
service, Tues., 7:30 p.m.,
1920:
Martha A. Carré 68 Widowed;
rather born in
Emelie C. Ingram 39 Daughter
Thomas H. Ingram 41 Son-in-law;
treasurer for a trust company
In 1930, they lived in Media, Delaware
Co., Pa.
1950 Directory: Mrs. Harriet B. Woodward
2009: current owner: Allan O. Howland
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3523 Hamilton 3519 Hamilton>
Revised 3/4/2013