3525 Hamilton Street

The History of the Building

The northern edge of this property was part of the northern boundary of the Bingham-Baring estate.

3525-3527 was apparently developed by Jacob and William Aman. Jacob Aman owned the lot at 36^th and Bridge (Spring Garden) which is immediately behind 3527 Hamilton. Aman & Brother was a sash and door maker in Mantua. The 3525 lot was transferred from Jacob to William June 19, 1856. Joseph kept ownership of 3527 until 1865. Smedley’s 1862 map of the 24^th Ward shows these houses.

3525-27: “three-story Italianate double; stuccoed. Circa 1900 Colonial Revival porch. Shallow pitched roof. Cornice detail removed.”

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

Previous Residents

1856, June 19: deed transferred from Jacob Aman to his brother William Aman

The 1858 Directory lists William working at Green below Mary (Brandywine St. below 38^th St.).

1859 Directory (Fall, 1858): William Aman, sash & door maker at Green below Mary (Brandywine St. below 38^th St.).

The address is given as the corner of N. 36^th & Hamilton which could be 3525 or 3527.

1860:

William Aman 34 Sash & blind maker; real estate: $5,000, personal: $1,000

Maria Aman 31

Eliz Aman 9

Willie Aman 4

Sam H Aman 19 Apprentice sash and blind maker [brother?]

1861 Directory: William Aman, sash maker, Hamilton near N 36th

1866 IRS: William Aman, below 36th, North, 2nd house

1868, May 11: Survey of building for insuring house with The Contributorship. (For full text describing house in 1868, 1885 and 1890, see the Contributorship Archives.) The design of the house at that time was as follows:

The kitchen section was described as follows: Back building kitchen - floor of yellow pine – moulded base – two windows of eight 13x15in light [panes];… - dresser with two doors above and two doors and two drawers below - iron sink box enclosed below - with hot and cold water over it - single oven range with horizontal boiler behind it and iron mantle shelf over it -minding stairs to second story and same to cellar - Second Story in bed room and bath room - ... wooden bath tub with hot and cold water.”

The reported also noted: “Gas in all rooms except back room, 3^rd story, and 2^nd story back building - pipes plastered in. Rooms and passages all papered, on walls and ceilings, except 3^rd story back room and bathroom.”

1870:

William Aman 45 Manufacturer of doors, blinds & sashes; real estate: $10,000, personal: $2,000

Maria Aman 40

Lizzy Aman 17

William Aman 14

In 1880, they lived at 3601 Hamilton St.

1877, Jan. 18: deed transferred to David A. MacCarroll “with the buildings thereon.”

1880:

David MacCarroll 35 Manufacturer; father born in Ireland, mother in Scotland

Jane MacCaroll 56 Mother; born in Scotland

Martha MacCarrol 23 Daughter [of Jane]

Margaret McGilley 23 Servant; parents born in Ireland

The 1870 census listed them at 625 Filbert St.

1881 Directory: David A. MacCaroll (MacCarroll Bros.)

Jane MacCaroll, widow of Joseph [Sr.]

MacCaroll Bros. (David A. & Joseph) hosiery, 3015 Chestnut

Joseph MacCaroll, 629 Union

1884, Oct. 3: deed transferred to William B. Edwards.

1885, Jan 10: deed transferred to Nellie Edwards (“by shff”)

1890 Directory: Benjamin Dusenberry

Chester W. Hill (C. W. Hill & Co.)

Caroline Joy

1890, May 22: A permit was issued to D. Bergin of 3527 Hamilton St. for an addition to 3525 Hamilton St. (Phila. Inquirer, May 23, 1890)

1890, May 23: deed transferred to Daniel Bergin

1890, August 22: House resurveyed by Contributorship

The house had been modified in several ways.

The “piazza” or porch extended across the front and back to the front door. The former enclosed shed had been incorporated into the kitchen and a new shed added in back. Both staircases were moved. The dining room was extended outward to line up with the east wall of the entryway.

1900:

Adelaide H. Magoffin 29 Single; father born in N.Y.; renting

Alice L. Logan 16 [Half]-sister; father born in Pa.

In 1910, Adelaide was a roomer at 5233 Chester Ave. She was an assistant matron in a hospital.

1910:

William J. Kerr 51 Cloth merchant; single; parents born in Ireland; renting

Jennie Kerr 48 Sister; single; parents born in Ireland

Martha C. Kerr 46 Sister; single; parents born in Ireland

Mary E. Kerr 43 Sister; single; parents born in Ireland

In 1900, they lived at 7430 Devon St. in Mt. Airy. Jennie was working as an embroiderer. In 1920, William, Martha ^and Jennie lived at 660 N. 33^rd St. William was listed as widowed and working as a clerk in a government shipyard. Their ages are not consistent across censuses, but it appears William is actually the youngest.

1918, Oct. 26: Death to influenza of Margaret Haas, 41 years old, wife of J. Frank Haas and daughter of the late Charles G. Murphy and Margaret C. Curry of Centralia, Pa.

1920:

James Franklin Haas 44 Railroad clerk; widowed; renting

Margaret E Haas 15

James F. Haas 13

Rosemary Haas 9

Mary Murphy 35 Housekeeper; single; father born in Ireland

In 1910, the family lived in Shamokin, Northumberland Co., Pa. He was a newspaper reporter. They owned the house free of a mortgage. His wife, Margaret, was 31. His father, Jacob W. Haas was living with them. In 1920, James Sr. and Jr. were living with James Sr.’s widowed sister-in-law in Sunbury, Northumberland, Pa. James Jr. was a newspaper reporter.

1920, Feb. 16: deed transferred form Clarence H. Reed Trustee under will of Mary E. Anderson, deceased to Amelia J. Buckley.

1921, July 20: deed transferred to William Early Fretwell and Peirce Crosby Kelly

1922, Oct. 28: Marriage license issued to Mary P. Jones of 3706 Hamilton St. and William E. Fretwell of 3525 Hamilton St. (Phila. Inquirer, Oct. 29, 1922)

In 1927, they were living at 3706 Hamilton St.

1925, March 21: deed transferred from William Early Fretwell and his wife and Peirce Crosby Kelly and his wife Eleanore to Samuel Elgart.

1925 [?], May 22: deed transferred from Samuel Elgart and Jane, his wife, to Samuel Sagen

1929, June 17: deed transferred to Samuel Elegant. Sale price: $4,397.58.

1930:

Anna Carames 64 Widowed; born in Md.; renting for $35 per month

Amelie Hastings 36 Daughter; nurse for private family; born in Md.; widowed

Samuel Hastings 5 Grandson; born in Delaware; father born in Del., mother in Md.

– 2^nd household

Ella McMinneman 40 Machine operator in a pastry factory; single; renting for $35 per month

Helen McMinneman 18 Machine operator in a pastry factory; lodger and relative

– 3^rd household

John P. Gordon 38 Salesman in a retail shop; married at age 25; renting for $25 per month

– 4^th household

Sarah Smith 51 Machine operator in a pastry factory; widowed; renting for $25 per month

Helen McMenanmin was the daughter of John McMenamin, an Irishman who immigrated in 1875. He was an electrical engineer. Her mother’s parents were born in Ireland. In 1920, they lived at 4915 N. 4^th St.

1932, Sept. 19: deed transferred to William G. Frazier. Sale price: $4,480.57.

1935, May 17: deed transferred from William G. Frazier, “single man,” to Garrick Building and Loan Association.

1937, Oct. 18: deed transferred to Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

“Luther A. Harr, Secretary of Banking; Walter M. Burkhardt, Esq., deputy receiver of Garrick Building and Loan Association.” Value: $5,420.50

1940:

Arthur McGee 43 Insurance agent, earned $1,200 in 1939; born in MD, 4 years of high school; lived in Hagerstown, MD in 1935; renting for $35 per month

Janet C. McGee 31 born in MD, 2 years of college; lived in Baltimore, MD in 1935

Michael D. McGee 2 Born in MD

1942, Dec. 23: deed transferred to Max Schwartz, address: 5214 Locust St.

1946, May 10: deed transferred from Max Schwartz and Ida, his wife, to Ernest A Varn (present address: 6500 Wissahickon Ave.)

1946, Aug. 15: deed transferred from Ernest A. Varn and Agnes G., his wife, to Patrick J. McGoldrick and Lessie M., his wife (present address: 3525 Hamilton St.)

1950 Directory: Patrick J. McGoldrick

1951, Feb. 21: Death of Clara F. Nazel, 85 years old, widow of John Nazal and daughter of William Blackiston and Frances Barnes.

1976: For Sale “3525 Hamilton St. Charming early Victorian Twin with pleasant yard. Remodeled interior emphasizes light & large spaces. 3 bdrms, 3 baths, $34,500…. Urban Developers.” (Inquirer, Feb. 8)

1976, July: Deed transferred from Harry Casio, Jr. to Marion Ambros, $28,500.” (Inquirer, July 25)

< 3527 Hamilton 3523 Hamilton>

Revised: 12/23/2021

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