3527 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 36th and Bridge (
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
1860:
George Sellers 32 Currier
(leather curing expert)
Rebecca P.
Sellers 24
Elwood B.
Sellers 6
Jesse F. Sellers
4
(Elwood is listed as a daughter,
Ellen.)
George was the son of James Sellers
and Elizabeth Cadwalader. He and Rebecca Potts Betz were married in 1850.
1861 Directory: George Sellers, gentleman [36th & Hamilton]
The 1861 Business Directory lists
his business as currier at 608 Commerce.
1861, March 5: Birth of Rebecca J. Sellers
1865, March: Deed transferred from Jacob Aman to Mahlon Wanner.
At the end of the Civil War, Mahlon Wanner was a U. S.
Recruiting Agent. (Phila. Inquirer,
Feb. 16, 1864)
1866 IRS Records: Mahlon Wanner,
The 1861 directory lists Mahlon Wanner,
hardware at 1003 Spring Garden and living at 923 Wallace. The 1863 directory
lists him as a merchant at 909 Green St.
1870:
Mahlon Wanner 48 Coal Dealer; real estate: $5,000;
personal: $4,000
Georgette Wanner 37
John H. Wanner 17
Mary E. Wanner 12
Charles A. Wanner 9
In 1880, they were living at 3610 Hamilton St.
“John H. Wanner,
president of Dobbins Soap Manufacturing Company. Born Philadelphia. Son of Mahlon and Georgietta (Harris) Wanner. Educated Hastings [207 N. 35th
St.], Mantua Academy. Married Elizabeth S. Pettit. Has been with the
Dobbins Soap Manufacturing Company since boyhood….”
(Who’s Who in Philadelphia in Wartime.
1920.)
1874, Sept. 24: Mahlon Wanner served as president of the Fourth Senatorial
Republican District Convention. (Phila.
Inquirer)
1879, January: Deed transferred from Mahlon
Wanner (by Sheriff) to The Mantua Building
Association.
The Mantua Building Association was
headed by George
Hancock, 3216 Baring St.
1880, February: Deed transferred from The Mantua Building
Association to George Gale.
1880:
John W.
Davis 27 Weiger
[weigher?]
Juliet W. Davis 28
Edith W. Davis 2
Hettie E. Davis 67 Mother-in-law;
widowed; mother born in Ireland
Katie Kelley 24 Servant; born in
Hettie (Ester) Davis died Feb. 23,
1882 while living at 4205 Sansom St.
1882, November: Deed transferred from George Gale & Jane Mary
(wife) to John Hart.
1885: awards for dog breeding:
“Blenheim Spaniels.... Miss Tillie
Hart,
(“Reports of the State Board of Agriculture... for 1885.”
“BLENHEIM SPANIELS.-lst, .... Equal 2d, J. Parker (Rubes) and Miss Lilly Hart (Chappy)” (American
Kennel Register, 1885)
“BLENHEIM SPANIELS.—Dogs: 1st, H. W.
Smith (Beauty;) 2d, J. Hart (
1887 Directory: John C. Hart
In 1900, the census listed: John C
Hart, 50, 404 S. 43rd & Alexander age 14
1888, April: Deed transferred from John Hart & Mary (wife) to
Daniel Bergin.
In 1880, Daniel Bergin and his wife,
Bridget, were running a hotel at 3202-3204 Lancaster Ave. They had three sons
and a daughter, Mary E. Bergin. His mother’s name was given as B. Birmingham.
1890 Directory: William P.
Daniel Bergin
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)
1892, May 28: Death of Daniel V. Bergin, 72
years old, of 3527 Hamilton St. He was buried at Cathedral Cemetery.
1895 Directory: Thomas Bergin
Annie Farnen, widow of William
1895, May 3: Death of Bridget Bergin, 60 years old. She was buried
at Cathedral Cemetery.
1898, June 13: Death of Thomas Bergin, 40 years old.
1900:
Carrie A. Paddock
52 Widowed;
had four children; born in N.Y. in 1847
Helen L. Paddock 16
Stewart W.
Paddock 12
Margery A.
Paddock 10
Irene A. Paddock 9
The 1895 Directory lists: Paddock
Carrie V., wid Joseph H., h
Carrie Belle Angell (1858-?)
Married: Joseph
Hill Paddock (1856-1894)
In 1860, he lived in North Huntingdon,
1870,
he lived in
His father was William Paddock, a
minister, born in N.Y., c1817, died in 1894 in Connellsville, Fayette, Pa.
Their son, Wilbur
Stewart Paddock, B: 03 Feb 1888, Connellsville,
D: Jul 1974, Norristown,
Draft registration:
Montgomery Co., occup.: farmer
1908 Directory: William B. Anderson, student
William P. Anderson
1908, April 2: A permit was issued to W. P. Anderson for a rear
addition to 3527 Hamilton St. with a cost of $100. (Phila. Inquirer, April 3, 1908)
1910:
William P.
Anderson 52 Born in N.Y., parents in
Mary Anderson 48 Married
28 years, 3 children, 1 surviving (but see 1900)
William [B.]
Anderson 20 Trainman for the railroad
Nora McCarthey 22 Servant; born in Ireland
Isabell O’Donnell 9 Servant;
parents born in Ireland
William P. Anderson married Mary
Bergin, daughter of Daniel and Bridget Bergin (see above). In 1900, they lived
at 3624 Hamilton St.
In 1920, William B. Anderson, age
30, lived in the Sunderland Apartments at 3427 Powelton
Ave.
1913 Directory: William P. Anderson, real estate
1914, June: Deed transferred from William P. Anderson & Mary
E., his wife, sole beneficiaries of Daniel Bergin, deceased, to Helen M., wife
of John E. Cook.
1914, September: Deed transferred from John E. Cook and Helen M.,
his wife to E. Mabel, wife of Herman L. Tourny.
1915, Apr. 22: Death of William P. Anderson, 57 years old, of 3527
Hamilton St. He was a showman, a member of Philadelphia Lodge No 2, B. P. O.
E., the son of Patrick Anderson and Ellan Quin. He was buried at West Laurel
Hill Cemetery.
1918 Directory: William P. Anderson [Jr.]
1920:
Bertram V. Showalter 39 House
painter; renting
Mildred B. Showalter 31
Mildred H. Showalter 10
Elva V. Showalter 6
– 2nd
household
Andrew B. Shrader 52 Superintendent
in a machine shop; born in
L. Grace Shrader 38 Born
in
William C. Shrader 1 month
“HADDON HEIGHTS, N. J Dec. 30. [1914]
“While preparing for a noisy welcome
to the, new year, Mrs. Bertram V. Showalter,
“The shooting occurred in the dining
room of the Showalter home while Showalter, her brother-in-law, 19 years old,
was cleaning a revolver for use on New Year's Eve. Believing the weapon
unloaded, he pointed it at his sister-in-law and pulled the trigger. Twice the
weapon failed to explode, but on the third pull Mrs. Showalter fell with a
bullet through her nose and mouth.
“Mrs. Showalter was unconscious for
more than two hours. Her brother-in-law, who was visiting the family for the
holidays, has not been arrested, but is under surveillance pending the outcome
of her injuries.” (Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia [Pa.]),
December 30, 1914.)
1920, October: Deed transferred from Herman L. Tourney & E.
Eloise, his wife to George Boon and Emma B., his wife.
1924, December: Deed transferred from George Boon and Emma B.,
his wife, to Monroe D. Reese and Mae V., his wife.
1927, November: Deed transferred from Elizabeth E. Speed to
Theodore C. Loder.
1930:
Arthur E.
Speed 53 Sign maker; married at age 20; father
born in England, mother in Irish Free State; renting for $80 per month.
Mary Speed 48 Married at age 18; parents born in
Elizabeth Speed 26 Stenographer
for road machinery co.
Theodore C. Loder
48 Lodger;
salesman for road machinery co.; married at age 25
Arthur E. Speed married Mary C.
Kennedy in Philadelphia in 1898. In 1920, the Speed family lived with his
brother, William, at 2443 W. Columbia Ave. Arthur was a contractor at a
locomotive works. In 1880, he was 13 years old, living with his parents at 1217
Jefferson St. His father was a boss in a worsted mill and his mother was a milk
dealer.
Theodore C. Loder married Elsie
Rogers in 1906. In 1920, they lived in Lower Merion with their son and two
daughters and two servants.
1938, Mar. 28: Theodore Charles Loder applied
for veteran’s compensation for his service in the 1st Pennsylvania
Volunteers from April 28, 1898 to Oct. 26, 1898,
1938, May: Deed transferred from Theodore C. Loder to Elizabeth
E. Speed.
1940: Not
enumerated in this census
1942 WWII Draft Registration: Loder Theodore
C., Loder & Sharp, 32nd & Powelton Sts. He
was 63 years old.
1944, June 30: Death of Arthur E. Speed, 71
years old, son of William Speed and Elizabeth McMahon. of 3527 Hamilton St.
1947, Sept. 29: Death of Theodore C. Loder
“Theodore C. Loder, for 40 years
president of Loder and Sharp, Inc., West Philadelphia machinery firm, died
Sunday at his country home, Boxwood Manor, Port Elizabeth, N.J., after a long
illness. He was 69. His home in this city was at 3527 Hamilton St.
“Mr. Loder was the son of the late
Theodore H. Loder. widely known importer, and Mrs. Emma Beard Loder. He was a
descendant of Adam Beard, who served as a captain in the Pennsylvania militia
at Valley Forge. Mr. Loder served in the Spanish-American and the First World
War and was a Mason and a Shriner.
“Surviving are his wife, Mrs.
Elisabeth Speed Loder,” a son, and two daughters. (Inquirer Oct. 1)
1949, August: Deed transferred from Elizabeth S. Loder to May K.
Speed.
1950 Directory: T. C. Loder
Loder & Sharp Inc, machinery, 32nd
& Powelton
1954, July: Deed transferred from May K. Speed to
1988 Obituary: “Elizabeth Loder, 87,
Ex-head Of Bucks Firm
“Mrs. Elizabeth Loder, 87, of 1300
Rose Lane, Flourtown, Montgomery County, died Tuesday in her home. She was the
widow of Theodore C. Loder Jr.
“Born in Philadelphia, she owned and
operated Loder and Sharp Inc., Everything for Roads, Quakertown, for 50 years
before retiring as president in 1979. She was president for 21 years.
“She was a member of St. Genevieve's
Catholic Church, Flourtown.
“Surviving is a niece.
“A Mass of Christian Burial will be
celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday in the church. A calling period will be 9:30-10
a.m. Saturday in the church.”
(The
Morning Call (Allentown), January 01, 1988)
The next residents were Giles and Edith Zimmerman
Giles L. Zimmerman was President of
International House Philadelphia from 1950-1970. His role there is described in
the History
of International House Philadelphia. Also see: Taking
Action for the Community: The International Students' House at Penn.
1988 Obituary: “Edith Laura Way Zimmerman, 72, who worked to find
homes in the city and suburbs for foreign students and also enjoyed her own
family moments, died Sunday at
“Active in international cultural
work for most of her career, Mrs. Zimmerman spent 10 years, until 1970, as
hospitality director at the International House of Philadelphia Inc. At the
agency, she assisted in developing and directing the home hospitality program,
a placement center for students from other countries. ’It was amazing how often
it worked out beautifully, that she was able to match the right student with
the right family,’ said her husband, Giles, who was executive director of the
International House. ‘She was very proud of that.’ A reserved, gentle woman who
was equally tenacious and self-reliant, Mrs. Zimmerman also valued her family
ties and was pleased by the close bond she developed with her stepchildren. She
enjoyed family picnics and swimming at her brother's Kennett Square home, and enjoyed traveling to other states with her husband
to see her stepchildren and her step-grandchildren. ‘She enjoyed having the
children around,’ her husband said. ‘She loved cooking, and she loved cooking
for them.’
“Mrs. Zimmerman had always been busy
and involved. She started her career in 1936, as secretary to the director of
the Oberlander Trust, part of the Carl Schurz Memorial Foundation, a cultural
exchange established to better relations between Germany and the United States.
In 1943, Mrs. Zimmerman became the secretary to the department of geography and
foreign languages at the University of Maryland, and from 1946 to 1952 she
served in various administrative jobs for government offices in West Germany. There
with a cultural exchange program sponsored by the Department of State, she helped
develop a student exchange program between West Germany and the United States.
“Always a person who enjoyed travel,
Mrs. Zimmerman toured numerous countries after leaving
“Although retired, she volunteered
at the International House for special fund-raising events and
also for the international classroom program of the Museum of the
University of Pennsylvania. She was a member of the Religious Society of
Friends, the Kennett Monthly Meeting and the
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. She also was involved in Powelton Village
community activities and helped start the annual Powelton Village porch sale. Born
in Kennett Square, she graduated from Kennett High School and the George
School. She also was a graduate of
“Besides her husband of
30 years, Giles L., surviving are a sister, a brother,
two stepsons, a stepdaughter and seven step-grandchildren.” (Philadelphia Inquirer Aug.
3, 1988. Donna St.
George)
1989, October: Deed transferred to Benjamin W.
Dugan and Jennifer A. Johnson.
Note: the
deed search for this property was done by Max Dugan.
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3601 Hamilton 3525
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