The
History of the Building
Crispen 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 at 116 N. 39th St.
(which no longer exists) 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, probably worked with him. They
were also bricklayers. In the late 1860s, Joseph lived at 34th and Filbert Sts. He did not claim any real estate. Thomas Crispen also
built 3400-3410 Baring St., 3509-11 and 3417-3421 Hamilton St. as well as other
buildings in Powelton. (The name was variously spelled Crespenn
or Crispenn.)
“two-and-one-half
story mansarded double; stone facade over brick;
porch-fronted; full-height, first-floor windows; bracketed wood cornice;
slate-shingled mansard roof with four gabled, arcuated dormer windows.”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
Previous Residents
1876,
Sep. 7: Title transferred to Annie E. Flower by Thomas D. Crispen
1878 Directory: Reese W.
Flower, manager at 700 Chestnut St.
Reese W. Flower, Jr.
1880:
Reese W. Flower 38 Manager of H.
L. Co.; mother born in England
Annie E. Flower 30 Wife
Harry E. Flower 10
Marion E. Flower
8
Edith Flower 5
Bessie Elinor
Flower 2
Briget Connahan 18 Servant;
born in Scotland, father in Scotland, mother in Ireland
Ana Tally 17 Servant; born in Philadelphia
The University of Pennsylvania had a
Reese Flower Observatory on the West Chester Pike. (Rural Pennsylvania in the
Vicinity of Philadelphia. By Samuel Fitch Hotchkin, 1897.)
“The Reese W. Flower Professorships
were established through a bequest from Reese W. Flower in 1892. While Mr.
Flower did not attend Penn, his ancestry may explain his interest in astronomy.
He was a descendant of George Graham of London, a noted maker of astronomical
instruments.” (Almanac, Univ. of
Pennsylvania, Oct. 21, 2008, Vol. 55, No. 9)
1890 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. R. W. Flower
1893, Feb. 8: Marriage of Marion Emily Flower
to William Gillespie Conover at Tabernacle Presbyterian Church (37th
& Chestnut Sts.)
1893, Oct. 15, Philadelphia Inquirer: “Henry
E. Flower, of Thirty-sixth and Powelton avenue, is back from the World’s Fair.”
In December, he offered for sale a
“book of 31 choice World’s Fair views sent postpaid for 25 cents; includes
photograph of Mayor Harrison.” (Inquirer, Dec. 2)
1894, Apr. 28: Death of Reese W. Flower, Jr. of 3600 Powelton Ave. He was born Nov. 17, 1841. He was a clerk. Burial was in Williamsport, Pa.
1900:
Annie E. Flower 49 Widowed, 4
children; owned with a mortgage
Edith Flower 25
Bessie E. Flower 22
1909, Mar. 14: Death of Annie E. Flower. Burial was in
Williamsport, Pa.
1911, Nov. 14: Marriage license issued to Edith Flower of 3600
Powelton Ave. and James R. Clendenin of Blenheim Apts.
1918 Draft Registration: 3600 Powelton Ave.
Albert Frank Ulmer, Jr., b Feb 25
1876, Clerk for Penna. R.R.
He listed Sarah C. Ulmer as his
nearest relative at 3500 Powelton Ave.
In 1900, Albert Ulmer lived at 3504 Hamilton.
1920:
James R. Clendenin 57 Insurance broker; owner, free of a
mortgage
Edith F. Clendenin 45
Bessie E. Flower 40 Sister-in-law
Rachel Gilbs 21 Servant
1920, Oct.: Marriage license issued to
Bessie Flower of 3600 Powelton Ave. and Frederick Wagner of Baltimore, Maryland
1930:
James Clendenin 52 Office clerk for life insurance co.;
owner, house valued at $8,000
Edith Clendenin 52 Married 21 years
1936, Apr. 25: Death of Edith Flower
Clendenin, 60 years old, of 3600 Powelton Ave.
1936, Dec. 26: Death of James R.
Clendenin, 73 years old, of 3600 Powelton Ave.
1940:
Luther C. Manifold 68 Claims adjuster for Pennsylvania
Railroad, earned $1200 in 1939; 8 years of education; renting for $60 per month
Edna Manifold 51 Eight years of education
Sarah Gueletle 71 Roomer;
currently unemployed, in 1939 was a nurse for private patients, earned $200 for
32 weeks of work; widowed; four years of high school; born in Maryland
Elizabeth Monie 73 Roomer;
currently unemployed, in 1939 was a nurse in the hospital, earned $885 for 21
weeks of work single; three years of high school; born in Scotland
Richard West 30
Roomer; currently unable to work
and did not work in 1939; single; two years of high school
In
1930, Luther and Edna Manifold lived at 227 N. 34th St.
and in 1920 they lived at 3209 Summer St.
1942, Feb. 28: Title for 0 transferred to
Nellie Sponseller by Thomas L. Shallow, Trustee for
estate of James R. Clendein
1943, May. 3: Title for 0 transferred to
Jeanette N. Sartwell by Nellie Sponseller
It
was sold for $5,500
1950 Directory: Mrs. Jeanette M. Sartwell
1950:
Olivette Lochard 30 [sic.] Single
Jeanette M. Sartwell 36 [sic. ] Partner; single [sic.]
It
appears that this information was given by someone else. The ages and other
information were wrong. In 1930, they lived at 325 N. 40th St. At
that time, Lochard was single. She owed the house
which was valued at $10,000. She was a clerk at a drug store. Jeanette Sartwell was her sister. She was widowed. In 1900, they
were both living with their grandmother at 3804 Locust St. Olivette was born in
1883 and Janette in 1886. Jeanette was born in Columbia, Pa. She was the widow
of Roswell Corbett Sartwell who died in 1911 at age
28. At that time, they were living in Bradford, McKean Co., Pa. He was a Doctor
of Veterinary Medicine.
1956, Jun. 24: Death of Jeanette M. Sartwell née Lockard, 67 years old, of 3600 Powelton Ave.
“Mrs.
Jeanette M. Sartwell, an employee of the Registration
Commission for many years and a former member of the 24th Ward Republican
Executive Committee, died Sunday in University Hospital. She lived at 3600
Powelton ace. Mrs. Sartwell was formerly president of
the 24th Ward Women’s Club and a member of the Pennsylvania Council of
Republican Women.” (Inquirer, June 27)
1965: “Renaissance Singers in Palestrina Missa Brevis and madrigals, [Sunday] 8 P. M., 3600 Powelton
ave.” (Inquirer, Dec. 12)
1967: “Twenty-five youngsters with spelling and geometry
books, looks of curiosity and questions showed up at Powel School, 36th
and Powelton ave., Monday night….
“They came to receive what is
promised to be the first free homework motivation assistance program in the
country – called HELP (High Education Learning Program) Center – is run on a
zero budget without the sponsorship of the Board of Education….”
“But an even greater response came
Monday night from young folks like Jonathan Rickett, 10, of 3600 Powelton st. [sic.] who brought his multiplication tables and his
siter, Becky, 6½. She came for help in spelling.” (Inquirer, May 2)
<
210 N 36th St. 3602 Powelton >