The
History of the Building
The northern
boundary of the houses on the northern side of
3601-03, 3605-07, 3609-11, 3613-15, and 3617: These houses appear to have been built by the same builder but may have been built for three different developers.
“two-and-one-half
story Second Empire-style doubles, stone facade over brick. Victorian wood
porches (3609-11, 3613--15 removed). Slate-shingled mansards with four dormers
with decoratively carved wood gables. Ornate wood Victorian cornices. Segmental
stone lintels. 3601-03 and 3613-15 have roof cresting”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
Previous Residents
1872 Atlas shows 3601-3619 owned by J. G. Hardie. In 1860-1880,
James G. Hardie lived at
1872, Mar. 12: Title transferred to
William Aman by Harry K. Harnish
Harnish transferred both 3601 and
3605 to William Aman. The 1872 directory lists Henry K. Harnish living at 3501
Bridge (Spring Garden) St.
1876, Nov. 2: Marriage of Lizze E. Aman, only daughter of William
Aman of 3601 Hamilton St., to William B. Leech of Philadelphia. (Phila. Inquirer, Nov. 4)
He was the son of William M. Leech,
a blacksmith, and Rosina Kochsperg [?]. He died in Philadelphia in 1915 at the
age of 64.
1877 Directory: Aman William, Aman & Brother (Jacob &
William)
The 1876
directory lists him living at 3525 Hamilton St.
Aman William H., clerk,
William B. Leech, salesman at corner of
Chestnut & S.12th
1878 Directory (Fall, 1877): William Aman of Aman & Brother
(Jacob & William), sashmakers 3715 Filbert
William H. Aman, bookkeeper
1880:
William
Aman 53 Blinds and door maker
Maria
D. Aman 50
William
H. Aman 24 Clerk in a mill
Annie
E. Aman 35 Niece; dressmaker
William
B. Leech 30 Son-in-law; jeweler
Lizzie
E. Leech 28 Daughter
Maggie
A. Leech 2 Granddaughter
Bessie
M. Leech 8 mons. Grandson, born
Sept. 1879
Harriett
D. Dyer 23 Servant; black
1881 Directory:
Aman, William
(Aman & Bro.)
Amen, William H., clerk
1890 Directory: William
Aman, 3601 Hamilton
William B. Leech, jeweler at 3610 Market
In
1895, William Aman of M. D. Aman, planning mill (
1894, May. 12: Title transferred to
Thomas Sloan, in Trust by William Aman & Son, et al.
1894, July 15: Title transferred to
Theophilus Hessenbruch by Sheriff for William Aman.
Hessenbruch lived at 3316 Baring St.
1894, Sep. 18: Title transferred to J.
Howard Gendell by Theophilus Hessenbruch
1900:
Howard Gendell 55 Lawyer;
parents born in N.J.; owner with a mortgage
Annie H. Gendell 51 Married 30
years, 3 children, 2 surviving; born in Ken., father born in
Lucy C. Gendell 26
Elizabeth B. Gendell 25
The 1895 Directory lists J. Howard
Gendell of Gendell & Reeves, lawyers, living at
1910:
J.
Howard Gandell 65 Lawyer; mother born in N.J.
Anne
H. Gandell 60 Married 40 years, 3 children, 2
surviving; born in Ken., father in
Lucy
C. Gandell 37 Daughter; single
Elizabeth
S Gandell 35 Daughter; single
Mary
J. Crowley 50 Servant; born in
Rose
A. Kelly 21 Servant; born in
1910,
Nov. 12: Death of John H. Gendell, 66 years old, of 3601 Hamilton St.
“J. Howard Gendell, City Solicitor
and a well-known member of the local bar, died to-day at his home aged 66
years. About five months ago he suffered a stroke of paralysis,
but recovered sufficiently to resume the duties of his office. Two days ago he was stricken with heart disease. He was admitted to
the bar in 1865, and was appointed City Solicitor in 1907 to fill a vacancy,
being elected for the full term following year.” (New York Times, Nov. 14)
1911, Dec. 18: Title transferred to The
Divinity School of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Philadelphia by Sheriff
1911, Dec. 27: Title transferred to David
Patton by The Divinity School of the Protestant Episcopal Church in
Philadelphia
1916, Dec. 9: Death of Fannie Patton of
3601 Hamilton St. She was the daughter of the late Thomas and Jane Martin
Patton. She was 65.
She was the sister of
David Patton.
1920:
David
M. Patton 61 Wholesale paper dealer; single; parents
born in
Mary
Patton 73 Sister; single; parents born in
Elizabeth
R. Patton 59 Sister; single; parents born in
Catherine
Mella 51 Servant; parents born in
In 1900, they lived with their
mother, Jane Patton, at 2021 Poplar. She was an 83 year-old
widow who had had 9 children 7 of whom were surviving. David was a salesman. In
1880, they lived at 1336 Poplar. Their father, Thomas, was a grocer. At that
time, Elizabeth was a public-school teacher.
1925,
May. 12: Death of David M. Patton of 3601 Hamilton St. He was the son of the
late Thomas and Jane Martin Patton.
1925,
May. 23: Title transferred to Elizabeth R. Patton by will
1928,
Feb. 15: Death of Elizabeth R. Patton, 73 years old, of 3601 Hamilton St. She
was the daughter of the late Thomas and Jane Martin Patton.
1928,
Oct. 24: Title transferred to Jesse H. Leonard by will
She was married to Richard D. Patton
and the daughter of Joseph G. Haines and Margaret Patton.
1930:
Not enumerated in census
1936:
“Civic Club…. 24th Ward branch annual meeting and election, 8 P. M.
at 3601 Hamilton st., Mrs. P. M. Muller in charge….” (Inquirer, Apr. 9)
1940:
Laurence
Mains 39 College teacher; born in Nebraska; lived here in 1935; 4
years of college; renting for $32 per month
David
Mains 26 Brother; salesman for soft drink
manufacturer, employed 16 weeks in 1939; born in Nebraska; lived in Crete,
Nebraska in 1935; 4 years of college
Laura
Mains 69 Mother; widowed; born in Nebraska; lived
in Crete, Nebraska in 1935; 8 years of education
_
2nd Hh
Anna
Carerera 56 Widowed; renting for $20 per month;
lived here in 1935; 8 years of education
Laurence and David were the sons of
Seward Mains, an insurance agent and Laura Patton.
Laurence
P. Mains (1898-1971)
Drexel Yearbook, 1950
Laurence’s obituary
in 1971 reported that he was “a former head of the engineering department at
Drexel University. He was graduated
from
Doane College in [Crete,] Nebraska in 1920, and from Cornell University in
1924. He joined the civil engineering department at Drexel
shortly after he received his degree from
Cornell. He remained at the University until 1963. Mr. Mains was head of the
department
of civil engineering from 1954 to 1962. He was a former chairman of Drexel’s Faculty Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics
and served as the head basketball coach during the 1940s. For his service to Drexel Athletics, he was made an honorary member
of the varsity club and was the recipient of the 1969 Alumni Varsity Club Award. As an officer of the American Iris Society,
he was frequently called to serve as a judge at flower shows. He maintained a number of gardens at the Drexel Lodge near
Newtown Square.” (Inquirer, Mar. 25, 1971) He was living in Media when he died.
1942
WWII Draft Registration: Mains Laurence Patton, born in Crete, NB, Nov. 27,
1899, working at Drexel University
1942
WWII Draft Registration: Mains David Philip, born in Crete, NB, Mar. 1, 1912,
working at Pepsi-Cola Co., 1321 Fitzwater St.
He joined the military in Nov. 1942.
He served abroad between Nov. 1942 and Jan. 1946. He was discharged in Jan.
1946.
1944,
July 6: Title transferred to Katharine Roth by Jesse H. Leonard
1944,
July. 7: Title transferred to Joseph D. Donnelly and May, his wife by Katharine
Roth
1944, Oct.
6: Title transferred to Laurence P, Mains by Joseph D. Donnelly and May, his
wife
1944,
Dec. 17: Death of Laura Patton Mains, 74 years old, of 3601 Hamilton St. She
died at Episcopal Hospital
1950
Directory: Mains L. P.
In 1968, he
was living at the Powelton Apartments, 216 N. 35th St. (Inquirer,
Dec. 30, 1968)
Kollar Harold J.
1968
Directory: Laurenson A., Jr., 1st floor
Sgro A. G., 3rd Floor
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