3603 Spring Garden Street
This house was
part of a triple built on land previously owned by Mary Ray and her
descendants. That history can be found at 3601-3605
Spring Garden St.
1898, May. 27: Title
for 3601-3605 transferred to John A. Kelley by descendants of Elizabeth T.
(Ray) Truitt
1902: “Owner John A.
Kelley will build three three-story brick dwellings at 3601, 3603, and 3605 Spring Garden street, according to plans by Architect Henry
A. Macomb, to cost $10,000. The houses will measure 10.1˝ and 18.7˝x64 and 64.4
feet.” (Inquirer, June 18)
Architect Henry A. Macomb
(1845-1933) began working as a draftsman after serving in the Civil War. He
started working for Wilson Bros & Co. in 1876 rising to become a partner in
1882. After the firm dissolved in 1899, he worked with several partners until
retiring in 1916. He became a fellow of the American Institute of Architects in
1888. A list of over 60 of his projects can be found at the website Philadelphia
Architects and Buildings.
“Ryan & Kelley will take bids
until June 24 for three houses to be built at Thirty-sixth and Spring Garden
streets for John A. Kelley.” (Inquirer, June 20)
John A. Kelley and his family later
lived at 3509
Spring Garden St. (see that page for biographical
information)
“three-story,
tan brick row; pilasters separate each unit; pressed metal cornice; with
colonial swags below
modillion. 1/1
sash; center house retains original slender paired porch posts.”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
Previous Residents
1910:
James R. Wilson 49 Foreman
at locomotive works; married twice; born in MA, father born in Ireland, mother
in MA
Ella F. Wilson 44 Married
15 years, 3 children; father born in PA
Marian G. Wilson 11
Dorothy E.
Wilson 8
Samuel V. Wilson 6
Caroline Frambes 70 Mother-in-law;
widowed; 4 children, 3 surviving; mother born in NJ
Florence M.
Frambes 35 Sister-in-law; bookkeeper for undertaker; mother born in NJ
Alice G. Frambes 33 Sister-in-law;
stenographer for notary public; mother born in NJ
Josephine Marr 57 Servant;
born in Germany
They previously lived at 134 N.
Paxson St.
1916 Directory:
James R. Wilson, foreman
<
3605 Spring Garden St. 3601
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Added 2/10/2021
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