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 house appear to have been built by the same builder but may have been built for three different developers. 3605 was probably the last built. It is the only one not shown in the 1878 Scott Atlas.
“two-and-one-half story Second Empire-style
doubles, stone facade over brick. Victorian wood porches…. 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
of 3605 Hamilton Street
1872 Atlas shows 3601-3619 owned by J. G. Hardie. In 1860, James
G. Hardie lived at 3200 Arch St. The 1861 Directory lists him as a merchant
with an office at
1872, March: Deed transferred from Henry K. Harnish to William
Aman.
Harnish transferred both 3601 and
3605 to William Aman. The 1872 directory lists Henry K. Harnish living at 3501
Bridge (Spring Garden) St.
William and Jacob Aman were listed
as window and sash makers in city directories of the 1860s. However, it appears
that they built a number of houses along Hamilton St.
1878, June: Deed transferred from Jacob Aman to Richard H.
Watson.
1879 Directory (Fall, 1878): Richard H. Watson plumber at 1707
Chestnut
The 1878 directory lists him living
at 1526 S. 6th St.
1880:
Richard H.
Watson 44 Plumber; father born in
Irene Watson 17
Effie Watson 15
Hannah Hooven 21 Servant
Helen Cameron 17 Servant;
born in
1888, Nov. 7: Marriage of Effie Watson to William Cummings Barratt
1890 Directory: William C. Barratt, 101 Walnut, h
3605 Hamilton
The 1889 directory lists them living
at 233 S. 42nd St.
1890-91 Blue Book: Richard H. Watson & daughter
1892: Permit issued to “Stay Reeves & Sons,
contractors, one-story brick laundry addition, in rear, of 3605 Hamilton
street.” (Inquirer, Nov. 18)
1893: W. C. Barrett was
the first elected secretary of the Powelton
Club.
R. H. Watson was elected to serve as
a director of the Powelton
Club.
1896: William C. Barratt, Secretary, Powelton
Club
(Proceedings of the Sixth American Whist
Congress.)
1895 Directory: William C. Barratt, clerk
In 1900, they lived at 3606 Spring Garden St.
1900:
Richard H. Watson 64 Widowed;
owned free of a mortgage
Irene Watson 37
Mary Glynn 32 Servant; born in
Bridget
Hasson 24
Servant; born in
1906 Blue Book: Richard H. Watson
Miss Irene Watson
“Officers and
Committeemen Philadelphia Master Plumbers' Association... R. H. Watson”
“The Graduating
Class of June, 1912, in Plumbing and Electrical Construction...
Mr. Richard H.
Watson, the grand old man of the plumbing trade in
(
1910:
Richard H.
Watson 73 Plumbing contractor; widowed; father born in
Irene Watson 47 Daughter;
single
Rose Heron 50 Servant; single; born
in Ireland
1920:
Richard H.
Watson 83 Plumbing business; widowed
Irene Watson 57 Single
Elizabeth Field 69 Sister-in-law;
born in Hesse, Germany, immigrated in 1861, became a citizen in 1867.
1921, May 30: Death of Richard Hartman Watson of 3605 Hamilton
St. Relatives and friends, Perkins Lodge No. 402, F. and A. M., and other
organizations with which he was connected are invited to attend his funeral at
his late residence. Services at St. Andrew's P. E. Church. (Inquirer, June 1, 1921)
“A bequest of $1000 to aid in paying
off the mortgage on the rectory of St. Andrews’ Protestant Episcopal Church,
Thirty-sixth and Baring streets, is contained in the will of Richard H. Watson,
admitted to probate today. Mr. Watson, who lived at 3605 Hamilton street, died
May 30. He was in the plumbing business at 1707 Chestnut street. The residue of
the estate goes to his daughters, Miss Irene Watson and Mrs. William C. Barratt
[3606 Spring Garden St.], and grandchildren.” (Ev. Pub. Ledger, June 11, 1921)
1930:
Leonardo J. List 44 Treasurer
of a bank
Marie Langston
List 48 Father born in R.I., mother in Ohio
Betty List 10
Ida M Leafe 42 Lodger; nurse for a private family
In 1900, he lived at 3406 Hamilton St. In 1910, they lived at 3301 Hamilton St. In 1920, they was at 209 N. 35th St.
Leonardo was
President of Samuel M. Langston Co., machinery manufacturers. Mrs. List was
Marie Stone Langston, a contralto soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and
the Philadelphia Operatic Society. In 1940, they lived at 277 Forrest Rd.,
Merion, PA.
1940: No one was
enumerated at this address in 1940.
1940, August: Deed transferred from Richard H. & Edith S.
(wife) Watson to John J. & Mary G. Fitzgerald.
In 1930, John J. and Mary Fitzgerald
lived with their son, John J., Jr., at 2220 N. 17th St. John, Sr.
(age 65) and Mary (60) were born in
1943:
Four-month suspension of ration stamps for gasoline: Joseph J. McNally, 3506
Hamilton st., for driving without a ration sticker after previous warning. (Inquirer,
June 4)
1950 Directory: John J. Fitzgerald, Jr.
James A. Fitzgerald
1952:
“Court Test Due for Pechan Bill”
“The
first test of the Pechan Bill, which requires a loyalty oath by State and
municipal employees, was lined up yesterday when the Civil Service Commission
turned down Mrs. Marie S. Fitzgerald’s appeal from her dismissal as a nurse at
Philadelphia General Hospital.
“Mrs.
Fitzgerald, who lived at 3605 Hamilton st., refused to take the loyalty oath,
and as a consequence, was fired by the hospital’s trustees….
“At
her hearing July 10, her counsel, Harry E. Sprogell, a director of the
Philadelphia Branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, announced he would
carry the case to court if the appeal was not sustained.” (Inquirer,
July 26)
Mrs.
Fitzgerald was 21.
In
Common Pleas Court, Sprogell “said that ‘both sides’ had agreed that she was
not a subversive or a Communist.” (Inquirer, Mar. 26, 1953)
According
to her obituary in 1999, she was a graduate of West Philadelphia Catholic High
School for Girls and a 1949 graduate of the Misericordia Hospital School of
Nursing. She was the wife of John J. Fitzgerald. (Inquirer, April 22)
1953,
May: Marriage license issued to Theresa McCabe of Narberth and Joseph A.
Fitzgerald of 3605 Hamilton St.
1957,
Jan. 20: Death of Thomas F. Fitzgerald, 20-yearsold, son of John J. and Mary G.
Fitzgerald (née McNally) of 3605 Hamilton St. Solemn requiem mass at St.
Agatha's Church. Internment at Holy Cross Cemetery. He died following an
automobile accident.
1968
Directory: Fitzgerald J. J., Sr., 1st floor
<
3607 Hamilton 3603
Hamilton >