3607 Hamilton Street

The History of the Building

The northern boundary of the houses on the northern side of Hamilton St. from 31^st St. to 38^th St. was the northern border of the Bingham-Baring estate.

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.”

(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, James G. Hardie lived at 3200 Arch St. The 1861 Directory lists him as a merchant with an office at 633 Market St.

1878 Directory (Fall, 1877): Rev. Charles W. Buoy

1878, April: Deed transferred from James H. Lyons to Washington J. & Mary C. Peale.

The 1881 Directory lists James H. Lyons, plumber, 17 N. 9^th St., house 1327 Green. The 1870 census lists him as 35 years old with a wife and one child. He was born in Ireland. His real estate holdings were listed at $1,000 and his personal property at $200. He owned 3607-3617 Hamilton St. which he sold to various individuals between October 1877 and June, 1879.

1879 Directory (Fall, 1878): Washington P. Peale, broker

Rev. Charles W. Buoy

The 1880 census lists him as 36 years old and living in Harrisburg, Pa. When he died in 1897, he was pastor of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, 15^th and Mount Vernon streets, Philadelphia.

1880:

Washington Peale 33 Stock broker

Mary C. Peale 31 Father born in MD.

Lillian Peale 9

Joseph M. Peale 7

Caroline Berwind 19 Servant

Washington J. Peale was the oldest son of James G. and Ellen M. Peale. The 1860 census lists James as a vinegar merchant. The 1867 directory lists him as a liquor merchant at 471 N. 3^rd St. and living at 1532 S 5^th St. Washington was listed as a clerk living at his father’s house. The 1870 census lists Washington and Maria living in south Philadelphia (Ward 2, District 6). He was a broker’s clerk.

1890 Directory: Washington J. Peale, office: Drexel Building

1893, Nov. 21: Marriage of Lillian Peale to Neville J. Rowand

“At St. Andrew’s P. E. Church, West Philadelphia, last night, Miss Lillian Peale, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Washington J. Peale, of 3407 Hamilton street, was married to Neville J. Rowand by Rev. Charles M. Armstrong. Miss Lillian Megary preceded the bride and acted as flower girl. The bridesmaids were Miss Nana P. Fulmer, of Dingman’s Ferry; Miss Florence Rutherford, of Brooklyn; Miss Florence M. Taylor, of Brooklyn; Miss Fannie A. Fargo, of Buffalo, and Miss Lula West, Miss Ida M. Price, of this city. C. Monteith Gilpin, of Elkton, Ind., was the best man, and the ushers were Joseph M. Peale, a brother of the bride; Franklin H. Seeley [3624 Baring St.], Francis M. Brooks, Robert T. Morgan, Harry A. Terry [3714 Hamilton St.], and James Maguire.” (Phila. Inquirer, Nov. 22, 1893)

The 1900 census shows them living at 4818 Cedar. Rowand was a cloth salesman.

1893: W. J. Peale was elected to serve as a director of the Powelton Club.

1898 Blue Book: Joseph M. Peale and W. J. Peale were members of the Powelton Club. (For a brief history of the club, see the Powelton History Blog.)

1900:

Washington J. Peale 52 Stockbroker

Mary C. Peale 50

Joseph M. Peale 27 Stockbroker

Cecelia Deeney 24

Bridget Cannon 23

“Any account of the history of St. Andrew's Church would be incomplete that did not take notice of the long and faithful labors of two men who have gone to their rest and reward: Washington J. Peale, who died in 1901, was superintendent of the Sunday School for nearly twenty-five years, and gave his prayers, his time, his money to the support of the parish and W. Hasell Wilson.... The names of these two laymen should be indelibly recorded in the history of the parish and of the church at large.”

(Vieira, M. L. West Philadelphia Illustrated. Early History of West Philadelphia and its Environs: Its People and its Historical Points. Philadelphia, Avil Printing Co., 1903, p 42.)

1901, Feb. 4: Death of Washington J. Peale of 3607 Hamilton St. Funeral services at St. Andrew's P. E. Church.

“LAST HONORS PAID TO WELL KNOWN MAN

“Funeral of Washington J. Peale Will Be Held To-morrow

“Washington J. Peale, late of 3607 Hamilton street, who failed to survive a surgical operation at the German Hospital, will be buried from his late home to-morrow afternoon. Services will be held at St. Andrews Protestant Episcopal Church, thirty-sixth and Baring streets. The interment will be private. The honorary pallbearers will be chosen from among his associates in the Sunday School Convocation of Philadelphia, of which the deceased was treasurer.

“Mr. Peale was a member of the firm of W. J. Peale & Co., brokers, in the Drexel Building, and he had been a member of the Stock Exchange for about thirty years. He was active in church circles, and came of distinguished ancestry. James Peale, his great-grandfather, was a first lieutenant in the First Regiment of the Maryland line in the Revolution, and one of the valued possessions of the family is a letter dated June 2, 1779, written by George Washington to Lieutenant Peale from the headquarters at Middlebrook, N. J. the deceased was also a grand-nephew of Charles Wilson Peale, the famous artist.”

(Inquirer, Feb. 5, 1901)

1901: Marriage of Edith A. Ogelsby of 3622 Baring St. to Joseph M. Peale

1906 Blue Book: Mrs. Washington J. Peale. Receiving day Thursday after 3.

1906, August: Deed transferred from Mary C. Peale to Harry Boon.

1910:

Harry Boon 59 Plumbing contractor

Ida F. Boon 50 married 32 years, 2 children

George Boon 27 Plumbing contractor

Emma B. Boon 25 Daughter-in-law; married 5 years, 1 child; mother born in Ohio

George B. Boon 3

Jane Frederick 78 Mother-in-law; widowed, 7 children, 2 surviving

In 1890 and 1900, they lived at 3827 Hamilton St. In 1881, they lived at 4006 Ludlow St. and in 1887 at 3116 Ludlow St. They had lived in West Philadelphia since at least 1860. Harry and his sons were blacksmith who later became plumbers. In Sept., 1904, a marriage license was issued to Emma B. Crist and George Boon. In 1920, George, Emma and George, Jr. lived with Emma’s parents, Frank and Mary Crist, at 3715 Hamilton St.

1920:

Harry Boon 67 Plumbing co., Boom & Sample

Ida F. Boon 60

Florence B. Angove 39 Daughter; divorced

Florence B. Angove 8 Granddaughter; father born in England

1930:

Florence Angove 49 Widowed; owner, house valued at $7,000; [no occupation listed]

Florence Angove 18 Daughter; father born in England [?]

[The census says Frank and Francis, but this is probably in error.]

Florence B. Angove died in 1975.

1940:

James Keeley 71 Messenger for streetcar company, earned $700 in 1939; single; born in NJ; 6 years of education; lived here in 1935; renting for $45 per month

Margaret Keeley 72 Sister; single; 8 years of education; lived here in 1935

Bessie Keeley 64 Sister; secretary at a university earned $1,500 in 1939; single; born in NJ; 6 years of education; lived here in 1935

Carrie Wiener 80 Lodger; widowed; 8 years of education; lived here in 1935

1950 Directory: William Henderson

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