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. They were all built
about 1877-’78.
“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 3609 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 633 Market St.
1877, October: Deed transferred from James H. Lyons to Leopold A.
& Jennnie (wife) Weste.
The 1881 Directory lists James H.
Lyons, plumber,
1878 Directory (Fall, 1877): Leo A. Weste
1872-'74: Leopold restaurant at 17
Hudson, no home]
1879 Directory (Fall, 1878): Rev. John C. Giles
1880:
Chauncy Giles 67 Clergyman;
born in
Eunice Giles 58 Born
in N.Y.; parents in
Charles H. Giles 22 Medical
student; born in
John W. Giles 18 At
school
Eliza Poulson 27 Servant;
black; born in
Rachael Branch 22 Servant;
black; born in
Chauncey
Giles became pastor of the First New Jerusalem Church (Swedenbourgian)
in January, 1878. In the 1890 Directory,
he is listed at 3502 Hamilton St. For
information about other Poweltonians who were members of this
church, see the Powelton
History Blog.
Rev.
Giles’s obituary in the New York Times
(Nov. 7, 1893) provides the following biographical information: "The
reputation of Dr. Giles as a writer on religious topics was world-wide. He was
born in Charlemont, Mass., in 1813. Early in life he
was a teacher. In 1853 he became a clergyman of the Church of the New
Jerusalem. For ten years he preached in Cincinnati, then for fifteen years in
New York, after which he became pastor of the First New Jerusalem Society of
Philadelphia. In 1875 he was elected President of the General Convention of the
Church of the New Jerusalem in the United States, and this office he continued
to hold up to the time of his death.”
When
Rev. Giles moved to Philadelphia, the Inquirer
printed the following: “Rev. Chauncey Giles, long known as one of the ablest
ministers of the New Jerusalem Church in the United States, has received a call
from the New Church Society, worshiping at the corner of Broad and Brandywine
streets, in this city, and will enter on his pastoral duties next Sunday
morning. Mr. Giles who is president of the General Convention, of the receivers
of the Swedenborg's doctrines in the United States, has been pastor of the New
York Society for over fourteen years, and also for several years past editor of
the New Jerusalem Messenger, and his severance from long standing and most
cordial relations with the society in New York has been a severe trial both to
himself and the people to whom he has so long ministered with the highest
acceptance. But indications of failing health warned him that he must have
lighter duties than were possible under existing relations, and so we accepted
the call which was promptly made by the Philadelphia Society when it became
aware that he had a change in view. The society in this city is to be
congratulated on having secured for pastor so able and distinguished an
expounder of its particular faith and doctrines."
(Phila.
Inquirer, Jan. 4, 1878)
1882, March: Deed transferred from Leopold A. & Matilda
(wife) Weste to Christian W. Kunkel.
The 1881 Directory lists Christian
W. Kunkel at
1884, October: Deed transferred from Christian W. & Louisa J
(wife) Kunkel to Meyert M Armstrong.
1885 Directory: Meylert M. Armstrong of
Russell & Armstrong (Calvin Russell, Jr. & Lewis D. Armstrong), paper
at 14 S. 6th St. & 263 N. 3rd St.
The 1884
directory lists his home as New Jersey.
Mary L. Van Ornam,
widow
The 1896
directory lists her at this address and as the widow of P. C. Van Ornam.
1885, June: Deed transferred from Myert
M. Armstrong to J. Harry Osmond.
1885, June: Deed transferred from J. Harry Osmond to Lillie G.
Armstrong.
1887 Directory: Meylert M. Armstrong of Armstrong, Craig &
Co. (M. M. Armstrong & John A. Craig), paper bags at 12 S. 6th
St.
1900:
Meylert M. Armstrong 48 Paper manufacturer;
owned with a mortgage
Lillie G. Armstrong 43 Married
23 years, 6 children, 3 surviving; born in N.Y., father in
Leroy Armstrong 15 At military
school
Earl Armstrong 13
Lionel Armstrong 10
Mary Van Ornan 82 Aunt;
widowed, no children; born in N.Y., parents in
Bessie Osmond 27 Niece;
single; father born in
Katie Malone 30 Servant,
cook; single, born in
Katie Madden 25 Servant;
single, born in
1901, February: Deed transferred from Mylert
M. & Lillie G. (wife) Armstrong to Charles J. & Carrie B. (wife) Rice.
1902 Directory (Fall, 1901): Charles J. Rice C. J. Rice & Co.
(C. J. Rice, George B. Walker & George Rice), commercial merchants at 400
New Market
In 1900, Charles and Carrie Rice lived across the street at 3612 Hamilton St. where they were renting In 1910, they
lived at 3318 Spring Garden St. They had a son, John, age 3. In 1920, Charles was widowed and living with
his son and mother-in-law.
1908 &
1910 Directories: Samuel T. Warfield, pub
The 1900 census lists
him with his wife, Mildred M. (born in Kansas, 1877), living at 1722 Gratz St. They had been married five years and had a
daughter, Mildred J. He was a salesman.
1910:
Augusta Warfield 29 Divorced, one
child; born in
Mildred J. Warfield 12 Daughter; born
in
Mary Fritz 29
Servant; widowed, two children;
parents born in Ireland
1911, Sept. 11: Marriage license issued to Mary Christensen of
3609 Hamilton St. and Peter Anderson of 3854 Parrish St.
1920:
Jennie E. Cahill 58 Widowed;
born in Conn., father born in Ireland, mother in Conn.; renting
1930: No one was enumerated here in 1930
1940:
Charles Loud 80 Widowed; born in MD; 8 years of education; lived in [Bala] Cynwyd in 1939; renting for $30 per month
Jane Pierce 62 Sister; widowed; 4 years of high school; lived here in 1939
Maria Hutchings 59 Lodger;
dress maker; single; 4 years of high school; lived here in 1939
<
3611 Hamilton 3607
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Revised
11/5/2021