3618 Spring Garden Street

 

The History of the Building

 

3616-18 are shown on the Scott Atlas published in 1878.

 

3616-18: “two-and-one-half story Second Empire style double; smooth ashlar Pennsylvania marble facade, tooled. Porch fronted, bay on either side of entries. Pierced cornice. Asphalt sheet over 3618 mansard; metal cornice at top of mansard; 3616 in poor condition.--- Contributing”

(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic Places, 1985)

 

Previous Residents

 

 

1880 Directory (Fall 1879): Swoyer James J., Hall, Shenk & Co.

            The 1870 & 1877 directories list him as working at Patterson & Co. and living at 305 Callowhill.

 

1880, Mar. 1: Title transferred to Francis [?] C. Swoyer by Jacob Jordon, et al.

 

1880:

James J. Swoyer           51        Dry goods merchant

Rozena C. Swoyer        45        Mother born in Württemberg, Germany

Maggie P. Swoyer        14

Annie E. Swoyer          12

Mablel J. Swoyer            7

Virginia Freichler         23        Servant

 

1895: “The Misses Swayers [sic.], of 3618 Spring Garden street, will give a dance tomorrow evening.” (Inquirer, Feb. 24)

 

1899, June 8: Death of James Jackson Swoyer, 70 years old, of 3618 Sporing Garden St.

            His estate was admitted to probate valued at $80,000. (Inquirer, June 18, 1899)

 

1900:

Rozena Swoyer            65        Widowed, 3 children; parents born in Germany; owner, free of a mortgage

Margaret P. Swoyer      33        Single

H. Elizabeth Swoyer    32        Single

Mabel J. Swoyer           27        Single

Virginia Randolph        50        Servant; black; widowed, 4 children, 2 surviving; born in VA

1908 Directory: Gartland John, Hipple, Gartland & Donnelly

 

1910: Not enumerated

 

1920:

Rozina Swoyer             84        Widow; owner, free of a mortgage; parents born in Württemberg, Germany

Elizabeth Swoyer         45

Mabel J. Swoyer           40

 

1930:

Mabel Swoyer              45        Single; owner, house valued at $7,000

Bessie Swoyer              50        Sister; single

 

1940:

Lawrence Collins         40        Engineer with tank manufacturer, earned $1,730 in 1939; 8 years of education; renting for $40 per month

Julia Collins                 33        8 years of education

Lawrence Collins, Jr     19        Clerk in Retail store, earned $350 for 20 weeks of work in 1939, worked 16 hours in previous week; 4 years of high school

Mary Collins                17        Clerk in grocery store, earned $200 for 23 weeks in 1939, worked 36 hours in previous week; 3 years of high school

Julia Collins                 14

Therera Collins                        10

Charles Collins               7

Gerald Collins               2

            They lived elsewhere in Philadelphia in 1935. Lawrence V. Collins died in June 1945. They were living at 432 N. 34th St. He was a locomotive engineer for the Union Tank Car Co. His father was born in Ireland and his mother in NJ.

 

< 3616 Spring Garden                                                               3620 Spring Garden >

Revised 11/9/2021

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