3619 Spring Garden Street

 

3611-3631 were built on the former estate of Charles Truitt.

 

1894, Oct. 18: Title for 3611-3631 Spring Garden St. transferred to Benjamin D. Gardiner by Elizabeth T. Truitt

            Gardiner paid $24,000 for the lot. He then secured a mortgage for $60,500. (Inquirer, Oct. 20, 1894)

 

1895, Nov. 29: Title for 3613-3621 and 3627-3631 Spring Garden transferred to Frederick A. Poth by Benjamin D. Gardiner

            “Frederick A. Poth, the brewer, has purchased eight properties [3611-3631] on the north side of Spring Garden street, from Benjamin D. Gardiner, for $55,250.” (Inquirer, Dec. 19, 1895) At the same time, he also purchased 3625 Spring Garden St. from Gardiner.

 

3611-3631: “spectacular Willis Hale-style Pompeiian brick row; symmetrical composition of. raised end and central gables, with mansarded section on each side. Turned wood posts support pediments that mark each pairs of doors; elongated keystone in second story. handsome terra cotta panels and figures around alternate units.--- Significant.”

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

 

History of the Building

 

1898 Directory: Kellner Gottlieb, editor, , 614 Chestnut St.

 

1898, May. 14: Death of Dr. Gottlieb Kellner, 78 years old, of 3619 Spring Garden St.

            The 1895 directory lists him at 610 N. 23rd St. His office was at 614 Chestnut St. His wife, Regina G. Kellner died May 10, 1895. She was 74 years old.

 

            "DEATH OF DR. KELLNER. The Editor of the German Demokrat Passes Away. Dr. Gottlieb Kellner, cheif editor of the Philadelphia Demokrat, who died suddenly last evening at his residence, 3619 Spring Garden street, was born in 1819 in Cassel, Germany. He graduated from the Universities of Marburg and Heidelberg in 1845 and afterwards became lecturer at the Universities of Gottingen. At the outbreak of the German revolution in Germany in 1848 he returned to his native city and took and active part in politics. He was one of the foremost agitators in the democratic movement in Hessia (Germany) and editor of the famous 'Hornlisse,' a political paper which soon gained a wide circulation in West Central Germany. This paper was finally surprised by the Hessian Government and Dr. Kellner was tried and sentenced to lifelong imprisonment. With the aid of his wife he made good his escape to Belgium and from there to the United States.

"After a short stay in New York he came to Philadelphia, where he met the late Dr. Ed Morwitz and became chief editor of the Philadelphia Demokrat, a position which he ever since held. Dr. Kellner was prominently connected with almost every event of importance to the German-American element, not only in this city, but also in a great part of the United States. He was particularly active in founding many German clubs and societies and developing the same.

"He cooperated effectively with a number of prominent German-Americans in forming historical and educational societies, who aims were to bring together the foreign-born citizens and to make the better acquainted with and fond of American institutions. He was president of the National Association of German-American Journalists and also of the Lokal Branch of that association. He was, furthermore, a prominent member of the Maennerchor, the Philadelphia Turngemeinde, Deutche Geselischaft, and many other societies." (Inquirer, May 16, 1898)

 

1900:

Elizabeth Kellner        43        Parents born in Germany; owner [sic.]

Charlotte H. Kellner    39        Sister; parents born in Germany

George A. Kellner       48        Brother; clerk; widowed; born in Germany, immigrated in 1852, naturalized citizen

Minnie A. Hofer          22        Servant; born in Germany, immigrated in 1877

            In 1910, Elizabeth and Charlotte lived at 3623 Spring Garden St. which they bought in 1895.

 

1910:

Thomas M. Coane       64        Proprietor of liquor store; renting

Adele G. Coane           57        Married 36 years, 2 children

Edwin Coane               33        Broker, business bonds

Joseph G. Coane          28        Proprietor of cigar store

Annie Montgomery      39        Servant

 

1920:

Thomas M. Coane       75        Manager of wholesale liquors; renting

Adele G. Coane           71        Father born in NJ

Joseph G. Coane          42        Automobile sales agent

 

< 3621 Spring Garden St.                                                                                                        3617 Spring Garden St. >

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