3622 Powelton Avenue

 

The History of the Building

 

3618-3626: “five, two-and-one-half story, two-register mansarded brick rowhouse. Some have their original double wood and glass paneled doors and/or their wood porches…. Each house has two dormers projecting from the mansarded roof; except for 3618, all mansards have original slate shingles.”

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

 

Previous Residents

 

1874 Directory: Dias Clarence L., grocer, 3531 Lancaster Ave.

 

1877 Directory: Lauderbach Mary J., widow

            She was about 72 years old, the mother of James W. Lauderbach, an engraver who lived at 3407 Spring Garden St. She had been a widow for at least 27 years. The 1867 directory lists her as a teacher living at 2045 Wallace St. with her son.

1880:

Harry [H.] Fondersmith           32        Telegrapher

Mary E. Fondersmith               29

Carrie R. Fondersmith               3

George P. Fondersmith             1

Edgar Fondersmith                  7 months

Teressa Smith                          20        Servant; father born in Germany, mother in Alsace

            The 1877 directory lists him at 305 N. 37th St. He was from Paradise, Lancaster Co. where his father was a saddler. In 1895, they lived at 4009 Green St. In 1900, they lived at 4011 Brandywine. His first name was Henderson.

            In 1873, he was Chief of the Telegraph Department of the Pennsylvania Rail Road.

 

1887 Directory: Fondersmith Harry, supt.

 

1890 Directory: James P. Dale, canvasser

                        Samuel P. Cranston of St Clair & Cranston

            St. Clair & Cranston (Edward S. St. Clair & Samuel P. Cranston), real estate, 3953˝ Lancaster Ave.

            In 1895, Cranston lived at 2421 N. College Ave. with his office at 3961 Haverford.

 

1900:

Robert M. Biddle         61        Express man; married [?]; born in N.J.; renting

Ella Biddle                   14        Daughter; father born in N.J., mother in Md.

Mary E. Hays               45        Boarder; parents born in N.J.

Sarah Hays                   48        Boarder; parents born in N.J.

            Robert Biddle was from Upper Penns Neck, Salem Co., N.J. He married Martha E. Hale in 1861. They had six children. In 1880, they lived in an apartment building at 6066 Vine St. She died in 1889 when they lived at 3920 Atlanta St. in West Philadelphia. In 1895, the family lived at 3939 Haverford Ave. In 1910, he lived at 647 Brooklyn St. Mary and Sarah Hays are still living with them and are listed as cousins. Their ages are given as 50 and 49.

 

1908: G. C. Jackson ‘00, 3622 Powelton

(Register of International Correspondence Schools ... with an explanation of .... International Correspondence Schools. “This volume treats on the subjects of pipes and fittings, steam-fitting accessories, radiators and coils, heating and power boilers, boiler fittings, principles of heating, and principles of ventilation.”)

 

1908 Directory: Comyns John G., salesman

                         Heisler George M., Inspector

                         Heisler Warren E., clerk

 

1909 Directory: Gregory Wilson E., painter

 

1910:

Harriet C. Kernan        45        City school teacher; single; owner with a mortgage

Mary T. Hartshorne     60        Boarder; single; born in N.J.; mother born in Pa.

            In 1900, she lived at 428 Manton St. (below Federal St., south Philadelphia).

 

1920: [bottom of census page is largely unreadable]

Harriet Kernan            50        School teacher; father born in Ireland, mother in Germany

Mary T. Hartshorne     (?)

Another single woman.

 

1930:

Harriet Kernan            69        Parents born in N. Ireland; owner, house valued at $5,000

 

1940:

Harriet Kernan            (?)        Three years of high school; owner, house valued at $3,000

 

1942, July 2: Death of Harriet C. Kernan, 81 years old, of 3622 Powelton Ave. She was born in Philadelphia.

 

1950 Directory: Kane Harry

 

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Revised: 2/2/2022

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