3625 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)
1894,
Nov. 5: “In West Philadelphia, at Thirty-six and Spring Garden streets, B. D.
Gardiner announced twelve [sic.] fine dwellings….” (Inquirer) The next
day they referred to these correctly as 11 dwellings.
1895, Nov. 29: Title transferred to
Frederick A. Poth & his wife by Benjamin D. Gardiner, etc.
“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, Poth purchased 3613-3621 and 3627-3631 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
1897: Ad for house
rentals at 3625 Spring Garden St. and 3426, 3430, and 3313 Powelton Ave. by
Frederick A. Poth: "Four of the handsomest
residences in West Phila.: lights, two tiled bathrooms, with porcelain tubs;
stationary washtubs; best heating appliances and plumbing in Phila. Beautifully
decorated, and all conceivable appliances to make very handsome homes. Great
inducements to good tenants if leased at once." (Inquirer, June 6)
3625 Spring Garden St. was listed as
12 rooms for $45.84 per month. The houses on Powelton Ave. were 15 rooms and
listed at $75.00.
1900:
Juliana
Portuondo 72 Widowed, 10 children, 6 surviving; born
in Cuba, immigrated in 1869; renting
Trinidad
Portuondo 54 Daughter; born in Cuba, immigrated in 1869
America
Portuondo 37 Daughter; born in Cuba, immigrated in 1869
Estrella
Portuondo 31 Daughter; born in Cuba
Bernardo Nunez 14 Grandson;
parents born in Cuba
Maria Everton 26 Domestic;
born in Ireland, father in England, mother in Ireland, immigrated in 1892
Sarah Kelly 25 Servant ; born in Ireland, immigrated
in 1893
Juliana M. Blez
y Bustamente married Jose Maria Portuondo y Mustelier. He died in 1891. Bernardo Nunez was the son of
Dolores Portuondo and Gen. Juan Emillo Nunez.
1900: "The
Misses Portuondo, of West Spring Garden St., are among the pretty and
accomplished visitors who are enjoying cottage life on Pacific avenue [Atlantic
City] for the summer. They are prominent in social and charitable circles of
Philadelphia. (Inquirer, Aug. 8)
1901, March 20:
"Mrs. Juliana Portuondo has sent out invitations for the wedding of her
daughter, Miss Estrella Portuondo, to Mr. William Joseph Green, Monday evening,
April 8 at 7 o'clock, in the Northminster Presbyterian Church. A reception will
follow at the residence of the bride, 3625 Spring Garden street, from 8 until
10. Mr. and Mrs. Green will be at home after May 15 at 3625 Spring Garden
street." (Inquirer)
Estelle
(Portuondo)Green
1901: Inquirer,
April 9: "IN WEST PHILADELPHIUA. Miss Estelle Portuondo Becomes the Wife
of W. J. Green in the Northminster Church.
"A pretty Easter wedding took
place yesterday in the Northminster Presbyterian Church, Baring and
Thirty-fifth streets, when Miss Estelle Portuondo, daughter of Mrs. Juliana
Portuondo and the late Jose M. Portuondo, was married to Mr. William Joseph
Green, by the Rev. Joseph W. Cochran, pastor of the church. The bride was given
away by her brother, Mr. Vincente Portuondo. She wore a magnificent gown of
white duchesse satin, trimmed with renaissance lace, and carried orchids and
lilies of the valley.
"Mrs. Frederick R. Marinez-Cardeza, who was maiden of honor, wore pink liberty
gauze, and carried a bouquet of bridesmaid roses. The maid of honor, Miss Hazel
Green, a sister of the groom, wore white liberty gauze, and carried bridesmaid
roses...."
"A reception followed at the
home of the bride's mother, 3625 Spring Garden street, after which Mr. and Mrs.
Green left for a trip to Havana, Cuba, where they will visit Governor and Mrs. Emillo Nunezz, the latter being
the bride's sister.
"They will be at home May 15,
at 3625 Spring Garden street. Mr. Green is a graduate of Princeton University,
and is a member of the Princeton Club."
1910: Not
enumerated
1911 Directory: Loeb
Leopold, President, Leopold Loeb & Co. (tobacco) and Loeb-Nunez Havana Co.
at 306 N. 3rd St.
The 1910 census shows Leopold and
Hannah (Rosenburg) Loeb. Living at 4212 Parkside Ave. with their two sons, a
daughter, two of Hannah's nieces, and a servant. They had two other children.
Leopold was 56 and Hannah was 55. They were both born in Germany. He immigrated
in 1874 and was naturalized. She came in 1868.They were married Dec. 27, 1882
at Congregation Rodeph Shalom.
1902, Jan. 6: Death
of Juliana Portuondo of 3625 Spring Garden St.
1917, July 1: Death of
Hannah (nee Rosenburg) Loeb, 64 years old, wife of Leopold Loeb of 3625 Spring
Garden St. Funeral at her late home.
1918 Directory:
Wilson Burton [K.], police sergeant
1920:
Burton K. Wilson
48 Philadelphia
police sergeant; renting
Lidye W. Wilson 46
Margaret H.
Wilson 24
Constance B.
Wilson 19 Telephone operator
Roland B.
Perkins 34 Son-in-law; claim agent for steam railroad
Katharine C.
Perkins 27
Thomas J. Church 21 Son-in-law;
clerk for steam railroad; parents born in Ireland
Mae K. Church 21
1922, Mar. 15: Death
of Constance Burt Wilson, daughter of Burton K. and Lydia W. Wilson of 3625
Spring Garden St.
1946: This and
neighboring properties were sold with the dissolution of the Estate of
Frederick A. Poth
<
3627 Spring Garden St. 3623
Spring Garden St. >
Revised
2/22/2021