3705 Powelton Street
3705-3707:
“Second Empire-style, two-and-one-half story double; stone facade over brick
construction. First-floor. full-height windows. Original wood porch intact but
Number 3705 enclosed with glass. Same decorative applied wood cornice,
slate-shingled roof, and dormer as its neighbor 3701-03.
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
1865, Dec. 6: Title for Block of land starting at
the NW corner of Powelton and N. 37th, proceeding north to 310 N. 37th, then
west to Lancaster Ave. transferred to John H. McIlvain by Lydia E. Baring
The property became part of the
McIlvain lumber business.
1867, Dec. 4: Title for Block of land starting at
the NW corner of Powelton and N. 37th, proceeding north to 310 N. 37th, then
west to Lancaster Ave. transferred to Charles J. McIlvain by John H. McIlvain
1875, Mar. 4: Title for Block of land starting at
the NW corner of Powelton and N. 37th, proceeding north to 310 N. 37th, then
west to Lancaster Ave. transferred to Joseph Doyle by Charles J. McIlvain
History
1876 Directory (Fall 1875): Eltonhead Edward Y., Standard Smelting & Refining Co.,
122 S. 2nd St.
Eltonhead W. B., Standard Smelting & Refining Co., 122
S. 2nd St.
1877 Directory: Eltonhead
Alfred
Eltonhead Edward Y., refiner, 122 S. 2nd St.
Eltonhead W. B., refiner, 122 S. 2nd St.
1878 Directory: Cooper Henry, telegraph
operator
Hines Thomas, brakeman
Hurschey David, engineer
Walters Albert
1880:
D. B. Hershey 46 Engineer
Harriet Hershey 42
Carrie Hershey 19
Mason Hershey 17 Machinist
J. H. Musser 24 Boarder; physician
Charles H. Sloan 30 Boarder;
railroad conductor
Harry Cooper 25 Telegraph operator; he suffered from a problem with his left
leg
In 1860, they lived in Columbia,
Lancaster, Pa. with their 1-year-old daughter, Isabella (“Lizzy” in 1870). In
1870, they were living in Philadelphia Ward 15. The 1877 directory lists him at
3720 Hamilton St. She is listed as running a
boarding house at 3718 Hamilton St. In 1900, they were living at 3267 Woodland
Ave. They had been married 43 years and had 3 children, including John M.
Hershey aged 37 who must be Mason. (Edward J Smith married one daughter)
1881 Directory lists David B. Hershey, engineer, h 46 N. 38th St.
1884: J. H. Musser, University of Pennsylvania Medical School,
Class of 1877, 3705 Powelton Avenue. (The
Philadelphia Medical Register and Directory, 1884-85. William Biddle
Atkinson.)
1889 Directory: T. M. Balliet,
physician
John C. Heisler, physician
1891 Directory: Sophia A. Jones, widow
John C. Heisler, physician
1895 Directory: John C. Heisler, physician
Walter L. Ronald (James Mann & Co.)
1898: “For the Benefit of Medico-Chi
“A largely attended musicale was
given last evening at the residence last evening of Dr. and Mrs. Heisler, No,
3705 Powelton avenue, the proceeds of which were for the benefit of the
Medico-Chirurgical Hospital [on the north side of the 1700 block of Cherry St.]
….” (Inquirer, Nov. 15)
1900:
John C. Heisler 38 Physician;
renting
Anna Heisler 37
Laura Heisler 4
Annie Corbin 21 Servant; black; born in Va.
Dr. John C. Heisler married Anna M.
Reardon at the Presbyterian Church in Lock Haven, Clinton, Pa on Sept. 15,
1892.
1906: For rent “Doctor’s Office with Use of
Parlor and service; very reasonable. 3705 Powelton ave.”
(Inquirer, Jan. 14)
1908: List of members: Dr. Robert Hunter, 3705
Powelton Ave.
(Trans. Sixth International Congress on
Tuberculosis. Washington, 1908.)
1909: For rent “3705 Powelton Ave. – Parlor Divided
into office and waiting room, suitable for physician; occupant can have board
and room” (Inquirer, May 2)
1910:
Hetty A. Bratten 48 Boarding house keeper;
single; born in Md.; renting
William J. Bratten 46 Brother; department store salesman;
single; born in Md.
James M. Bratten 34 Brother; store salesman; single; born in
Md.
George L. Smedley
76 Lodger;
bookkeeper for a banking house
Jane H. Smedley 73 Lodger;
married 45 years, no children
Francis J. Nobel 30 Boarder;
clerk in an advertising agency
Anna C. Nobel 42 Boarder; stenographer in a law office
Elizabeth Steel 28 Boarder;
saleslady in retail dry goods store; born in N.J., father born in England,
mother in N.J.
Mury Mary --
Boarder; no other information
provided
Mary Emley --
Boarder; no other information
provided
1913: “Hutchison Kirk. Jr., son of Rev. Robert H. Kirk '88 and
Margaret Hunter Kirk at McKeesport, Pa., in his twenty-first year. Relatives
and members of the Class of 1913 are invited to attend the funeral services,
Wednesday evening at 7.30 at 3705 Powelton Ave., Philadelphia. Final service
and interment at Union Presbyterian Church, Coleraine, Pa., on Thursday at 11
o’clock.”
(Daily Princetonian, April 2, 1913.) This
was the home of his grandfather, Charles Hunter. (Inquirer, April 2)
1920:
Mary D. Stoy 75 Boarding house keeper;
single; renting
Samuel T.
Detwiler 64 Lodger; widowed
Paul B. Detwiler 32 Lodger;
son of Samuel; paying teller at a bank
Laura H. Brooks 25 Boarder;
hospital nurse
Maude Hobson 29 Boarder;
hospital nurse
Irma Keebler 27 Boarder; bookkeeper in a bank
Clara Nalson 29
Boarder; bookkeeper in a bank
Anna Fornwalt 58
Boarder; widowed; private secretary
1930:
Maud Maguire 31 Cashier
at a grocery store; currently married, married at age 17; born in N.J.; renting
for $35 per month
-- Next household
John Beam 28 Service man for telegraph co.; married at age 24; renting for
$35 per month
Ethel Beam 23 Married at age 21
Olivia Beam 1 year, 6 months
-- Next household
Leo Smith 38 Steam engineer for building construction; married at age 28;
renting for $28 per month
Mary Smith 28 Married at age 18
Thomas Smith 9
Jane Smith 3 years, 10 months
Margarette Smith 8
Charles Smith 11 months
1940:
Jennie Ward 64 Not working, earned $300 in 1939; single; 6 years of
schooling; renting for $25 per month
_ Next Household
Mary Wyse 58 Unable to work, earned $559 in 1939; single; born in Scotland;
one year of high school; renting for $25 per month
1948, May 29: Death of Mary Wyse, 66 years old,
of 3705 Powelton Ave. She was an officer in the Salvation Army. She died at the
Women's Homeopathic Hospital. Services at The Salvation Army Temple, Broad and
Fairmount Ave.
1950 Directory: A. M. Hutchings
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