3707 Hamilton Street

 

 

The History of the Building

 

3701-3719 are shown on the 1878 Scott Atlas. The 1872 G. M. Hopkins Atlas shows the land owned by the church on N. 38th St.

 

3701-19: “two-and-one-half story Second Empire style doubles; stone facade over brick. First-floor Victorian porches; some altered-(3703, 3705-07, 3709, 3719); four registers, slate- shingled mansard (3701, 3705-07, 3709 asphalt); slightly arched dormer windowheads. All built by the same developer.”

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

 

Previous Residents

 

1877 Directory (Fall, 1876): William Sutherland

 

1878 Directory: Samuel C. Martin, clerk

                         John H. Martin, clerk

 

1878, June: Deed to 3707 & 3709 Hamilton St. transferred from Joseph Campion to Alexander Whilldin

            In 1880, Joseph H. Campion was a 72 year-old retired furniture manufacturer who lived at 327 S. 17th St.

 

1879 Directory: Theodore Graham, salesman for Stewart & Brother

            Stewart & Brother was importers of dry goods.

 

1880:

Theodore A. Graham              38        Merchant; father born in Ireland, mother in N.J.

Anna L. Graham                      37

Clarence M. Graham                12

E.A. Stouffer                           50        Mother-in-law

Sarah Dugan                            24        Servant; born in Ireland; cannot read or write

 

1881, March: Deed transferred from Alexander Whilldin to Sarah Busby by sheriff’s sale for Joseph Campion.

            Alexander Whilldin & Sons sold cotton, wool and yarns at 126 Chestnut St. Alexander was listed at N. 15th and Jefferson in the 1881 directory. He sold 3709 Hamilton in June of the same year.

 

1884 Directory: Theodore Graham, manager at 312 Chestnut

                         Ellen M. Stauffer, widow of Jacob

            In 1887 and 1900, they lived at 3713 Hamilton St.

 

1889 Directory: Horatio Staples

                         Horatio Staples, Jr.

 

1890 Census Veterans Schedule: Horatio Staples, 1st Lieutenant, Maine Co. H, Reg. 2, infantry. May 1861 - May 1863.

            He lived in Bangor, Maine and was born about 1837.

 

1889 Directory: Horatio Staples

                         Alfred Staples

 

1894 Obituary: Andrew McKinstry, age 58. Funeral at his late residence, 3707 Hamilton St. Internment at Gardiner, N.Y. (Inquirer, 12/23/1894).

            In 1890, the McKinstry family lived at 3321 Hamilton St.

 

1896 Blue Book: Mrs. Rebecca A. McKinstry

                          Miss Elizabeth E. McKinstry

                          Miss Susan F. R. Jackson

 

1900:

Rebecca A. McKinstry             70        Widowed with 4 children, one surviving; born in N.J.; renting

Elizabeth McKinstry               32        Daughter; born in N.Y., father born in N.J., mother in N.Y. [sic.]

Susan F. R. Jackson                 77        Sister, single; born in N.J.

Jane S. Gilhevis                       82        Boarder; widow, 5 children, 2 surviving; father born in Ireland

Ella Gilhevis                            49        Boarder; occupation: needlework; mother born in N.J. [sic.]

C. Edward Williams                 24        Boarder; draughtsman; born in Maine

Josephine Hayward                  18        Servant; black; born in Md.

            The 1906 Blue Book lists Rebecca, and Elizabeth McKinstry were living at 304 N. 35th St. Rebecca died in January, 1907 while living there.

 

1901, May. 21: Death of Jane S. Gilhevis, 83 years old, of 3707 Hamilton St.

 

1904, Mar. 26: Death of Susan F. R. Jackson; burial in Springfield, N.J.

 

1905 Directory: John P. Birch, physician

 

1909 Directory: W. Edward Keith, optician

            In 1900, William Keith lived with his mother, Emma D. Keith, at 2543 N. Bouvier. In 1910, William and his wife, Lutie, lived at 844 N. 42nd St. He listed his occupation as an optician with his own store. In 1920, he lived at 3616 Hamilton St.

 

1910:

John Christie               60        Bookkeeper for a department store; born in Scotland, immigrated in 1885; renting

Mary A. Christie          55        Married 30 years, 4 children; born in Scotland, immigrated in 1885

Edith Christie              28        Buyer of gloves; born in Scotland, immigrated in 1885

Lillian E. Christie         27        School teacher; born in Scotland, immigrated in 1885

Helen B. Christie         25        Born in N.Y.

William E. Christie      24        Bank clerk; born in Rhode Island

            In 1900, they lived at 1641 S. 15th St. Mary reported a fifth child who had died.

 

1910, Sep. 9: Death of John Christie, 64 years old; burial at West Laurel Hill Cemetery

 

1916 & 1918 Directories: Albert S. Maul, salesman

 

1920

Mary A. Christie          67        Window, renting, born in Scotland, immigrated in 1881, became a citizen in 1889

Edith G. Christie         45        Buyer for department store; born in Scotland, immigrated in 1881, became a citizen in 1889

Lillian Christie             43        Teacher in city school; born in Scotland, immigrated in 1881, became a citizen in 1889

Helen B. Christie         34        Born in N. Y.

William Christie           32        Salesman, born in Rhode Island

Albert Marsh                59        Boarder; collector for typewriter company

            In 1930, they lived at 4416 Locust St. which they owned. It was valued at $11,000. Mary Ann (Barclay) Christie died in 1943 while living there. None of the children had married.

 

1920, July: Deed transferred from Charles E. Busby Trustee Will of Sarah Busby dec'd and husband (misprint) George P. to Joseph Brooks.

 

1921 Directory: Joseph Brooks, real estate

 

1926: Marriage license issued to Anna M. Houston and George L. Hill

 

1926: “DRY AGENT SHOT.

            “Prohibition Sleuth Injured by Co-Worker; Pistol Thought to be Empty.

            “One prohibition agent accidently shot another dry investigator through both legs last night in handling a revolver which neither man knew was loaded.

            “The agent shot is Burton Killen, 42 years old, who lives at 3707 Hamilton street, with Frank Houston, 33, a fellow worker. The men were sitting in their rooms and the conversation turned to the subject of firearms. Killen produced a revolver from a bureau drawer and handed it to Houston. The latter accepted it with a careless gesture and a second later the gun barked and a bullet tore through both Killen’s legs. He was taken to the Presbyterian Hospital and Houston was arrested. Both men are attached to the staff of Major William G. Murdock, Federal prohibition administration for the Philadelphia district. (Inquirer, March 16)

 

1927 Directory: F. Houston

 

1930:

Frank Houston            46        Married at age 26; investigator for Prohibition; father born in Scotland, mother in Maryland; owner, house valued at $8,000

Retta A. Houston         49        Married at age 29

Elizabeth A. Houston  19

George L. Hill              25        Lodger [son-in-law]; salesman for electric supply co.; married at age 22; born in Delaware

Anna M. Hill               24        Lodger [daughter]; married at age 21; born in Delaware

Helen A. Murphy         26        Lodger; stenographer for pork packer

Timothy S. Williams    46        Lodger; engineer for structural iron co.; widowed; born in N.Y.

William Satchell           21        Lodger; salesman for wholesaler; born in Va.

            In 1920, the Houston family lived at 3620 Baring St.

 

1937, Oct. 30: Inquirer’s “Today’s Question. Should the Mayor enlist the aid of private citizens against reckless traffic offenses?”

 

1940:

Joseph Kelly                26        Salesman at gasoline station, earned $1,000 in 1939 for 25 weeks of work; 3 years of high school; lived in Tyrone, Pa. in 1935; renting for $32 per month

Elinor Kelly                 24        4 years of high school; lived in Tyrone, Pa. in 1935

Joseph Kelly, Jr.           2 months

_ Next Hh.

John Campbell             36        House painter, earned $1,200 in 1939; widowed; 8 years of schooling; renting for $20

Helen Campbell           11        Daughter

_ Next Hh.

Emma Diehl                35        Stenographer at wholesale paper co., earned $1,000 in 1939; single; 2 years of high school; renting, for $25

_ Next Hh.

George Hill                  37        Refrigerator repairman, earned $1,500 in 1939l born in DE; 1 years of high school; renting for $32

Anna Hill                     31        PBX operator for oil refinery, earned $1,100 in 1939; 2 years of high school

_ Next Hh.

Frank Houston            57        Head timekeeper for W.P.A. administration, earned $1,800 in 1939; 8 years of schooling; renting for $10

Marguerite Houston     60        8 years of schooling

Elizabeth Houston      28        Stenographer for rubber manufacturer, earned $600 for 36 weeks work in 1939; 3 years of high school

 

 

1940, Aug. 22: Death of Frank Houston, 57 years old

 

1942, Aug. 22: Death of Margaretta Houston, 61 years old; burial at Holy Cross Cemetery

 

1950 Directory: Alfred Campbell

 

1968 Directory: Jones V. A., 1st floor

 McIlhenny L., 2nd floor

 Harris J., 2nd floor

 Peters D., 3rd floor

 Shivers L., 3rd floor

 

2005, Oct.: purchased by current owner, Kathryn G. Watterson

 

< 3709 Hamilton                                                                                                                       3705 Hamilton >

Revised: 1/16/2022

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