3719 Hamilton Street

 

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)

 

History

1876, June: Deed to 3711, 3713, 3715, 3717, and 3719 transferred from Joseph Campion to Life Insurance Company American.

 

1876, June: Deed to 3711, 3713, 3715, 3717, and 3719 transferred from Life Insurance Company American to Louis M. Simpson.

            Louis M. Simpson was a 23-year-old law student. He was the son of William H. Simpson, the Deputy Collector of Taxes. He was apparently acting as a transfer agent.

 

1876, June: Deed to 3717 and 3719 transferred from Louis M. Simpson to Isaac Hazlehurst.

            Hazelhurst was a lawyer. In 1870, he lived in Lower Merion with three children and four servants. He listed $80,000 in real estate and $10,000 in personal property.

 

1877: The City required the Philadelphia Gas Works to erect “public lamps.” One was to be in front of 3719 Hamilton St. (Inquirer, Dec. 19)

 

1880:

John W. Powell            53        Auctioneer; parents born in England

Catherine Powell          40

John A. Powell             13

Harry W. Powell          10

Gerald Powell                9

William A. Powell          6

Elvia Jones                   60        Cousin; father born in England, mother in Del.

Ragissa Powell             50        Sister

Sarah Craig                  25        Servant; born in Ireland

            In 1870, they lived at 3523 Hamilton St.

            The 1890 Directory lists John W. and John A. Powell at 3813 Hamilton St.

 

1881 Directory: John W. Powell, auctioneer, 124 S. Front; 3719 Hamilton

 

1884, April: Deeds to 3717 and 3719 transferred from Isaac & Caroline E. (wife) Hazlehurst to Owen Brady.

 

1892, Oct. 19: Marriage of Helen E. Latta to Benjamin P. Obdyke.

            In 1880, she lived with her mother and siblings at 3500 Hamilton St.

            “The ceremony was performed by Rev. Dr. James M. Crowell assisted by Rev. Dr. J. Addison Henry [pastor of the Princeton Presbyterian Church who lived at 3418 Baring St.], in the parlor, which was decorated with white carnations and smilax. Only the members of the immediate family witnessed the tying of the nuptial knot. The bride wore a Parisian gown of cream satin crepe. The maid of honor was Miss Nellie Davis, and the best man was Harry Obdyke.”

            “A [very large] reception was subsequently held….”

            “At the close of the reception, the newly married couple went to New York in a special car. After spending a few days in Gotham they will go South. Mr. and Mrs. Obdyke will be ‘at home’ in St. David’s on November 16 and 30.” (Inquirer, Oct. 23)

 

1898 Blue Book: John Brady was a member of the Powelton Club. (For a brief history of the club, see the Powelton History Blog.)

 

1899: Permit issued to J. W. Berner, contractor, for interior and exterior alterations at 3719 Hamilton St. (Inquirer, April 26)

 

1900:

John Brady                   33        Occupation: transportation co.; parents born in Ireland; owner, free of a mortgage

Mary Brady                  34        Married 9 years, no children; born in Ireland

Annie Cunningham      19        Servant; parents born in Ireland

Catharine McCormick  29        Cook; born in Ireland

            John Brady was the son of Owen and Mary Brady (ages 47 and 48), the owners of the house. In 1870, they live at 609 N. 35th St. (Mantua).

 

1906, Jun. 18: Death of Mary Shelly Brady, 39 years old, wife of John I. Brady and daughter of Susan and the late Thomas Skelly. Solemn Requiem Mass at St. Agatha's Church, burial at Cathedral Cemetery. Cause of death was tuberculosis with asthma as a contribution cause. The death certificate gives her place of birth as Philadelphia.

 

1907, Jan. 16: Death of John I. Brady, 39 years old, son of the late Owen and Mary Bardy. Solemn Requiem Mass at St. Agatha's Church, burial at Cathedral Cemetery. Cause of death was pneumonia with nephritis as a contributing cause.

 

1907, Jun. 8: Death of Mary Jane Robinson, 70 years old, wife of the late Hugh Robinson and mother of Mrs. Mary J. Anderson. Internment at Mt. Moriah Cemetery.

 

1908 Directory: Mary J. Anderson, widow of William [H.] Anderson

            In 1880, she with her husband, William H. Anderson, and three children at 3842 Crispen St. Alice L. Anderson (see below) was 9 months old. William was a carpenter and their 13-year-old son, Harry, was working as a plumbing clerk. In 1900, they lived in Camden, N. J. with their four daughters. She reported being married for 21 years and having had 8 children, only 5 of whom were still living. He was a 54-year-old carpenter, and she was selling dry goods. Alice was working as a stenographer. Two others were a dressmaker, Bertha, and a clerk at a Philadelphia museum, Margaret.

 

1910:

Mary J. Anderson         54        Widowed, 3 children, 2 surviving; parents born in England

Alice Anderson            29        Single

Laura Anderson           22        Single

Emily S. Rouse            73        Lodger; widowed, 4 children, 2 surviving; born in Vt., father born in Conn., mother in Mass.

Ada M. Rouse              35 [sic.] Lodger; clerk at telephone co.; single; born in Vt., father born in Mass., mother in Vt.

            In 1920, Mary and Alice lived at 5331 Locust St. Mary stated that her father was born in Ireland and her mother was born in Scotland. Alice was a notary public for the Red Cross. Mary Jane (Robinson) Anderson died in Chicago in May 1931. Her residence was given as 1020 Bryn Mawr Ave.

Laura married John K. Hill in 1912. He was an agent with Adam’s Express. They lived at 3532 Mantua Ave. He died in the influenza epidemic of 1918 at age 49. In 1920, she was living with her mother and sister.

            Emily (Fuller) Rouse was married to Henry Dwight Rouse (1833-1886). Ada was actually 45 in 1910. She died in 1928 while living at 808 N. 41st St.

 

1920:

David Hoy                   77        Born in Ireland, immigrated in 1866; renting

Jane Hoy                      75        Born in Ireland, immigrated in 1866

Anna H. Leathem        53        Daughter; divorced

Charles H. Hoy            21        Grandson; commercial traveler (?) for an oil company

Jennie A. C. Hoy          43        Daughter; single; Public school teacher

May H. Hoy                 56        Daughter; single; Public school teacher

Malta J. Hoy                33        Son; salesman in a department store

            In 1900, they lived at 3513 Haverford Ave. David was a shoe dealer. David and Jane had been married 38 years and had 8 children, 7 of whom were still alive in 1900.

 

1920, Mar. 21: Death of David Hoy, 77 years old, husband of Jane M. Hoy of 3719 Hamilton St. burial at Mt. Moriah Cemetery

            Jane M. Hoy died Dec. 2, 1920. They were living at 309 N. 37th St.

 

1930:

Christ McConville       27        Contractor at a stone yard; married at age 27; parents born in N. Ireland; owner, house valued at $8,000

Harriet McConville      48        Married at age 29; born in MA parents born in N. Ireland

Robert McConville      17

Edward McConville     14

Katherine McConville 13

 

1940:

Michael Brown            50        Owner of a men’s store; 2 years of high school; renting for $40 per month

Catharine Brown          50        Eight years of schooling

James Brown               25        Secretary at social security office, earned $560 in 1939 for 14 weeks of work; 4 years of high school

Edward Brown            21        Office boy for telephone co., earned $200 in 1939 for 14 weeks of work; 4 years of high school

John Brown                 19        3 years of high school

Berdenani Woelfle       84        Mother-in-law; Widowed; born in Germany; 8 years of schooling

Elizabeth Woelfle        60        Sister-in-law; single; 8 years of schooling

Mark Cunningham       88        Lodger; widowed; born in N. Ireland

            They all lived in this house in 1935.

 

1940: Michael J. Brown was chairman of the three-members Draft Board No. 24 which registered 3,275 men. (Inquirer, Oct. 15 and Oct. 18)

 

1943: “Second Lieutenant Edward M. Brown, 3719 Hamilton st., is now stationed at the Army Air Force basic training center, Kearns, Utah.” (Inquirer, Feb. 8)

 

1943, Apr. 27: Death of Mark D. Cunningham, 93 years old, of 3719 Hamilton St.

            “Mark D. Cunningham, formerly engaged in the haberdashery business here and in New York, died Tuesday at his home, 3719 Hamilton ave. [sic.], after a long illness. He was 93.

            “Mr. Cunningham came to this country from County Sligo, Ireland, at the age of 16.

            “He was treasurer of the Wyoming Building and Land Association, and was formerly active in Republican politics.

            Mrs. Cunningham, the former Elizabeth Brennan, died in 1932, and the closest survivors are three nieces and a nephew, children of Mr. Cunningham’s brother, the late Patrick J., who was owner of the Cunningham Piano Co. Funeral services… in St. Agatha’s Church with burial in Old Cathedral Cemetery.” (Inquirer, April 29)

 

1949, July 26: Death of Berdennai Woelfle, 94 years old, widow of Ernest Woelfle.

            “Mrs. Berdenani Woelfle, widow of Ernest Woelfle and mother-in-law of Michael E. Brown, a member of the Republican executive Committee of the 24th Ward, died Thursday night at her home, 3719 Hamilton st. She was 94.

            “Mrs. Woelfle was a member of the German Sodality of St. Alphonsus’ Roman Catholic Church, 1400 S. 4th st. She is survived by two sons, Charles and Henry, and three daughters, Mrs. Katharine Brown, Mrs. Francis Fitgarald and Miss Elizabeth Woelfle.” (Inquirer, July 28)

 

1951: “JOBBER with largest warehouse & showrm. in Fla. des. add’l inexpensive, also finer gift or novelty items. Contact M. E. Brown. 3719 Hamilton st., Phila.” (Inquirer, Aug 12)

 

1954, Jul. 27: Death of Elizabeth Woelfle, 75 years old, of 3719 Hamilton St. Requiem High Mass at St. Agatha's Church. Internment at New Cathedral Cemetery.

 

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Revised: 1/14/2022

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