3719 Lancaster
Avenue
The
History
The whole block on the north side of Lancaster Ave. were built “as a single row of brick rowhouses…. 3711, 3713, 3717, 3719 and 3723 which appear to have retained their residential fronts…. A single scroll-shaped bracketed wood cornice unifies the entire block. --- Contributing.”
(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
This
became the McIlvain Lumber Yard.
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
The
houses on this block were built by Joseph Doyle. His office was at 3503
Lancaster Ave.
1877
Directory (Fall 1876): Dodge William H., broker
The
1875 directory lists him at 3715 Bridge (Spring Garden) St.
1877,
May 12: Title transferred to John Doyle by Joseph Doyle by Sheriff
1878,
Nov. 26: Title transferred to Edgar S. Butler by John Doyle
1880:
William H. Dodge 52 Insurance
broker; born in CN
Caroline B. Dodge 48 Born in VA,
parents in NY
Linda G. Dodge 23
Virginia Blake 35 Sister-in-law;
born in PA, parents in NY
John A. Blake 10 Nephew;
father born in MD
James B. Blake 8 Nephew; father born in MD
Alice Brown 28 Servant;
black; born in MD
1882
Directory: Blake Sarah V., widow of John A.
1898,
Nov. 5: CAUGHT ON THE FLY
“J.
A. Blake, of 3719 Lancaster avenue, who has been visiting Cuba at frequent
intervals for [more than] five years past, has just return from a trip to Santiago,
where he visited the battlefields of the late war. One of the mementos of his
visit to EI Caney is a brass bullet used by the Spaniards and known to them and
the Cubans as ‘a poison bullet.’ Mr. Blake brought with him a bill of fare from
the famous Venus cafe on the plaza of Santiago, which is now much patronized by
the American officers. The unique document gives the price of "Beer, half
a bottle," as .30 cents and of ‘wisky,’ 15 cents. Mr. Blake believes that
there is a lucrative field in the business of conducting American cafes in
Santiago. The inhabitants are rapidly adopting many of the ways of Americans.
The wealthy Cubans are gradually returning, and though many of them are Spanish
sympathizers, friendly relations are growing between them and the American
officers.” (Inquirer)
Blake
was fluent in Spanish. While in Cuba, he witnessed the Spanish removing the
ashes of Christopher Columbus from the Havana Cathedral. He was also caught in
the middle of a gun fight in a restaurant between Cubans and Spaniards. (Inquirer,
Jan. 14)
1899,
Feb. 2: Death of William H. Dodge, 74 years old, of 3719 Lancaster. He was born
in Hartford, Conn. and was an insurance broker. Burial at N. Laurel Hill
Cemetery.
1900:
Sophia Dodge 69 Born in
VA, parents in NY; one child, renting
Linda Dodge 42 Born
in PA, father in CN, mother in VA
1903,
Dec. 13: Death of Virginia Ryan Blake, of 3719 Lancaster Ave., widow of Capt.
John A. Blake and sister of Mrs. C. B. Dodge. Burial at Laurel Hill Cemetery.
1905
Director: Dodge Caroline B., widow of William H.
Blake
James B.
1907
Directory: Blake James B.
1910:
Caroline B. Dodge 82 Own income;
born in VA, parents in NY; one child, renting
Linda G. Dodge 53 Born in PA,
father in CN, mother in VA
Caroline
Brown Dodge died in 1911 in Laurel Spring, Camden, N.J. She was born in
Richmond, Va. She had been living at 1820 Chestnut St.
1917
WWI Draft Registration: Lindley Brown Rutter, 21 years old; Charles W. Miller,
401 Commonwealth Blvd.
1918,
Nov. 18: Title transferred to Clara V. Tuttle by Mary Butler
1920:
Samuel L. Rutter 57 Undertaker
with own businessowner, with a mortgage
Jennie R. Rutter 41
Lindley Rutter 21 Bookkeeper
for real estate office
Dorothy Rutter 20 Clerk for
real estate office
Clara V. Tuttle 68 Mother-in-law
George Lange 59 Boarder;
factory watchman; born in Germany, immigrated in 1898
They
had lived at 620 S. 40th St. since at least 1890.
Early 1920’s: The parlor was used for
funeral services.
1923, July
21: Death of Clara Virginia Tuttle, age 74. She died in Germantown Hospital.
1930:
Samuel Rutter 67 Undertaker;
married at age 34; owner, house valued at $9,000
Jennie Rutter 59 married
at age 28
Dorothy Rutter 30 Office clerk
for coal company
Lindley B. Rutter 32 Salesman for
real estate co.
1940:
Ethel Plucinski 35 Born in
NY; 8 years of schooling
Helena Plucinski 15
Jane Plucinski 5
Jack Smith 23 Attendant at gas station, earned $625 in
1939; 1 year of high school
Florence Rhods 36 married; 8
years of schooling
Anna Fox 40
married; 8 years of schooling
Anna Fox 4
month
Sarah Devine 58 Sister
[of Anna Fox?]; single; own income; born in Ireland; 8 years of education
Elizabeth Devine 59 Sister [of
Anna Fox?]; single; own income; born in Ireland; 8 years of education
1940,
July 18: Death of S. Lindley Rutter, 79 years old, husband of the late Jennie
M. Rutter of 3719 Lancaster. He died at Phila. General Hospital.
1942,
Dec. 14: Title transferred to Fidelity Philadelphia Trust and Butler descendants
by Sheriff by Clara V. Tuttle
1945,
Aug. 2: List of Servicemen due to dock in New York included Capt. Charles R.
Kellner of 3719 Lancaster Ave. (Inquirer)
1955,
May 10: Title transferred to Samuel Smerilson by Lavina K. Hunt
Shumson
(Samuel) Smerilson was born in Kremenich, Russia in 1902 and immigrated in 1907.
In 1942, when he registered for the draft he was living at 5714 Florence. He
owned a construction company. He married Reba Karlawitz in 1922. He applied for
citizenship in May 1941.
1955,
June 2: Title transferred to Pauline B. Kind by Samuel Smerilson
1970, Dec.
7: Offer for sale by Sheriff (Inquirer, Nov. 20)
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Lancaster 3717
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Added 3/3/2022