3720 Spring Garden Street
The
History of the Building
3720-22, 3724-26, 3728-30: “three, two-and-one-half story. mansarded double by same developer; crazy quilt schist façade, brick sidewalls. Porch-fronted, most porch columns altered. Full-height first-floor windows; 2/2 double-hung segmental sash at second floor; bracketed cornice below imbricated slate-shingled mansard.”
(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the
National Register of Historic Places, 1985)
Previous Residents
1870 Census, 2nd
Enumeration, Nov.:
Charles Doerr 57
Maria Doerr 67
Charles Doerr 27
The 1860 census lists Charles Doerr
as a master carpenter with $5,000 in real estate and $1,000 in personal
property. He was born in Württemberg, Germany.
1873 Directory: Doerr Charles,
Doerr, Son & Co. (carpenters), Bridge St. near N.
39th St.
1880:
Elizabeth H. Comly 37 Medical
Doctor; single
J. R. Howell 54 Brother-in-law; farmer; “various
debilities”
Deborah C. Howell 42 Sister
Deborah Howell 2 Niece
Annie Mott 10 Servant; single
Dr.
Elizabeth Comly started the West Philadelphia
Hospital for Women in 1889. For a brief
history of the hospital, see the Powelton
History Blog, April 5, 2013.
1882, Dec.
25: Death of Deborah Comly Howell, 46 years old, wife
of Joshua R. Howell and daughter of Emmor Comly of 3720 Spring Garden St. Funeral from Friends Meeting House, Chestnut
St., West Chester, Pa.
Her
husband, Joshua R. Howell soon married her sister, Elizabeth H. Comly, in 1888.
1884 Medical
Directory: Elizabeth Howell Comly Women's Med. Col.,
1880
1884
Directory: Elizabeth H. Comly, physician
Joshua R. Howell, farmer
The
1887 directory lists them at 3404 Spring Garden
St.
1900 Directory: Burk Charles D.
Burk George W.
They
were partners in Wm. B. Burk & Co. which sold sponges, 534 Arch St.
1900:
Charles D. Burk 42 Salesman
(sponges); born in NJ, father in PA, mother in NJ; renting
Jennie H. Burk 35 Married
one year, no children; parents born in Ireland
George W. Burk 34 Brother;
salesman (sponges); single; born in NJ, father in PA, mother in NJ
1910:
Charles D. Burk 52 Agent for
drug supply co.; born in NJ, father in PA, mother in NJ; renting
Jennie H. Burke 45 Married 10
years, one child; father born in NJ
Samuel H. Burk
8
Ollie Madley 19 Servant; black; born in VA
George W. Burk 63 Brother;
inspector; born in NJ, father in PA, mother in NJ
The
Burks were members of the Northminster
Presbyterian Church.
1920:
Henry Plasschaert 51 Sculptor;
born in Belgium, immigrated in 1885, became a citizen in 1894
Estelle Plasschaert 51 born
in France, immigrated in 1885, became a citizen in 1894
William Zeaber 32 Son-in-law; commercial traveler for a
ticket co.
Henrietta Zeaber 30 Daughter;
born in Mass.
Eugenia M. Zeaber 4 yrs, 3 months
Granddaughter
Jennie Oliver 64 Boarder;
married; born in Va.
“Henry
F. Plasschaert, whose works of sculpture appear on
many public buildings throughout the United States as well as in Belgium, died
Thursday [Dec. 12, 1940] in his home at 37 Saunders av. He was 79.
“Mr.
Plasschaert was born in Ghent, Belgium, studied
sculpture in Brussels and came to this country when he was 20. Among the
buildings on which he worked was the Capital at Harrisburg and the Public
Library in Boston….” (Inquirer, Dec. 14, 1940)
He
was on the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania in 1892-1895. He was
responsible for many of the sculptures that adorn Penn’s Quadrangle building
and other buildings. “Mr. Plasschaert and his carvers
kept the mood of these bosses whimsical. Parodic figures are abundant, such as
a grotesque animal biting the corner of a block of stone, or an architect
dressed in an elf costume carrying a basket of fruit. A variety of mythical
creatures and bizarre monsters are on display, as is the occasional reference
to academic activity, like the creatures brandishing
tragedy and comedy masks atop the Mask and Wig clubhouse, or a monkey clutching
a scroll labeled “diploma.” Many bosses don mortarboard caps or carry shields
in a reference to campus life. Others refer to classical sculptures or fairy
tales. As the Quadrangle continued to be expanded, its architects continued to
add bosses, though sections built after 1928 abandoned the tradition.” (“Penn’s
Gargoyles: Genial Gothic Gremlins.” Univ. of Pennsylvania Almanac, vol
67, No. 22, Dec. 156, 2020)
He
also completed freezes for the Barnum Institute of Science and History built in
1893.
In
1910, they lived at 3750 Walnut St. In 1930, they lived at 37 Saunders Ave.
1930:
Fred F. Saxton 68 Salesman of
iron and steel; first married at age 40; parents born in England; owner, house
valued at $7,000
Eleanor Saxton 65 First
married at age 33
Helen M. Davon 22 Daughter;
telephone operator for telephone co.; divorced
Alfred Davon 3 yrs., 4 mon. Grandson
John P. Burns 38 Stepson;
chauffeur for private family; married at age 22
Clayton Herbert 68 Lodger;
building contractor; widowed
In
1920, they lived at 4021 Baring St. Frederich F.
Saxton died in 1936 at age 76. They were living at 4030 Baring St. He was a
member of the Northminster
Presbyterian Church.
1940:
Mary O’Neil 55 Single;
one year of high school; renting for $55 per month
Henrietta McCosker 50 Sister;
clerk for City Courts, earned $1,300 in 1939; widowed; 4 years of high school
Charlotte O’Neil 52 Sister;
single; formerly a saleslady in department store, unemployed for 62 weeks; 4
years of high school
Florence O’Neil 45 Sister;
single; clerk for real estate co., earned $1,000 in 1939; 4 years of high
school
Frank Lambert 52 Brother-in-law
Sister; proprietor of real estate co.; 2
years of high school
Sarah Lambert 52 Sister; 4
years of high school
They
all lived in this house in 1935.
1959, May 29: “RETIRING: Gifts and a purse were presented to Mrs.
Henrietta McCosker, of 3720 Spring Garden st., who retires today as docket clerk in the Domestic
Relations Division of Municipal Court after 25 years’ service. Mrs. McCosker, who served a term in the State Assembly,
representing the 24th Ward, also has been conducting a private project of
raising $1000 annually for the Sacred Heart Hospital to aid incurable cancer
patients.” (Inquirer)
1959, Dec. 19: Death of Charlotte E. O'Neill, daughter of the late
Henry C. and Margaret M. O'Neill. of 3720 Spring Garden St..
Solemn Requiem Mass at St. Agatha's Church.
1964, Aug. 18: Death of Henrietta C. McCosker,
77 years old, wife of the late Joseph H. of 3720 Spring Garden St. Relatives
and friends, Knights of St. John, Ladies Aux. #122 and
Est. Regis Gloria Aux., are invited to the funeral. Solemn Requiem Mass at St.
Agatha's Church. Internment at Holy Cross Cemetery.
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