3726 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, Sep. 6: Title transferred to Henry
C. McIlvain by Charles K. Merklee
The
1870 census shows Charles K. Merklee as a door and sash manufacturer. He
claimed $20,000 in real estate and $2,000 in personal property. He lived at
1339 N. 13th St. with his wife and five children.
1870, 2nd Enumeration in Nov.:
Henry McIlvain 40
Fannie McIlvain 22
Margaret Menick 38
Mary Menick 18
At
the time of the first enumeration in 1870, Henry C. McIlvain lived with his
widowed mother and his brother in the home of his grandparents, Thomas and Emma
Matlock, 3317 Baring St.
1871
Directory (Fall, 1870): Henry C. McIlvain of McIlvain Bros. (Henry C. and A.
Robinson], drug mills at 1500 Hamilton St.
1879 Directory:
Henry C. McIlvain of McIlvain Bros. (Henry C. and A. Robinson], drug mills at
1500 Hamilton St.
1880:
H. C. McIlvain 41 Manufacturer
Fanny McIlvain 31 Born in MD
Randall McIlvain 2
Elizabeth McIlvain 1
Annie Gandel 30 Servant; born in Ireland
Bridget Canning 45
Servant; born in Ireland
In
later years, they lived at 3308 Hamilton St.
1899, Oct. 30: Title transferred to Jane Gale by Henry C. McIlvain
1900:
Jane Gale 84 Widowed with two children; born in
Ireland; owner, free of a mortgage
Mary A. McElroy 44 Daughter;
widowed with two children; parents born in Ireland
Fanny McElroy 14 Granddaughter
Thomas McElroy 11 Grandson
1900, Oct. 9: Death of Jane Gale, 87 years old, of 3726 Spring
Garden St. She was the widow of Thomas Gale who died in 1896. She was born in
Ballinakill, County Laois, Ireland.
The
house was inherited by her daughter.
1910:
Mary A. McElroy 54 Own income; widowed,
3 children, 2 surviving; parents born in Ireland; owner, free of a mortgage
Frances A. McElroy 23
Thomas A. McElroy 20
Mary Gascott 60 Cousin;
dressmaker; single; parents born in Ireland
1930:
James C. Lee 38 Car
inspector for steam railway; born in England, immigrated
in 1921; married at age 23; owner, house valued at $6,000
Nettie Lee 37 Married at age 22; born in England,
immigrated in 1921
Maureen J. Lee 12 Born in
England, immigrated in 1921
Sheila A. Lee 9 Born in England, immigrated in 1921
Brendan J. Lee 7
Eileen Lee 2 yrs., 4 months
John K. Lee 2 months
Maureen
(and probably Nettie and Sheila) were born in Paddington, London. In 1940, they
live at 4325 Sarchwood Ave. In that census, their youngest child is listed as
Joan, not John.
1940:
Michael Keveney 71 Born in
Ireland; 8 years of schooling; owner, house valued at $3,500
Mary Keveney 69 Born in Ireland; 8 years of schooling
Catharine Keveney 40 Bookkeeper at a
bank, earned $1,200 in 1939; 2 years of high school
William Keveney 35 Railroad
dispatcher, earned $2,500 in 1939; 2 years of college
John Keveney 30 Medical doctor in private practice; 5
years of college
1941, Mar. 8: Death of Mary Anne Keveney, 68 years old, wife of
Michael W. Keveney and daughter of the late Anne and John Staunton. Solemn
Requiem Mass at St. Agatha's Church. She was born in Roscommon, Ireland.
1943, Dec. 5: Death of Michael Keveney, 72 years old, of 3726
Spring Garden St. He was born in Williamstown, Galway, Ireland. Burial at Holy
Cross Cemetery. He immigrated from Queenstown, Ireland in 1890. He applied for
citizenship in 1926 when he was living at 3808 Aspen St. “He was employed for
50 years by the Pennsylvania Railroad and retired in 1939.” (Inquirer,
Dec. 8)
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