The
History of the Building
3721-23-25-27-29-31:
“two-story brick Colonial Revival rowhouse. Colonial Revival porches,
some enclosed. Tripartite second floor windows in outer four houses; center two
houses gabled, half timber and stucco above first floor. Slate-shingled roofs
(3725 asphalt). Consoles between units.”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
1868, Jun. 19: Title for 3721-3731 Hamilton St.
& 435 N. 38th St. transferred to The Haiskel Chapel M. E. Church by John
Blakely
1922, Apr. 19: Title for 3721-3731 Hamilton St.
transferred to James J. Moore by Christ M. E. Church formerly Haiskel Chapel
James
J. Moore was a civil engineer and builder. In 1920, he was 51 years old and lived
at 6140 Nassau St. with his wife Teresa and their 22-year-old daughter.
On May 24, 1922, the Phila.
Builders’ Guide printed the following:
“Residences (3), North side Hamilton
street, East of Thirty-eighth street, $31,100, Architect, private plans. Owner,
James J. Moore, 4039 Lancaster avenue, Philadelphia. Brick, 2 stories, 16 feet
4 inches x 42 feet and 16x31 feet, 13x11 feet, slag roof, oak and yellow pine
floors, hot water heat, electric lighting. Owner will build.”
Although this doesn’t match the
three twins that were built, it is clear that all
three twins were developed by – and possibly built by – James J. Moore in 1922.
On June 23rd and 25th,
the Inquirer published a want ad: “Bricklayer wanted. Apply 38th
and Hamilton street.”
1922, May. 12: Title for 3721-3731 Hamilton St.
transferred to Sadie E. Roller by James J. Moore
Previous Residents of
3727 Hamilton Street
1922, May
13: Title transferred to James J. Moore & Martin McWilliams by Sadie E.
Roller
1923, Jan.
26: Title transferred to Philip Auerbach by James J. Moore & Martin
McWilliams
1927 Directory: Mrs. L. F. Pailer [aka Louisa Auerbach]
1930:
Phillip Auerbach 53 Proprietor
of a bakery; married at age 30; parents born in Germany; owner, house valued at
$8,000;
Louise Auerbach 68 Wife; married
at age 40; parents born in Germany
Ida M Sharp 63 Servant;
widowed
Philip
Auerbach immigrated from Germany with his mother, Rosa, and four younger
sisters on May 7, 1891 on the ship Switzerland which sailed from Antwerp,
Belgium to Philadelphia. He was 17 years old. In 1900, he was living at
Philip
Auerbach apparently married Louisa Pailer, whom he lived with in 1900. Their stated
ages at marriage suggest they married about 1910, but they were not living
together at the times of the 1910 and 1920 censuses (she lived at
Philip
Auerbach is listed as the grantee on six deed transfers registered between 1917
and 1928.
Note
that in 1930, Philip and Louise claimed to be born in
Ida
M. Sharp (1865-1941) was the widow of Albert Sharp (1861-1929). In 1920, they
lived in Delaware, Camden County, N.J. They were both born in N.J.
1931, Mar. 11: Death of Louise Fredericka Auerbach, 69 years old,
wife of Philip Auerbach. She was born in Germany.
Her
estate was valued at $77,000. (Inquirer, April3)
1940:
John McWilliams 52 Railroad
dispatcher, earned $1,700 in 1939; 2 years of college; renting for $40 per
month
Alice McWilliams 45 Telephone
operator for Board of Health, earned $1,100 in 1939; born in N.Y.; 4 years of
high school
John McWilliams, Jr. 23 Advertising
clerk, earned $900 in 1939; 4 years of high school
Edward McWilliams 18 One year of
college
Robert McWilliams 3
Joseph Raber 24 Nephew;
clerk for auto manufacturer, earned $700 for 40 weeks of work in 1939; 4 years
of high school
Mary Farrell 70 Mother-in-law;
widowed; born in Eire [Ireland]; 8 years of schooling
They
all lived here in 1935. In 1930, they lived 3613 Fairmont Ave. His parents were
born in the Irish Free State. They were living with her mother and two of his
nephews: Joseph Robert (as in 1940) and George T. (age 37 and widowed) with his
son, George, Jr. (age 4).
1943, Apr. 3: Death of Mary Farrell (née Salmon), 77 years old,
wife of the late James E. Farrell. She was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland.
Solemn Requiem Mass at St. Agatha's Church, burial at Holy Cross Cemetery. She
had been widowed since 1898.
2010: Current owner - Carol A. Fritz
<
3729 Hamilton 3725
Hamilton >