3731 Hamilton Street

 

3721-31: “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.”

(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 Haisel Chapel, Christ 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

 

History

 

1923, Mar. 13: Title for 3731 Hamilton St. transferred to James J. Moore & Martin McWilliams by Sadie E. Roller

 

1923, Aug. 23: Title transferred to Minnie D. Frost by James J. Moore & Martin McWilliams

 

1930 Directory: Joseph S. Littleton, Restaurant at 3955 Lancaster Ave.

            He was born Oct. 18, 1879 in Dagsborough, Sussex Co., Delaware and is listed in the 1880 census. The 1921 directory lists him living at 633 N. 40th St.

 

1930:

Joseph S. Littleton       55        Restaurant proprietor; married at age 34; owner, house valued at $8,000

Bertha L. Littleton       43        Married at age 22

Mary E. Littleton           8

Joseph S. Littleton         6

            The census incorrectly lists him as John and lists her as Mary J. age 53. The children’s ages were also wrong.

            His middle name was Sharp. In the 1940 census, he claimed 8 years of education. He and Bertha L. Braun were married in Philadelphia in 1921. She had two years of high school. Joseph, Jr. was confirmed in March 1937 at the Church of the Savior (Episcopal) in Philadelphia. The family had moved to 319 Bewley Rd., Haverford where they lived in 1940.

 

1950 Directory: Willie V. McCoy

 

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Revised: 1/14/2022

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