The
History of the Building
424-438 N. 34th was previously occupied by
a large house owned by James B. Ferree, numbered 3404
Spring Garden St.
1892 Bromley Atlas shows 424-438 N. 34th St. as a single lot owned by William Bliss.
424-438:
“three-story
Pompeiian brick late Queen Anne block. Porch-fronted, some altered. Brick
pilasters separating each unit. Elaborate pressed metal cornice and slate upper
story with projecting plinths between alternate forms of pedimented
windowheads.”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
Previous Residents
1900:
Thomas H. Ashton 44 Secretary;
owner with a mortgage
Kate H. Ashton 38 Married
6 years, 1 child; born in
Katherine D. Ashton 5
Kavella Himmelvergen 54 Servant;
single
Thomas H. Ashton and Katharine Maxwell
Hogg were married in 1894. The 1895 Directory lists Thomas H. Ashton,
treasurer, 4340 Main, Manayunk. And living at 506 N. 34th. In 1910,
they lived at 3424
Powelton Ave. In 1920, Kate and Katherine lived in the apartment building
at 3830 Chestnut St. Kate is still listed as married. She died in April 1921
there. In 1930, Thomas is listed as a lodger at the Union League Club. He died
in January 1931.
1910:
Caroline
Duckstein 52 Boarding house keeper; widowed, 4 children,
3 surviving; renting
Frank Mallon 39 Brother; bookkeeper
Elizabeth Mallon 37 Sister-in-law
Carolina E.
Mallon 5 months Niece
William H. Boner 70 Boarder; manager of a department store
Mary Boner 45 Boarder; married 15 years, no children
Ray Lewis Quick 27 Boarder; born in N.Y.
Annie J. Asay 60 Servant; widowed; born in N.J.
1930:
Irvin S.
Himmelberger 51 Chauffeur for a private family; married
at age 21; renting for $45 per month
Margaret V.
Himmelberger 47 Married at age 17; born in W.D.C.,
parents born in Va.
Le Roy Morgan 29 Brother-in-law; chauffeur for a
department store; divorced; born in W.D.C., parents born in Va.
—next household
Grant S.
Himmelberger 26 Repairman for a typewriter company; married
at age 19; renting for $35 per month
Betty
Himmelberger 26 Married at age 25
—next household
John A. Harwin 34 married at age 31; renting for $50 per
month
Helen G. Harwin 33 Married at age 33
—next household
Frances
Cunningham 44 Salesman in a department store; renting
for $40 per month; father born in N.Y., mother in Ireland
—next household
Genevieve
McCarthy 44 Clerk for steam railroad; renting for $35
per month; born in N.Y., parents born in Ireland
1940:
Irving Himmelberger 62 Chauffeur for a private family, earned $1,500 in 1939;
renting for $35 a month; 3 years of school
Margaret
Himmelberger 57 Born in Va.; 7 years of school
Leroy A. Morgan 39 Brother-in-law; chauffeur doing delivery for a department
store, earned $1,900 in 1939; born in DC, single; 8 years of school
— next household
H. R. Gosnell 27 Carpenter for a private firm, earned
$1,300 in 1939; renting for $35 a month; male; born in Illinois; one year of
college; lived in this house in 1935
Alma Gossnell 29 Wife; one year of college; lived in
Puxatawny, Jefferson Co., Pa. in 1935
Alice Dixon 31 Partner [in renting apartment?];
waitress, earned $288 for 52 weeks of work in 1939; single; born in MD; 4 yrs.
of high school; lived in this house in 1935
— next household
Genevieve
McCarthy 54 Renting for $20 a month; single; born in
NY. 4 yrs. of high school; lived in this house in 1935
<
436 N. 34th 3406 Spring Garden >