210 N. 36th Street

 

The History of the Building

ÒCirca 1885, Second Empire style double with stone facade over brick construction. Full-height first-floor windows, porches removed. Mismatched porch scars, window heights, cornices, roof angles dormer treatments. and slate shingle shapes suggest these houses may have been built individually but faced together.Ó

(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the national register of Historic Places, 1985)

 

Previous Residents of 210 N. 36th Street

1880:

Howard R. Kern              31      Brick yard

Mabel E. Kern                   8      Daughter

Maude C. Kern                 6      Daughter

Emily D. Bentz               47      Housekeeper

Annie Ahern                  24      Servant; born in Ireland; can not read or write

Ellen Sheehan                  16      Servant; born in Ireland

(ED 487, 2)

          Howard Kern was the son of William H Kern.  In 1870, they lived 1536 Green St.  His father had $125,000 in real estate and $25,000 in personal property.  Howard had a younger brother, Walter R. who lived at 206 N. 36th St. in 1900 and 1910.

          In 1894, there was a very complex court case involving Howard R. Kern, his father(William H), other members of his family and Emil L. Bentz (probably the husband of Emily F. Bentz), Òan inmate of H.R. KernÕs house, and guardian of his minor children.Ó  The case was brought about by the failure of the William A. Baeder Glue Co. in which Howard Kern was a partner with Louis C. Haughey.  The case involved numerous financial transactions and loans including loans by William Kern to the company and to his son, Howard.  At one point, William Kern found himself in possession of receipts of 2,200 barrels of glue.  The case involves all kinds of financial entanglements among family and friends. 

A full discussion is available at Pennsylvania state reports, Volume 193. Pennsylvania. Supreme Court (available at Google Books), starting on page 59.

 

1900:

Howard R Kern              51      Gentleman; widowed; owned with a mortgage

William C Gray                31      Son-in-law; cashier for customs; father born in Ireland, mother in Scotland

Mabel E Gray                  28      Daughter; married 4 years, 1 child

Caroline M Kern             25      Daughter

Emily L Bentz                 67      Aunt; widowed, no children

Mabel E Gray                    3      Granddaughter

Maggie C Dwyer             28      Servant; born in Ireland, immigrated 5 years earlier

Annie C Grogan             34      Servant; born in Ireland, immigrated 4 years earlier

(ED 543, 7A)

 

1910:

William C. Gray               42      Cashier at customs house

Mable E. Gray                 38      Married 14 years, 2 children

Mable A.                         12

Dorothy                           5

Mary Suresmay [?]           22      Servant; born in Ireland

Susan Darby                   30      Servant; born in Ireland

(ED 492, 13B)

 

< 208 N 36th St.                                                               3600 Powelton Ave. >.

 

Back to Interactive Map