212 N. 34^th Street

The History of the Building

In the 1878 Scott’s Atlas, this land and most of the square block were owned by George A. Fletcher who later lived at 216 N. 34^th.

Three-story double composed of red brick with pressed brick ornament. The original wood porch is intact. Composition of the double consists of outer bays with bracketed hipped roofs &and inner bays with front projecting bracketed gables with shingles around attic windows. At the second -floor, a projecting pressed metal bay has been added to 212. Architect: A.W. Dilks.

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

1969: The houses on the west side of the 200 block of 34^th St. were saved from condemnation and demolition by an agreement between the Powelton Village Homeowners Association and the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. (see Powelton Quarterly, vol 1(1); pp 1 &3.)

Previous Residents of 212 N. 34^th Street

1887 Directory: Lewis, Theodore J., clerk, h 212 N. 34^th

1880: Theodore Lewis was a groom’s man at the wedding of Jessie Sellers and Sabin Colton who moved into 410 N. 33^rd St.

(North of Market. Harold S. Colton.1961: 35)

1890 Directory: Theodore J. Lewis, assistant treasurer, office: 220 S 4^th

1898 Blue Book: Theodore J. Lewis was a member of the Powelton Club. (For a brief history of the club, see the Powelton History Blog.)

1900:

Theodore J. Lewis 45 (Oct. 1854) Secretary, steel manufacturer; owned free of a mortgage

Ann B[urnham] Lewis 44 Married 19 years, 4 children

Dorothy Lewis 16

Sidney Lewis 11 Daughter

Theodore Lewis 10

Burnham Lewis 2

Mary Albright 46 Servant; cook; married 18 years, 2 children, none surviving; born in Scotland

Mary McWenanier 28 Servant; nurse; born in Ireland

Emily Tynan 22 Servant; waitress, born in Ireland

Mary Jearr ? 28 Servant; Chambermaid; born in Ireland

(ED 578, 2B-3A)

He was the son of Enoch Lewis (3405 Powelton) who was the Chief Purchasing Agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Ann Burnham was the daughter of George Burnham (3401 Powelton) who was president of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, the largest manufacturer of steam locomotives. They married in April, 1881. His sister, Anna Lewis, married her brother, George Burnham, Jr., and they lived next door at 214 N. 34^th St.

“Standard (The) Steel Works, Harrison Building, Philadelphia. Works at Burnham, Miffiin county. Built in 1869... William Burnham, President and Treasurer; Merle Middleton, Vice-President; Theodore J. Lewis, Secretary; J. P. Stevenson, Superintendent; A. A. Stevenson, Mechanical Engineer. Selling agents, E. S. Lewis,...”

(Directory of iron and steel works of the United States and Canada. By American Iron and Steel Institute, American Iron and Steel Association. Published by American Iron and Steel Institute, 1902, p 202.)

1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. Theodore J. Lewis

Miss Sidney Lewis

1910:

Theodore J Lewis 54 Own income

Anna D Lewis 54 Married 28 years, 4 children

Sidney Lewis 24

Theodore B Lewis 19

Burnham Lewis 12

Mary M Albright 56 Cook; married 27 years, 2 children; born in Ireland; immigrated 1872

Margaret Furey 32 Waitress; born in Ireland; immigrated 1873

Katherine Gibbons 23 Chamber maid; born in Ireland; immigrated 1907

(ED 533, 1B)

In 1920 and 1930, they lived in 3405 Powelton where his parents lived until their deaths.

1913: Theodore J. Lewis was a member of The Social Welfare Forum. (Official Proceedings [of the] Annual Meeting.)

1914: Mrs. Theodore J. Lewis was a member of the Women’s National Agricultural and Horticultural Association. (American Feminism: Work and Education. Janet Beer, Anne-Marie Ford, Katherine Joslin. Rutledge. 2003.)

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Revised 9/18/2011