214 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 214 N. 34^th St

1887 Directory: George Burnham, Jr., clerk, h 214 N 34^th:

1890 Directory: George Burnham, Jr. Treas. N 18^th c Lehigh Av., h 214 N 34^th

In the 1881 Directory, he is at 2211 Green St.

1898 Blue Book: :George Burnham, Jr. was a member of the Powelton Club. (For a brief history of the club, see the Powelton History Blog.)

1900:

George Burnham, Jr 50 (Nov. 1849) Manufacturer; owned free of mortgage

Anna L Burnham 41 (Jan. 1859)

Enoch Lewis Burnham 17 (Jan? 1883)

Jean Burnham 14 (May, 1886)

Margaret Burnham 10 (Oct 1889)

George Burnham 6 (June 1895)

+ 4 servants

(ED 578, 61)

His father, George Burnham, Sr. (3401 Powelton Ave.), was president of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, the largest manufacturer of steam locomotives. Anna Lewis Burnham was the daughter of Enoch Lewis, 3405 Powelton Ave who was the Chief Purchasing Agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Her brother, Theodore J. Lewis, married George Burnham, Jr.’s sister, Ann Burnham; they lived next door (212 N. 34 St.). Enoch Lewis Burnham married Cora Sellers, the daughter of Coleman Sellers, Jr. In 1910, they were living with her parents at 3301 Baring St. where she grew up.

“George Burnham, Jr., C. E., (Philadelphia, Pa.,) son of George and Anna (Hemple) Burnham, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., November 3oth, .1849. Prepared at private schools and entered the Institute September, 1868. In the fall of 1872 entered the service of the Pennsylvania railroad company, as rodman, on a branch road from Williamsburgh to Springfield, in Blair county, leaving this road in the summer of 1873. In the spring of 1875 was appointed levelman on the "Bridge Division " of Bound Brook & North Pennsylvania railroad, remaining for one year, and assisting in the surveys for and final execution of the bridge across the Delaware river at Yardley. In the spring of 1876 formed partnership with Nelson Stow, of Binghamton, N. Y., for the manufacture of the Stow flexible shaft, under style of Stow & Burnham, afterward "The Stow Flexible Shaft company, limited," of which he became secretary and treasurer. In September, 1880, entered the Baldwin locomotive works, as assistant in the purchasing department. Is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Rensselaer Society of Engineers, and of the Engineers' Club of Philadelphia. April 4th, 1881, married Anna Gilpin Lewis, daughter of Enoch Lewis, of Philadelphia. One child. P. O. address, 214 North 34th street, Philadelphia, Pa.”

(Biographical Record of the Officers and Graduates of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1824-1886. By Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Henry Bradford Nason. Published by W.H. Young, 1887. P 427.)

1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. George Burnham, Jr

1913: Rev. Charles Harvey was listed in the Harvard Directory living here and engaged in ministry and education. In 1920, he and his family lived at 315N. 35^th St. (see a brief biography there.)

1920:

George Burnham, Jr 70 Manufacturer of Locomotives

Anna L Burnham 60 Father born in Del., mother in NJ

Mary Loughery 53 Servant; parents born in Ireland

Annie Hanan 45 Servant; born in Ireland

(ED 688, 1B)

1930:

Anna S Burnham 71 House worth $20,000

Coleman Johnson 42

(397, p 4B)

<212 N 34th 216 N 34th >

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Revised 9/14/2011