3323 Powelton Avenue

 

The History of the Building

 

3321-31: “Circa 1885, red brick Victorian double houses with wood porches; 'segmental windows at first and second floors; pressed brick rosettes in facade between third floor windows; each house has two gabled wood dormers, except for 3329-31, where each half has one dormer. Probably by designed G.W. and W.D. Hewitt.”

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

 

Previous Residents of 3323 Powelton Avenue

 

1887 Directory: Elizabeth P. Comly, widow 3323 Powelton

 

1888, Dec. 19: Death of Elizabeth Oliver Peirce Comly, 74 years old,, widow of Isaac Comly of 3323 Powelton Ave.  She was born Dec. 25, 1813.  In 1880, they lived at 615 N. 17th St.  He was a physician.  He died in 1882.

 

1891, April 10: Marriage of Anna Pierce Shoemaker to Alfred Justice Ferris.

            They later lived at 3409 Baring St.

 

1900:

Oliver Peirce               59        Capitalist; mother born in N.H.; owner with a mortgage

Ruth Decou                 67        Sister; married 50 years, no children

William Decou            78        Brother-in-law; capitalist

Frances B. Peirce         73        Sister; single

Thomas O. Peirce       22        Nephew; lawyer; mother born in Ohio

Frederick Peirce          20        Nephew; at school; mother born in Ohio

Mary Diver                  47        Servant; single

(ED 539, 9A)

            Thomas and Frederick were the sons of Joshua Peirce and Mary Thomas who lived in Tacoma Washington.

 

1909, Oct. 30: “At a meeting of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s sub-committee on Color People, held the 23rd, Ruth Peirce DeCou, 3323 Powelton Avenue, Philadelphia, was appointed treasurer and will received and forward donations in money to the Laing School at Mnt. Pleasant, S. C., and the Schofield School at Aiken, S. C., as the donor may direct.” (Friends’ Intelligencer)

 

1910:

Ruth P. Decou             74        Widowed, 5 children, 3 surviving

Frances B. Peirce         80        Sister; single

Oliver Peirce               69        Brother; single

Mary Diver                  50        Servant; single; born in Ireland

(ED 488, 3A)

            In 1920, Ruth Decou lived in Worcester, Mass.

 

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Revised 1/8/2012                                                                                                                   About Powelton Village