“Built
1898. Brick two-and-one-half story Georgian Revival style residence with
gambrel roof, heavy semicircular portico
supported by doric columns. Fluted doric columns and sidelights -flank the
central doorway. Palladian windows appear on either side of the entrance and
above it at the second floor. This central bay has pedimented gable with
bull's-eye window be low; outer bays have pedimented dormer windows. Rusticated
limestone quoins clearly define the buildings three bays. Minima I alterations.
Architect: Sellers and Kirk.”
(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application
submitted to the national register of Historic Places, 1985)
The History
The 1872 Atlas
shows the north side of the 3400 block of Powelton Ave. was owned by John and
William Sellers.
1883,
January: Deeds for the western end of this block (3411-3427) transferred from
William F. & Amelia Sellers to Lewis and Elizabeth Emery Jr.
1896,
June: Deed transferred from Lewis & Elizabeth (wife) Emery to Christian C.
Febiger.
1900:
Christian Febiger 55 Publisher; born in Ohio, April, 1845,
father born in Pa., mother in Del.; owned free of mortgage
Katherine S Febiger 47 Married
23 years; five children
Christian
Febiger 22
Mary S Febiger 20
(ED 539, 10A)
The 1890 Directory lists: Febiger Christian C. (Lea Bros. & Co.)
living at 3318 Arch St.
Lea Bros. &
Co. (Charles M. Lea, C. C. Febiger, Arthur H. Lea & Henry M. Barnes),
publishers, 706 Sansom
Katherine Sellers Febiger was the
daughter of William Sellers. Her father
had owned this property until 1883 (see above).
Her third cousin, Jesse Sellers Coulton, the daughter of Coleman
Sellers, lived at 3409
Powelton Ave.
1910:
Christian C Febiger 65 Publisher;
born in Ohio, father born in Pa., mother in Dell.
Catharine S
Febiger 58 Married 33 years, five children
Christian Febiger 32 Salesman;
son
Mary S Febiger 30 Daughter
William Aellen Febiger 21 Son
Mary Ward 60 Servant; born in Ireland
Nora Flaherty 62 Servant;
born in Ireland
Delia Dougherty
30 Servant; born in Ireland
Fannie McBride 26 Servant;
born in Ireland
(ED 488, p 1)
1920:
Christian Febiger 74
Mary S. Febiger 39 Daughter;
born in Del.
Bridget Leonard 54 Servant;
born in
Margaret Sully 24 Servant;
born in
Grace McGinley 24 Servant;
born in
(ED 682, p 3B)
1930:
Christian C Febiger 85
Mary Febiger 50 Daughter
Mary Sweeney 32 Servant,
waitress; born in
Sarah Sweeney 27 Servant,
maid; born in Northern Ireland, mother tongue: Gaelic
Bridget Leonard 56 Servant,
cook; born in
(ED 396, p 23A)
1930,
August: Deed transferred from Sabin W. & Jessie Sellers (wife) Colton to
Mary Sellers Febiger (now Mary Febiger Fife) by will as of Christian C. Febiger
(dec'd).
At the time
of the 1930 census (April) Charles A. Fife was unmarried and living with his
unmarried sister at 2104 Spruce St. He
was 58 years old.
He was President of the American Paediatric Society in
1933. He had been the first president of
the Babies’ Hospital of Philadelphia when it was founded in 1911. It merged with St. Christopher’s in
1960.
1950
Directory: Mrs. Charles A. Fife [the former Mary Sellers Febiger]
<3427
Powelton 3411
Powelton >
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