The History of the Building
Built by Wilson Brothers for their father and family.
The house was demolished in 1959/60 to make room for
the
Previous Residents of
1867, September: Deed transferred from J. Edgar Thomson to Jane
M. Wilson, wife of William Hassell Wilson.
J. Edgar Thomson was president of
the Pennsylvania Railroad.
1870:
William
H. Wilson 58 Civil engineer;
born in S.C.; real estate: $50,000; personal: $45,000
Jane M. Wilson 51
Joseph
M. Wilson 32 Civil engineer
Sarah P. Wilson 31 Daughter-in-law;
personal property: $25,000
Henry
W. Wilson 26 Civil engineer; property: $3,000
Margaret Wilson 24
Susan D. Wilson 16
Alice Wilson 1
mon. (Born May,
1870)
Ellen Gunnon 23 Domestic servant; born in Ireland
Kate Hughes 22 Domestic servant; born in
Emma Reed 24 Domestic servant
Patrick
Sullivan 30 Coachman; born in
(1st
Enumeration: pp 19-20; 2nd enumeration, Dist. 1, p 16)
“Any account of the history of St. Andrew's Church would be
incomplete that did not take notice of the long and faithful labors of two men
who have gone to their rest and reward : Washington J. Peale... and W. Hasell Wilson, who died in 1902, was one who had carried
the financial burdens of the parish for a quarter of a century, and gave to it,
out of his rare wisdom and experience, counsel and help never to be forgotten.
The names of these two laymen should be indelibly recorded in the history of
the parish and of the church at large.”
(Vieira, M. L.
(1903).
“WILSON, William Hasell, railroad
pres.- eng'r; b.
(Who's Who in
1880:
William
H. Wilson 68 Civil engineer; born in S.C., father born in Scotland,
mother in S.C.
Jane M. Wilson 68
Sarah A. Wilson
34 Daughter
Susan D. Wilson
26 Daughter
Catharine Odonnel 30 Servant; born in
Catharine
Hughes 30 Servant; born in
Annie Cameron 29 Servant;
born in Scotland
(ED 487, 15)
1881: Dir: Wilson, W. Hansell, civil
engineer, 233 S 4th, h 3501 Powelton Ave.
1896: The Girl’s Friendly Society (organized in America 1877; in
Phila. 1881):... St.
Andrews Church,
(“Civic club
digest of the educational & charitable institutions & societies ...
Civic Club of Philadelphia,...” Google Books)
1896: Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Wilson,
(AWOSTING
FALLS-LAKE MINNEWASKA... “Is located on the summit of the
.. References: That this object has been
attained, the proprietor would respectfully refer to "the persons whose
names are attached to this circular — nearly all of whom have remained at the
1898-’99 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. W. Hassell Wilson
1898,
May: Deed transferred from Jane H. Wilson (dec'd)
Wilson to William H. Wilson.
1900:
W. Hasell Wilson 88 Widowed;
railroad president; born in S.C., father in Scotland, mother in S.C. ; owner,
free of a mortgage
Sarah H. Wilson 54 Daughter
Susan D. Wilson 46 Daughter
Sarah Berrell 65 Servant; born in
Frances L.
Baxter 26 Servant; born in
Ellen Carr 25 Servant
(ED 543, 13B)
W. H. Wilson died Aug. 17,
1902. He was buried from St. Andrew’s
Church, 36th & Baring Sts.
“Railroad
President's Death.
“The death of
W. Hasell Wilson, for many years president; of the
Pennsylvania Railroad's Belvidere division, occurred yesterday at his
residence, 3501 Powelton avenue. He was ninety-one
years of age and has been suffering from general debility for two months,
during which time he has been absent from business. He was born in Charleston,
S. C., accompanied by his father, Major John Wilson, in locating the
Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad in 1828, entered the service of the
Pennsylvania in 1836 and became resident engineer for the entire line in 1859.
In 1873 he became president of the Erie and subsequently of other railroads,
continuing till 1894, when he resigned all but the presidency of the Belvidere
division. He leaves one son, Henry W. Wilson, an architect, and three
daughters, Mrs. William A. Baldwin, Miss Sarah H. Wilson, and Miss Susan D.
Wilson.” (Phila. Inquirer, 8/19/1902.)
1906,
May 2: Deed transferred from Henry W. Wilson, executor of will of William H.
Wilson (dec'd) to Edward A. Ryon.
1906,
May 2: Deed transferred from Edward A. Ryon to John
J. Tyler.
John J.
Tyler was a real estate broker. In 1900,
he was 47 years old and living with his wife, Laura, at 1321 N. Broad St.
1910:
Cornelia A.
Ulmer 62 Widowed; owned free of a mortgage
Albert F. Ulmer
34 Hauling tugs; born in N.J.
Sarah J. Ulmer 40 Three
children
John Richard 34 Servant; black; born in
Ada M. Mullen 28 Servant;
“mulatto”
Susan Taylor 57 Servant; black; born in
(ED 492, 5A)
Cornelia was the widow of Albert F.
Ulmer, Sr. In 1900, they lived at 3504
Hamilton St.
1918 Draft Registration: 3600
Powelton Ave., Albert Frank
Ulmer, Jr., b Feb 25 1876, Clerk for Penna. R.R.
He lists Sarah C. Ulmer as nearest
relative at 3500
Powelton Ave.
1927: “Library members:... Blumenthal,
Hart,
(American
Jewish Yearbook, 1927-28.)
In 1920, he lived at 1921 Park Ave.
1930:
Mary Lutz 48 Born in Irish Free State; renting for
$50 per month [There may have been other renters who were not captured in the
census.]
Louisa Lutz 22 Daughter;
proof reader for a newspaper; father born in
Elizabeth Bartram 40 Lodger;
single; no occupation
(ED 398, 17A)
Mary Lutz was the widow of Fred
Lutz, a house carpenter. In 1920, they
lived at
1947: “Others who joined the staff [of the Race Relations
Committee of American Friends Service Committee (Quakers)]... are Mrs. Etta B.
Finkler of 3501 Powelton Ave and ... both
secretaries. Mrs. Finkler,
who formerly Workers of America, CIO, is now FEPC and for the United
Steelworkers of America, is new secretary to G.
James Fleming, secretary of the Race Relations Committee.” (The
Richmond Afro-American [newspaper], March 22, 1947.)
1950 Directory: Foster E. Bennett, Dr.
Norman Finkler
George Griffith
Fred A. Sharkey, 3rd
Marilyn A. Williams
<
3515 Powelton ^ Around corner to 302 N. 35th ^ 3427 Powelton
>
Revised 8/5/2011