3509 Spring Garden Street

The History of the Building

“Archbishop Ryan School for the Deaf…. Handsome stuccoed, antehall Italianate house; with flanking wood front bays in manner of Sam Sloan. Third-story capped by massive bracketed pressed metal cornice (altered circa 1900). Classical Revival porch across front.
“Archbishop Ryan Memorial Institute. Circa 1955 orange brick limestone trim Catholic Church institute. Two story.
“Rear of 3509: circa 1890, imposing two-story service building or perhaps school; at rear remains part of estate; paired, headed windows in German style; with raised gable”

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

[Note: the Inventory identifies this as the “Robert Steer [sic.] house.” The Robert Steen house was on the north side of the 3300 block of Spring Garden.]

Previous Residents of 3509 Spring Garden Street

1860:

James P Bruner 45 manuf. of woolen goods

Margt Bruner 40 Real estate: $75,000; personal: $4,000

Henry N Bruner 20

James Bruner 17

Frank Bruner 14

Willard Bruner 12

Lewis Bruner 9

Margt Bruner 7

Ellen Goulay 28 Domestic servant; born in Ireland

Sarah Foster 23 Domestic servant; born in Ireland

Mary McBride 19 Domestic servant; born in Ireland

(Precinct 6, p 11)

For a brief biography of James Bruner, see the Powelton Post, April, 2009.

1861 Directory: Bruner James P., manufacturer, Bridge below 36th

1870:

James Bruner 54 Manuf. of Cotton goods; real estate: $1,000,000, personal: $100,000

Annie Bruner 25

James Bruner 26 Manuf. of Cotton goods; Personal: $100,000

Frank Bruner 24 Manuf. of Cotton goods; Personal: $50,000

Willard Bruner 22 Manuf. of Cotton goods; Personal: $50,000

Louis Bruner 18

Meta Bruner 16

Annie Bruner 1

Wm Holland 23 Coachman; black

1878 Scott Atlas: lists E. Browning as owner

1881 Directory: Verner William (O. S. Janney & Co.) H 2029 Spg Garden

In 1880, the Verners lived at 2029 Spring Garden St.

“William Vermes (1888 to "90, '92 to '94) was born near Belfast, Ireland. 14 September, 1829; died at Philadelphia, 13 May, 1901. He was for many years a member of the firm of O. S. Janney & Co.. merchant'- in dye Stuffs, etc., and at the time of his death was the president of the United Security Life Insurance and Trust Company.”

(Directors of the Girard Bank - The history of the Girard National Bank of Philadelphia, 1832-1902. Josiah Granville Leach, LL.B.)

“O. S. JANNEY & CO. IMPORTERS AND DEALERS IN DIGO, CHEMICALS, DYE-STUFFS, ANILINE COLORS, ETC w 70 Kflby Street, BOSTON. No& 8 and 10 Letitia Street, PHILADELPHIA.” (Technique, Published Annually by the Junior Class of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1897)

1886 Baist Map: lists owner as Julia K Verner

1887 Directory: Verner, William (O. S. Janney & Co.)

Verner, William R., Clerk

1890 Directory.: Verner William (O. S. Janney & Co.) & pres United Security Life Insurance & Trust Co. of Pa.

Janney O. S. & Co. (Spencer M. & Joseph A. Janney, William & William R. Verner), dye stuffs, 8 Letitia

William R. Verner also of O. S. Janney & Co., lived at 3203 Mantua Ave.

1900:

William Verner 69 President; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1854

Julia K Verner 62 born in Mass.

Julia E Verner 30

Minnie McLalvskey 21 Servant; born in Ireland

Ellem McLalvskey 18 Servant; born in Ireland

(1900 ED 542 12B)

1901: death of William Verner

1901, June 14: Julia Verner’s passport gives her place of birth as Sheffield, Mass. in Feb., 1836

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