The
northern edge of this property was part of the northern boundary of the
Bingham-Baring estate.
3513-15:
“Second Empire style double, stone facade; Victorian wood side porches;
two-story front projecting bays. Circa 1890 elaborate two-and-one-half story
Queen Anne style addition with porch added to 3515”
(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the
National Register of Historic Places, 1985)
History
1866, May: Deed for 3511-3523 Hamilton St. was transferred from
Evans W. Shippens to James P. Bruner.
In the early 1860s Evans Shippen
lived at 35th and Bridge [Spring Garden] St. In 1860, he was a 35 year-old coal dealer and
iron founder. In 1870, he and his family
were living in Vernon, Crawford Co., Pa. where he was a farmer.
James P. Bruner was a mill owner who
lived at 3509
Spring Garden St.
1868, March 5:
Samuel and Annie Ferree lived at
3514 Spring Garden St.
3513-3515
Hamilton St. was built by Thomas D. Crespin, probably
in 1869. He usually identified himself
as a bricklayer, although he is listed as a builder in the 1881 city directory. From at least 1856 until the 1870s, he lived
in various house near 39th and Powelton with his wife and seven children. In the 1870 census he declared $25,000 in
real estate and $1,400 in personal property.
His younger brothers, James C. Crispen and Joseph Crispen, were also
bricklayers and probably worked with him.
In the late 1860s, Joseph lived at 34th and Filbert Sts. He did not claim any real estate. Thomas Crispen
also built 3509-3511, 3517-3519, and 3521-3523 Hamilton St. and 3400-3402,
3404-3406 and 3408-3410 Baring St.
(The name was variously spelled Crespenn or Crispenn.)
1869, February: Deed transferred from Thomas D. Chrispenn to
Phebe A. Brooks.
Phebe Ann Paxson (or Paxton) Brooks
was born in Pennsylvania but moved to Indiana where her father was born. She was married to James Brooks (1810-1867),
a wealthy hardware merchant who was originally from Maine. They lived in New Albany, Indiana. During the Civil War, James Brooks was the
virtual business Superintendent of the Government operations on the upper
Mississippi River and worked closely with Secretary of War Stanton. They had eight children, but only James
Croxall Brooks lived to adulthood. Their
daughter, Francis, died in January, 1869 at age 11.
1870:
James [C.]
Brooks 27 Superintendent in machine shop; born in Indiana
Phebe Brooks 58 Real
estate: $12,000, personal: $38,000
Anna Paxson 26 Born in Indiana
Hannah Tinsdale 22 Domestic
servant
(ED 77, 25)
In 1871, Phoebe Brooks married
Joseph J. Lewis, a distinguished lawyer and widower. He was appointed by President Lincoln the
first Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 1863.
He was a warm personal friend of President Lincoln, and was with him
when he died. In 1880, they lived in
West Chester, Chester Co., Pa.
James C. Brooks served in the Civil
War as Captain and Commissary and afterward in the Mississippi Marine Brigade
for one year. He was at the siege of Vicksburg and at Memphis. He married Mary C. Twedale in 1872. They lived at 117 N. 33rd St. from at least
1880-1904. They had two children.
1872 Hopkins Atlas shows “Mrs. Brooks”
1880:
Elijah
Lathburry 40 Flour merchant; parents born in
Frances
Lathburry 39
Mammie H.
Lathburry 16
Carrie B.
Lathburry 10
Charles W.
Lathburry 6
Ella B.
Lathburry 1
Kate Donahue 27 Servant;
born in
(ED 487, 20)
The 1887 and 1890 directories list
him at 3407
Baring St.
1883, January: Deed transferred from Phebe A. Brooke married
Joseph J. Lewis deed from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Lewis to Margaret R. Smith.
Margaret R. Smith was the wife of
Levi Smith, a dairyman. They lived at
3817 Baring St. In 1883, they were ages
45 and 47.
1890 Directory: Hannah S. Marot
Emily P. Shoemaker
In 1880, Hannah Marot was living at 317 N. 33rd
St. with her husband and daughter.
1895 Directory: John R. Gormley of Sutton & Rooney.
The 1890 Directory lists John
Gormely at
1900:
Mary Gormley 50 Janitress;
single; parents born in
John R. Gormley 40 Brother;
single; salesman in produce store; parents born in
John J. Gormley 13 Boarder
(ED 543, 13A)
In 1900, this house was part of Mrs.
Sutton’s School for Girls which occupied 3509, 3511 and 3513 Hamilton St. Annie Sutton lived at 3507
Hamilton St. (See a description of the school there.)
1910:
John C.
Townsend 61 Tea and coffee merchant; born in
Clara M.
Townsend 52 Married 32 years, 3 children; born in
Charles Townsend
26 Tea
and coffee merchant; born in
Oliver Townsend
25 Tea
and coffee merchant; born in
Dorothy
Townsend 20 Born in
Ula McDonnal 20 Servant;
black; born in
(ED 492, 1B,
mislabeled 3515)
In 1900, they lived at
1920:
Walter C. Menah
51 Clerk in a drug store; born in Ireland,
immigrated in 1892, became a citizen in 1909; renting
Susan M. Menah 47 Dressmaker working at home; born in England, immigrated in
1892, became a citizen in 1909
Maggie L. Menah
43 Sister; seamstress working at home; born
in Ireland, immigrated in 1892
Alice Anderson 44 Sister-in-law; widowed; born in England, immigrated in 1905
Wilfrid
Anderson 20 Nephew; electrician for Home Electric
Co.; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1905
Theodora G.
Anderson 15 Niece; born in Ireland, immigrated in
1905
Robert S.
Osborn 49 Lodger; nurse in a penitentiary; born in
Ireland, immigrated in 1888, became a citizen in 1895
Amanda G.
Osborn 44 Lodger; nurse
John P. Bethel 40 Lodger; physician in general practice;
single
(ED 686, 1A)
In 1900, Walter and Susan Menah
lived at 3809 Haverford Ave. He was
working as a conductor. In 1910, they
lived at 3911 Haverford Ave. They had a
son, William J. Menah, who was born in 1894.
In 1920, Susan Menah returned to England and Ireland to visit relatives
and took a holiday in France.
In September, 1921, John Bethel and
his new wife purchased 3419
Hamilton St. They were living there
in 1930.
1922, February: Deed transferred from The Board of Foreign
Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the
1930:
Walter C. Menah 60 Bookkeeper
at a coal yard; born in Ireland; married at age 24; owner, house valued at
$9,000
Susan A. Menah 57 Married
at age 21; born in England
Alice M.
Anderson 53 Sister-in-law; widowed; born in England
Theodora
Anderson 25 Niece; clerk in a department store; born in England
Charles Derie 70 Lodger; clerk at a publishing house; widowed; born in Md.,
father born in Scotland, mother in Md.
Mary E. Reed 38 Lodger;
nurse for a private family; single; born in N.J.
Daniel H. Davis
40 Lodger; superintendent for steam railroad; widowed; born in
Va.
Daniel C. Davis
14 Lodger; born in N.J., father born in Va., mother in N.J.
(ED 398, 11B)
1950 Directory: Orsen Decker
Mrs. W. C. Menah
<
3515 Hamilton 3511
Hamilton >
Back to
Interactive Property Map
Revised: 12/6/2010