“Circa 1900 late Queen Anne style house with
Colonial Revival porch. Pompeiian brick with
rusticated stone arched openings~ Second-floor projecting bay and oval windows with
sculptured figurine surrounds. Elaborate patterned third-floor window surrounds
and projecting basins below narrow flanking windows. Corbelled
brick and small roundels below modillioned cornice.”
(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the
National Register of Historic Places, 1985)
History
The 1892 Bromley Atlas shows the vacant lot owned together
with 3602.
1895, April: A permit was issued to “Samuel Brown, owner,
three-story brick dwelling, 20x70, at 3604 Hamilton.” (Phila. Inquirer, April 6, 1895)
1898, June: “Armstrong, Lamb & Co. have
sold 3604 Hamilton street, lot 25x100 feet, for Georgiana Given, for $15,000.” (Phila. Inquirer, June 18, 1898)
1899, August: “Frank W. Hoyt has purchased the property at 3604
Hamilton street, 25x100 feet, from Louise E. Smith,
subject to a mortgage of $8000, for $7000.
(Phila. Inquirer, Aug. 22, 1899)
1901, April 1: Transfer from J. W. Rife to John W. Rife (et al.?) (268, 27)
John W. Rife was the uncle of Henry
J. He and his wife did not have any
surviving children in 1900. (see below)
1902, Feb. 14: Transfer registered from John W. Rife to Henry
J. Rife (et al.?) (11, 125)
1906 Blue Book:
Mr. & Mrs. Henry J.
Rife [Jr.]
Henry J. Rife was a member of the Powelton Club. (For a brief history of the club, see the Powelton History Blog.)
In 1894, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that “One of the most pleasant
social events of the past week was the reception given by Mr. [and Mrs.] Jenry J. Rife, at their residence, northeast corner of
Thirty-fourth street and Lancaster avenue.
Mrs. Rife was formerly Miss Knight, of Boston. Of those present were Mr. and Mrs. Henry C.
Knight and Miss L. Armenell Ackley, of Boston, Mrs.
Mary A. Rife, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob F. Rife, Miss Edith Rife and Mrs. S. K. Brady,
of Middletown, Pa…..” (Phila. Inquirer, 6/3/1894) The couple was married in April, 1894.
The 1900 census lists them as
renters at
Henry’s grandfather was a tanner in
1910:
Henry J. Rife 41 Leather merchant; owned free of a
mortgage
Sarah G. Rife 40 Married
16 years, 4 children; born in
Henry K. Rife 14
Sarah J. Rife 12
John P. Rife 10
Clarence H. Rife 6
Ella Reilly 30 Servant; born in
Lizzie Rochford
20 Servant; born in
(ED 492, 3B)
1917: Draft registration: Henry Knight Rife, born Nov. 17, 1905,
salesman in leather store; conditions: “affliction of the heart”
John Percival Rife, born
Jan 13, 1900, student at West Philadelphia High School, 48th &
Walnut.
1920:
Henry J. Rife 51 leather dealer, wholesale and retail; owner, free of a
mortgage
Sarah G. Rife 50 Born in
Henry K. Rife 24 Salesman
in leather store
S. Irene Rife 22 College student
John P. Rife 19 College student
Clarence H
Rife 16 High school student
(ED 686, 4A)
In 1930, John was living with his
wife and three daughters in Nether Providence, Delaware Co. He owned his house which was valued at
$30,000. He was an executive in the
leather business. Clarence and his wife,
Corrine, lived in
1930:
Henry J. Rife
62 Leather goods; married at age 29; owner, house valued at
$6,000
Lydia A. Rife
61 Married at age 28; born in
Lettice Winters 32 Servant;
black; divorced; born in
(ED 398, 8A)
1950 Directory: Dr. George A.
Anderson
Thomas Mansfield
<
3602 Hamilton 3606
Hamilton >
Revised
10/4/2011