3605 Hamilton Street

The History of the Building

The northern boundary of the houses on the northern side of Hamilton St. from 31^st St. to 38^th St. was the northern border of the Bingham-Baring estate.

3601-03, 3605-07, 3609-11, 3613-15, and 3617: These house appear to have been built by the same builder but may have been built for three different developers. They were all built about 1877-’78.

“Circa 1880, two-and-one-half story Second Empire-style doubles, stone facade over brick. Victorian wood porches…. Slate-shingled mansards with four dormers with decoratively carved wood gables. Ornate wood Victorian cornices. Segmental stone lintels. 3601-03 and 3613-15 have roof cresting”

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

Previous Residents of 3605 Hamilton Street

1872 Atlas shows 3601-3619 owned by J. G. Hardie. In 1860, James G. Hardie lived at 3200 Arch St. The 1861 Directory lists him as a merchant with an office at 633 Market St.

1872, March: Deed transferred from Henry K. Harnish to William Aman.

Harnish transferred both 3601 and 3605 to William Aman. The 1881 Directory lists Henry K. Harnish, drover, 622 Preston St.

1878, June: Deed transferred from Jacob Aman to Richard H. Watson.

1880:

Richard H. Watson 44 Plumber; father born in England

Irene Watson 17

Effie Watson 15

Hannah Hooven 21 Servant

Helen Cameron 17 Servant; born in Ireland

(ED 487, 21)

Effie Watson married William C. Barratt.

1890 Directory: William C. Barratt, 101 Walnut, h 3605 Hamilton

The 1889 directory lists them living at 233 S. 42^nd St.

1890-91 Blue Book: Richard H. Watson & daughter

1893: W. C. Barrett was the first elected secretary of the Powelton Club.

R. H. Watson was elected to serve as a director of the Powelton Club.

1896: William C. Barratt, Secretary, Powelton Club

(Proceedings of the Sixth American Whist Congress.)

1895 Directory: William C. Barratt, clerk

In 1900, they lived at 3606 Spring Garden St.

1900:

Richard H. Watson 64 Widowed; owned free of a mortgage

Irene Watson 37

Mary Glynn 32 Servant; born in Ireland, immigrated 18 years earlier

Bridget Hasson 24 Servant; born in Ireland, immigrated 9 years earlier

(ED 543, 10B)

1906 Blue Book: Richard H. Watson

Miss Irene Watson

“Officers and Committeemen Philadelphia Master Plumbers' Association... R. H. Watson”

“The Graduating Class of June, 1912, in Plumbing and Electrical Construction...

Mr. Richard H. Watson, the grand old man of the plumbing trade in Philadelphia, has for two years given a gold school fob as a prize to one of the members of each graduating class.”

(Philadelphia memento of Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love,... Official Souvenir of the Thirty-First Annual Convention National Ass’n of Master Plumbers. 1913. Mátos, William W.; National association of master plumbers. http://www.archive.org/stream/philadelphiamane00mt/philadelphiamane00mt_djvu.txt )

1910:

Richard H. Watson 73 Plumbing contractor; widowed; father born in Ireland (English); owned free of a mortgage

Irene Watson 47 Daughter; single

Rose Heron 50 Servant; single; born in Ireland (English)

(ED 492, 2B)

1920:

Richard H. Watson 83 Plumbing business; widowed

Irene Watson 57 Single

Elizabeth Field 69 Sister-in-law; born in Hesse, Germany, immigrated in 1861, became a citizen in 1867.

(ED 686, 4A)

1921, May 30: Death of Richard Hartman Watson of 3605 Hamilton St. Relatives and friends, Perkins Lodge No. 402, F. and A. M., and other organizations with which he was connected are invited to attend his funeral at his late residence. Services at St. Andrew's P. E. Church. (Phila. Inquirer, June 1, 1921)

“A bequest of $1000 to aid in paying off the mortgage on the rectory of St. Andrews’ Protestant Episcopal Church, Thirty-sixth and Baring streets, is contained in the will of Richard H. Watson, admitted to probate today. Mr. Watson, who lived at 3605 Hamilton street, died May 30. He was in the plumbing business at 1707 Chestnut street. The residue of the estate goes to his daughters, Miss Irene Watson and Mrs. William C. Barratt [3606 Spring Garden St.], and grandchildren.” (Ev. Pub. Ledger, June 11, 1921)

1930:

Leonardo J. List 44 Treasurer of a bank

Marie Luster List 48 Father born in R.I., mother in Ohio

Betty List 10

Ida M Leafe 42 Lodger; nurse for a private family

(ED 398, 5A)

In 1900, he lived at 3406 Hamilton St. In 1910, they lived at 3301 Hamilton St. In 1920, they was at 209 N. 35^th St.

Leonardo was President of Samuel M. Langston Co., machinery manufacturers. Mrs. List was Marie Stone Langston, a contralto soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Philadelphia Operatic Society.

1940, August: Deed transferred from Richard H. & Edith S. (wife) Watson to John J. & Mary G. Fitzgerald.

In 1930, John J. and Mary Fitzgerald lived with their son, John J., Jr., at 2220 N. 17^th St. John, Sr (age 65) and Mary (60) were born in Ireland and immigrated in 1930. Father and son (age 29) had a retail cleaning establishment. He is listed in the 1950 Directory at 3616 Baring St.

1950 Directory: John J. Fitzgerald, Jr.

James A. Fitzgerald

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Revised 10/20/2011