3625 Hamilton Street

The History of the Building

3621-3631:  Circa 1870, three-story red brick Victorian rowhouse; two registers with segmental stone lintels, decorative carved wood cornices and brackets. All but 3621 and 3623 have first-floor projecting bays and all but 3625 (Victorian porch) have circa 1905 Colonial Revival porches”

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

Previous Residents

1869, October: Deeds for 3625-3631 Hamilton transferred from Thomas Foster to John M. Mole.

3625-3631 Hamilton were included in a similar transaction in October of that year.

1870, March: Deeds for 3621-3631 Hamilton transferred from John M. Mole to John K. McCurdy.

1871, April: Deed transferred from Thomas Foster to Howard R. Kern.

1878, July: Deed transferred from Howard R. Kern to Howard R. Kern.

1880:

A. Ross Metz 30 C. salesman

Hannah B. Metz 30

E. Paul Metz 2

Thomas F. Bennett 55 Boarder; merchant; widowed/divorced

Lettie Metz 17 Sister

(ED 487, 22)

The 1887 Directory lists A. Ross Metz at 3903 Powelton Ave.

1887, September: Deed transferred from Howard R. Kern to Carrie Maud Kern.

1889 Directory: Frank J. Plummer, machinist

1890 Veterans Schedule: Frank J. Plummer, Private; Co. A, Reg. 3; served April 17, 1861 to April 3, 1865

1891, March: Deed transferred from Howard R. Kern to HM? H. Kern.

1900:

William G. Leaman 41 Physician

Nellie Leaman 29 Married 6 years, one child; father born in England, mother in Ga.

William Leaman 1

(ED 543, 9B)

1904: “LEAMAN, WM. GILMORE, 3625 Hamilton St., Philadelphia, Pa.

Born at Black Horse, Chester Co., Pa., March 20, 1859. Received preliminary education at Parkersburg Academy. Since graduation he has been engaged in the practice of medicine. Married Nellie Frances Pelly and has one child. He is an Episcopalian.”

(Class History of '89 Medical Department. University of Pennsylvania, 1904, p 38)

In 1910-1950, the Leamans lived at 3700 Baring St. (See a more complete biography there.)

1915, February: Deed transferred from Howard R. Kern to The Philadelphia T/S/D/L Co. SubTrustee for Clara D. Lee William Parry Deceased and James Baird Deceased.

1920:

John P Etlar 58 Upholsterer; born in Denmark, immigrated 1863, became a citizen in 1884; owner with a mortgage

Margaret K Etlar 57

Margaret D Etlar 26 Stenographer

Opal R Etlar 25 Artist

William E Etlar 18 High school student

George T Etlar 12

Martha W Kater 67 Aunt [of wife]; father born in Scotland, mother in Ohio

(ED 686, 3B)

In 1900, they lived at 4024 Powelton Ave. In that census, he gave his date of immigration as 1878. In 1910, they lived in Ward 27 (West Philadelphia south of Market St.).

“Opal Etlar, 91, formerly of Allentown, died Monday in Doylestown Manor. She was a commercial artist. Born in Philadelphia, she was a daughter of the late John P. and Margaretta (Kater) Etlar. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Allentown. There are no immediate survivors.” (The Morning Call, December 27, 1984.)

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