The History of the Building
“Circa
1870, two-and-one-half story, Second Empire-style double house, cruciform plan,
with entrance in cross arms; stone façade over brick; 3624 side porch removed;
3626 side porch altered with iron and brick; first floor projecting bays.
Double bracketed cornice. Slate-shingled mansard with two dormers.”
(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the
national register of Historic Places, 1985)
Previous Residents
1870:
Charles (H.) Alexander 31 Manufacturer
of leather boots; born in N.H.; real estate: $10,000; property: $15,000
Josephine 33 Born
in N.Y.; property: $3,000
Henry W. 28 Manufacturer of leather belting; born in
N.H.; property: $10,000
Edward P. 25 Manufacturer
of leather belting; born in N.H.
Jacob Orie 38 Clerk
in a bank
Jessie E Smith 13 Born
in N.H.
May Barry 28 Domestic
servant; born in
(ED 77, 1st enumeration: p
29; 2nd enumeration: p 14)
Edward
purchased 306
N. 35th St. in 1873.
1863-1864 IRS Records:
Charles H. Alexander,
248 N. 8th, manufacturer, cloaks and wrappers
1866 IRS Records: Charles H. Alexander, 14 S 8th
, cloaks Jacob Orie, 1310 Cherry
1880:
Lemuel H. Alexander 78 Manufactures
[illegible]; widowed; born in N.H.
Charles H. Alexander 41 Son;
manufactures bolts; born in N.H.
Josephine Alexander 42 Born in N.Y., parents in N.H.
Sarah Alexander 86 Sister;
born in N.H.
Jacob Orie 45 Boarder;
bank clerk
Mary Redmond 26 Servant;
born in
(ED 487, 16-17)
In
1900, Henry lived at
Lemuel
Hastings Alexander died in July 4, 1883 in
1881 Directory: Jacob Orie, Clerk
1890 Directory: Alexander, Charles H. (Alexander
Bros.) h 3626 Baring
Alexander Bros. (Charles H., Henry W., &
Edward P.) leather belting, 410 N 3d
Alexander Edward P. (Alexander Bros.), h 306 N 35th.
Henry W. (Alexander Bros.) h Haverford
“During World War I, architectural
work in
1892: Charles H. Alexander joined a law suit aimed at stopping
the introduction of electric trolleys on Baring St. to replace the old
horse-drawn streetcars. (See the Powelton
History Blog for details.)
1895
Directory: Samuel Latta, physician
Between
1887 and 1893, he and his family lived at 201 N. 35th
St. For earlier and later addresses,
see the page for 3500
Hamilton St. where he lived with his mother and siblings in 1880.
“Samuel Whitehill Latta, M.D., Chief
Medical Examiner of the Department, was born in Octoraro, Chester County, Pa.,
July 23, 1848, and educated at Parkesburg and Media Academies and Lafayette
College. After finishing his studies in the latter he took a course in the
Medical Department, University of Pennsylvania, graduating as M.D. at that
institution on March 13, 1868. Eleven days afterward, or on March 24, 1868, he
was commissioned an Assistant Surgeon in the United States Navy, serving as
such in the West Indies, South America, Africa, China and Japan. He was surgeon
in charge of the landing forces in the Corean Expedition of 1871 under Rear
Admiral Rodgers. He resigned from the navy on July 1, 1879. He served in 1879
and 1880 as Surgeon and Purser on the Steamship Nederland of the Red Star Line.
From January 1, 1884, to January 1, 1886, he was Resident Surgeon at Broad
Street Station, at which latter date he was promoted to the position he now
occupies.
“Dr. Latta is a member of the State
Board of Medical Examiners of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County Medical
Society, State Medical Society of Pennsylvania, and was one of its Vice
Presidents in 1894, and a member of the American Public Health Association. He
is a close student of all matters pertaining to his profession, and a very conscientious
gatherer of vital statistics. Careful and methodical in all he does, and of
excellent judgment, his decisions can be relied upon as having been arrived at
by the most critical analysis.” (History of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company: ..., Volume 2. William Bender Wilson, 1895: 167-8.)
1895: Samuel W. Latta nominated to the Board of Medical
Examiners representing the Medical Society of the State of PA.
1900:
Samuel W. Latta 51 Physician
Anna A. Latta 52 Married 27 years, no children
Annie Lathenbury [?] 39 Servant; black; born in
Clarence Short 18 Servant; black; born in
(ED 543, 8A)
1906
Blue Book: Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Latta
1910:
Harry J. Menich 50 Owner, free
of mortgage
Emma C. Menich 50 Married 32
years, 6 children, 5 surviving
Harry E. Menich 29 Born in Tenn.
Estella M. Menich 25 Bookkeeper;
born in
Ruby C. Menich 23 Born in Fla.
Bertrand Menich 22 Stenographer
for insurance co.; born in
Ralph P Menich 20 Architect;
born in
(ED 492, 6A)
In
1900, they lived in
In
1930 some of them lived in Radnor
1930:
James A. Dowden 56 Dentist;
married at age 30; born in N.Y., parents born in Irish Free State; owner, house
valued at $15,000
Kan K. Dowden 53 Married at
age 27
E Elizabeth Dowden 25
Emily C. Dowden 22 Dental
Hygienist
Mary Dowden 60 Sister; Merchant with
an art shop; single; born in N.Y., parents born in Irish Free State
Anna Raymond 62 Lodger;
manager paving contractor [?]; single
(ED 398, 18A)
1950 Directory: William P. McGowen
David B. McLaughlin
John F. Schira
2009: current owner: Melvin Williams and Sandra Williams,
purchased 2/2003
<3624
Baring Across to
3619 Baring >
Revised
11/24/2011