227 N. 34^th Street

Photo courtesy of Drexel University Archives

The History of the Building

“Circa 1890, three-story rusticated stone eclectic style house. Medieval-inspired with crenelles faces Powelton; wrap-around porch (enclosure, a later alteration); and two-story metal- sheathed turret with conical red slate-shingled roof address street corner. Main facade has two projecting bays, each with third-floor grey slate. One bay topped by small conical dormer projecting from large octagonal roof and one by projecting third-floor gable with Palladian-inspired tripartite window. End bay has same stone rectangular tower with crenelles as Powelton Avenue facade. Original red slate roof and small wood- faced dormers intact.”

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

Previous Residents of 227 N. 34^th Street

1890 Dir.: Riebenack, Max, asst. comptroller, office: 233 S. 4^th h Powelton av c N 34^th

In the 1889 Directory, he is listed as “ass’t comptroller, 233 S 4^th, h 3701 Powelton Ave.” They had lived there at least since 1880.

1893: Max Riebenack was one of the founders of the Powelton Club.

1894: Max and Eleanor Riebenack celebrated their silver wedding anniversary.

“Auditor of Passenger Receipts Riebenack, of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Congratulated.

“A largely attended reception was given last night at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Max Riebenack, at Thirty-fourth and Powelton avenue, on the occasion of the silver anniversary of their wedding. The house was handsomely decorated and an orchestra furnished music in the spacious hallway from behind a fern-covered nook. The house was lighted up throughout with electric lights and crowded with guests.

“Mr. and Mrs. Riebenack were assisted in receiving their guests by Mrs. Conrad T. Clothier. Many of the presents were handsome and valueable.” (Phila. Inquirer, Dec. 11, 1894)

1895 Directory: Riebenack, Henry G., h N 34^th c Powelton Ave.

Max, asst comptroller, Broad St Station, h N 34^th c Powelton av

Max, Jr., h N 34^th c Powelton av

1900: (listed as 229 N. 34^th)

Maximilian Riebenack 55 Railroad accountant; born in Germany, immigrated 1850

Eleanor C. Riebenack 51

Eleanor J. Riebenack 29

Henry G. Riebenack 28 Engineer

Max Riebenack 26 Railroad clerk

Gertrude E. Riebenack 23 Daughter-in-law

Eleanor G. Riebenack 1 Granddaughter

William B. Riebenack 20 Son; student

Edwin E. Riebenack 18 Son; student

Frederick Wm. Rauch 46 Step-brother; railroad clerk; parents born in Germany

Elizabeth G. Reed 22 Step-niece

Estelle G. Chapman 7 Niece; father born in N.Y.

William Martin 38 Cook; black

William A. Ayre 30 Butler; born in England, immigrated 1897

Theo A. Forman 25 Servant; black; born in N.J.

Rachel A. Forman 17 Housemaid; black; born in N.J.

Mary E. Forman 14 Housemaid; black; born in N.J.

(ED 659, 14A-B – Note: this house was actually in ED 578 but was added to the end of the ED for S. 34^th St.)

1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. Max Riebenack (SE cor 34^th & Powelton)

E. Earl Riebenack

Miss Riebenack

Mrs. Max Riebenack, Jr.

Max Riebenack is listed as Treasurer of the Union League, President of the Five O’Clock Club (927 Chestnut St.) and a member of the Merion Cricket Club, the Belmont Cricket Club, the Philadelphia Yacht Club and the Powelton Club (209 35^th St.). Henry was a member of the Union League and the Engineer’s Club

1910:

Maximilian Riebenack 65 Comptroller for steam railroad; born in Germany

Eleanor G. Riebenack 61 Married 40 years, 7 children, 3 living; born in N.Y., parents in Pa.

Eleanor J. Riebenack 39

Gertrude E. Riebenack 32 Daughter-in-law; widowed

Eleanor G. Riebenack 10 Granddaughter

Max Riebenack 9 Grandson

Charles B. Rosenberger 26 Servant; born in Ind., parents in Va.

William Marton 49 Servant; mulatto

Katharine E. Bell 23 Servant; mulatto

Collis L. Wood 19 Servant; mulatto; born in Va.

(ED 533, 6A)

1910: “MAX RIEBENACK DEAD

“Controller of Pennsylvania Railroad Entered Company’s Service in 1863.

“Philadelphia, May 14 [, 1910]. – Max Riebenack, Controller of the Pennsylvania Railroad died at his home in Atlantic City to-night after a long illness. Death was due to a combination of heart and kidney diseases.

“Mr. Riebenack was born Oct. 12, 1844, and entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad a week after his nineteenth birthday. Until 1866, he was clerk to the military agent, first at Altoona, Penna., and then at Philadelphia. From 1866 to June 1, 1869, he was cashier in the General Passenger Agent’s office, and from June, 1869, to April 1, 1872, he was chief clerk of foreign tickets.

“From April 1, 1872, to Nov. 1, 1899, he was in the office of the Auditor of Passenger Receipts, first as assistant auditor, and then as auditor. He was made Assistant Controller of the Pennsylvania Railroad on Oct. 12, 1881, and was promoted to be Controller on Feb. 1, 1905. He was also Controller of all the subsidiary lines of the Pennsylvania.” (New York Times, May 18, 1910.)

In 1917, Edwin Earl Riebenack registered for the draft in Atlantic City, N.J. He listed his nearest relative as Eleanor Gertrude Riebenack, also of Atlantic City. In 1930, he was living at 5016 Pine St. In 1920, Gertrude Riebenack, Eleanor and Max, Jr. were living at 3519 Hamilton St.

The building was acquired by Drexel University in 1928 and was used for the Domestic Science program.

This building once housed the Drexel Early Childhood Center which provided child care services.

2009: 227 N 34^th St. was rehabbed by Drexel University and is now the student union, Ross Commons.

<West side of 34^th. 225 34th>

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Revised 11/17/2011 About Powelton Village