227 N. 34th Street

 

Photo courtesy of Drexel University Archives

 

 

The History of the Building

 

ÒCirca 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.Ó

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

 

Previous Residents of 227 N. 34th Street

 

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

            In the 1889 Directory, he is listed as ÒassÕt comptroller, 233 S 4th, h 3701 Powelton Ave  They had lived there at least since 1880.

 

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

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

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

 

1900: (listed as 229 N. 34th)

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 Ð Note: this house was actually in ED 578 but was added to the end of the ED for S. 34th St.)

 

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

                           E. Earl Riebenack

                           Miss Riebenack

                           Mrs. Max Riebenack, Jr.

            Max Riebenack is listed as Treasurer of the Union League, President of the Five OÕClock 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 35th St.).  Henry was a member of the Union League and the EngineerÕs 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: ÒMAX RIEBENACK DEAD

ÒController of Pennsylvania Railroad Entered CompanyÕs Service in 1863.

ÒPhiladelphia, May 14 [, 1910]. Ð 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.

            ÒMr. 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 AgentÕs office, and from June, 1869, to April 1, 1872, he was chief clerk of foreign tickets.

            ÒFrom 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. 

 

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

 

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

 

<West side of 34th.                                                                                                          225 34th>

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