227 N. 34th Street

 

Description: Description: Description: 20061360770-small

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. 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 “ass’t comptroller, 233 S 4th, 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 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 – 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 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 35th 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 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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Revised 11/17/2011                                                                                                               About Powelton Village