3314-16 Arch Street

The History of the Building

3306-3316 Arch St. were placed on the National Register of Historic Places April 21, 1983.

“The Poth-Schmidt development houses are an important group of large double houses by A.W. Dilks, that describe the lifestyle, and the architectural possibilities of post-Centennial Philadelphia. These are of added interest because the financiers were developers of much of Powelton, as well as important Philadelphia industrialists. They brought the new, flamboyant taste of the nouveau riche to their speculative venture, and found in Dilks the appropriate architect for highly styled buildings that stand out in the Quaker City….

“As a consequence of Dilks' training, and his understanding of contemporary taste, the buildings that he designed for Arch Street are among Philadelphia's most important examples of the Queen Anne style, showing all of its essential features. Those include the Japanese influenced porch details, which alternate with the Mediaevalizing knee braces of other porch details; the empathetic use of brick detail to describe architectural weight; and the multiple textures from painted wood to smooth brick, to shadow catching hung tile. The buildings were further enlivened by formal variation within the group that adds to the richness of the ensemble. There are few equals to the Dilks achievement in the generally plain Quaker City. The exterior richness continued in the interior finishes, with most of the detail confined to the public rooms of the front. Noteworthy too are the large window groups that light the interiors, and mark the transition toward the modern house.”

(from Poth and Schmidt Development Houses. George E. Thomas.)

Previous Residents of 3314 Arch St.

1887 Directory: Lovejoy, Arthur B, buyer

1889 Directory: Lovejoy, Arthur B

1891 Directory: Hazard, Harry W., v-pres., 224 S. 4^th, h 3314 Arch

In 1895, he lived at 1107 Spruce St.

1895 Directory: Thompson, Ellis D, asst. engineer, U. S. A.

Thompson, E. O[sborn] (E. O. Thompson), Merchant tailors, clothiers and importers, ready-made clothing, 1338 Chestnut, also 245 Broadway, N.Y.

In 1891, E. O. Thompson lived at 402 N 32^nd St.

1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. Henry Drinkwater

1910:

Henry Drinkhouse 60 Purchasing agent for Malleable Iron Foundry; renting

Mary E. Drinkhouse 59 Married 33 years; father born in Mass., mother in Pa.

Martha C. Beatty 22 Niece; born in N.J.

Stephen D. Mccalla 58 Brother-in-law; conductor for a steam railroad [Pennsylvania Railroad]

Emily M. Mccalla 56 Sister-in-law; married 33 years; father born in Mass., mother in Pa.

(ED 533, 7A)

Mary Drinkhouse and Emily McCalla were the daughters of Terrill and Elizabeth Tuttle. In 1880, the Drinkhouse and McCalla couples lived at 3613 Hamilton St. with the Tuttles. In 1887, they lived at 3217 Powelton Ave. and in 1900 they lived at 428 N. 33^rd St.

Previous Residents of 3316 Arch St.

1887 Directory: Magruder, David L, surgeon, U.S.A.

Magruder, David L., Jr., student

In 1889, they are listed at 3925 Walnut St.

1891 Directory: Balfour, Alexander, paper, 20 S 6th & Tioga c Richmond, h 3316 Arch

1892: “MUNYON'S HOMEOPATHIC HOME REMEDY CO. General and Corporate Office, 1321 Walnut St., Phila. Inc. Feb. 18, 1892, in Penna. ; Charter Perpetual. Capital authorized, $25,000, par $100. Amount paid in not known. Formed for the purpose of manufacturing and selling medicines, chemicals, pharmaceutical and other useful preparations for scientific, medical and domestic uses. No dividends yet paid. Officers—J. M. Munyon, President; Alexander Balfour, Treasurer. Directors—J. M. Munyon, 1316 Filbert; J. Hoover, 450 N. 13th; Alexander Balfour, 3316 Arch; H. I. Mclntire, 4849 Pulaski ; M. M. Gillam, 666 N. 11^th st.”

(Philadelphia securities: a descriptive & statistical manual of the..., Volume 3. 1892)

1895 Directory: Bowforth, Alexandera

Bowforth, Jas D.

Harris, John, waiter

Balfour, Alexander (Alex. Balfour & Sons)

Balfour, Jas. G. (Alex. Balfour & Sons)

The 1898 Blue Book lists the Balfours at 3424 Powelton Ave.

In 1880, they lived at 2134 Bainbridge St. Alexander was 36 years old and his son James was 10. In 1900, James G. Balfour and his wife, Clara, were living at 4812 Warrington Ave., Philadelphia.

1894 New York Times: “April 11. – The extensive paper mills of Alexander Balfour & Sons, at Point Richmond, will shortly be running night and day. The present force of employees numbers 200 hands, but the awarding to the firm by the Federal Government of the contract for supplying all paper used in the Internal Revenue Bureau will necessitate a large increase in the force, as the contract calls for 1,500,000 pounds of paper.”

1915 New York Times: James G. Balfour and his brother Robert A. Balfour came to hold the bulk of the stock of the Union Traction Co. on the death of their father, Alexander Balfour, c1903. (Obituary for Robert A. Balfour.)

1910:

James Monaghan 56 Editor of a law magazine; born in Missouri; renting

Anna J. Monaghan 54 Married 27 years, four children

Florence J. Monaghan 25

Gertrude Monaghan 23

Hannah D. Monaghan 20

James Monaghan 19

— 2^nd Household

Andrew W, Carey, Jr. 38 Clerk for dental supply co.; single; father born in Del.

Clara P. Carey 47 Sister-in-law [of Andrew]; school inspector; widowed; born in N.J.

---

Robert J. Dalton 38 Postal clerk; born in N.C.

Elizabeth H[enrietta] Dalton 36 Janitress for apartment building; married 18 years, 8 children, 4 surviving

Francis P. Dalton 16

Robert G Dalton 14

Harold G Dalton 10

Herbert J Dalton 5

(ED 533, 7A)

The Monaghans lived in Swarthmore until at least 1906 (Blue Book). By 1911, they were living at 3309 Baring St.

In 1920, the Daltons lived at 773 N. 37^th St. which they owned. In 1930, they listed the value of the house as $2,000.

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Revised 2/8/2012 About Powelton Village