“three-and-one-half story yellow brick and painted brown.
Colonial Revival residence, symmetrical with bowed two-story outer bays, porch
which has aluminum-sheathed cornice is supported by wood ionic columns. Ionic
fluted pilasters flank the central door and attic pedimented dormer. All
windows have stone flat-arched lintels with keystones. A dentilled
egg-and--dart cornice caps the 2nd story; metal modillioned egg-and-dart
cornice meets the flat roof. Architect: Hazelhurst and Huckel.”
(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the
national register of Historic Places, 1985)
The History of 3411
Powelton Ave.
The 1872 Atlas
shows the north side of the 3400 block of Powelton Ave. was owned by John and
William Sellers.
1883,
January: Deeds for the western end of this block (3411-3427) transferred from
William F. & Amelia Sellers to Lewis and Elizabeth Emery, Jr.
1896,
June: Deed transferred from Lewis Emery Jr. to Alter Megear.
1900:
Alter Megear 52 Capitalist;
owned free of a mortgage
Elizabeth T Megear 46 Married
19 years, 3 children, 2 surviving; born in Del.
Thomas J Megear
16
Ethel T Megear 14
Mary Dougherty 30 Servant;
born in Ireland, immigrated 10 years earlier
Maggie Dougherty 27 Servant; born in
Ireland, immigrated 11 years earlier
Maggie Dougherty 23 Servant; born in
Ireland, immigrated 5 years earlier
(ED 539, 10A)
The 1890 and 1895 directories list
his office address as 329 Walnut St. and his home address as 3306 Arch St.
1910:
Alter Megear 62 Own income
Elizabeth T Megear 56 Married
29 years, 3 children, 2 surviving; parents born in Del.
Mary Dougherty 33 Servant;
born in Ireland
Margarett Tobin 19 Servant;
born in Ireland
Mary Finnerty 31 Servant;
born in Ireland
(ED 488, 1a)
1920:
Alter Megear 72 Widowed; father born in Del.; owned free
of a mortgage
Mary Dougherty 46 Housekeeper;
born in Ireland, immigrated in 1890
Sarah Friel 28 Servant;
born in Ireland, immigrated in 1913
(ED 682, 3B)
“Alter Megear, C. E., (Wilmington, Del.,) son of Thomas
L.[sic., Jefferson, born 1809] and Mary C. (Alter) Megear, was born in Philadelphia,
Pa., October 23d, 1847, and entered the Institute in September, 1864. He
entered upon the work of his profession in October, 1868, in Edgemoor Iron
Works, near Wilmington, Del., remaining until July, 1878, since which time he
has not practiced engineering. Member of the Engineers' Club, of Philadelphia,
Pa. Married, October 28th, 1880, Elizabeth T. Belts, daughter of Edward Belts,
of Wilmington, Del. One child. P. O. address, 3306 Arch street, Philadelphia,
Pa.”
(Biographical Record of the Officers and
Graduates of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1824-1886. Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute, Henry Bradford Nason. 1887)
His father, Thomas J. Megear was a
silversmith & clock and watch maker, probably learning these crafts from
his brother-in-law, Ziba Ferris. Alter
lived with his Ferris grandparents when growing up.
He was a member of the Union League.
1923: S. E. Kratzok, 3411 Powelton Ave.
(Jewish
Publication Society of America, 1923-24.)
1923,
April: Deed transferred from Pennsylvania Company for Insurance on Lives &
Granting Annuities & Thomas J Meager by the Pennsylvania Co For Ins. on
Lives & Granting Innuities the attorney in face ex. of will of Alter Megear
dec'd to Louis Kahn.
1923,
April: Deed transferred from Louis Kahn to Samuel & Lena (wife) Willig.
In 1920,
Samuel and Lena Willig lived at 1947 Moyamensing, Philadelphia. He was a business lawyer. They were Russian Jews. She was born in Russia and immigrated in
1891. He was born in Philadelphia, but
his parents immigrated from Russia.
1925,
June: Deed transferred from Samuel & Lena (wife) Willig to Jacob Roberts.
1925,
June: Deed transferred from Jacob Roberts to Albert Quell.
The 1950
directory lists Albert Quell real estate at 1420 Walnut St. He lived at 19th & (1832)
Spruce. His WWII draft registration
lists the same office and home addresses.
He was born in 1895 in Philadelphia and died here in 1983.
1927,
August: Deed transferred from Albert Quell to James McDonough.
1927,
September: Deed transferred from James Francis McDonough to Jacob Roberts.
1927,
September: Deed transferred from Jacob Roberts to Eva Stern.
1929,
April: Deed transferred from Eva Stern to Sylvia Kernish.
1929,
September: Deed transferred from Sylvia Kernish to Simon B. Greenebaum. & L
Asso
Simon
Greenbaum was a manufacturer of boys shirts.
In 1920, he and his wife Matilda lived in an apartment at the Majestic
Hotel on Broad St. near Girard.. Their
parents were born in Germany.
1930:
Herbert J Perry 35 Salesman
of laundry machines; born in Wisc.; renting for $75 per month
Anna Perry 30 Father
born in Ohio
Nancy J Perry 1yr, 4 mons.
---
William Dowell 70 Publisher;
born in N.Y., father in Scotland, mother in the U.S.; renting fo $40 per month
Mary C Dowell 63 Born in
N.Y., parents born in Ireland
---
George Craig 57 Assistant Chief clerk of a steam
railroad; renting for $135 per month
Eleanor Craig 59 Father
born in Bavaria, mother in N.Y.
---
Wilton W Blancké (a) 45 Public
school teacher; father born in England, mother in Ohio; renting for $100 per
month
Josephine K[atzenstein] Blancké (b) 40 Public
school teacher; born in N.C., parents born in Germany
---
Ida Katzenstein 47 Born in
N.C., parents born in Germany
Caroline Katzenstein (b) 45 Sister; Insurance broker; born in N.C.,
parents born in Germany
---
Charles F Feurer (c) 68 Decorator,
Japanning; born in Germany; renting for $85 per month
Madge B Feurer 60 Manager of
Japan shop
Margaret B Plass [34] Daughter
C Webster Plass 35 Son-in-law;
Sales manager for an oil business
---
Herman S Hettinger 28 University teacher; renting for $50 per
month
Sarah S Hettinger 27 Librarian
(ED 396, 23A)
(a) “Phi Beta Kappa, University
of Pennsylvania 1903. Juniors: Wilton W. Blancke.... “
(Hand Book
of the University of Pennsylvania Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Delta ... ;
1919)
Wilton W. A
Gateway to Music by
Wilton W. Blancke, Jay Speck, c1930.
“King (The) of
the mountains; a lyrico-comedy with music, in 3 acts. Rook and lyrics by W. W.
Blancké. Music by Louis Kazze. Founded on Edmond About's novel Le roi des
montagnes. Text. © 1 c. Sept. 10, 1930; D unpub. 7183; Wilton W. Blancké, 3411
Powelton Ave., Philadelphia. 5569" (Catalog of copyright entries, Part
1. By Library of Congress, 1929)
(b) “Caroline
Katzenstein (1888-1968) was a leader in the Pennsylvania suffrage movement. She
served in official positions for the Equal Franchise Society of Philadelphia,
the National American Woman Suffrage Association, and the National Woman’s
Party. After women won the vote in 1920, Katzenstein continued to fight for
women’s rights and lobbied tirelessly for the passage of the Equal Rights
Amendment for over twenty years. In 1919, Katzenstein used her expertise in
publicity to aid the Women Teachers Organization of Philadelphia in their
efforts to increase salary for women teachers. Additionally, Katzenstein was a
successful insurance agent for the Equitable Life Insurance Society of New
York, the Massachusetts Bonding and Insurance Company (Philadelphia Branch),
and the Philadelphia Life Insurance Company.
“The Caroline Katzenstein papers
document Katzenstein’s participation in the suffrage movement from 1909 to
1921, her efforts to help women obtain equal pay for equal work in the 1920s,
her tireless promotion of the Equal Rights Amendment from 1923 to 1965, and her
career as an insurance agent (1909-ca. 1930).
“Background note:
“Caroline Katzenstein was born in
1888 to Mr. and Mrs. Emil Katzenstein, and spent her childhood in Warrenton,
North Carolina. Following the death of their father, Katzenstein and her three
sisters [Selma, Ida, and Josephine Blancke] moved to Philadelphia in 1907.
Katzenstein found herself amidst an impassioned women’s suffrage movement, and
she quickly committed herself to the cause. When the Pennsylvania Woman
Suffrage Association (the Pennsylvania branch of National American Woman
Suffrage Association) and the Women Suffrage Society of Philadelphia jointly
opened a headquarters in Philadelphia, she was named its secretary in 1910....”
(Caroline
Katzenstein Papers, ca. 1850-1965, Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
2008)
Josephine K
Blancké was her sister.
In 1920, Ida,
Caroline and Josephine ( all still single) lived at 4922 Chestnut St. Caroline listed her occupation as” secretary,
reform movement.” Josephine was a
teacher.
In 1910, all
four sisters lived at 4727 Hazel Avenue.
The oldest, Selma (35) was a music teacher.
(c) “Charles F Feurer.
Birth - Death: 1861-1935" (Who’s Who
in American Art, 1985)
In 1900, they
lived on 10th St. He was a
“Japan coater” and immigrated in 1871.
1931,
August: Deed transferred from Asset Bld & Loan Assn successor to Simon
Greenebaum Bld & Loan Assn Corp to Rosa Staunton.
1934,
May: Deed transferred from Rosa Staunton to Provident Trust Co. Trustee.
1942,
December: Deed transferred from Provident Trust Co. Trustee to Harry May Jr.
May.
1942,
December: Deed transferred from Harry May Jr. May to Harold & Bella (wife)
Lipshutz.
1952,
January: Deed transferred from Harold & Bella (wife) Lipshutz to Bessie
Hoffman.
1953,
June: Deed transferred from Bessie Hoffman to Leonard A. Gottlieb &
Nathaniel S. Hyman.
1953,
December: Deed transferred from Leonard A. Gottlieb & Nathaniel S. Hyman to
Alvin Magilver & Louis Magilner w/ deed of Trust from Joseph H. Magilner.
<3421
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