“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 1887 to 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.
1922, August 22: Alter Megear died in
Ventnor, N.J. Funeral services were held
at his late residence, 3411 Powelton Ave. (Phila.
Inquirer, 8/23/1922)
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 for $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)
Caroline Katzenstein, 1911
(Historical Society of Pennsylvania)
Josephine K
Blancké was her sister.
In 1920, Ida,
Caroline and Josephine (all still single) had 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
(Sherriff sale).
1941
Application for Membership in the American Public Health Association: Eugene P.
Campbell, M.D.
“The
head of ICA’s public health office was Eugene P. Campbell, a medical graduate
of Johns Hopkins University with a master degree in public health from the
Pennsylvania School of Public Health. He had a rich Latin American experience.
He joined the Institute of Inter-American Affairs during World War II and
served as the American director of the co-operative health service in Guatemala
under the aegis of the State Department. In 1945 he became field director of
South American cooperative health services, and a few years later he was
stationed in Brazil.
“In 1955
he was appointed Acting Chief (and later Chief) of ICA’s Office of Public
Health in Washington, D.C. He remained in this position until 1961 when he was
transferred to India to work with USAID.
During the mid-1950s, Campbell orchestrated ICA’s participation in a
number of Congressional hearings that resulted in the full financial backing of
malaria eradication as the number one health program in developing countries.
Thanks to Campbell, in 1957 the US Congress authorized several million dollars
to malaria eradication, support which continued until the mid-1960s. This was a
major campaign that covered all rural locations in Latin America. Financial
resources for this campaign were granted on the condition that a large
proportion of funds would be spent in the US, the donor country, for buying
insecticides, spraying equipment, and pharmaceutical products. The presence of
such products in Latin America increased dramatically after World War II,
entrenching foreign aid as an indirect subsidy to American business.”
(“International Health, the Early Cold
War and Latin America.” Marcos Cueto.)
1942,
December: Deed transferred from Provident Trust Co. Trustee to Harry May, Jr..
1942,
December: Deed transferred from Harry May Jr. May to Harold & Bella (wife)
Lipshutz.
1950
Directory: Robert J. Germane
Caroline Katzenstein
Edward H. Cleeland
George S. Hirst
George E. Walls
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.
1958,
Oct.: Became the property of Drexel University
<3421
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