The History of the Building
1878 Scott Atlas shows no building on this property, land is listed at property of the estate of Robert Steen.
3412-14,
3416-18, 3420-22: “Built 1882…. two-and-one-half story
brick doubles. Pressed corbelled brick detail. Original wood porches on 3412-14
and 3420-22; 3416-18 has no porch, but a circa 1950 pent eave. Each house has
shingled gable in mansard roof. Architect: G.W. and W.D. Hewitt.”
(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the
national register of Historic Places, 1985)
Previous
Residents of 3422 Hamilton Street
1887 Directory: Thomas Gooker [sic.], supt.
1889 Directory: Thomas J. [sic.]
Gucker, supt., h 3422 Hamilton
ca1890: Frank Thomson Gucker, 3422
Hamilton sophomore, listed as special student taking partial classes
(Catalogue of the University of Pennsylvania. 1889-90)
1895 Directory: Frank
T. Gucker, h 3422
Thomas T. Gucker,
supt., h 3422 Hamilton
Frank Gucker married Louisa G. Fulton and move in with her family
next door at 3420
Hamilton St.
1895: Joseph
Clifford Gucker 1st yr. student U. of P.
Dept. of Medicine (Catalog of U. of P.
1895-96)
1890-‘91 Blue Book: Mr. And Mrs. Thomas Gucker
1898, March: “Miss Louise Oliphant Fulton daughter of the late
Rev. Dr. Fulton, and Mr. Frank Thompson Gucker were
married quietly last week. They have
returned from a short trip and will reside at 3420 Hamilton street.”
(Phila. Inquirer, March 13, 1898)
Louise Fulton grew up next door at 3420
Hamilton St.
1898 Blue Book: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gucker
1900:
Thomas
Gucker 56 Superintendent
on railroad
Kate
M. Gucker 55 Married 31 years; 6 children, five
surviving
Mary
R. Gucker 24
Joseph
C. Gucker 23 Civil engineer; born Mar 1877
Thomas
Gucker 21 At school; born Oct, 1878
Charles
B. Gucker 15 At school; born July 1884
Bridget
Galagher 26 Servant; born in
Mary
Lyons 22 Servant; born in
Frank
T. Gucker 1 month Grandson Born Apr 1900 *
(ED
539, 13A-B)
*
Frank T. Gucker, Jr.’s parents were enumerated next
door at 3420
Hamilton St. This may simply have
been a mistake as his name was added after several other houses had been
enumerated.
Thomas Gucker (1844-1903), c1894
“Thomas Gucker,
Superintendent of the Philadelphia Division, was born at Williamsport,
Pennsylvania, April 1, 1844, and educated in the schools of that city. On the
1st of January, 1862, he entered the service of the Philadelphia and Erie
Railroad Company as messenger in the Superintendent's office of the Eastern
Division of that road. He was promoted to a clerkship in that office, and
continued as such until June, 1864, when he was raised to the position of
Superintendent's clerk, which he held for nearly nine years. From March 1,
1873, to August 1, 1883, he was Superintendent Eastern Division, Philadelphia
and Erie Railroad, and Lewistown and Tyrone Railroad. From March 1, 1873, to
August 1, 1873, he was also Superintendent of the Danville, Hazleton and Wilkesbarre Railroad, and from August 1, 1873, to August 1,
1883, also Superintendent of the Susquehanna Division of the Northern Central
Railway Company. On the 1st of August, 1883, he was appointed to be
Superintendent of the Philadelphia Division, a position he has filled with
ability.” (History of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company: ..., Volume 2. William
Bender Wilson, 1895: 110)
For a listing of some of the other
central figures in the Pennsylvania Railroad who lived in Powelton, see the Powelton
History Blog.
1903, Oct. 7: Death of Thomas Gucker at age 59.
“Railroad Superintendent Dead.
“Thomas Gucker,
former superintendent of the Philadelphia Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company, is dead at his home, 3422 Hamilton street. Last June Mr. Gucker
resigned his position owing to ill health.
Since then his health has been failing, and he died early yesterday
morning from a complication of diseases.
His body will be taken to Williamsport, Pa., for internment.” (Phila. Inquirer, Oct. 8, 1903)
His will left an estate of $59,000. (Phila. Inquirer, Oct. 16, 1903)
1906 Blue Book: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gucker
1906: Thomas
Gucker, Jr., class of 1901
Charles Brooks Gucker, class of 1906; business, 32d and Powelton Ave.,
Philadelphia, Pa.
(Catalogue
of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. 1906)
1910:
Kate
M. Gucker 66 Own
income; widowed, 7 children, 6 surviving; owner, free of a mortgage
Mary
R. Gucker 34
Thomas
Gucker, Jr 30 Own
income
Charles
B. Gucker 25
Own income
Bridget
Lyons 25 Servant; born in Ireland
(ED
488, 4A)
1911, April 18: Marriage license issued to
Bridget Lyons of 3422 Hamilton St. and George E. Somerville of 4672 Franklin
St.
1916, June: Frank T. Gucker,
Jr. graduated from the William Penn Charter School. He gave an address at graduation entitled
“King Albert of Belgium.” (Evening Public
Ledger June 8, 1916)
1920:
Kate
M. Gucker 76 Widowed;
owner free of a mortgage
Mary
R. Gucker 44
Charles B. Gucker
35 Commercial
traveller for an oil co.
Catharine
Ford 26 Servant; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1912
(ED
682, 2A)
1930:
Mary
R. Gucker 54 Owner,
house valued at $9,000; single
Mildred
J. Starner 30 Lodger; public school teacher; single;
born in Ohio, father born in Pa., mother in Ohio
Elizabeth
D. Dene 22 Lodger; nurse; single
(ED
396, 3A)
1950 Directory: Bernard McCabe
2006: Xavier Vinas (along
with others) granted United States Patent 7107645 for a suede shoe brush
2009: current owner: Pamela R. Gunn
purchased:
12/1999
3 apartments; one owner occupied
< 3420
Hamilton Across
to 3419 Hamilton >
Revised 10/26/2011