3604 Hamilton Street

 

 

The History of the Building

 

The 1892 Bromley Atlas shows the vacant lot owned together with 3602.

 

1901, April 1: Transfer from J. W. Rife to John W. Rife (et al.?) (268, 27)

            John W. Rife was the uncle of Henry J.  He and his wife did not have any surviving children in 1900.  (see below)

 

1902, Feb. 14: Transfer registered from John W. Rife to Henry J. Rife (et al.?) (11, 125)

 

ÒCirca 1900 late Queen Anne style house with Colonial Revival porch. Pompeiian brick with rusticated stone arched openings~ Second-floor projecting bay and oval windows with sculptured figurine surrounds. Elaborate patterned third-floor window surrounds and projecting basins below narrow flanking windows. Corbelled brick and small roundels below modillioned cornice.Ó

(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic Places, 1985)

 

 

Previous Residents of 3604 Hamilton Street

 

1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs.  Henry J.  Rife [Jr.]

            The 1900 census lists them as renters at 648 N. 4th St.  The 1895 Directory gives his home address as 61 N. 34th St.  The 1891 Directory lists 506 Market St., the family leather store, for the estate of Henry J. Rife[Sr.].  His widow was Mary W. Rife whose address was 4026 Green St.  She was apparently his second wife.

            HenryÕs grandfather was a tanner in Middletown, Dauphin, Pa.  His father, Henry J. Rife, Sr., was the oldest of seven children.  He moved to Philadelphia and went into the leather business.  His younger brother, John W. Rife, stayed in Middletown and continued the tannery.  John became involved in politics first serving in the legislature in Harrisburg (1885-Õ86) then serving two terms in the House of Representatives in Washington (1889-Õ93).  It appears that John W. Rife assisted Henry, Jr. in purchasing this house.

 

1910:

Henry J Rife                 41        Leather merchant; owned free of a mortgage

Sarah G Rife                40        Married 16 years, 4 children; born in Mass.

Henry K Rife               14

Sarah J Rife                  12

John P Rife                  10

Clarence H Rife             6

Ella Reilly                    30        Servant; born in Ireland (English), immigrated in 1896

Lizzie Rochford           20        Servant; born in Ireland (English), immigrated in 1906

(ED 492, 3B)

 

1917: Draft registration: Henry Knight Rife, born Nov. 17, 1905, salesman in leather store; conditions: Òaffection of the heartÓ

                                       John Percival Rife, born Jan 13, 1900, student at West Philadelphia High School, 48th & Walnut.

 

1920:

Henry J Rife                 51        leather dealer, wholesale and retail; owner, free of a mortgage

Sarah G Rife                50        Born in Mass.

Henry K Rife               24        Salesman in leather store

S Irene Rife                  22        College student

John P Rife                  19        College student

Clarence H Rife           16        High school student

(ED 686, 4A)

            In 1930, John was living with his wife and three daughters in Nether Providence, Delaware Co.  He owned his house which was valued at $30,000.  He was an executive in the leather business.  Clarence and his wife, Corrine, lived in Lower Merion.  He was a salesman in the leather business.  He owned his house which was valued at $15,000.  The 1950 Directory gives the address of the Henry J. Rife Co., leather, as 19 N. 5th St.  John P. Rife is listed at the same address.

 

1930:

Henry J Rife                 62        Leather goods; married at age 29; owner, house valued at $6,000

Lydia A Rife                61        Married at age 28; born in Mass.

Lettice Winters            32        Servant; black; divorced; born in Va.

(ED 398, 8A)

 

1950 Directory: Dr. George A. Anderson

 

 

< 3602 Hamilton                                                                                3606 Hamilton >

 

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