Another Innocent Swarthmore Student

The Mexican Revolution was in full swing. The New York Times headline for May 11, 1911 was “Juarez Falls; Gen. Navarro a Prisoner; Madero Captures Border Town after Three Days’ Sharp Fighting and Makes it His Capital." At the end of a long dispatch came the following: “Happiest among those who were about the streets were the prisoners liberated from the jail during the day. Many of them claimed they have been innocent of any wrongdoing. James Monaghan of 3309 Baring Street, Philadelphia, a student in Swarthmore College, who went sightseeing in Juarez on Sunday, says he was arrested as a spy, and since then has been in prison, being forced frequently during the fighting to carry water from across the street to the Federal soldiers who fought from the top if the jail.” He was actually James Jay Monaghan IV (1893-1980), the son of a Quaker lawyer. He went to Friends Central, then spent some time at school in Vevy, Switzerland. During the summers of 1908 and 1909, he worked at cattle roundups in Wyoming even though he was only 5'6" and 100 pounds. After Swarthmore, he spent several more years in the west and later got an M.A. from Penn. He became a Lincoln scholar and Illinois State Historian (at left with Carl Sandburg, 1947). Basically, he was just another Quaker kid from Powelton.

Another Word on Mum

I started this blog with a word about John O. Powers (206 N. 34th St.) who designed the ad campaign for Mum deodorant around the slogan “Mum is the word.” I didn’t realize at the time that the manufacturer of Mum lived across the street from Powers at 223 N. 34th. St. George B. Evans and his family moved to 223 from 206 about 1899. He was a very successful druggist with stores at 1106 Chestnut, the corner of N. 8th and Arch, and 2230 N. Front. In addition to producing Mum deodorant, he was one of the first pharmacies in the country to install a large refrigeration unit to sell cold soda water at his store on Chestnut St. He had a 49 foot-long counter constructed of Onyx, Marble and Mahogany at which they served an average of about 2,000 glasses of soda water beverages per day in 1905. On their biggest day, they served 4,000. The houses on the east side of 34th were torn down in the 1970s (Powelton Quarterly) to make room for low-income housing that was never built. Drexel’s new Millennium dormitory now stands on the site of the Evans's home. Photos of the house and the soda fountain are available at Powelton Village website.

Enoch Lewis's Tale of Intrigue

Enoch Lewis and his family moved to 3405 Powelton Ave. about 1885. He was a major figure in the Pennsylvania Railroad rising to the position of head purchasing agent. His children intermarried with other Powelton families and lived on Powelton Ave. and on 34th St. for many years. Early in his career, he was involved with a secret plan to get President-elect Lincoln to Washington without risking a possible assassination attempt in Baltimore. Its best told in his own words: "Philadelphia, Penn., November 7th, 1867. "Allan Pinkerton, Esq., Chicago, 111. "Dear Sir: ... [O]n the 21st of Feb., 1861, I was in Philadelphia in the way of business as General Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad, to arrange for the movement of Mr. Lincoln, then President-elect of the United States, by special train from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, on the 226. inst. ; it being understood that he was to proceed on the 23d from Harrisburg, by the Northern Central Railroad to Baltimore and thence to Washington.... [I was informed] that in consequence of the apprehended danger of the assassination of Mr. Lincoln whilst passing through Baltimore, it was desired to change his route to the capitol, and to bring him back privately from Harrisburg to Philadelphia... and to take him by the regular night train from Philadelphia to Washington, through Baltimore.... I accompanied Mr. Lincoln in the special train from Philadelphia to Harrisburg; arrangements were quietly made for a special train, ostensibly to take Division Superintendent and myself back to the city.... Early in the evening Mr. Franciscus brought Mr. Lincoln... We started, and without interruption reached Philadelphia in time for the night train to Washington. The only persons on the train which was run from Harrisburg to Philadelphia, on the evening of the 22d, besides the engineer and fireman, were Messrs. Lincoln and Ward H. Lamon, G. C. Franciscus, Division Superintendent; John Pitcairn, Jr., in charge of telegraph instrument; T. E. Garrett. General Baggage Agent, and myself. When the train reached West Philadelphia you met us at the platform and escorted Messrs Lincoln and Lamon to a carriage into which I saw you three get, and drive rapidly away in the direction of the Baltimore Depot. "Respectfully, ENOCH LEWIS, Formerly Gen. Supt. Penn. R. R." For the full story see the full report by Alan Pinkerton.

Filling in what went before

I haven't added to the blog in almost 2 weeks -- not a good thing to do with a new blog. I've been busy working on a related project: the Powelton History Interactive Map. With the help of Keith Roeckle, I've been putting up tons of census and biographical information on Powelton residents -- mostly those living here between 1860 and 1930. By clicking on houses shown on the map, you can pull up whatever information I have gleamed from census data and the web. The link is: http://poweltonvillage.org/interactivemap/ . It is still quite incomplete, but has information for about 200 addresses. This past week I have worked hard on the 200 block of 34th St. (between Race St. and Powelton Ave.). The east side of this block was largely demolished in the 1970s. It is now the site of two of Drexel's dormitories: Kelly hall and the brand new Millennium Hall. Take a look - it includes photos (courtesy of the Drexel Archives) of some of the lost buildings. The west side of the block was the home of many interesting Powelton characters and is now largely filled with small fraternity houses. A good place to start the tour is the Riebenack mansion, now Drexel's Ross Commons.

Powelton and the Pennsy

Powelton was the home for many employees of the Pennsylvania Railroad - both the top bosses and the general employees. In 1880, railroads employed about 6,000 workers in Philadelphia. About 100 lived in Powelton – about 10% of Powelton's male labor force. Although the 1880 census didn’t ask the name of employer, about a third in Powelton identified the Pennsy. The list includes a wide range of occupations including brakemen, conductors, dispatchers, and firemen. Several of the top officers were: Charles Edmund Pugh who was the Second Vice President in charge of the Operating Department. He oversaw the handling of the over 3 million passengers who came to the 1876 Centennial Exhibition through the 32nd St. Station. He lived at 38th & Baring (1860), 3716 Baring (1870), and 3501 Baring (1880). George W. I. Ball was Chief Conveyancer in charge of all real estate transactions and V.P. for Real Estate. He lived at 3410 Powelton (1890 and 1900). Enoch Lewis, the head Purchasing Agent from 1866-1893, moved to 3405 Powelton about 1886 where he lived until his death in 1902. William H Brown was chief engineer. His greatest accomplishment was the building of the Broad Street Station. He lived at 3601 Baring (1880) and 3510 Baring (1890 and 1900). Patricius McManus- built the track system for the Centennial Exposition and the system of tracks leading into the Broad Street Station. He lived at 3512 Baring. Powelton was particularly well situated for railroad employees because of its varied housing stock and its proximity to the train stations at 30th St., 32nd St., and the end of 35th St.