2922 Melvale Street Property History

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Some of the original lots from the plan of the village of Richmond superimposed on the 1919 Sanborn fire insurance map. In December 1843, Eli K. Price sold lot 24 (later 2922 Melvale Street) to Anthony Taylor. Courtesy of Pennsylvania State University.

Development and the Funk Family, 1843 – 1858

At the end of December 1843, Philadelphia attorney Eli K. Price sold a 20-x-100-foot lot on Larch Street (now Melvale Street) to cordwainer Anthony Taylor on a yearly ground rent of $20 and the stipulation that Taylor should within a year complete a building of sufficient value to secure the ground rent. 1 The lot was numbered 24 on the plan of the village of Richmond, and was located on the northwest side of Larch Street, 220 feet northeast of William Street (now East Cambria Street). Not eight months later, Taylor sold the lot to wheelwright Michael T. Funk, who by 1849 had constructed a three-story frame house on the property. 2

Michael T. Funk was 22 years old at the time he purchased the property, and likely married his wife, Eleanor Wightman, in the mid-1840s. While at the property, the couple had at least four daughters, one of whom, Elizabeth, may have died while residing there. 3 In September 1853, after nine years of ownership, Michael and Eleanor sold the property to local carpenter William Righter for $450. 4 Interestingly, the Funk family appears to have continued living at the house, presumably renting it from Righter until 1858. 5 At that time, the Funk family moved north to a farm they rented on Tioga Street, below Richmond Street, where Michael worked as a truck farmer for a few years before dying of smallpox in 1861. 6

The Miller Family, circa 1860 – 1888

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The 1862 Smedley’s Atlas of the City of Philadelphia, depicting 1618 Melvale Street, as well as approximate location of the farm the Funk family moved to. Courtesy of the Map Collection, Free Library of Philadelphia.

In late 1860 or early 1861, 27-year-old machinist Christopher H. Miller moved his 25-year-old wife Matilda and their infant son Charles to the house on Larch Street (Larch had been renamed Melvale Street in 1858; this property was given the address 1618 Melvale Street in the late 1860s). 7 Shortly after the family moved in, 19-month-old Charles tragically died of cholera. 8 Despite this loss, three surviving sons—Samuel D., George H., and William—were born to the couple over the next decade, in addition to a daughter, Catharine, and a son, Christopher H., in the 1870s. 9

As the 1880s dawned, tragedy once again struck the family. Christopher’s brother—West Philadelphia resident and horsecar driver Henry H. Miller—committed suicide after multiple attempts in July 1880, leaving his 43-year-old wife Hannah and 22-year-old daughter Annie without any obvious means of support. 10 Just under a year later, Matilda Miller died of tuberculosis at age 42, leaving her children without a mother. 11 Either during Matilda’s illness or shortly after her death, Hannah and Annie made the move across Philadelphia to Port Richmond, where they took up residence with Christopher’s family. 12 This combined family continued to reside at 1618 Melvale—known as 2922 Melvale after 1885 due to a street renumbering—for most of the decade. Christopher continued to work as a machinist, while Samuel and George initially found work as laborers, though around 1885 George took a job as a driver (possibly of a street car). 13 William, who had worked as a telegraph boy in his youth, eventually became an engineer for either the Pennsylvania Railroad or the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. 14

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2922 Melvale Street, around the time the Miller family departed the address, as depicted on the 1886 G.M. Hopkins Atlas of the City of Philadelphia, 25th Ward. Courtesy of the Map Collection, Free Library of Philadelphia.

The family left 2922 Melvale for unknown reasons in 1888 and spread out across the city. Hannah, Annie, Samuel, and George moved to a house at 819 Taylor Street in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia, where a year later the family made the front pages of local newspapers after the entire household came down with food poisoning from curds and whey. 15 Catharine and her brother Christopher may have moved to Taylor Street as well, but after she married in 1894, they moved to West Philadelphia. 16 The elder Christopher and William, the latter of whom had married in about 1887, stayed in the Port Richmond area, where George eventually rejoined them. Christopher and his two middle sons stayed in the neighborhood until their deaths, which occurred between 1893 and 1904. 17

The Burke, Morse, and Killian Families, 1888 – 1910

Following the Miller family was the Burke family, which moved to 2922 Melvale from a house just down the street at 2916 Melvale. 18 The family was initially comprised of 40-something Irish immigrant block maker Michael Burke, his wife Mary, and their four children. During their time at 2922, Michael and Mary had four more children, three of whom survived infancy. 19 In addition, Mary’s retired parents, Patrick and Bridget Eagan, also lived with the family for a time. By 1900, the elder Burke children were all employed—20-year-old John as an ironworker, 18-year-old Michael and 13-year-old Edward in a local glue factory, and 15-year-old Kate in a glassworks. A little over a year later, Patrick Eagan died, and his widow may have moved out of the Burke family’s home. 20 The remainder of the family did not stay much longer, moving across the street to 2915 Melvale Street in 1902. 21

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The project area as depicted on the 1895 Bromley Atlas of the City of Philadelphia, Complete in One Volume. The Burke family departed 2922 Melvale in 1902 for 2915 Melvale, located just down and across the street. Courtesy of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia.

Perhaps the reason the Burke family left 2922 was a change in ownership. William Righter died unmarried and without children in November 1900, but it was not until May 1902 that his various heirs conveyed their shares of the property to Righter’s widowed sister, Sarah Rimer. 22 A month later, she sold the property to her son, Robert W. Rimer, who continued to rent it out. 23 Rimer’s first tenants were the Morse family, who moved to 2922 Melvale from a house at 2702 Ann Street in 1902. 24 Fifty-four-year-old English immigrant Thomas A. Morse was employed as a laborer and a rigger, and moved into the house with his 55-year-old wife Annie, 23-year-old leather finisher son Richard J., 20-year-old daughter Annie, and 18-year-old son John. 25 After only around three years, the Morse family moved—Richard and John to 3011 Salmon Street, and the remainder of the family to 2607 East Seltzer Street. 26

Curiously, the next known tenants were Kate Burke, her husband John J. Killian, and their two little girls, Elizabeth and Mary. 27 Burke wed Killian shortly after the first time she departed 2922 Melvale, and they had lived in her parents’ home at 2915 Melvale since their marriage. 28 The Killian’s moved into 2922 shortly after the death of their daughter Catherine in 1907, and while living there, Kate had a son and another daughter, both of whom died when they were approximately three months old. 29 After their son Thomas’ death in January 1910, they left 2922 Melvale for a house at 3158 Tilton Street. 30

The Twentieth Century, 1910 – 1966

By April 1910, the Oshetski family had replaced the Killian’s as the residents of 2922 Melvale. The family was comprised of 33-year-old Polish immigrant laborer John Oshetski, his 27-year-old immigrant wife Mary, and their infant daughter Marie. In addition to the immediate members of the Oshetski family, two individuals listed in the census as boarders—55-year-old laborer Michael Oshetski and 20-year-old dressmaker Anna Oshetski—were likely relatives of John’s, perhaps his father and sister. Also living with the family was 20-year-old immigrant Theodore Cominski. Little is known about this household, and it seems that by October 1911 they had moved to 2841 East Monmouth Street, where John and Mary’s eight-month-old daughter Catharine died. 31

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2922 Melvale Street and related properties as depicted on the 1910 Bromley Atlas of the City of Philadelphia, Complete in One Volume. Courtesy of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia.

For the remainder of the twentieth century, with a few exceptions, the residents of 2922 Melvale Street are unknown. One such exception is Jan Baran, who is known solely from a November 1915 notice in the Philadelphia Inquirer, stating that a marriage license had been issued to him and Wiktorvia Dombrowska of 3016 Melvale Street. 32 The family of Asco Stachay likely moved into 2922 Melvale at some point in the 1910s, as they were living in the house in January 1920. Asco, whose name is likely corrupted, was a 35-year-old Polish immigrant working in a rivet factory. Living with him was his 24-year-old Polish wife Preal and their two children—Stanley, age four, and Eugenia, age two. Little else is known about the Stachay family, and their whereabouts after 1920 are unknown. 33

A laborer named Cashmer Leonard is recorded at 2922 Melvale in the 1929 and 1930 city directories, the latter of which seems to indicate that he was not married. 34 He likely moved from the address in early 1930, when the Siuda family moved to the property. According to the 1930 census, John Siuda was a 36-year-old Polish immigrant who had worked as a railroad laborer, but had been unemployed for the past five months. With his 38-year-old wife Theresa, he had four children—Mary, 13, Joseph, 11, Anna, eight, and Stella, six. 35 The duration of the Siuda’s tenancy at 2922 Melvale is unknown, but according to the 1940 census, they had been living in 2911 Melvale Street (a house they would later purchase), since at least 1935. 36

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2922 Melvale Street as depicted in the 1925 Bromley Atlas of the City of Philadelphia (North Phila.), Lehigh Ave. to Wingohocking St. Courtesy of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia.

The Siuda family may have departed 2922 Melvale just prior to another change in ownership. Robert W. Rimer had died (like his uncle William Righter) unmarried and without children in May 1919, leaving the property to his unmarried sisters Ella M. and Laura M. Rimer. In December 1935, the Rimer sisters sold the property to William and Catherine Figaniak of North Merchantville, New Jersey, for $100. 37 The Figaniak’s sold the property four months later to Anna Letzter of Philadelphia for $275. 38 Anna and her husband Louis in turn sold the property to their daughter Anna L. Goldstein in June 1936. 39

Goldstein sold the house in December 1939 to 31-year-old Zygmunt Grzeskiewicz, who as of April 1940 was still living with his 22-year-old wife Frances and infant son Edward in a rented house at 2529 Edgemont Street. 40 The Grzeskiewicz family presumably moved to 2922 Melvale in the 1940s, was still residing in the house at the time of Edward’s marriage in 1958, and may have continued to live there until the property was condemned in January 1966 during the construction of Interstate 95, and all structures were demolished shortly thereafter. 41

References

  1. Philadelphia County Deed Book TH 110:259, “Historical Land and Vital Records,” subscription database accessed May 2014, https://www.phila-records.com/historic-records/web ↩
  2. Philadelphia County Deed Book TH 110:262, “Historical Land and Vital Records,” subscription database accessed May 2014, https://www.phila-records.com/historic-records/web  ↩
  3. “1850 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for Michel Funck (Michael Funk), Richmond District, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; “1860 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for Michl Funk, 19th Ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ↩
  4. Philadelphia County Deed Book TH 110:266, “Historical Land and Vital Records,” subscription database accessed June 2014, https://www.phila-records.com/historic-records/web ↩
  5. A. McElroy, comp., McElroy’s Philadelphia Directory for 1851, “Philadelphia City Directories,” subscription database accessed June 2014, https://www.fold3.com; entry for Michael Funk, p. 145; ibid. 1853, Michael Funk, p. 141; ibid. 1854, Michael Funk, p. 180; ibid. 1855, Michael Funk, p. 187; A. McElroy, comp., McElroy’s Philadelphia City Directory for 1858, “Philadelphia City Directories,” subscription database accessed June 2014, https://www.fold3.com; entry for Michael Funk, p. 231 ↩
  6. McElroy, Philadelphia City Directory for 1859, entry for Michael Funk, p. 242; 1860 U.S. census, 19th Ward, Philadelphia, Pa., pop. sch., p. 147, dwell. 1073, fam. 1183; “Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803–1915,” database accessed July 2015, https://familysearch.org; entry for Micael (Michael) Funk, April 29, 1861; “Michael Funk,” death notice, Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), April 30, 1861, p. 2, Newspapers.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.newspapers.com  ↩
  7. McElroy, Philadelphia City Directory for 1860, entry for Christopher Miller, p. 686; ibid. 1862, Christopher Miller, machinist, p. 465; James Gopsill, comp., Gopsill’s Philadelphia City Directory for 1869, “Philadelphia City Directories,” subscription database accessed June 2014, https://www.fold3.com; entry for Christopher H. Miller, machinist, p. 1060; “1860 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for Christ. Miller, 19th Ward, Philadelphia, Pa ↩
  8. “Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803–1915,” database accessed July 2015, https://familysearch.org; entry for Charles Miller, August 17, 1861 ↩
  9. “1870 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for Chustain Wellen (Christopher Miller), 1st enumeration, enumeration district 81, 24th (25th) Ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; “1880 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for Chas. (Christopher) Miller, enumeration district 0524, 25th Ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  ↩
  10. “A Doubt as to the Cause of Death,” Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) Inquirer, July 16, 1880, p. 2 Genealogy Bank, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.genealogybank.com; “Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803–1915,” database accessed July 2015, https://familysearch.org; entry for Henry H. Miller, July 16, 1880; “1860 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for Henry Miller, enumeration district 0497,  24th Ward, Philadelphia, Pa ↩
  11. “Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803–1915,” database accessed June 2014, https://familysearch.org; entry for Matilda Miller, June 25, 1881 ↩
  12. Gopsill, Philadelphia City Directory for 1882, entry for Christopher Miller, machinist, p. 1100, Hannah A. Miller, wid Henry, p. 1102 ↩
  13. James Gopsill’s Sons, comp., Gopsill’s Philadelphia City Directory for 1885, “Philadelphia City Directories,” subscription database accessed June 2014, https://www.fold3.com; entries for Christopher Miller, p. 1247, George H. Miller, laborer, p. 1249, Hannah A. Miller, p. 1250, Samuel B. (D.) Miller, laborer, p. 1254; ibid. 1886, Christopher C. (H.) Miller, p. 1213, George H. Miller, driver, and Hannah A. Miller, p. 1215, Samuel D. Miller, p. 1219 ↩
  14. “1900 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for William Miller, enumeration district 0585, 25th Ward, Philadelphia, Pa  ↩
  15. Gopsill’s Sons, Philadelphia City Directory for 1889, entries for George H. Miller, laborer, h 819 Taylor, p. 1266, Samuel D. Miller, p. 1271; ibid. 1891, Hannah A. Miller, p. 1313; “Local,” Philadelphia Inquirer, May 29, 1889, p. 1, Genealogy Bank, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.genealogybank.com; “Two Families Poisoned,” Philadelphia Inquirer, May 29. 1889, p. 6, Genealogy Bank, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.genealogybank.com; “Rennet Pudding,” Times (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), May 29, 1889, p. 1, Newspapers.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.newspapers.com ↩
  16. “1900 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for Chas. McGowan, enumeration district 0551, 24th Ward, Philadelphia, Pa ↩
  17. “Christopher H. Miller,” death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, December 2, 1893, p. 11, Genealogy Bank, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.genealogybank.com; “Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803–1915,” database accessed July 2015, https://familysearch.org; entry for George Miller, January 28, 1900; “Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803–1915,” database accessed July 2015, https://familysearch.org; entry for William Miller, February 13, 1904; “1900 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for William Miller, enumeration district 0585, 25th Ward, Philadelphia, Pa  ↩
  18. Gopsill’s Sons, Philadelphia City Directory for 1888, entry for Michael Burke, pumpmkr, p. 278; ibid. 1889, Michael Burke, blockmkr, p. 285 ↩
  19. “1900 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for Michael Burke, enumeration district 0592, 25th Ward, Philadelphia, Pa.; “Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803–1915,” database accessed August 2015, https://familysearch.org; entry for Cecelia Burke, August 18, 1896 ↩
  20. Gopsill’s Sons, Philadelphia City Directory for 1901, entry for Patk. Eagan, h 2922 Melvale, p. 709; “Patrick Eagan,” death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, October 14, 1901, p. 15, Genealogy Bank, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.genealogybank.com; “Bridget Eagan,” death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer, April 19, 1905, p. 7, Genealogy Bank, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.genealogybank.com ↩
  21. Gopsill’s Sons, Philadelphia City Directory for 1902, entries for Jno. F. Burke, fitter, and Michael Burke, blockmkr, p. 340; ibid. 1904, Jno. Burke, fitter, p. 367, Michael Burke, blockmkr, and Michael Burke Jr., gluemkr, p. 368  ↩
  22. Philadelphia County Deed Book WSV 38:545, “Historical Land and Vital Records,” subscription database accessed June 2014, https://www.phila-records.com/historic-records/web ↩
  23. Philadelphia County Deed Book WSV 40:451, “Historical Land and Vital Records,” subscription database accessed June 2014, https://www.phila-records.com/historic-records/web ↩
  24. Gopsill’s Sons, Philadelphia City Directory for 1902, entries for Richd. A. (J.) Morse, and Thos. Morse, rigger, p. 1783; ibid. 1903, Richd. J. Morse, and Thos. A. Morse, p. 1814 ↩
  25. “1900 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for Thomas A. Moorse (Morse), enumeration district 0588, 25th Ward, Philadelphia, Pa ↩
  26. Gopsill’s Sons, Philadelphia City Directory for 1905, entries for Richd. J. Morse, and Thos. Morse, p. 1821; ibid. 1906, Jno. C. Morse, p. 1868, Richd. J. Morse, and Thos. A. Morse, p. 1869  ↩
  27. C.E. Howe, comp., Boyd’s Philadelphia City Directory for 1908, “Philadelphia City Directories,” subscription database accessed June 2014, https://www.fold3.com; entry for Jno. Killian, carp., p. 1056; “1910 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for John Killian, enumeration district 0537, 25th Ward, Philadelphia, Pa ↩
  28. Gopsill’s Sons, Philadelphia City Directory for 1905, entry for Jno. J. Killion (Killian), laborer, p. 1378; ibid. 1907, Jno. Killian, laborer, p. 971 ↩
  29. “Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803–1915,” database accessed July 2015, https://familysearch.org; entry for Catherine Killian, May 11, 1907; “Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803–1915,” database accessed July 2015, https://familysearch.org; entry for Helen Killian, November 11, 1908; “Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803–1915,” database accessed July 2015, https://familysearch.org; entry for Thomas Killian, January 10, 1910 ↩
  30. “1910 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for John Killian, enumeration district 0537, 25th Ward, Philadelphia, Pa  ↩
  31. “1910 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for John Oshetski, enumeration district 0546, 25th Ward, Philadelphia, Pa; “Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803–1915,” database accessed August 2015, https://familysearch.org; entry for Catharine Oshetsky (Oshetski), October 8, 1911  ↩
  32. “Marriage Licenses Issued,” Philadelphia Inquirer, November 20, 1915, p. 6, Genealogy Bank, subscription database accessed November 2014, http://www.genealogybank.com ↩
  33. “1920 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for Asco Stackay (Stachay), enumeration district 0747, 25th Ward, Philadelphia, Pa  ↩
  34. R. L. Polk & Co., comp., Polk’s (Boyd’s) Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) City Directory 1929 vol. CV (Philadelphia: R. L. Polk & Co., 1929), entry for 2922 Melvale, p. 1638; R. L. Polk & Co., comp., Polk’s (Boyd’s) Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) City Directory 1930 vol. CVI (Philadelphia: R. L. Polk & Co., 1930), entries for Cashmer Leonard, p. 817, and 2922 Melvale, p. 1678 ↩
  35. “1930 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for A. John Sinda (John Siuda), enumeration district 51-0919, 25th Ward, Philadelphia, Pa ↩
  36. Philadelphia County Deed Book CJP 1104:488, “Historical Land and Vital Records,” subscription database accessed Juy 2015, https://www.phila-records.com/historic-records/web; “1940 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for John Sinda (Suida), enumeration district 51-0738, 25th Ward, Philadelphia, Pa  ↩
  37. Philadelphia County Deed Book JMH 3915:57, “Historical Land and Vital Records,” subscription database accessed June 2014, https://www.phila-records.com/historic-records/web ↩
  38. Philadelphia County Deed Book DWH 85:285, “Historical Land and Vital Records,” subscription database accessed June 2014, https://www.phila-records.com/historic-records/web ↩
  39. Philadelphia County Deed Book DWH 114:101, “Historical Land and Vital Records,” subscription database accessed June 2014, https://www.phila-records.com/historic-records/web; “1930 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for Louis Fetzer (Letzter), enumeration district 51-1071, 42nd Ward, Philadelphia, Pa  ↩
  40. Philadelphia County Deed Book DWH 846:214; “1940 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry.com, subscription database accessed July 2015, http://www.ancestry.com; entry for M. Sigmond Grzeskiwicz (Zygmunt Grzeskiewicz), enumeration district 51-0289, 18th Ward, Philadelphia, Pa ↩
  41. “Marriage License Applications,” Philadelphia Inquirer, July 9, 1958, p. 63, Old Fulton NY Post Cards, database accessed August 2015, http://www.fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html; Philadelphia County Deed Book CAD 632:292, “Historical Land and Vital Records,” subscription database accessed September 2014, https://www.phila-records.com/historic-records/web  ↩