History of Llanerch, Pennsylvania

A (fairly) comprehensive history of the historic homes of Llanerch in Haverford Township

317 Bewley Road: History of Llanerch, Pennsylvania

317 Bewley Road

317 bewley Road

5 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms

Built between 1913 and 1920 in Dutch Colonial style


Inhabitants

Names Years
William August Guenther, Sr. & Mathilda Theresa Witte Guentherc. 1920–c. 1950
Margaret Hamilton Duffieldfl. 1940
William August Guenther, Jr. & Margaret Allegra Johnson Guentherfl. 1950
James F. Devineat least 1979–1981
Bruce A. Hall & Catherine H. Hall1981–1993
Sam Angell & Jeanne Simon Angell1993–2003
Christopher D. Foley & Danielle Foley2003–2010

History

1930 census: German interior decorated William, wife, and children.

Name Age Relation to Head of Household
William A. Guenther53Head
Mathilda D. Guenther51Wife
Ethel H. Guenther26Daughter
William A. Guenther28Son

William died in 1936, and left an estate worth $8,000, half of it from the value of their home.

1940 census: Mathilda is still living as a widow, with fellow widow Margaret and her African-American maid from Virginia renting a subsection.

Name Age Relation to Head of Household
Mathilda J. Guenther61Head
Margaret Hamilton56Head
Annie Lovelace34Maid

1950 census: Mathilda is still living in the home, but her son's family has moved in and William Jr. has become the head of household.

Name Age Relation to Head of Household
William A. Guenther42Head
Margaret Guenther42Wife
Frederick H. Guenther14Son
Gretchen Guenther7Daughter
Mathilda T. Guenther71Mother

By 1979, James Devine was living in the home. In 1979, his daughter Karen Regina became engaged to Joseph Michael Kokinda, of Slovak descent.

Karen Devine Engaged
Hazelton Standard-Speaker, February 22nd, 1979, page 6

In 1981, Devine sold the house to Bruce Hall for $60,000. In September 1992, the house went on sale again, initially for $184,900, and Bruce and his wife Catherine sold to Sam and Jeanne Angell in September 1993 for $168,500. The Angells sold the house to Christopher & Danielle Foley in 2003 for $324,000, and the Foleys sold the home in 2010 for $499,900.