309 Davis Road
6 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms
Built before 1910
Inhabitants
| Names | Years |
|---|---|
| George H. Toulson | at least 1910–1913 |
| John Otto Franz & Bertha Christina Miller Franz | 1913– at least 1930 |
| Paul Eugene Bowen & Ruth Pennock Barnard Bowen | fl. 1935–1951 |
| James Mooar Clifford & Cecelia Louise Etter Clifford | fl. 1950 |
| Clarence Edward Moore & Margaret Elaine McIntyre Moore | fl. 1950 |
| Edward J. Sheedy & Helen C. Waugh Sheedy | ?–1973 |
| Robert P. Hodgson | fl. 1981–2021 |
History
The home was built before 1910, as it was included in the 1910 census for the Toulson family, and it's included in the 1913 atlas of Haverford Township where G. Toulson is listed as the owner. It was sold to the Franz family for $4,500 in 1913.
1910 census: English carpet merchant George is living with his wife.
| Name | Age | Relation to Head of Household |
|---|---|---|
| George H. Toulson | 43 | Head |
| Ida R. Toulson | 41 | Wife |
1920 census: German-descent paper salesman John living with his wife, son, and in-laws.
| Name | Age | Relation to Head of Household |
|---|---|---|
| John O. Franz | 40 | Head |
| Bertha C. Franz | 38 | Wife |
| Jack Franz | 12 | Son |
| Pauline Miller | 75 | Mother-in-law |
| Harry Miller | 49 | Brother-in-law |
1930 census: Franz family
| Name | Age | Relation to Head of Household |
|---|---|---|
| John O. Franz | 51 | Head |
| Bertha C. Franz | 49 | Wife |
| John O. Franz | 22 | Son |
| Harry Miller | 59 | Brother-in-law |
Although it's not clear when the Franz family moved out, the Bowen family was living there by 1935, as their son was recorded at 309 Davis when he was hit by a car on Darby road, fracturing his skull.
Philadelphia Inquirer, March 19th, 1935, page 2
1940 census: Electrical engineer Paul and his family
| Name | Age | Relation to Head of Household |
|---|---|---|
| Paul E. Bowen | 40 | Head |
| Ruth B. Bowen | 43 | Wife |
| Pennock Bowen | 16 | Son |
| David Bowen | 13 | Son |
| Paul Bowen | 10 | Son |
| Joanne Bowen | 3 | Daughter |
| Elizabeth R. Barnard | 75 | Mother-in-law |
1950 census: The house is divided into 3 sections: Ruth Bowen is still living with her daughter, aeroengineer James is living with his wife and children, and North Carolina-origin furniture refinisher Clarence is living with his wife and son.
| Name | Age | Relation to Head of Household |
|---|---|---|
| Ruth P. Bowen | 54 | Head |
| Joanna Bowen | 13 | Daughter |
| James M. Clifford | 33 | Head |
| Louis E. Clifford | 31 | Wife |
| Caroline M. Clifford | 5 | Daughter |
| James M. Clifford, Jr. | 3 | Son |
| Cecelia E. Clifford | 2 | Daughter |
| Clarence E. Moore | 24 | Head |
| Margaret E. Moore | 22 | Wife |
| Clarence E. Moore, Jr. | 2 | Son |
The house went on sale in 1951 for $19,950. By 1973, Edward J. Sheedy, the then-owner of the house, died. Between 1981 and 1987, Robert Hodgson lived there. The house was sold by the Hodgsons in 2021 for $535,000.