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Writer's pictureYen Ho

The Home of J.W. Craft

Previously, I discussed the J.W. Craft & Sons company, the family, and their homes along Mount Pleasant Avenue. What I haven't discussed is the actual home of J.W. Craft. When I initially wrote my previous piece on the Craft family, I wasn't sure if his home was demolished. It wasn't until I was contacted by a local resident who knew his home belonged to J.W. Craft's wife and daughter Adele. When he asked me if I knew about his home, that was when my mind clicked. I didn't know this home was hiding in plain sight this whole time!


I had to learn more about this home!

 

J.W. Craft

Joseph W. Craft (1847-1921)

Joseph Watson Craft, Sr. (1847-1921) was born near the Gywnedd Valley Train Station. He was educated at the Loch School in Norristown and at the Millersville Normal School.


He was employed in the James Hoover iron works in Bridgeport and later became the superintendent of the pipe mill until becoming the superintendent of the whole plant.


When the plant closed in 1882, Joseph looked for new business opportunities. In 1885, he purchased the coal, feed and lumber yard owned by Joseph Stackhouse since 1873. As a result, he and his family moved to Ambler where Joseph began building his company, J.W. Craft & Sons.


In 1900, he purchased the property on Mount Pleasant Avenue from James Bartleson's widow Sarah Bartleson. After the purchase for $1,000, Joseph began building his modern, three-story home.

Montgomery County 1893, Ambler Borough; J. L. Smith, Publisher
Atlas of the North Penn Section of Montgomery County, Pa., 1916, Plate 26; A. H. Mueller, Publisher
Montgomery County 1949 Vol D, Plate 014 - Ambler Borough; Franklin Survey Company, Publisher
Google Satellite Plan View: 307 Pleasant Acre Dr, Ambler, PA 19002
Google Satellite Birdseye View: Looking North
 

Architecture


The architects behind the Craft home were Clarence E. Schermerhorn and Watson K. Phillips.


The structure of the home was built of stone with three hipped dormers, a keystone decor on top of the windows, and a porch. Typically, homes in Ambler are more of a Victorian-style look, but this home looks more like a bungalow based on how the home was designed. It would make sense that it looks more like a bungalow since the home was built at the start of the 20th century.


The house is very detailed in terms of what the interior was, and how big it was. The most notable feature inside the home was the spiral staircase that stretches up to the third floor.

Clipping from Philadelphia Builders' Guide (1903): Page 451
Clipping from Ambler Gazette (February 3, 1921): Page 4

Special Thanks to Bill Hard and his wife for providing me the photographs of their home.

 

Bibliography


Franklin Survey Company. Montgomery County 1949 Vol D, Plate 14, 1949.


"Google Maps Area Calculator Tool." DaftLogic. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-area-calculator-tool.htm



"J.W. Craft Laid At Rest." Ambler Gazette. January 27, 1921. Page 1. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/7420/rec/13.


Mueller, A. H. Atlas of the North Penn Section of Montgomery County, Pa., Plate 26, 1916.


Philadelphia Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide, v. 18, n. 28 (1903): 451.


"Real Estate Transfers." Ambler Gazette. September 20, 1900. Page 6. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/2579/rec/1.


Smith, J.L. Montgomery County 1893, Ambler Borough, 1893.


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