3401 Baring Street

The History of the Building

This house was probably built about 1860-61. It is not indicated on the Smedley Ward Map, published in 1862. However, it was apparently occupied when the 1861 Directory was compiled.

“Italianate, two-and-one-half story house, stone, elaborate millwork in wood porch. Entrance is part of three-story rectangular tower. Front first-floor projecting bay; front gable with heavy modillioned cornice and tripartite arcuated windows below. Building has arcuated and ogee-shaped windows throughout”

(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic Places, 1985)

Previous Residents of 3401 Baring Street

1861 Directory: J[ames] P. Butler, NW corner of Baring and N. 34^th St.

The 1860 census lists him and his family living in the 12^th Ward (between 3^rd & 6^th, Vine and Poplar). By 1866, he was living at 202 N. 35^th St.

1870:

Henry Justi 32 Dental surgeon (?); born in Prussia; real estate: $50,000; property: $12,000.

Lizzie 29

Augusta 7

Amelia 5

Henry 2

Henrietta 1 Only in 2^nd enumeration

Bertha abt 70 Only in 2^nd enumeration

May abt 25 Only in 2^nd enumeration

Maggie abt 25 Only in 2^nd enumeration

Ginny Menker 20 Only in 1^st enumeration

(1^st enumeration: p 30; 2^nd Enumeration, p 18)

The 1866 lists Henry Justi at “Baring bel. 32nd.”

“About the year 1819, porcelain teeth were first manufactured in this country and a number of persons experimented in this line with more or less success. Mr. H. D. Justi of Philadelphia, in 1852, first had his attention called to artificial teeth, and in his experiments succeeded in making a number of very marked improvements.

“Up to about the year 1855, only one kind of teeth had been manufactured, teeth for gold and silver plate, and but very little attention had been paid to their construction of form to approach nature. Then a rubber base was introduced, and from that time the entire dental business has been revolutionized. Mr. H. D. Justi seeing that there was room for improvement, succeeded in constructing moulds suitable to the various formations of the jaws, adopting curved lines in which he could sink any depth around the neck of the teeth to receive the gum color, and temporizing the materials so that in one very easy operation he had the tooth ready to finish. This mode of manufacturing artificial teeth has been copied by all other manufacturers.

“The cut herewith represents Mr. H. D. Justi's new factory

at Thirty-second and Spring Garden streets, which was built and fitted up expressly for the purpose of manufacturing artificial teeth and all other implements used by the dental profession.

“A large stock of artificial teeth, dental instruments, filling materials, etc., always kept on

hand at H. D. Justi's Dental Depots, 66 Madison street, Chicago, 1301 and 1303 Arch street,

Philadelphia.”

(Philadelphia and Popular Philadelphians. 1891: 139.)

1880:

Henry D. Justi 45 “Dental Department;” born in Prussia

Elizabeth 40

Augusta 17

Amelia 14

Henry 12

(ED 483, p 26, image 25)

1885: Henry Martin Justi, Junior, Class of ‘89...Course in Science...

(Catalogue of the University of Pennsylvania. 1885)

1890 Members: Justi, Henry D.

Justl, Henry M.

(J Franklin Institute. 1890)

1900:

Henry D. Justi 66 Born in Germany; dental manufacturer; immigrated in 1850, but was not naturalized; owned free of a mortgage

Elizabeth C. 60 Married 37 years, 6 children, 3 surviving

Augusta E. 36

Amelia R 34

Teresa Huber 25 Servant; born in Germany

Mary Witt 29 Servant; born in Germany

(ED 539, p 13b)

1920:

Henry D Justi 85 No occupation; born in Germany, immigrated in 1850, naturalized as a citizen in 1865

Elizabeth C Justi 80 Parents born in Germany

Augusta E Justi 56 Daughter; single

Amelia R Justi 53 Daughter; single

(ED 682, 2B)

“Philadelphia, Pa., February 6 [1922].—Henry D. Justi, well known for his philanthropies and a pioneer in the dental supply business, died yesterday at his home, 3401 Baring street. He was 88 years old. Death was due to a complication of diseases.

“In 1857 Mr. Justi established a dental supply house at 516 Arch street. As a result of the increase in business he subsequently moved to Thirteenth and Arch streets. The present establishment at Thirty-second and Spring Garden streets is conducted under the name of H. D. Justi & Son.

“Mr. Justi was a member of the Lutheran Church and the Masonic fraternity. He is survived by a widow, Elizabeth C. Justi, a son, Henry M. Justi, and two daughters.”

(Dental Summary. 1922)

1930:

Augusta Justi 66 Owner, house valued at $25,000; father born in Germany

Amelie R Justi 64 Sister

Sarah E Tasco 50 Servant; black, widowed; born in Md.

(ED 396, 2A)

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