3404-3406 Baring was built in 1873-’74 by Thomas D. Crespin as were 3400-02 and 3408-3410. Crespin usually
identified himself as a bricklayer, although he is listed as a builder in the
1881 city directory. From at least 1856 until
the 1870s, he lived at 116 N. 39th St. (which no longer exists) with his wife
and seven children. In the 1870 census
he declared $25,000 in real estate and $1,400 in personal property. His younger brothers, James C. Crispen and Joseph Crispen, probably
worked with him. They were also
bricklayers. In the late 1860s, Joseph
lived at 34th and Filbert Sts. He did not claim any real estate. Thomas Crispen also
apparently built 3509-11 and 3417-3421 Hamilton St. (The name was variously spelled Crespenn or Crispenn.)
“Second
Empire-style, two-and-one-half story double; stone facade over brick
construction.
Original wood porch with some alterations in 3404.: Wood cornice with paired
brackets with triglyph detail. Arcuated windows in dormer, slate shingles, of
mansard replaced with asphalt shingles; Circe 1875 alterations to 3404 included
three-story projecting bay with decorative pressed metal brick at first floor.”
(Inventory
of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the
National Register of Historic Places, 1985)
The History
1866,
June 14: Transfer of lots 3400, 3402, 3404, 3406, 3408 and 3410 Baring from
Richard Smethurst to William Sellers and John Sellers Jr.
The 1858 Directory lists Richard
Smethurst, conveyancer & accountant, 144 S 4th St.
1874,
June: Deed transferred from Thomas D. Crispen to William G. Steel.
1880:
William Steel 50 Manufacturer
of cloth
Juliet R. Steel 35 Born in
Bethlehem, Pa.
Sarah A. Steel 20 [she may
be from an earlier marriage]
Sophia B. Steel 10
Ethel Steel 7 months
Delia Buck 22 Servant;
black; born in N.J.
Katie Chew 30 Servant;
black; widowed or divorced
(ED 483, 24)
William W. Garrigues Steel worked
for his brother’s firm, E.T. Steel & Co. (
In
1883, the family moved to England so that Mrs. Steel could “recuperate from a
nervous breakdown.” She and her daughter
Sophia lived in Anglefield, South Godstone,
1889,
July: Deed transferred from William G. & Juliet R. Steel to William
Garrett.
1889
Oct. 15: William Garrett and Mary Menetto Hall were
married at the Church of the Incarnation by Rev. J. D. Newlin.
1890 Directory: William Casper [Garrett] of C. S. Garrett &
Son.
The
firm owned the Keystone Paper Mills in Upper Darby and the Union Paper
Mill. (There was also the E.T. Garrett
Paper Mill in Upper Darby.) He was the
son of Casper S. and Elizabeth Garrett and in 1880 lived with them at 626 12th
St. After 1900, she was widowed and
lived at 3613
Powelton Ave.
1892: William Garrett joined a law suit aimed at stopping the
electric trolleys on Baring St. to replace the old horse-drawn streetcars. (See the Powelton
History Blog for details.)
1900:
William Garrett 47 Paper
manufacturer; owner free of a mortgage
Mary Garrett 47 Married
10 years, no children; mother born in N.J.
Ellen James 55 Servant;
black; born in
Miss Mason 50 Servant;
black; born in Delaware
(ED 539, 11A)
1906,
August: Deed transferred from Elizabeth W. & Laura E. Garrett to Mary M.
Garrett.
1910:
Mary Garrett 57 Widowed,
4 children, 2 deceased
Mary Gray 60 Servant;
never married; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1890
Harriett E. Long 60 Boarder;
never married; born in Mich.; father born in Conn., mother in Mass.
(ED 488, 1B)
1920:
Mary Garrett 65 Widowed;
mother born in N.J.; owner, free of a mortgage
Anna Emans 59 Servant;
single
(ED 682, 2B)
1930:
Mary Garrett 75 Widowed; mother born in N.J.; owner
Margaret Nolan 65 Maid;
born in the “Irish Free State,” immigrated in 1900
(ED 396, 22A)
1950 Directory: Louise R. Hilbert
Revised
10/18/201