
The History of the Building
1872 Hopkins Atlas shows an empty lot belonging to the Estate of Robert Steen.
1878 Scott Atlas shows an empty lot owned by Craig & Mc
Cahan
3413-3415: “Circa
1875, Italianate-style, three-story double with East lake -inspired wood porch;
stone facade over brick. Full-height first-floor windows; double bracketed wood
cornice; flat roof. Four registers to each floor having stone segmental
lintels.”
(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the
national register of Historic Places, 1985)
1860, July: Deed for 3413-17 Baring St. and 3412-22 Hamilton
St. transferred from Samuel Hutchinson (for Sheriff sale) to Estate of Robert
Steen (deceased).
1880:
Walter Erben 25 Wool merchant
Ida Erben 24 Father born in England
Rebecca Erben
1
Rose Hill 35 Servant; black; born in
Alice Smith 15 Servant; black
(1880 Census:
ED 483, p 26)
Walter is the son of Peter A. Erben
b. about 1790. In 1870, they lived at
“The lauding of Tacony as the ideal manufacturing town by
the report of
“When the new plant was opened there
was, for the first time, an industry in Tacony that employed large numbers of
female workers. Most were Polish women from Bridesburg or Irish or Italian
women from Tacony. The company closed during the depression of the 1930s. The
Erben Harding complex remains deserted but in good condition.”
(Harry C. Silcox, Ed.D., Workshop
of the World. Oliver Evans Press, 1990.)
A photo of the Erben-Search factory
is available from the Hagley Archives.
1880, December: Deed transferred from Peter & Mary Erben to Walter Erben.
1887 & 1889 Directories: Walter Erben (Erbe,
Secarch & Co., Henry Erben, Theodore C. Search, Charles H. Harding &
Walter Erben), worsted yarns, 106 Chestnut & 2416 Spring Garden)
In 1900, they lived at
1887, May 12: Death of Elizabeth H Morris, 66 years old, of 3415
Baring St. She was widowed and worked as
a housekeeper. Burial
at Christ Church, Upper Merion, Pa.
(Phila. Death Index)
1889 & 1890 Directories: George B. Armitage,
insurance, 401 Walnut, h 3415 Baring
The 1887 Directory listed him at
1892: Walter Erben joined a law suit aimed at stopping the
introduction of electric trolleys on Baring St. to replace the old horse-drawn
streetcars. (See the Powelton
History Blog for details.)
1894: Walter
Erben elected member:
1895 Directory: Walter Erben (Erben, Harding, & Co.)
1895, October: Deed transferred from Walter Erben to Abram
Walker.
1896 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. A. Walker &
daughters
1898 Blue Book: Abram Walker was a member of the Powelton Club. (For a brief history of the club, see the Powelton History Blog.)
1897: Laura and Rebecca M. Walker
(Good roads:
devoted to the construction and maintenance of roads ..., Vol. 25. League
of American Wheelmen)
1897: Death of Elizabeth Holstein Morris, widow of Charles E.
Morris. Funeral from the home of her
brother-in-law, Abram Walker, 3415 Baring St.
The 1895 city directory lists
Elizabeth H. Morris, widow of Charles E. Morris living at 2040 Gratz Ave.
1899: Death of Abram Walker, 69 years old. The relatives and
friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral service at his late
residence, 3415 Baring St.
1900:
Emily Walker 63 Widowed,
2 children; owned free of a mortgage
Harvey Walker 42 Step-son;
wagon builder
Rebecca M. Walker 31 Step-daughter
Maggie McCarey 28 Servant;
born in
Julia McCarley 22 Servant;
born in
(ED 539, 12A)
1900, Sept. 21: Death of Harvey Walker, 44 years old, of 3415
Baring St. He was a merchant. He was born in Phila. and
died in Dansville, Livingston, New York.
Burial at West Laurel Hill. (Phila. Death Index)
1903: 3415 Baring St. offered for sale for $16,000. (Phila. Inquirer, 9/16/1903)
1906, November: Deed transferred from William M. Hardt [3303
Powelton Ave.] and Rebecca M. Walker, executors of the will of Abram Walker, to
Samuel Simpson.
1910:
Samuel Simpson 63 Real estate broker; parents born in
Celia M.
Simpson 51
Samuel R.
Simpson 20
Latissure D.
Simpson 13
Jane Brooks 71 Boarder;
single; born in Maryland
Karoline Klecka 25 Servant; born
in
(ED 488, 4A)
In 1900, they lived at
1914, November: Deed transferred from Samuel and Cecilia Simpson
to American Baptist Publication Society of Phila. Penna..
1920:
Margaret M. Mohler 36 Clerk
for welfare assistance agency; single; parents born in
Mary E. Mohler 66 Mother;
born in
Rose V. Mohler 39 Sister;
clerk in welfare assistance office; single
(ED 682, 2B)
1930:
Margaret Mohler 39 Manager of
multigraphing co.; parents born in
Mary E. Mohler 70 Widowed;
born in
Rose V. Mohler 42 Sister;
secretary for multigraphing co.
(ED 396, 3B)
1950 Directory: Margaret M. Mohler
2009: Current owners: Michael Resnick and Frank Sarlo
purchase
date: 5/2001
owner
occupied
Revised
1/15/2012