3601 Baring Street

The History of the Building

The original building on this site was destroyed in a fire in February, 1976. The photo below shows the back and side of the building shortly after the fire. (photo by Paul Weidenbacker.)

Previous Residents of 3601 Baring Street

1878 Scott Atlas shows house owned by William H. Brown.

William H. Brown

1880:

William H. Brown 44 Civil engineer; mother born in Md.

Sara A. Brown 34

Henry S. Brown 15

George H. Brown 13

Frank Brown 10

Alice May Brown 2

Mina Niles 18 Servant

Anna Callahan 18 Servant; born in Ireland

(ED 487, 17-18)

William H. Brown. b. 2/29/1836. Graduated from Central High School. Civil Engineer. Worked as a surveyor for the railroad, with the City of Philadelphia and joined Col. Thomas A. Scott’s forces engaged on the military railroads and telegraph lines for the government during the Civil War. After the war he continued to work for the Pennsylvania Railroad eventually becoming chief engineer. History of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company: pub. 1895. vol. 2. Pg. 41. More extensive bio. Info can be read, see also: http://www.onlinebiographies.info/railroad/brown.htm.

In 1887, they moved across to 3510 Baring St.

1886, Nov. Sale by William H. Brown to George H. Hill for $16,000 (Phila. Inquirer, Nov. 18)

1890 Directory: George H. Hill

1894: “WILLIAM WARIIER HILL b. Phila.• Jan. 23, 1867. s. George Henry Hill and Mary Warner Jones. Entered Junior Class as a special student 1885, and received a certif. of proficiency June, 1888. Civil engineer. Address, 3601 Baring St., Phila.” (Biographical Catalogue, University of Pennsylvania, 1894)

1896 Blue Book: Mr. and Mrs. George H. Hill

George H. Hill, Jr.

William Warner Hill.

1900:

George H. Hill 55 Broker; father born in Maine

May W. Hill 50 Married 32 years, 2 children

William W. Hill 30 Civil engineer

George H. Hill, Jr. 28 Broker

Kate McFadden 50 Servant; born in Vt., parents born in Ireland

Bridget McElroy 21 Servant; parents born in Ireland

Bridget Harking 21 Servant; parents born in Ireland

(ED 543, 8B)

1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. George H. Hill. Receiving day Friday

George H. Hill, Jr.

William Warner Hill.

1909: George H. Hill declined to continue as a Director of the Union League.

1910:

George H. Hill 63 Broker; father born in Maine

Mary W. Hill 58 Married 35 years, 2 children

William W. Hill 33 Engineer for the city

Alexander M. Wiggins 84 Uncle; clergyman; widowed; born in N.J.

Bridget Wiggins 27 Servant; father born in Ireland, mother in Vermont

Catherine McFadden 64 Servant; single; born in Vt., parents born in Ireland

(ED 492, 4B)

Rev. Alexander M. Wiggins was appointed associate pastor of the Arch St. Methodist Episcopal church in 1893. He had previously been pastor of the Berwyn M. E. church. He died in 1913 in New York City where he was living. He was buried in Philadelphia.

1912: W. W. Hill. Civil Engineer, Certif. Class of 1888. U. of P. Engineering (Alumni Society Annual Report. 1912.)

1917: William Warner Hill. Registrar Bureau of Surveys, City of Phil. Member Union League. (General Alumni Catalogue of U. of P. 1917.)

1917, June 23: Marriage license issued to Laura V. DeRousse of 5405 Chestnut St. and William W. Hill of 3601 Baring St.

1920:

George H. Hill 77 Retired banker; owner, free of a mortgage

Mary W. Hill 73

William W. Hill 52 Son; city surveyor

Laura Hill 38 Daughter-in-law

Lillie May Foulkrod 44 Servant, practical nurse; parents born in Ireland

Mary A. Ziegler 73 Guest; widowed

Anna Hatcher 51 Servant (general housework); black; born in Virginia

(ED 686, 5B)

1920, Oct. 16: Death of Mary W. Hill of 3601 Baring St. Services at Oliver H. Bair Building

1921, Aug. 26: Death of George H. Hill of 3601 Baring St.

“Prominent Banker, Employed by Drexel & Co., Dies in His Home

“George H. Hill, prominent banker of this city, who for more than fifty years was connected with the banking house of Drexel & Co., died at his home, 3601 Baring St., on Friday night.

“Mr. Hill, who was the Civil War veteran, had been a member of the Union League for more than half a century. He entered the employ of Drexel & Co. in November, 1864, gradually rising until he became the head of the bond department, the position which he held at the time of his death.

“He was a member of the Second Presbyterian Church of this city, and honorary vice president of the American Sunday School Union and an active member of the New England Society, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, George G. Meade Post, G. A. R., and Corinthian Lodge, F. A. M.

“Mr. Hill is survived by two sons, William W. and George H. Hill, Jr. His wife, Mrs. Mary W. Hill, died last October.” (Phila. Inquirer, Aug 28)

1927 Directory: W. W. Hill.

1930:

William Hill 50 Surveyor for civil engineering firm; married at age 39; owner, house valued at $15,000

Laura Hill 45 Married at age 34

—2nd household

Annie B. Griscom 68 Companion for private family; single; renting for $50 per month

(ED 398, 8B)

1950 Directory: William W. Hill, engineer

1968: The house became the home of the Sigma Alpha Theta fraternity that became Sigma Alpha Epsilon in 1971. After the building burned down in 1976, the fraternity moved to 204-206 N. 34^th St. (from the chapter’s web site.)

2009: Owner: Julie E. Jacobs

purchase date: 5/2002

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