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.

1890 Directory: George H. Hill

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.

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; [occupation illegible]; 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)

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. Mem. Union League. (General Alumni Catalogue of U. of P. 1917.)

1927: W. W. Hill. (Bell Telephone subscriber’s list.)

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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