3609 Baring Street

The History of the Building

3607-3609: “Circa 1870, two-and-one-half story, Second Empire-style double. Porch removed; slate shingles of mansard replaced with asphalt. Double bracketed cornice. Stone facade over brick. Same developer as 3611-13.”

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

Previous Residents

1870:

Henry (Peter Miller) Birkinbine 51 Hydraulics engineer; real estate: $15,000; property: $3,000

Louisa Birkinbine 46

John Birkinbine 25 Civil engineer

Harry Birkinbine 21 Civil engineer

Charles Blatchly 27 Whole wool merchant and manufacturer; born in Conn., property: $10,000

Mary Blatchly 27

Maggie Ruff 24 Domestic servant; born in Baden

Rachel Baxter 12 Domestic servant; black

(1870: 1^st enumeration: pp 21-22; 2^nd enumeration: p 20)

The 1866 Directory lists “Birkinbine Henry P. M., engineer city water works, 5^th & Chestnut, h 2221 Green”

The 1878 Scott Atlas shows them at NE corner 36^th & Baring, 3511 Baring St.

“The son [John Birkinbine] got some of his early experience as an engineer in various water supply projects in and around Philadelphia, and the firm, perhaps because of this expertise, became involved in many water projects around the country in the late 19th century, as part of the drive for improved public sanitation....”

“John Birkinbine was, in the 1870s, reportedly the first American to critically examine the iron deposits of the Cerro de Mercado in Durango. He was also one of the first engineers to suggest the practicability of making iron on the Great Lakes from coke made from Pennsylvania coal. He also experimented with the use of various fuels, from charcoal to coke, to smelt iron....”

“He was one of the founders of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association”

“The firm got its start through Henry P.M. Birkinbine, the father of John. In 1844, the year John was born,. H.P.M. was operating a forge and auger works ...

“After John Birkinbine’s death, the firm continued under his sons, but it seemed gradually to lose its energy. By the time World War II came along, the business was defunct. Two unmarried women in the family continued to live in the house in West Philadelphia [4206 Spruce], existing off an ever–dwindling inheritance. Upon their deaths, it fell to a member of the family, John Birkinbine II, of Arizona, to dispose of the house and its contents”

from: Lehigh University, Special Collections: The Birkinbine Engineering Firm Papers

1880:

Anna G. Palmer 32 Born in Va., father in Ohio, mother in N.Y.

Alfred P. Palmer 6

Samuel M. Palmer 4

Mary R. Paull 60 Mother; born in N.Y., father in N.Y., mother in Pa.

George A. Paull 23 Boarder [brother]; student of theology; born in Va., father in Ohio, mother in N.Y.

Sarah P. Paull 19 Boarder [sister]; born in Va., father in Ohio, mother in N.Y.

Mary T. Paull 17 Boarder [sister]; born in Va., father in Ohio, mother in N.Y.

Sarah P. Weed 55 Boarding [aunt?]; born in N.Y., father in N.Y., mother in Pa.

Edw. R. Hanckel 26 Boarding; works at railroad; born in Ga., father born in Pa., mother in S.C.

Phoeba W. Hanckel 4 months Born in Va. in Jan., 1880, father born in Ga., mother in Va.

Hellen Kinard 19 Servant; father born in N.Y., mother in Pa.

Mary Flemming 52 Servant; born in Scotland, father born in Ireland, mother in Scotland

(ED 487, 17)

In 1870, the Weed and Pall families lived at 3311 Baring St.

1881, Oct 19: Property sale by Sarah P Weed to Junius R Clark (Book 196, p 311)

1890 Directory: Junius R. Clark , 304 Chestnut, h 3609 Baring

“Junius Randolph Clark, b. 7/24/1836 at Smithport, Pa. Was a lawyer at Warren, Pa. for many years, and member for two terms of Pa. House of Rep. Now resides at 3609 Baring St. Phila. Has been twice married: Miss Vielie in 1861 (3 children) Mary Mr. Morse, 9/22/1875 in Elmira, N.Y. -one child Paul, born 1876.” (History and genealogy of Samuel Clark, Sr. 1892. Pg 88)

1896 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. E. H. Wilson.

1889: Clayton Cowgill Wilson. Junior. Finance and Economy. (Catalogue of U. of P.)

1900:

Edward H Wilson 47 Iron merchant; born in Del., father born in Md., mother in Pa.; owner, free of a mortgage

Coralie C Wilson 45 Married 22 years, 3 children; born in Del.

Clayton C Wilson 19 College student at U. of Penna.

Nathalie Wilson 13

Arthur H Wilson 19

Clayton A Cowgill 74 Father-in-law; retired physician

Throop M Cowgill 75 Mother-in-law; born in R.I. < step-mother-in-law

Maggie Doyle 25 Servant; born in England immigrated 1895, father born in Ireland, mother in England

Winifred McGann 22 Cook; married 4 years, 2 children, 1 surviving; ; born in England immigrated 1894, father born in Ireland, mother in England

(ED 543, 8B-9A)

In 1880, they lived at 3510 Spring Garden St. (See biographical information there.)

1901: Clayton A. Cowgill. Former Resident Physician. (1846) (U of P. Philadelphia Hospital Reports)

1906 Blue Book: Mr. Edward H. Wilson

Clayton C. Wilson

1910:

Corlis C Wilson 55 Widowed with 3 children; born in Del.; owner, free of a mortgage

Nathalee Wilson 23 Daughter; parents born in Del.

Arthur H Wilson 19 Son; parents born in Del.

Sarah T Cowgill 86 Step-mother; widowed, no children; born in R.I.

Kate Healey 35 Servant

Lena Regner 30 Servant; born in N.J., parents born in Germany

(ED 492, 4A)

1917: Arthur Howell Wilson. BS 1912. Member Merion Cricket club. Musician. (12^th General Catalogue of Psi Upsilon Fraternity)

1920:

Coralie C Wilson 67 Widowed, born in Del.; owner, free of a mortgage

Horace T Carpenter 59 Boarder; artist; born in Mich., father born in N.J., mother in Del.

Marye C Carpenter 54 Boarder; born in Del.

Lena Rigner 39 Servant; single; born in N.J., father in Wurtenburg, mother in Hesse, Germany

(ED 686, 5B)

1927 Directory: R. L. Richards

1950 Directory: Ebert, Leah

Holden, Ethel M.

Logan, Blaine

2009: owners: Ayse Gursan-Salzman and Laurence D. Salzmann

< 3611 Baring 3607 Baring >

Back to Interactive Map