3615 Baring Street

The History of the Building

In the 1878 Scott Atlas, the lot is empty and is merged with 3619. The house in shown on 1886 Baist map, but no name is given.

“Circa 1885, two-and-one-half story red brick Victorian house with ornate wood porch and gabled entry; pressed and corbelled brick detail and front gable with overhang”

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

Previous Residents of 3615 Baring Street

1883, Oct.: Henry B. Chapman sold the lot to William J. Shedwick.

1887: Directory: Hercules Atkin

1890 Directory: Hercules Atkin (Hercules Atkin & Co.)

In 1881, he lived at 1817 Mt. Vernon and had his business at 1013 Market St.

Hercules Atkin & Co, 825 Arch St., Phila.

“HERCULES ATKIN: From errand boy to proprietor of one of the largest carpet houses of Philadelphia is the business history of Hercules Atkin. The analyzation of his life record indicates that his advanced steps were carefully directed by intelligent purpose and laudable ambition and resulted from indefatigable energy and close application. The record is one well worthy of emulation.

“A native of Ireland, Hercules Atkin was born in Rossard, County Wicklow, July 31, 1838, a son of William and Jane (Jones) Atkin. The family records show that the ancestry can be traced back to John Atkin, who was born in 1618 and became a resident of Ireland. In 1616 the Atkin family were located at Billbrook, in the parish of old Cleade, near Morehead, Somersetshire, England, where representatives of the name occupied a position of wealth and prominence for many generations. Many were warriors and served under the early English sovereigns. Others gained distinction as lawyers and clergymen, and still others left their impress in various ways upon the history and civilization of the country. Land in Ireland was given to some of the ancestors of Hercules Atkin for valiant deeds performed during the different wars of Great Britain, and all inherited large means. One of the number, John Atkin. who resided in County Wexford, Ireland. secreted a list of names of those doomed to die in 1798 because of their loyalty to the king, and no less than fourteen Atkins were on the list but because of the order of execution being hidden none so lost their lives. William Atkin was a gentleman farmer of Ireland and for a short time engaged in business pursuits there. He late. disposed of all his land and commercial interests and came to America, settling in Philadelphia in 1847. His wife also came from the landed gentry, the Jones family being owners of one of the finest estates in Ireland.

“Hercules Atkin was only eight years of age at the time of the voyage across the Atlantic. and. following the establishment of the family home in Philadelphia. He attended the public schools until fourteen years of age. At that time he secured a position as errand boy with the firm of Shumaker & Huff, who were engaged in the carpet business on Second street. His fidelity. diligence and earnest purpose enabled him to work his way steadily upward from one position to another, until eventually he became junior partner in the firm, After the death of the senior partner the business was reorganized under the firm name of DeBois & Atkin . A few years later Mr. DeBois withdrew and the business became the property of Mr. Atkin under his name. which was carried on successfully and continuously until his demise. At the time of his death he was the oldest carpet merchant in business in Philadelphia and had one of the leading establishments in that line. The trade had been built up on a solid foundation, the business management of the house never seeking nor requiring disguise, and by careful study of the wants of the public and by progressive business methods an extensive patronage had been secured.

“Mr. Atkin , however, did not confine his attention solely to business affairs. He never neglected the higher and holier duties of life. On the contrary he was a consistent. active and faithful member of the Methodist church, originally holding membership in the old Union church on Fourth street, called the Academy in 1848. He was ordained deacon in 1873, and in March, 1900, was ordained an elder and minister of the church. He took a most deep, profound and helpful interest in the various lines of church work to which he devoted much time, and he was a member and secretary of the Philadelphia Local Preachers Association. He was also instrumental in organizing the congregation and building the Methodist church at Tioga, Pennsylvania. where he resided for about two years.

“On the 17th of January, 1873. Mr. Atkin was married to Miss Emma Bodine, a daughter of John F. and Martha (Swope) Bodine. Her father was a member of the state senate and also served as judge of Gloucester county, New Jersey. For many years he conducted an extensive and profitable business in glass manufacturing and was one of the leading and influential men of his district, not only contributing to material progress, but abo upholding the political and legal status of the commonwealth. He served in both the house of representatives and the senate of the New Jersey legislature and left the impress of hi s individuality upon a number of important laws. His father. Joel Bodine, was the pioneer glass manufacturer of New Jersey. John Bodine. the great-great-grandfather of Mrs. Atkin. served for seven years during the Revolutionary war and held the rank of captain. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Atkin were born two sons and two daughters. John F. B., who married a Miss Raymond of New Jersey, is a graduate of the law department of the University of Pennsylvania and is now a successful young attorney of Philadelphia. Grace is at home. Corinna is the wife of Ernest Stebben of New York city . Hercules B. is a mechanical engineer of Philadelphia.

“In politics Mr. Atkin was a republican with firm faith in the party principles. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity. was of a most social disposition. was fond of reading and possessed a remarkably retentive memory. Outside of business, his leisure hours were spent in those things which bring broader mental culture and constitute sources of genuine pleasure and recreation. He passed away June 22. 1906 – a citizen of worth who had ever been loyal to the highest municipal interests, a business man of unimpeachable integrity. a friend of unquestioned fidelity, and a devoted and loving husband and father.”

(Philadelphia, A History of the City and its People : A Record of 225 years, vol. IV, pp 474, 478-479. P 448 has a portrait of him. Google Books.)

1900:

Hercules Atkin 60 Carpet dealer; born in Ireland, immigrated 1848; owned with a mortgage

Emma B Atkin 50 Married 27 years, 4 children; born in N.J.

Grace B Atkin 26

John F B Atkin 23 Lawyer

Corinna Atkin 21

Hercules B Atkin 14

Sarah Martin 22 Servant; black; born in Va.

Sadie Green 22 Servant; black; born in Va.

(ED 543, 9A)

Hercules Atkin died in 1906.

1903: Hercules Boyd Atkin. Freshman. Mechanical Engineering. (U. of P. Catalogue)

1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. Hercules Atkin

John F. Bodine Atkin

Hercules B. Atkin

The Misses Atkin

1908: E. B. Stebbins. Member elected 9/24/1908. Transactions of the Illuminating Engineering Society.

1910:

Emma B Atkin 55 Widowed, 4 children; born in N.J.

Grace B Atkin 28 Daughter; single; father born in Ireland

H Boyd Atkin 24 Son; mechanical engineer for telephone co. [?]

Mary Browney 42 Servant; black; widow with one child; born in Md.

(ED 492, 4A)

1920:

Anna B Robertson 57 Single; owned, free of a mortgage

(ED 686, 5B)

1927 Directory: Miss A. K. Robertson

1930:

Anna B Robertson 67 Single; owned, house valued at $10,000

(ED 398, 9A and repeated on p 34A)

1950 Directory: Goodman, Joseph N Jr.

Miller, Ernest C.

Miller, Sidney L. Jr.

Russell, Richard C.

Thomas, Charles A Jr

VanderVoort, C. Robert

2009: owners: Frank T. Horrigan and Lou Zing-Jian

purchase date: 1/2003

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