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.
The Shedwick
family built many homes in the area. In
1880, William, then 28 years old, lived with his parents at 3408 Race
St.
1887: Directory:
Hercules Atkin
1890 Directory:
Hercules Atkin (Hercules Atkin & Co.)
In 1881, he
lived at 1817
“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. Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer. 1912)
1900:
Hercules Atkin 60 Carpet dealer; born in
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
Sadie Green 22 Servant;
black; born in
(ED 543, 9A)
Hercules Atkin
died in 1906.
1903: Hercules Boyd Atkin. Freshman. Mechanical Engineering. (
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
H. Boyd Atkin 24 Son; mechanical engineer for telephone
co. [?]
Mary Browney 42 Servant;
black; widow with one child; born in
(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
Revised 5/20/2011