3208 Baring Street
The
History of the Building
3208-10: “two-and-one-half
story; Second Empire-style double with stone facade over brick construction;
most of original wood porch details; first floor bay windows intact; some
aluminum siding. 3208 wood cornice and part of wall below damaged…original
slate shingles….”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
Previous Residents
1880:
Martha Williams 62 Never married
Annie Byerly 32 Cousin;
never married
Catharine Smiley 40 Servant; born
in
Anna J. Byerly’s mother and sister,
Rebecca and Martha, were living at 3204 Pearl St.
In 1911, she was a storekeeper at Pennsylvania Hospital and her sister was an
assistant matron there.
1884 Directory: Martha P. Williams
She
died in 1901 when she was living at 3728 Hamilton St.
1891 Directory: Anna J. Byerly
E. Julia Byerly
1891, Mar. 14: Death of Rebecca P. Byerly, 75
years old, of 3208 Baring St.; burial at Fair Hill Cemetery
1892, Jun. 7: Death of Louise M. Wiley, 14
years, 6 months years old, daughter of George L. and Josephine Wiley
In
1880, they lived in Elizabeth, Union, N.J. He listed his occupation as
“telephone exchange.” In 1885, he became
manager of the Standard Underground Cable Co. which had offices in Philadelphia
and four other cities. The family might have been renting rooms here for the
summer while he was working here.
In 1887, George L. Wiley was awarded
the following patent #358,317.
“Be it known
that I, George L. Wiley, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of
Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of 5 New Jersey, have invented
certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone-Exchange Systems and Circuits
Therefor, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates,
especially, to that method of intercommunication which has received the name of
the ‘district or exchange telephone system,’ which consists of a central
station connected by means of telegraph or telephone lines radiating in
different directions, with a number of sub-stations variously located within
the geographical district which the central station is designed to serve. The
organization and arrangement of the central station is such that any two of the
sub-stations may, at a moment's notice, be placed in direct telegraphic or
telephonic communication with each other by the act of a person who is in
constant attendance at the central station, and who, upon being notified to do
so by either party, connects together the two lines leading to the respective
sub stations, by means of suitable switching or connecting devices provided for
this purpose. Prior to the date of my invention it was usual to place in
connection with each substation line entering the central office an
electro-magnetic alarm bell or a visual indicator, termed an
"annunciator," both of well known
construction, so that when an electric current was transmitted from one of the
sub-stations to the central station a signal was given to the attendant, either
by sounding the alarm bell or by dropping the visual indicator, or both,
whereupon the attendant would place his telephone in connection with that line
and ascertain what was wanted. Another method sometimes employed consisted in
making use of a special signaling circuit distinct from the substation lines
and placing a person in constant attendance at a telephone connected with this
circuit in the central station to receive the calls from the sub stations, and
thus dispense with a separate signaling apparatus in connection with each line,
as in the first-mentioned arrangement.”
(Specifications and Drawings of
Patents Relating to Electricity Issued by the U. S., Volume 57, 1888.)
1895 Directory: Henry Williams, commercial
merchant
1899 Directory: Henry B. Williams, produce at
402 N. Front St. and 2922 Market St.
1910:
John H. Tinker 75 Married; father born in Mass., mother in
N.J.
Elizabeth Tinker 66 Married 50
years, 7 children, 6 surviving
Samuel B. Tinker 48 General
carpenter; widowed
Annie E. Turner 41 Daughter;
widowed, 3 children
Dorothie Tinker 38 School teacher; single
Elmer Tinker 32 Railroad
machinist; single
John E. Tinker 19 Grandson;
stone cutter at marble yard
Edward S. White 64 Nephew;
widowed; born in
Frank Hilsker 33 Boarder;
locomotive fireman; single
Gertrude L. Turner 22 Granddaughter;
public school teacher
They were from Altoona and lived
there through 1900.
1911 Directory: Anne E. Turner, widow of Howard
Howard Turner died in Altoona, Pa.
in 1906. They were married in 1885.
1912, Mar. 19: Death of Anna Elizabeth (Tinker) Turner of 3208
Baring St.; burial at W. Laurel Hill Cemetery
1912, April 14: Death of John Hayes Tinker, 77 years old; burial
at West Laurel Hill Cemetery
1912 Directory: Dorcas M. Tinker, teacher
Elmer L. Tinker, machinist
John E. Tinker
Gertrude L. Turner, teacher
1918 Directory: Dorcas M. Tinker, teacher
Elmer L. Tinker, machinist
Elizabeth Tinker, widow of John
1920:
Elizabeth C.
Tinker 76 Widowed; owns with a mortgage
Samuel B. Tinker 57 Carpenter;
widowed
Elmer L. Tinker 43 Machinist
for steam railroad
Dorcas Tinker 44 High
school teacher
Gertrude L.
Turner 32 Granddaughter; high school teacher
Evelyn Tinker
8 Granddaughter
1930:
Elizabeth C.
Tinker 86 Widowed; owner, house valued at $12,000
Dorcas Tinker 57 Public
school teacher
Elmer L. Tinker 45 Manager
of trade school
Gertrude L.
Turner 40 Granddaughter; public school teacher
Evelyn Tinker 17 Granddaughter
1933, May 27: Death of Elizabeth McClellan (Cox) Tinker, 89 years
old
1940:
Elmer Tinker 56 Tool clerk at public high school; two years of high school
Dorcas Tinker 68 Sister;
eight years of school
Gertrude Turner 40 Niece;
Public high school teacher; two years of college
1950 Directory: Elmer L. Tinker
Wilbur S. Moore
He
was also listed at 3205 Baring St. where more
information about him is available.
1950, Feb. 10: Death of Dorcus May Tinker, 78
years old
1951, March 17: Death of Elmer Leone Tinker, 73
years old