3311 Baring Street

 

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: image003

 

 

The History of the Building

 

three-story, Italianate-style, double, roughcast over brick. First-floor. full-height windows, original wood porch with part of balustrade missing. Segmental windows below overhanging flat roof with large wood sinuous brackets”

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

 

Previous Residents

 

1861 Directory: Dixon Isaac, watchmaker & jeweller at 222 S. 10th St.

            The 1860 census lists Isaac and Ann G. Dixon living in the 8th Ward with their two children.

 

1865, Nov. 25: Title transferred to Rev. Henry Weed, D.D. by Ann G. Dixon

 

1867 Directory: Weed Henry R. (Rev.)

Weed N. H., confectioner at, 3201 Darby Rd.

 

1868 Directory: Weed Henry R. (Rev.)

 Paull Alfred (Rev.)

 

1870:

Alfred Paull                 43        Doctor of Divinity; born in Va.; real estate: $50,000, personal: $20,000

Mary Paull                   41        Born in Va.

Henry W. Weed           83        [Father-in-law]; Doctor of Divinity; born in Va.; personal: $20,000

Sarah W. Weed            41        [Sister-in-law[; born in Va.

Annie Paul                   23        Born in Va.

Phoebe Paull                15        Born in Va.

George Paull                12        Born in Va.

Millie Paull                     9        Born in Va.

Mary Paull                     6        Born in Va.

Rebecca Pulbeston       25        Servant; born in Ireland

            Rev. Alfred Paull and Mary Rowland Weed were married June 25, 1844 in Ohio, Virginia.  In 1880, they lived at 3609 Baring St.

 

1870, Dec. 14: Death of Rev. William Henry Rowland Weed

 

1870: Title transferred to Sarah P. Weed by will

 

1872: Marriage of Ann Elizabeth Woods Paull to Samuel Morrow Palmer of 3204 Arch St.

            Samuel Palmer died in 1875.  In 1880, she was living with her family at 3609 Baring St.

 

1872, Nov. 18: Death of Alfred Paull of 3311 Baring St. He was pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Hestonville, West Philadelphia.

 

1873 Directory: Weed Sarah P.

                         Paull Mary R., widow of Rev. Alfred

 

1880:

Joseph Knight              40        Gentleman

Cornelia Knight           38        Born in Del.

Lizzie B. Knight           18        At school

Anna M. Knight           16        At school

Joseph Knight                4

Richard Morrell           49        Boarder; upholsterer; married

Richard Morrell, Jr       21        Boarder; manufacturing

Eddie Morrell              18        Boarder

Blanche Morrell           16        Boarder

Henry Johnson            30        Boarder; dry goods merchant; married; born in N.J.

Clara Johnson              30        Boarder; married; born in Del.

Emily Burks                 50        Boarder; widowed/divorced

Mary Martin                 61        Boarder; widowed; has a paralysis

Josephine Rogers         16        Servant; black; born in Md.

 

1882, Feb. 7: Death of Mrs. Mary Ann Ward, 71 years old, of 3311 Baring St. She was born in Philadelphia.  Burial at Woodlands Cemetery. (Phila. Death Index)

 

1882, Sep. 1: Title transferred to Tabetha L. Viguers by Sarah P. Weed

 

1883, Oct. 7: Death of Rebecca Jane Thomson, 48 years old, of 3311 Baring St. She was born in Philadelphia and never married.  Burial at Woodlands Cemetery. (Phila. Death Index)

           

1887 & 1890 Directories: Pehrson B. Calvert (P. B. Calvert & Co.)

 

1890 Census Veterans Schedule: Pehrson Calvert, Private, Keystone Battery, PA, May, 1863 - Sept. 1863.

                        Private, Keystone Battery, PA, July, 1864 - Oct., 1864.

 

1893, Oct. 13: Permit granted: “Joseph Doyle, contractor, three-story brick back building, 16 by 22, at 3311 Baring street.” (Inquirer)

 

1897, Oct. 7: Death of Clara Calvert, 52 years old, of 3311 Baring St.  Burial at Woodlands Cemetery. (Phila. Death Index)

            Pehrson Butler Calvert married Clara Thomson at Trinity Episcopal Church in Philadelphia on Nov. 23, 1870.

1898 Blue Book: P. B. Calvert & daughter

 

1899, Dec. 27: Death of Frank Sparks Calvert, 21 years old,, son of Pehrson B. and the late Clara Calvert. Funeral from his late residence, 3311 Baring St.  Burial at Woodlands Cemetery. He was working as a clerk. The cause of death was heart disease.

 

1900, Feb. 6: Marriage of Cora L. Murray of Canal Dover, Ohio to Pehrson B. Calvert of 3311 Baring St.   The marriage took place in Canal Dover. (Phila. Inquirer)

 

1900:

Pehrson B. Calvert       54        Fine plate dealer; father born in England; owner with a mortgage

Cora L. Calvert            30        Married less than one year, no children; born in Ohio

Louis L. Calvert           28        Son; architect

Alan Calvert                25        Son

Louisa Brown              22        Servant; born in Ga.

 

1901, Oct. 7: “Mr. Henry Cochran and family, who have been for some time at Belmar, N. J., are now at their city residence, 3311 Baring street.” (Inquirer)

 

1906 Blue Book: Mr. and Mrs. P. B. Calvert

                           Alan Calvert

 

1910:

Pehrson B. Calvert      64        Father born in England; owner, free of a mortgage

Cora Calvert                40        Married 10 years, no children; born in Ohio

Grace Patterson           36        Servant; widowed with one child; born in England

 

1913, Nov. 24: Death of Pehrson B. Calvert, 67 years old. Services at his late residence, 3311 Baring St. (Phila. Inquirer)

            His estate was valued at $1,382, equivalent to about $31,000 in 2011 dollars. (Phila. Inquirer, April 15, 1915)

 

1914, Philadelphia Inquirer: “Mrs. Madeline C. Bonniwell, wife of Municipal Court Judge Bonniwell, has taken title from Cora L. Calvert to the property at 3311 Baring street for $7925.” (April 14, 1914)

 

1916:  Judge Eugene C. Bonniwell elected president of Sons of the American Revolution, (PA Society); (magazine of the same, v. 11-13. Pg 25).

              In 1880, his family lived at 1117 South St.  The 1891 Directory lists him as a student living there.  The 1895 Directory lists him as a lawyer with an office at 502 Walnut St. and living at 2003 South St.  In 1900, he lived with his parents and siblings at 3803 Spruce St.  His father was a shirt cutter.  His parents had been married 27 years and had 7 children.  In 1910, Eugene and Madeline Bonniwell lived in Radnor, Delaware Co.  They had been married 16 years.

 

Eugene C. Bonniwell

            Eugene Cleophas Bonniwell was born 1872 in Philadelphia. He married Madeleine Helene Cahill in 1900. Lawyer, municipal judge in Pa: 1914-39. Democratic candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania, 1918, 1926, 1934 (primary); candidate for justice of Pennsylvania state supreme court, 1921. Catholic. Member, Sons of the American Revolution; Sons of the Revolution; Sons of Union Veterans; Knights of Columbus; Moose. He was the son of Evander Berry Bonniwell and Elizabeth (Doherty) Bonniwell. (Politicalgraveyard.com)

 

            Judge Bonniwell was the Democratic “wet” (i.e., anti-prohibition) candidate for governor in 1918.  He was also opposed to the anti-Semitism of such prominent figures as Henry Ford. He hosted several meetings of Democratic leaders at his home.

 

            “Eugene Cleophas Bonniwell. B. Sept. 25, 18?2; LL. B. 1893; Ph. B. hon., Villanova Coll.; pole vault champion, Univ. of Pa., 93; Judge Municipal court, Phila.; chrmn of Civilian Organization of Comm. of Public Safety of Pa.; Chancellor, Gen. Nation Soc. Sons of Am. Revolution; Registrar Order of Lafayette, Deputy Registrar Order of Washington, etc.; author “Citizenship”; mem, City Business and Locust Clubs; Motor Truck Assn.; B. P. O. E.; Hist. Soc. of Pa.; Am. Cath. Hist. Soc.; 690 City Hall and 3311 baring St., Phila., Pa.”

(Univ. of Pennsylvania Alumni Catalogue. 1922)

 

1917: Eugene Cleophas Bonniwell: listed as graduate LL.B. 1893; judge Municipal Court, Phila.

            (U. of P. General Alumni Catalogue. Pg. 510)

 

1919: Judge Eugene C. Bonniwell elected to membership American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia (Records of same, v. 30.).

 

1920:

Eugene C. Bonniwell               46        Municipal Court judge; father born in Wisc., mother in Ireland; owner with a mortgage

Madeline C. Bonniwell             40        Born in N.Y., father born in N.Y., mother in Ireland

Eugene C. Bonniwell               18

Robert G. Bonniwell               16

John G. Bonniwell                   14

Bernard H. Bonniwell              11

Madeline H. Bonniwell              9

Alfred F. Bonnewell                  8

Geneva Adams                        21        Servant; black; father born in Del., mother in Va.

 

1920: Eugene Cahill Bonniwell, Jr., (Catalogue of U. of P. pg 398).

 

1920, Oct. 22:  Phila. Inquirer: “Boy Tells of Long List of Robberies.  Young Forger Admits Robbing Judge Bonniwell’s Home Among Others.  Expensive Champagne and Whisky Found in His N. Y. Apartment.

            “Charles Henry Hoffman may have been young, but he had old ideas.  Working as an office boy for a prominent law firm during the week, according to his confession, he lived sumptuously at a New York apartment over the week-ends, where he acquired no mean reputation as a ‘spender.’

            “Charles was arrested Wednesday by private detectives when he attempted to cash checks on his employer which he later confessed to have forged…. At his hearing at the House of Detention yesterday he admitted his guilt, also voluntarily confessing to several other robberies he committed last summer.

            “While working as a Western Union messenger last June, Hoffman, who is only 15 years old now, had occasion to deliver a message at the residence of Eugene C. Bonniwell, judge of the municipal Court, at 3211 [sic.] Baring street.  He found no one home, he told detectives, and so made another trip later, the second time entering the house by removing a pane of glass and opening a window.  He confessed to stealing a gold watch, a typewriter, two revolvers, and a quantity of children’s toys from the house, making two trips….

            Reports from New York, which confirmed his week-end residence there, tell of the sumptuous furnishings of his apartment, including expensive portieres, Chinese bric-a-brac and costly rugs.  Five-dollar tips to bell boys were nothing in his young life, and he realized the need of a cellar to complete his dream luxury, for in the apartment were found five bottles of champagne and a quantity of bonded liquors….

            Hoffman’s parents lived in Collingswood, N.J.  His father is a pressman in a large publishing house in this city.  His mother told the police that he had brought some of the stolen goods home, but had said he was buying them on the installment plan….”

 

1925, June 3: “Referee Herman Baetzell, dean of basketball referees, and William Kennedy, veteran cage manager, have been appointed to the Rules Committee of the newly formed Easter Cage League. The committee is to meet tonight at the residence of Judge Eugene C. Bonniwell, 3311 Baring street, to go over the entire professional rules, submit changes and make a general revision of the entire code….” (Inquirer)

 

1929: Death of Madeleine H. Bonniwell, 56 years old

 

1930:

Eugene Bonniwell                   52        Municipal Court judge; widowed; parents born in Ireland [sic.]; owner, house valued at $10,000.

Eugene Bonniwell, Jr.              28        Life insurance

Robert Bonniwell                    26        Clerk for a stock and brokerage co.

John Bonniwell                        24

Bernard Bonniwell                   21

Madeline Bonniwell                 19

Alfred Bonniwell                     17

Eleanore Bonniwell                 16

 

1934, Aug. 27: Marriage of Roberta C. Ranck to Eugene C. Bonniwell

            They were married in the prior’s chapel of St. Vincent Ferrer’s Catholic Church.  She was 31, he was 61.

“JUDGE BONNIWELL WEDS MISS RANCK

            “Jurist, 61, Takes Noted Woman Athlete, 31, as Bride in N. Y.

“Judge Eugene C. Bonniwell, for the past 20 year a member of the Municipal Court bench and twice Democratic nominee for Governor, was married yesterday morning in New York to Miss Roberta C. Ranck, internationally known woman athlete.

“Judge Bonniwell, who is 61, and his bride, who is 31, were married by the former’s brother, Rev. William J. Bonniwell, in the Prior's Chapel of St. Vincent Farrer's Catholic Church, 66th st., and Lexington ave., New York.

“Miss Ranck was received into the church last Sunday at Ocean City, N. J., by Rev. Thomas F. Blake, rector of St. Augustine Church at the resort.

“The wedding ceremony was witnessed by Judge Bonniwell's five sons, two daughters and daughter-in-law, and by the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Marcus D. Ranck, of 6324 N. Camac st., this city, and their son.

“Leave on Honeymoon

“Following a wedding breakfast at the Plymouth Hotel, Judge and Mrs. Bonniwell left for a motor trip through New England. Upon their return they will reside at Judge Bonniwell’s home, 3311 Baring st.

“The marriage was a complete surprise to even the most intimate of Judge Bonniwell’s friends, who understood merely that he was taking his regular summer vacation.

“His bride is known literally around the world as ‘Bobble’ Ranck, whose proficiency in almost every sport in which a woman may compete has won her laurels and acclaim both here and abroad. She is captain of the Golden Wreath team of the Philadelphia Turngemeinde, and for the past 15 year has held the American women's athletic championship, she has held successive women's records in track, field, and aquatic events, and in fencing.

“Judge Bonniwell's first wife died in October, 1929. He was born in Philadelphia and spent his entire life here. He was graduated from the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1893, and later continued his active interest in athletic events which he evinced during undergraduate days, when he was a track and field star.

“He was Democratic candidate for the Governorship in 1918 and 1926. and was defeated in the fight for the nomination last spring. He is a member of numerous patriotic and fraternal organizations, and has received decoration from Italy, Poland and Montenegro.” (Inquirer)

 

1940:

Mary Joyce Dennis                   55        renting for $60 per month

Ghity Skeeky                           31        Lodger; waiter in a restaurant, earned $1,200 in 1939; born in Eire (Ireland)

John J. Ferguson                      28        Lodger; lawyer in a law office, earned $1,780 in 1939; lived in Scranton, Pa. in 1935

Helen Harriett Woodrow         29        Clerk for auto dealer, earned $1,180 in 1939; single; 4 years of high school; renting for $15 per month

 

1950 Directory: Eugene C. Courtney

                          Carroll H. Keelor

                          George Levy

                          Herbert M. Loy

 

1968 Directory: Taylor C. L., 1st floor

 

 

1969, Aug. 30: “Roderick Thomas [above], 3511 Baring st., has been appointed to the newly-created position of Director of Unit Management at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.  He has been with Jefferson since December 1968.  He was previously an administrative officer with the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s office and prior to that in an administrative capacity at Philadelphia General Hospital”  (Phila. Tribune)

 

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Revised 2/24/2022

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