3404-3406 Baring was built by Thomas D. Crespin as
were 3400-02 and 3408-3410. Crespin usually identified himself as a bricklayer,
although he is listed as a builder in the 1881 city directory. From at least
1856 until the 1870s, he lived at 116 N. 39th St. (which no longer exists) with
his wife and seven children. In the 1870
census he declared $25,000 in real estate and $1,400 in personal property. His
younger brothers, James C. Crispen and Joseph Crispen, probably worked with
him. They were also bricklayers. In the
late 1860s, Joseph lived at 34th and Filbert Sts. He did not claim any real estate.
Thomas Crispen also apparently built 3509-11 and 3417-3421 Hamilton St. (The
name was variously spelled Crespenn or Crispenn.)
“Second
Empire-style, two-and-one-half story double; stone facade over brick
construction. Original wood porch with some alterations in 3404.: Wood cornice
with paired brackets with triglyph detail. Arcuated windows in dormer, slate
shingles, of mansard replaced with asphalt shingles; Circe 1875 alterations to
3404 included three-story projecting bay with decorative pressed metal brick at
first floor.”
(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the
National Register of Historic Places, 1985)
The History
1866, June
14: Transfer of lots 3400, 3402, 3404, 3406, 3408 and 3410 Baring from Richard
Smethurst to William Sellers and John Sellers Jr.
The 1858 Directory lists Richard
Smethurst, conveyancer & accountant, 144 S 4th St.
1873, Jan. 24: Pennsylvania Fire Insurance Co.
survey #9900 for 3404 and 3406 Baring St. Insured value of $5,000 each payable
to Thomas D. Crispin.
It notes that the kitchen (room #2)
has “a cooking range, iron sink, hot and cold water.” (Historical Society of
Pennsylvania)
1874,
June: Deed transferred from Thomas D. Crispen to William G. Steel.
1880:
William Steel 50 Manufacturer
of cloth
Juliet R. Steel 35 Born in
Bethlehem, Pa.
Sarah A. Steel 20
Sophia B. Steel 10
Ethel Steel 7 months
Delia Buck 22 Servant; black; born in N.J.
Katie Chew 30 Servant; black; widowed or divorced
William W. Garrigues Steel worked
for his brother’s firm, E.T. Steel & Co. (
1881, Sept. 24: Birth of Huldah Justice Steel
1889,
July: Deed transferred from William G. & Juliet R. Steel to William
Garrett.
William Garrett was the son of Casper S. and Elizabeth
Garrett and in 1880 lived with them at 626 12th St. In the
mid-1880s, they all moved to 3613 Powelton Ave.
where Casper died in 1897. After 1900, Elizabeth continued living there as did
her daughter Laura..
1889
Oct. 15: William Garrett and Mary Menetto Hall were married at the Church of
the Incarnation by Rev. Joseph D. Newlin. (Phila.
Inquirer, Oct. 17)
1890 Directory: William Casper [Garrett] of C. S. Garrett &
Son.
The
firm owned the Keystone Paper Mills in Upper Darby and the Union Paper Mill.
(There was also the E.T. Garrett Paper Mill in Upper Darby.)
1892: William Garrett joined a lawsuit aimed at stopping the
electric trolleys on Baring St. to replace the old horse-drawn streetcars. (See
the Powelton
History Blog for details.)
1897, June 11: “The late Casper S. Garrett, the well-known paper
manufacturer, left no will and letters of administration were granted on the
estate, to his son and co-partner, William Garrett. The estate is valued at
$325,000.” (Phila. Inquirer)
The estate was dived equally between
Elizabeth Garrett and her children, William and Laura E. Garrett.
1900:
William Garrett 47 Paper
manufacturer; owner free of a mortgage
Mary Garrett 47 Married
10 years, no children [sic., see 1910]; mother born in N.J.
Ellen James 55 Servant;
black; born in
Miss Mason 50 Servant; black; born in Delaware
They
were members of The Church of the Savior (Episcopal).
1904,
Aug. 13: Death of William Garrett, 50 years old.
“William
Garrett, a well-known paper manufacturer and former member of Common Council,
succumbed suddenly yesterday to an attack of heart disease, at the residence of
his mother, 3613 Powelton Ave.” (Inquirer,
Aug. 17)
1906,
August: Deed transferred from Elizabeth W. & Laura E. Garrett to Mary M.
Garrett.
1910:
Mary Garrett 57 Widowed,
4 children, 2 deceased
Mary Gray 60 Servant; never married; born in Ireland,
immigrated in 1890
Harriett E. Long 60 Boarder;
never married; born in Mich.; father born in Conn., mother in Mass.
1920:
Mary Garrett 65 Widowed;
mother born in N.J.; owner, free of a mortgage
Anna Emans 59 Servant; single
1930:
Mary Garrett 75 Widowed; mother born in N.J.; owner
Margaret Nolan 65 Maid;
born in the “Irish Free State,” immigrated in 1900
1931, Sept. 27: “The Sea Scouts of
Philadelphia, the older boy division of the Boy Scouts of America, will
dedicate a pilot house in memory of the late Judge J. Willis Martin… will take
place at the Sea Scout base, located on Jacks Island, above Torresdale….
“The Pilot House is a gift of Mrs.
William Garrett….” (Inquirer)
1931, Nov. 24: DREXEL CO-EDS AIDED
“Two Scholarships Established as
Memorial to Women
“Announcement of the establishment of
two memorial scholarships at Drexel Institute for women students was made
yesterday be Dr. Kenneth G. Matheson, the president. The scholarships, valued
at $1000 each, became available through the generosity of Mrs. Mary M. Garrett,
3404 Baring street, as a tribute to two friends of the donor who contributed
much to the development of Drexel.
“The two thus honored are the late
Sarah Drexel Van Rensselear… and the late Catharine J. MacKay, who graduated
from the then normal course at Drexel in 1907, and was given an honorary
master’s degree from the institute in 1918.” (Inquirer)
1931, Dec. 31: Death of Mary Monetta Garrett,
80 years old, of 3404 Baring St., widow of William Garrett. burial at West
Laurel Hill Cemetery.
“CHARITIES GET BULK OF GARRETT ESTATE
“Residual of Property Valued at
$209,000 Goes to Hahnemann and Episcopal Hospitals.
“The bulk of the $209,000 estate of
Mrs. Mary M. Garrett, 3404 Baring street, is bequeathed to humanitarian,
educational and religious institutions by her will…. She left the residue, in
trust, to the Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital and the Episcopal Hospital
after making many other bequests….
“Mrs. Garrett… gave the right to
occupy her house to Mrs. Phebe Garrett Evans, wife of William W. Evans,
Malvern, requesting that she use it as a winter home for the remainder of her
lifetime, if she desires….” (Inquirer)
1940:
Hal Cross 51 Automotive machinist, earned $1,800 in 1939; born in NY; 8
years of school; renting for $45 per month
Carrie Cross 53 Born in NY; 8 years of school
Lloyd Cross 31 Automotive machinist; born in NY; 1 year high school
Sue Amberiki 29 Lodger; textile worker in cotton mill, earned $728 in 1939; 8
years of school
— 2nd
household
Michael DeStefano 24 Secretary
for meat packer, earned $720 in 1939; 4 years college; lived in W. Pittston,
Luzerne Co. in 1935; renting for $28 per month
Catherine
DeStefano 23 Wife; 4 years high school; lived in Old Forge, Lackawanna Co.
in 1935
1950 Directory: Louise R. Hilbert
1950:
Louise R. Hilbert 58 Proprietor
of pensioner’s Home; widowed; born in Canada
Mary L. Bell 57 Lodger; single
Margaret B.
Barrett 74 Lodger; widowed; mother born in N. Ireland; received $800 in
non-wage income in 1949; 12 years of schooling
Helen Cannon 75 Lodger;
widowed; parent s born in Irish Free State; received $360 in non-wage income in
1949; 8 years of schooling
Andrew M. Dick 63 Lodger;
single; born in Scotland; received $700 in non-wage income in 1949; 8 years of
schooling
Alice Buckley 80 Lodger;
single
J. May Mitchell 81 Lodger;
single
Anne M.
Culbertson 84 Lodger; single
M. Edna Sietz 74 Lodger; widowed; born in NJ; received $700 in non-wage income
in 1949; 8 years of schooling
Amanda Cooper 86 Lodger;
single
Note:
information of education, parents’ birthplace, and income only available for
every fifth individual.
1955, Nov.: 3404 Baring St. was the polling
place for Ward 24, Div. 1.
1968 Directory: Sabastiano J.