3406 Baring Street
3404-3406 Baring
was 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,
March: Deed transferred from Thomas D. Crispen to John & Caroline A.
Laughlin.
1878,
Aug. 20: Death of Jessie Laughlin, 12 months old, daughter of J. W. and Carrie
H. Laughlin
1880:
John W. Laughlin 48 Wholesale
grocery
Carrie Laughlin 44
Mary
Laughlin 17
J. Harry Laughlin
14
Sarah Toner 20 Servant; born in
Maggie Walsh 20 Servant;
born in
In 1870, they lived in the sixth
house above [?] Haverford on N 43rd St.
Laughlin was in business with
brothers-in-law Samuel A. Coyle and John A. Linn in S. A. Coyle, J. W. Laughlin
& J. A. Linn, at 615 Market. Laughlin may also have been a relative through
Linn’s mother, Catherine Laughlin. The Coyle and Linn families lived at 231 N. 36th St. (the southeast corner of
36th and Baring).
1890 Directory: J. Henry Laughlin
John W. Laughlin (Sinclair & Laughlin)
Sinclair
& Laughlin (William M. Sinclair & John W. Laughlin), grocers, 225 &
227 Arch St.
1895 Directory: John W. Laughlin, president of J. W. Laughlin
& Son, 50 S. Front St.
1900:
John W.
Laughlin 68 Capitalist;
owner with a mortgage
Caroline A.
Laughlin 65 Married 40 years, 3 children, 2 surviving
Mary E. Laughlin 37
John H. Laughlin 36
Frances W.
Laughlin 32 Daughter-in-law; married 5 years, 1 child
Rachael Laughlin 2 Granddaughter
Mary Flannagan 27 Servant;
born in Ireland, immigrated in 1889
Kate Mc Laughlin 29 Servant;
born in Ireland, immigrated in 1888
1901, Aug.13: Death of Caroline Patterson Laughlin, 65 years old.
Burial at West Laurel Hill Cemetery.
Property inherited by Mary E.
Laughlin.
1904: The property was listed for sale but did
not change hands. (Inquirer, Nov. 27)
1905: Ad
for sale: “3406 Baring St., 31 by 178 to Pearl, fine residence location;
excellent filtration [of water] has reduced typhoid fever 86 per cent. in
district east of Thirty-eighth in West Phila.”
(Inquirer, Jan 22)
1906: The property was again listed for sale
but did not change hands. (Inquirer, Aug. 5)
1907: The property was again listed for sale
but did not change hands. (Inquirer, May 26)
1908 Catalogue of the Univ. of Penna.
“
601
1908 Yearbook: American Society of Mechanical
Engineers
“FULLER, Allen
Jenckes (1901), Supt., Bureau of Water, City Hall, and for mail, 3406 Baring
St., Philadelphia, Pa.”
1910:
John W.
Laughlin 78 Broker (rest
illegible)
John H. Laughlin 44 Son;
dry goods inspector (?)
Francis W.
Laughlin 42 Daughter-in-law; married 15 years, one child
Rachael C.
Laughlin 12 Granddaughter
Mary E. Laughlin 47 Daughter;
single
David H. Ritchey 30 Boarder;
school superintendent
Henrietta M.
Ritchey 39 Boarder; dentist; married 6 years, no children
Andrew F. Jackson
30 Boarder;
born in
Susan Wise 21 Servant; born in
1911, Sep. 4: Death of John W. Laughlin, age 79, son of John
Laughlin and Mary Williamson
1919 Women’s Undergraduate Record [Yearbook], Univ. Penna.:
“Rachel C.
Laughlin, Ed.
‘Where are you going, my pretty maid?
‘I’m going to Penn again, sir, she said.
‘Boredom and study cannot hinder me,
‘When I’ve set my heart on a master’s
degree.
‘Π
ΛΘ; Sophomore Honors.’ ”
1920:
Mary E. Laughlin 57 Single; owned
with a mortgage
Francis W. Laughlin 51 Sister-in-law;
clerk in a department store; widowed
Rachel Laughlin 22 Niece;
stenographer at Univ. of Penna.
Elizabeth J. Brown 44 Servant
1928,
January: Deed transferred from Mary E. Laughlin to National Bank of Manayunk.
1930:
Frances W. Laughlin 63 Married,
married at age 27; owner, house valued at $25,000
Rachael C.
Laughlin 32 Daughter
Mary E. Laughlin 67 Sister-in-law;
single
1940: Apparently missed by the 1940
census.
1940, Dec. 5: Title transferred to Fidelity
Philadelphia Trust Co.
1945: Listed for sale: “3406 Baring. Vacant. 3-story, stone &
brick, spacious grounds. $8000.” (Inquirer, Sept. 22) This is equivalent
to approximately $115,000 in 2020.
1946, Jul. 17: Title transferred to Ann M.
Dougherty by Fidelity Philadelphia Trust Co.
1946, Aug. 24: Title transferred to Mary M.
O'Donnell by Ann M. Dougherty
1946, Dec. 1: Title transferred to Ernest
Cooper and Francis, his wife by Mary M. O'Donnell
Ernest
Arthur Cooper was the son of Ernest and Mildred Cooper. In 1920, he lived with
them at 3616
Baring St. and in 1930 at 3614
Baring St. The history of the family is given on the page for 3616.
1950 Directory: J. Rogers Davis
John R. Davison
1950:
1st floor:
Ernest A. Cooper 35 Salesman of
wholesale paper products
Frances Cooper 32 Born in NJ
David Cooper 8
Judith Cooper 5
Janet Cooper 4
2nd floor: Vacant
3rd floor
John Davison 30 Passenger
conductor for railroad co.
Mildred Davison 30
Mary Davison 7
John Davison, Jr. 4
Patricia Davison 1
Judith
Cooper graduated from Wellesley and Jefferson Medical College. She married in
1970 when her parents were living in Springfield, Delaware Co. (Inquirer,
Oct. 25)
1950: Rental ad: “ENTIRE floor, mod[ern], 2 bedrs.,
dining rm., kitch., pvt.
Bath & entr. Own util[ities].
Must have baby, $65 mo. 3406. [tel.] EV 6-7203.” (Inquirer, Sept 4)
1955, Mar. 7: Title transferred to Howard and
Relend Cooper by Ernest and Francis Cooper and Francis
1968 Directory: A. Glass