3418 Baring Street
3416-18: “three-story,
Italianate double; rough cast over brick, shallow sloping front gable…. 3418
has Eastlake-inspired porch detail. The facade is symmetrical with central
tripartite configurations having blind middle openings. Architect: possibly
Samuel Sloan, 3418 altered in the 1890s by A.W. Dilks.”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the national register of Historic
Places, 1985)
The History
1862, December:
Deed transferred from Robert Steen to Mary S. Henry.
Mary Steen
Henry was the daughter of Robert Steen.
1863
Directory: Rev. Addison Henry [S.E. Baring & 35th]
The 1867
directory lists him at 3313 Spring Garden St. They returned to this address
about 1869-70.
1867
Directory: Edward F. Gay president, Philadelphia & Erie Railroad. Co., 230
Walnut
The 1866
directory listed them living on Walnut St. near 40th.
1868
Directory: Edward F. Gay, president at 230 Walnut
George
L. Gay, engineer
In 1870 Edward lived at 3419 Hamilton St. he and his family returned to
this address in 1873.
1870:
Rev. James A[ddison]
Henry 34 Doctor of Divinity; real estate: $10,000; property: $2,000
Mary S[teen]
Henry 33 Real estate: $40,000; property: $2,000
Margaret S.
(Maggie) Henry 8 Attending school
Mary McMonegal 22 Domestic servant; her parents were born abroad
Catherine McCullough 45 Domestic
servant; born in Ireland; can read but not write
1904
Who’s Who in Pa.: “HENRY,
James Addison: Clergyman, Presbyterian; born in Cranbury, N. J., Oct. 28, 1836;
son of Rev. Dr. Symmes C. Henry, who was for 37 years
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Cranbury, N. J., and Catharine Rowly Henry; he was graduated from the College of New
Jersey (now Princeton University), 1857, and from the Princeton Theological
Seminary, 1860; received the degree of D. D. from the Central College, Ky., and
from Washington and Jefferson College, Pa.; pastor of Princeton Presbyterian
Church, Philadelphia, from June, 1860, until the present time. Married in
Philadelphia, July 25, 1861, Mary S., daughter of Robert Steen. Trustee
Princeton University; Director Princeton Theological Seminary; Trustee and
Director of many benevolent institutions; President Pennsylvania industrial
Home for Blind Women. Has visited Europe many times and represented the
Presbyterian Church in several Pan-Presbyterian Councils; Republican in
politics. Has published numerous sermons and addresses and has written numerous
articles for religious and secular papers; is Moderator of the Presbyterian
General Assembly now in session at Buffalo.”
1870 & 1871 Directories: Rev. J. Addison Henry
The 1874 directory shows they moved
back to 3313 Spring Garden St. Later they lived at 3814 Powelton Ave.
1873,
January: Deed transferred from Mary S. Henry to Edward F. & Helen S. Gay.
1873
Directory: Edward F. Gay, president [Philadelphia and Erie Railroad] 233 S. 4th
In 1870, he
and his second wife, Angeline, at 3419 Hamilton St.
1875,
June 6: Death of Edward F. Gay, 73 years old; burial at Woodlands Cemetery
1876
& 1877 Directories: Roberts Stevenson, John B. Stevenson & Son
1878
Directory: Roberts Stevenson, linseed oil, 433 York Ave.
1880:
Angelina Gay 70 Born in N.Y.
Angelina Malin 18 Granddaughter
Jason Keen 55 Son-in-law; gentleman
Cornelia Keen 51 Daughter
Clara Keen 26 Granddaughter
Walter L. Keen 24 Grandson; civil engineer
Charles H. Keen 21 Grandson; clerk
Caroline Cresson 49 Boarder
Edward Blakiston 32 Border; merchant
Harry Blakiston 10
Boarder; at school; born in N.Y.,
parents born in Pa.
Catharine Madden 28 Cook; born in Ireland
Sarah Melvy 28 Servant; born in Ireland
Angelina was the widow of Edward F.
Gay. His first wife was Clarissa Bishop, Angelina’s sister. Angelina Malin was Edward Gay’s granddaughter and Angelina Gay’s grandniece.
She was the daughter of George Malin, Jr. (1836-1880)
and Elizabeth B. (Gay) Malin. She died in 1884.
Jason Fenimore Keen was the son of
Joseph Swift Keen. In 1870, they lived at 3324
Bridge (Spring Garden) St. He died in April, 1900.
Cornelia Gay Keen died in April, 1897.
1882, October: Deed transferred from Angelina Gay, executor to
Helen S. Grant wife of Charles B. Grant.
1886,
April: Deed transferred from Edward F. & Helen S. Gay to Frederic Schoff.
In the 1881 through 1886
Directories, he was listed living at 3451 Walnut St. He was treasurer at 1505
and 1509 Pennsylvania Ave.
[Note: His first name is variously
spelled with and without the final “k.”
His birth certificate has the “k” but he may have preferred the other
spelling which appears on his death certificate.]
1887 Dir: Schoff
Frederick, treasurer at 2224 Pennsylvania Ave. living at 3418 Baring st.
1888,
October: Deed transferred from Fred Schoff to George B. Morrell (Trustee).
1888,
October: Deed transferred from George B. Morrell (Trustee) to Hannah K. Schoff.
1890 Dir.: Frederic Schoff 2218 Penna. Ave., h 3418
Baring
1893: Frederick Schoff becomes sole owner of the Stow Flexible
Shaft Co.
1895 Directory: Frederick Schoff, treasurer at N 26th corner of
Callowhill
Wilfred H. Schoff
1895, Jan. 30: Want ad: “Chambermaid wanted; neat,
competent young girl, good washer and ironer; ref. 3418 Baring st.” (Inquirer)
Ads for servants were very common
around the turn of the century. The Schoffs
frequently advertised for help.
1898: Edith Schoff graduates from Bryn Mawr
1900 Directory: Frederic Schoff, Stow Flexible Shaft Co., Ltd.
Wilfred Schoff,
secretary at 233 S. 4th St.
1900, Jan. 10: Want ad: “Chambermaid –
Intelligent young woman for light chamberwork,
sewing, and assist with children over 5; reference….” (Inquirer)
1900:
Frederick Schoff 51 Manufacturer,
tool builder; born in Mass. in Oct. 1848; owner with a mortgage
Hannah K. Schoff 46 No
occupation listed; father born in England
Wilfred Schoff 25 Born
in Mass.
Edith G. Schoff 23 Born
in Mass.
Louise Schoff 19
Leonard H. Schoff 15
Harold K. Schoff 13
Eunice M. Schoff
9
Albert L.
Schoff 6
Nellie O. MacKenzie 21
Susan McGlinchy 21 Servant; born in Ireland, immigrated
1895
William V. Colden 20 Servant;
black; born in Va.
For a brief bio of Hannah Schoff,
see the Powelton
Post, June, 2009. An interview
with her given in 1917 is available from the Powelton
History Blog.
1901, Dec. 15: “At a recent meeting of the
Board of Directors of the New Century Club, the following resolution was pass:
‘Resolved, that the New Century Club authorizes the Committee on Industrial
Problems and Social Services to receive and solicit contributions from the
public for the salaries of probation officers and to invite representatives of
other organizations to join with them in co-operating with the Juvenile Court,
forming a central representative committee to carry out the provisions of the
laws secured by the New Century Club for the protection of the children of
Philadelphia.’ Mrs. Frederick Schoff, of 3418 Baring street, is chairman.” (Inquirer)
This marks an important moment in
Philadelphia history. With Hannah Schoff’s leadership
the New Century Club got the City to set up the nation’s second juvenile
justice system. Hannah Schoff raised the money to hire probations officers,
families were found to take in troubled children who would otherwise have been
put in prison with adults. Hanna Schoff attended every court proceeding of the
new Juvenile Court for several years to ensure the judges were following the
goals of the new court. The full story is given in a post on Powelton History
Blog - Hannah
Schoff - The "Mother" of the Nation's Organized Mothers.
1902: Louise Schoff graduates from Bryn Mawr
1903, Oct. 8: “CONGRESS OF MOTHERS. President
arrives to Atten Executive Meeting.
“Miss Alice McClellan Birney, one of
the foremost workers in the country in the interests of women and honorary
president of the National Congress of Mothers, arrived in the city yesterday to
take part in the deliberations of the Executive Board of the Congress, which
takes place to-day and to-morrow. During her stay, here, Miss Birney will be
the guest of Mrs. Hannah Schoff, national president of the Congress, ay 3418
Baring street.
“The sessions will be held at Mrs. Schoff’s residence….” (Inquirer)
One of the outcomes of these
meetings was to push for the expulsion of Senator Reed Smoot of Utah from the
U.S. Senate over his support for polygamy. (Inquirer, Nov. 22) This “war
against polygamy” was also the focus of a meetings at 3418 Baring in 1904 and
1905. (Inquirer, June 9, 1904 and Jan. 25, 1905) Smoot’s seating in the
Senate was held up for four years over this controversy.
1904, Oct. 19: Permit issued to “R. Jenkins
Straw, shelf bay window, 6.8 x 6 ft. 3418 Baring st.,
for Frederic Schoff. Cost $100.” (Inquirer)
1904, Oct. 26: A meeting of the Executive
Committee of the National Congress of Mothers at 3418 Baring St. extended the
scope of the organization to international work. (Inquirer)
1906, June 21: Marriage of Edith G. Schoff to John J. Boericke at the Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborg),
22nd & Chestnut Sts.
1908 Directory: Frederic Schoff, Stow Flexible Shaft Co., Ltd.
Harold K. Schoff, clerk
Leonard Schoff, manager
1908: Harold K. Schoff graduated from Cornell University,
following in the footsteps of his father.
1908, Nov. 7: Louise Schoff married George Edgar Ehrman.
1910:
Frederic Schoff 61 Manufacturer;
born in Mass., father born in Vt., mother in Mass.
Hannah K. Schoff 55 No
occupation; Married 36 years, 7 children, all surviving
Leonard Schoff 25 Manager in a wool mill
Albert Schoff 16
Enice Schoff 19
Elizabeth Pacey 22 Servant;
born in Ireland, immigrated in 1902
Margaret Smalley 20 Servant;
born in Ireland, immigrated in 1908
Leonard
Hastings Schoff married Suzanne Levick of Bala, Pa., on June 9, 1917. He was living at 1830
Rittenhouse Sq.
1912
& 1914 Directories:
National Congress of Mothers [Hannah Schoff was president]
1913, Aug. 14: “Mrs. Schoff Will Link Schools and Homes of Nation
“Philadelphian
Chosen Head of U. S. Educational Department
“Has
International Reputation as President of Mothers’ Congress
“Millions
of children throughout the country will be bound together by a newly created
home department of National Education, to be headed by Mrs. Frederic Schoff, of
3418 Baring street, president of the National Congress of Mothers,
editor-in-chief of its organ, ‘Child Welfare Magazine,’ according to the
appointment announced yesterday from the office of Dr. Philander Priestly,
United States Commission of Education.” The articles goes on to discuss the
work done by the National Congress of Mothers, the Home and School Leagues, and
the Parent and Teachers’ Association to link homes and school. (Inquirer)
The National Congress of Mothers expanded it scope by
forming the Parent and Teacher’s Association (PTA).
1913 Harvard Directory: Leonard Hastings Schoff, A.B. 1904, A.M.
1905, occupation: manufacturing.
Harold, Beatrice, Wilfred, Hannah (Kent),
and Frederic Schoff, Edith (Schoff) Boericke, Albert
Schoff, and John J. Boericke
1918, May 10: Marriage of Lucy Augusta Porter, age 19, daughter of
Alfred S. Porter to Albert Lawrence Schoff at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church,
Philadelphia.
Frederick and Hannah Schoff, Albert and
Lucy (Porter) Schoff, and Mr. and Mrs. Alfred S. Porter at 3418 Baring St.
1918, Oct. 23: Marriage of Eunice Margaret Schoff to Harry M.
Simons
“Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Schoff of
3418 Baring St., have issued invitations for the wedding of their daughter,
Miss Eunice H. Schoff, and Corporal Harry M. Simons, U. S. M. C., son of Mrs.
S. K. Simons… in the Church of the New Jerusalem, Chestnut Street and
Twenty-second. Only the immediate family will be present.” (Evening
Public Ledger, Oct. 18)
The ceremony was limited to the
immediate family by regulations by the Board of Health that were apparently a
result of the epidemic of Spanish influenza. (Evening Public Ledger, Oct. 21)
Harry
Simons was the son of Fannie W. Simons. In 1900, they lived at 4725 Chester
Ave.
1918, Oct. 30: “The elementary school history from which
Philadelphia children have been reading gentle sentences about Germany’s part in
the war. will be rejected by the children and their parents, it was said
yesterday, even if the Board of Public Education does not withdraw the book….”
“Mrs.
Frederick Schoff, of 3418 Baring street, president of the National Congress of
Mothers’ Associations, who is deeply interested in cleansing American schools
of pro-Germanism, declared she had not seen the book in question, ’but this
protest,’ she said, ‘is a good proof of the safeguards the public as well as
school boards are placing around schools.” (Inquirer)
1920:
Frederic Schoff 72 manufacturer,
machines; owns house free of mortgage
Hannah K. Schoff 67 No
occupation listed
Harry M. Simons 31 Manager,
electric company
Eunice
S. Simons 29
1922, Feb. 27: Death of Frederick Schoff
“Frederick
Schoff [Cornell class of 1871] died of heart failure on February 27 at his
home, 3418 Baring Street, Philadelphia.
“He
was a son of Stephen A. Schoff, artist and steel engraver, and Josephine
(Hastings) Schoff, of Newton, Mass., and was a lineal descendant of John
Robinson, minister of the Pilgrim congregation at Leyden, and of John Schoff,
who served in Washington’s body guard at Valley Forge
and fought throughout the Revolutionary War. He entered the University in 1868
and received the degree of B.C.E. in June, 1871. Then
he returned to Newton, and was elected first city
engineer of that city after its incorporation. He went to Philadelphia in 1874,
and has since been proprietor of the Stow Flexible Shaft Company.
“Mr.
Schoff was a member of the Church of the New Jerusalem, and president of the
board of trustees of that church. He was also president of the Men’s Club and a
member of the Union League, the Sons of the Revolution, the Historical Society
of Pennsylvania, and the Cornellian Council, and a director of the Philadelphia
Bourse and the National Bank of Clifton Heights, Pa. He had always been one of
the most entertaining and loveable members of his class, and he and Mrs. Schoff
attended its fiftieth reunion last June.
“He
is survived by his widow, three daughters, and four sons, two of whom are
Cornellians, Albert L. Schoff, ’14 and Harold K. Schoff ’08.” (Cornell
Alumni News)
1930:
Hannah K. Schoff 76 Widowed; owner
of house, value: $15,000
Eunice S. Simmons 40 Daughter;
married at age 30
Harry M. Simons 42 Son-in-law;
manager, paper box manufacturer; married at age 32
Warren K. Simons 10 Grandson
Walter B. Simons 9 Grandson
1940:
Mrs. Frederick Schoff 87 Widowed;
four years of high school; owner, house valued at $13,100
Wilmot Schoff 37 Granddaughter;
private nurse, earned $900 in 1939 for 36 weeks of work; four years of college;
she lived here in 1935
Mrs. Lillian Altred 55 Guest; companion, earned $1,100 in 1939; widowed; 2 years of
college; in 1935 she lived in Langhorne, Bucks Co., Pa.
Mrs. Sarah Hall 58 Housekeeper,
earned $572 in 1939; born in Maryland; 4 years of high school; she lived here
in 1935
Wilmot
Schoff was the daughter of Wilfred H. and Ethelwyn
Schoff.
1940, Dec. 10: Death of Hannah Kent Schoff
“HANNAH K. SCHOFF, CHILD-AID LEADER
“Former
President of National Congress of Mothers Dies
“Mrs.
Hannah Kent Schoff, honorary president of the National Congress of Parents and
Teachers, editor and author, who had devoted much time to the cause of
underprivileged children, died at her home here yesterday. Her age was 87.
“Child
Labor Authority
“Mrs.
Schoff has been credited with the leadership of the child-labor movement and
through her work affected the laws of the juvenile courts not only in
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh but likewise in Connecticut, Louisiana and Idaho,
which more than thirty years ago started through her direct influence the
juvenile court and probation system.
“One
year after the opening of the Juvenile Court in Philadelphia a similar court,
at her instance, opened at Pittsburgh, and the National Congress of Mothers,
stimulated by her advice, established parent-teacher associations in every
State in the country.
”Mrs.
Schoff was born in Upper Darby, Pa., daughter of Thomas and Fannie Leonard
Kent. She became the first president of the Pennsylvania. Congress of Mothers
in 1899, was vice president until 1902, and thereafter was president until
1920, when she became honorary president.
“She
headed the National Congress of Mothers which, with the aid of President
Theodore Roosevelt and the State Department, was held in Washington in March,
1908, and likewise the first and second international congresses on child
welfare in the capital.
“Mrs.
Schoff organized and led a movement to obtain juvenile courts and probation
systems in Pennsylvania, which were passed by the Legislature in 1901. Two
years later she again led the same movement to enact the same laws after the
Superior Court had declared that the taws passed in 1901 were unconstitutional
because of technical errors.
“She
was president of the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court and the Probation Association,
1901-23, and a delegate from the United States Department of State to the third
Home Educational Congress in Brussels in 1910.
“She
was married in 1873 to Frederic Schoff. They had seven children.”
(NYT Dec. 12, 1940)
1941, June 15: “VERY DESIRABLE corner on 38
care line, ideal for home or apts., automatic hot water, detached garage…. WILL
SACRIFICE $4,900.” An ad from April states: “excel. for 6 apts. Or home.” (Inquirer)
1950 Directory: Raymond J. Boyle
Jack
Shapiro
1959,
Aug. 14: Marriage license
issued to Mary Ann Carsten (21) of 8016 Navajo St. and Walter Polestak (32) of 3418 Baring St.
According to his obituary when he
died at age 90, he “was born in New York City and attended Stuyvesant High
School in Manhattan. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Navy, where he served
in the Western Pacific. Following his service, he received his undergraduate
degree from Manhattan College in New York City. He then attended Texas A&M
University where he received a master's degree in physical chemistry, and then
continued his education at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received
his doctorate in 1959. Walt was an emeritus member of the American Chemical
Society, and a member of Sigma Xi, an honorary chemistry organization.
Throughout his career as a physical chemist, Dr. Polestak
was responsible for nine chemical patents and others still pending.” (Star-Ledger,
Nov. 6, 2016)
Revised 3/22/2022