3501 Baring Street
Built in1867 by Jacob Haines. He was born in
Württemberg, Germany about 1810. In 1850, he was working as a baker in
Philadelphia’s North Ward. He and his wife, Eliza, had five children. By 1860,
he owned real estate worth $20,000 and was retired from baking. In 1870, they
lived at 1113 Green St. and he listed his occupation as “builder." In 1880, they lived at 1406 N. 18th St. He
apparently built 3501-3507 Hamilton St. and 3501-3503 Baring St.
3501-03: “Second Empire-style, two-and-one-half
story stone double with side porches and entrances. First floor front
projecting bays. S-shaped bracketed cornice; pedimented dormers; 3501 has slate
shingles….”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
History
1867, Oct. 9: Deed
transferred from Jacob Haines to Elijah M. Neall.
The 1867 city directory
(compiled in the fall of 1866) lists Jacob Haines, gentleman, 521 N. 37th
St.
1868 Directory: Montgomery Jacob E.,
conductor
1870:
Elijah [M.] Neall 65 Dentist;
born in
Mary (Margaret) Neall 63
Jacob Montgomery 28 Railroad
conductor
Anna N. Montgomery 23
Harry F. Montgomery 2
Ann Mitchell 25 Domestic
servant; born in
Martha Macmillan abt
30 Only in 2nd enumeration
In
1866, Elijah M. Neall was a dentist working with his son, Elijah H. Neall, at
212 N 12th St. He lived on
Anna
and Harry Montgomery and her brother (Elijah and Mary’s son), George Neall,
lived at 107 N. 35th St. in 1880.
1870: Death of Elizabeth Moore, 87 years old,
of 3501 Baring St. She was married. Burial at Woodlands Cemetery.
1873, Feb. 2: Death of Elijah N. Neall, 67
years old, of 3501 Baring St.; burial at Woodland Cemetery
1873, Feb. 2: Deed transferred from Elijah M.
Neall to Elijah H. Neall, Anna Montgomery, Elizabeth Gray, and George M. Neall.
Mary
Neall died in 1875.
1874, Oct. 9: Deed transferred from Elijah M.
Neall (dec'd, heirs of) to Charles E. Pugh.
1880:
Elijah Pugh 80 Coal
dealer
Eliza Pugh 79
Charles E. Pugh 38 Superintendent,
PRR
Elijah Pugh, Jr. 36 Railroad
clerk
Rachael Rice 38 Niece
Mary Howard 31 Servant;
born in
In 1870, they lived at 3716 Baring St. Elijah Pugh’s daughter, Mary (by his
first wife, Lattice Bernard), was married to Charles Cloud. In 1880, they lived
at 3414 Hamilton St.
“Charles Edmund Pugh, the Second Vice
President of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, was born at Unionville, Chester
County, Pa., on the 25th day of February, 1841. His father was the late Elijah
Pugh, a member of the Society of Friends, a man of probity, and in business a
merchant and transporter. His early education was received in the district
school of his birthplace. He applied himself closely to his studies in
preparation for admission to the State Normal School at Millersville, Lancaster
County, Pa., which he subsequently entered. He was graduated from that
institution after completing a thorough course of study, and entered his
father's office, wherein he acquired the elements of that business knowledge
which has been so valuable to him and his employers. On October 1, 1859, he
entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as agent at Newport,
Perry County, Pa., and performed his duties with such marked ability that the
attention of his superiors was attracted to him as a young man of character and
merit. They therefore selected him as one to be advanced in the Transportation
Department. To familiarize himself with all the details in the practice and
theory attending the running of trains he entered the train service, and served
as passenger conductor for a period of six months. In 1864 he was appointed
Train Dispatcher of the Philadelphia Division; on August 1, 1870, General Agent
for Philadelphia ; on April 1, 1879, General Superintendent, Pennsylvania
Railroad Division ; on October 1, 1882, General Manager ; on March 1, 1893,
Third Vice President, and on February 10, 1897, Second Vice President.
“Mr. Pugh has always proven himself
fitted for every position to which he has been appointed, and equal to the
responsibilities laid upon him; but at no time has he attracted more attention,
displayed more ability, and deserved more credit than during the Centennial
Exhibition of 1876. The handling of such vast crowds as were in attendance on
the Exhibition had never before been undertaken, and how to do it was more or
less problematical; but it was with no small degree of confidence in Mr. Pugh's
ability to organize success that the management called him to the task. Never
before [end p 38] in the history of American railroads had any one been called
upon to cope with such a problem ; but with full confidence in himself, a
determination to do the best he could, and with an extensive knowledge of men
and their capabilities, he undertook the task, feeling that the outcome must be
successful. His labor during the period of the Exhibition was remarkable, but
the successes achieved were looked upon by railroad men at home and abroad as
marvellous. Over 3,000,000 of passengers were received at and dispatched from
the stations during the continuance of the Exhibition, and so admirably had he
arranged for the comfort and safety of the people that not one accident occurred.”
(History of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company... William Bender Wilson. 1895. Pp
38-39.)
1881, April 20: Death of Eliza
Pugh, 80 years old, of 3501 Baring St. She was buried in West Chester, Pa.
1887 Directory: Elijah Pugh
Elijah Pugh, Jr., clerk
(Charles E. Pugh had moved to
Overbrook.)
1887, Aug. 23, Phila.
Inquirer: “Funeral of Mr. Pugh. The funeral of the late Elijah Pugh, father
of General Manager Pugh, of the Pennsylvania Railroad, took place yesterday
afternoon from his residence, 3501 Baring street. A number of officers of the
company attended the services, including vice President Du Berry, Assistant
General Solicitor Logan, Assistant to the President Patton and others. The
services were simple, Mr. Pugh being a member of the Society of Friends, and
the internment was private.”
1890 Blue Book:
Charles E. Pugh was a Director of the Union League.
1892: Elijah Pugh, Jr joined a law suit aimed at stopping the
introduction of electric trolleys on Baring St. to replace the old horse-drawn
streetcars. (See the Powelton
History Blog for details.)
1896, Oct. 6: Deed transferred from Charles E. & Clara J.
Pugh to Benjamin Messey.
Benjamin F. Measey was secretary of
the West End Trust & Safe Deposit Co. in 1895. He lived in Ridley Park.
The same day it was
transferred to Covington
Littleton. Covington H. S. Littleton was a dentist at 1931 Chestnut St. in
1895.
1896, Dec.: Deed transferred from Covington & Clara H.
Littleton to Thomas B. P. Knight.
Thomas B. P. Knight was also a dentist
at 1931 Chestnut St. in 1895. He lived at 727 N. 20th St.
1896, Dec. 15: Deed transferred from Thomas B. P. Knight to
Covington Littleton.
1896, Dec. 24: Deed transferred from Covington & Clara H.
Littleton to Charles L. Lytton.
1897, Mar. 10: Deed transferred from Charles L. Lytton to John H.
Bayard.
The house was sold for $16,000 with
a mortgage of $10,000. (Inquirer, March 16)
1897, May 3: Deed transferred from John H.
Bayard to Lalinda Anderson
1897, Dec. 18: Deed transferred by Sheriff to
John Henry Cassel
John H. Cassel had a sign painting
business at 281 S. 5th St. He lived at 1820 S. 11th St.
He was born in 1848.
1898, May: “M. P. Wells, contractor, Thirteenth
and Walnut streets, says he intends to erect a six-story apartment house for
himself at 3501 Baring street, upon a lot just purchased. The structure will be
fireproof throughout, being brick, stone and iron, as well as terra cotta work.
It will contain all modern comforts on interior, electric work, plumbing of an
approved system, steam heat, elevators, marble tile, and mosaic work, etc.” (Phila.
Builders’ Guide, May 25) The Inquirer adds that it will be a “six-story
flat apartment house… [that] will contain suites of six rooms for housekeeping.
The stone house which now stands on the site will be torn down shortly, and as
soon as matters can be arranged the work on the new structure will be begun.” (Inquirer,
May 21)
Mark P. Wells was a contractor and
builder. In 1900, he was 38 years old. He and his wife had been married seven
years and lived at 3239 N. 17th St.
1898, Sept. 1: Deed transferred from John Henry Cassel to Mark P.
Wells.
The transfer was for a nominal
amount. (Phila. Builders’ Guide, Oct. 5)
1899, Jan.: Deed transferred from Mark P. & Joanna A. Wells
to William S. & Katharine E. Newcomet.
William Stell Newcomet and Katherine
Ewing Mackeown were married in 1897. Since 1890, William had lived with his
mother at 3229
Powelton Ave. His father, also a physician, died in 1895. The 1895
directory lists William and his brother, Horace E., a student, living there
with her.
1899, Oct. 10: “WANTED, young girl to nurse,
3501 Baring street” (Inquirer)
1900:
William S.
Newcomet 27 Physician
Katharine E.
Newcomet 31 Married 3 years, 1 child; father born in
Ireland
Bessie M. Barker 35 Sister-in-law; married 12 years, 3 children, 2 surviving
Catherine M.
Barker 9 Niece
Eleanor Barker 8 Niece
Elizabeth M.
Newcomet 8 months Daughter
Elton B. Ewell 22 Servant; black; born in Va.
Caroline Douglass
38 Servant; black; married 17 years, 3
children, 1 surviving; born in
“William S. Newcomet was
born July 20, 1872, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of H.W. and
Elizabeth Neukomet. He married Catherine Barker in 1897, obtained his medical
degree and made his living as a physician and radiologist…. William served as
President of the Philadelphia Roentgen Ray Society in 1919-1920…. He served as
Director of the Lucy B. Henderson Foundation for Radiation Therapy, Jefferson
Medical College, from 1915 to 1949.” He
was an amateur mineralogist. (Mineralogical
Record Biographical Archive.)
In 1900, he was Junior Physician to the House of
the Good Shepard, Registrar to St. Agnes Hospital, and Dispensary Physician to
Rush Hospital for the Treatment of Consumption. In 1914, he published an early
textbook on radiology entitled Radium and Radiotherapy
when he was Professor of Roentgenology and Radiology at Temple University and
Physician to the Oncologic Hospital.
He was honored by the Philadelphia Roentgen Ray
Society in 1958.
Newcomet’s role in developing the use of radium
treatment for cancer is summarized in the blog “The
American Oncologic Hospital.”
1906 Members of the
(Trans. College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
1906)
1910:
William S. Newcomet 38 Doctor of medicine
Katharine E. Newcomet 31 Married 15 years, 2 children, 1
surviving; father born in Ireland
Elizabeth M. Newcomet 10
Robert McKee 17 Servant
Sara Nelan 20 Servant; born in Ireland
1920:
William S. Newcomet 47 Physician, radiologist
Katharine Newcomet 51 Father born in Ireland
Elizabeth M. Newcomet 20 Student at Vassar College
Cecilia Walsh 25
Servant; born in Ireland
1925, Oct. 27: Marriage of Elizabeth M. Newcomet to Paul Wheatley Sutro
Paul W. Sutro was the
son of Paul E. Sutro, a hosiery manufacturer. The couple honeymooned in South
America for a month before moving into their new home on Sandy Hill Rd.,
Ambler. (Inquirer, Nov. 15) In 1930, Paul and Elizabeth were living in
Upper Darby and Paul was working in his father’s business.
1930:
William Newcomet 58 Medical doctor, retired; married at age 25; owner, house
valued at $9,000
Katharine M. Newcomet 60 Father born in N. Ireland; married at
age 27
Cecelia Walch 32
Servant; born in N. Ireland
1934: William & Katherine E. Newcomet
Arrival: 15 Sep 1934, Ship: President
Roosevelt, Departure:
1936, Oct.: arrival, also listed at 3501 Baring
Katherine born Feb. 1873, Sewickly,
PA.
1940:
William Newcomet 68 Physician
in private practice, worked 70 hours in previous week; owner, house valued at
$8,000; more than 5 years of college
Catherine
Newcomet 68 Four years of high school
Catherine Bonis 31 Maid,
worked 60 hours in previous week, earned $400 for 48 weeks of work in 1939;
born in Ireland; 8 years of schooling
1950 Directory: William S. Newcomet, MD
1957, June 30: Death of Katharine E. Mackeown Newcomet
1960, Sept. 9: Death of William Stell Newcomet
1961, Mar. 17: Deed transfer registered from Elizabeth (Newcomet)
Sutro to Robert C. S. Rommel
1961, Oct. Powelton Post:
Bob Rommel, 3501 Baring Street, was Chair of the Housing Code and Zoning
Committee of the Powelton Village Civic Association.
1968 Reverse Directory: D. R. Matzkin