3511 Baring
Street
The Henry Cochran House,
1891
Architect: Wilson Eyre (1858-1944)
Original
Architectural Perspective
The Cochran House as it
appeared in 1892.
The Cochran House as it
appeared in 1962.
The Cochran House in
2009.
The
History of the Building
There was an earlier house on this lot (see below)
that was torn down c1890. An early fire insurance survey described this as a “three
story, brick & roughcast dwelling” owned by A. S. Ashmead.
“Built
1891. Three-story, Pompeiian brick house; variation of Queen Anne style. Porch
with Tuscan columns and porte cochere. Brownstone window heads with Classical
detail. Overhanging - hipped ~roof. Arched openings and recess on 36th Street
facade.
Architect: Wilson Eyre, Jr.”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the
National Register of Historic Places, 1985)
Previous Residents
1856, June 3: Transfer of a property from L. E. Baring to
Albert S. Ashmead
Fire survey sketch of the
layout of 3511 Baring St. c1857.
1857, Sept. 26: Transfer of a property from Albert S.
Ashmead to Henry M. Day
1859
Directory (compiled in Fall, 1858): Henry M. Day, merchant, 325 Chestnut, h
36th & Baring
1860:
Henry M. Day 36 Lace merchandiser;
born in N.Y.; real estate: $1,000, personal: $300
Maria Day 34 Born in N.J.
Eliz J. Day 13
Mary F. Day 10
Kate F. Day 7
Harry M. Day 4
Laura D. Day 1
Eliz Hassard 55 Born
in N.J.
Susan Meanna 21 Servant; born in
In 1850, they were
living in the Middle Ward of Philadelphia. Her maiden name was Maria Virginia
Hazzen. She reported in the 1900 census that she had had 8 children, 5 of whom
were still living. In 1870, they were living in Darby and Henry reported real
estate worth $20,000 and personal property worth $15,000. In 1880, Henry was a
wool merchant and they were living at 1115 Lehigh Ave. in Philadelphia.
1866 IRS: Henry M. Day, 36th & Baring, N.E.
1866, May. 19: Title transferred to John
Birkinbine by Henry M. Day
1867 Directory: Birkinbine Henry P. M., civil
engineer
1869, Oct. 7: Title transferred to Henry P. M.
Birkinbine by John Birkinbine
1870:
Henry Birkinbine 51 Hydraulics
engineer; real estate: $15,000; property: $3,000
Louisa Birkinbine 46
John Birkinbine 25 Civil
engineer
Harry Birkinbine 21 Civil
engineer
Charles Blatchley 27 Whole wool
merchant and manufacturer; born in Conn., property: $10,000
Mary Blatchley 27
Maggie Ruff 24 Domestic
servant; born in Baden
Rachel Baxter 12 Domestic
servant; black
Mary
Blatchley was the daughter of H. P. and Louisa Birkinbine. She and Charles were
married in 1868. In 1880, they lived at 614 Wood St. with their five young
children. He was a pump manufacturer.
The
1866 Directory lists “Birkinbine Henry P. M., engineer city water works, 5th
& Chestnut, h 2221 Green”
“The son [John
Birkinbine] got some of his early experience as an engineer in various water
supply projects in and around Philadelphia, and the firm, perhaps because of
this expertise, became involved in many water projects around the country in
the late 19th century, as part of the drive for improved public sanitation....”
“John
Birkinbine was, in the 1870s, reportedly the first American to critically
examine the iron deposits of the Cerro de Mercado in
“He
was one of the founders of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association”
“The
firm got its start through Henry P.M. Birkinbine, the father of John. In 1844,
the year John was born, H.P.M. was operating a forge and auger works ...
“After
John Birkinbine’s death, the firm continued under his sons, but it seemed
gradually to lose its energy. By the time World War II came along, the business
was defunct. Two unmarried women in the family continued to live in the house
in
(Lehigh
University, Special Collections: The Birkinbine
Engineering Firm Papers )
1878 Scott Atlas: Birkinbine at NE cor 36th
& Baring
1880:
H. P. Birkinbine 60 Civil
engineer
Louisa Birkinbine
54
John Birkinbine 34 Civil
engineer
Kattie A.
Birkinbine 26 Daughter-in-law
Mary L.
Birkinbine 5 Granddaughter
John W. Birkinbine
3 Grandson
Kattie Birkinbine
7 mons Grandson
Sally Reily 20 Servant; born in
Lizzie Taylor 14 Servant; father born in Wisc. (?), mother in
Note: The name was often spelled
Birkenbine.
In the 1889 directory, John
Birkinbine was listed at 410 N. 34th St. The 1890-91 Blue Book lists him at
1886, Apr. 21: Death of Henry Peter Miller
Birkinbine
The property was inherited by Louisa
Birkinbine.
1886, July 1: Title transferred to Henry
Cochran by Louisa Birkinbine for $18,000.
1886, Dec. 17: The fire insurance was updated
to include the addition of a three-story addition behind the kitchen.
1890 Directory: Henry Cochran
For a brief
biography of Henry Cochran, see the Powelton History Blog.
1898 Blue Book: Henry Cochran was a member of the Powelton Club.
(For a brief history of the club, see the Powelton
History Blog.)
1900:
Henry
Cochran 63 Merchant; father born in N.C.; owner
with a mortgage
Pauline Cochran 38 Married
20 years, 3 children; parents born in England
Beatrice Cochran 16
Edith Cochran 8
Dorothy Cochran 5
Lizzie Halbeson ?? Servant;
born in Ireland
Ellen Byrne ?? Servant;
born in Ireland
Ellen Mcgonegal ?? Servant;
born in Ireland
Mary Mcmanus ?? Cook;
born in Ireland
“Henry Cochran, Philadelphia. 3511
Baring street. Attorney at law. Prepared for College at Lawrenceville, entering
Sophomore Class at Princeton. Studied law in Philadelphia and admitted to
practice December 2, 1849. He was in the U. S. Navy during the Civil War. He
was First Deputy Clerk in the U. S. Provisional Court in New Orleans, La.,
under Judge Peabody.”
(Semi Centennial
Register of the Members of the Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity. 1900)
1901, June2: Death of Henry Cochran, 65 years old
“Bequests to Hospitals.—In the
adjudication of the estate of the late Henry C. Cochran of Philadelphia
bequests were allowed as follows: Pennsylvania Hospital, $10,000; Presbyterian
Hospital and University of Pennsylvania, each $5,000; Gynecean Hospital,
Polyclinic Hospital, Médico Chirurgical Hospital, Home for Incurables,
Sanitarium Association, each $1,000; Philadelphia Dispensary, Northern
Dispensary, each $500.” (Medical Record.
1904)
1910:
Pauline
Cochran 47 Widowed, 3 children; parents born in
England
Beatrice Cochran 26
Edith Cochran 18
Dorothy Cochran 16
Elizabeth
Harbinson 50 Nurse; mother born in N.Y.
Maggie Donagan 18 Servant;
born in Ireland
Mary A Lyons 40
Servant; born in Ireland
Susan Denny 28 Servant; born in Ireland
1920:
Pauline
Cochran 56 Widowed; owner free of a mortgage;
parents born in England
Dorothy Cochran 26
Edith Lamb 28 Daughter; married
William H Lamb 34 Son-in-law;
lawyer for Bell Telephone Co.
Elizabeth
Harbison 59 Servant
Mary Donovan 26 Servant;
born in Ireland
Bridget Murphy 69 Servant;
born in Ireland
Edith and William H. Lamb lived at
in Lower Merion in 1930 where he was an attorney in general practice. He
graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where he was coxswain for varsity
crew. He was the son of John G. Lamb who was also an attorney.
1920, May. 28: Title transferred to Gertrude
Smith by Pauline Cochran then immediately to Corinne B. Krauskopf.
1922: “KRAUSKOFF, Harold C.,
Banker; b. Kansas City.
(Who's
Who in Finance, Banking, and Insurance. 1922)
1929, July 17: Title transferred to J. Russell Green by Corinne B.
Krauskopf
1930:
George Baures 23 House
master of a boarding house; listed as “owned”
Lodgers:
Peter Burgard 19
William Ballentine 20 Born
in N.J.
Robert Coleman 20
Irving Dehart 24
Walton Errickson 21 Born
in N.J.
Read Heckman 23 Parents
born in N.J.
Henry Hilb 20
Stewart Kenworthy 23 Born
in Mass.
Robert Martin 21 Born
in W. Va.
Richard [K.] Newcomer 18 Born
in Md. [He was a student at the Drexel
Institute.]
Robert [B.]Newcomer 22 Born in
Md.
Andrew Schwartz 20
David Stamm 23
George Scatchard 21 Born
in N.Y.
Alean Wentzel 20
Frank Gorey 21 Born
in Del.
James Gorey 19 Born
in Del.
Russell Spyde 23
Hugo Markert 20 Born
in N.J.
Robert Shelly 20 Born
in N.J.
Lawrence A Baker 20 Born
in Md.
Herbert Baldwin 21
George Johnson 24 Born
in w. Va.
1933, Dec. 12: Title transferred to Anne Longhran by J. Russell
Green
1934, July 7: Title transferred to Arthur J. McMahon by Anne
Longhran
1934, July 7: Title transferred to Anne Longhran by Arthur J.
McMahon
1940: Missed in census
1945, Dec. 2: Title transferred to Max Schwartz by Anne Longhran
1946, Sep. 24: Title transferred to Irving Joseph
1948, Dec. 7: Title transferred to William T. Middlebury by Irving
Joseph
1949, Nov. 7: Title transferred to George T. Davis and his wife,
Margaret by William T. Middlebury
1977, Feb. 11: LEGAL NOTICE: “TO THE FOLLOWING PERSONS, WHOSE LAST
KNOWN ADDRESSES ARE AS FOLLOWS:… The Baring Corp., Mr. Hilburn Harbridge,
Pres., 3519 [sic.] Baring Street… An inspection of the above premises has
revealed structurally dangerous and/or Public Nuisance conditions which are in
violation of the Philadelphia Code.
“You
are hereby required to correct such conditions within ten (10) days of
publication of this notice.
“If
you fail to do so the City itself or by contract will demolish said structure
and you will be required to reimburse the City for all costs incurred
therewith….” (Inquirer)
This
notice was repeated on Nov. 16, 1978 and again on Aug. 29, 1980 with slight
variations.