3613 Baring Street

The History of the Building

1868, Oct. 17: Title for 3607-3613 Baring St. transferred to Samuel P. Ferree by Jacob Haines and Goldbrick, et al.

Samuel P. Ferree was a real estate investor. In the 1870 census he listed his occupation as “retired merchant” although he was only 34. He lived at 3514 Spring Garden St. His father, James B. Ferree, who lived at 3404 Spring Garden St. was also a real estate investor.

1869, Sep. 30: Title transferred to Nathan Stretch by Samuel P. Ferree

Nathan Stretch was a carpenter and builder who lived at 3734 Haverford Ave. (Mantua). In the 1870 census, he claimed real estate valued at $2,000 and personal property valued at $1,000.

3611-13: “two-and-one-half story, Second Empire-style double; Victorian wood porch with picketed balustrade added to 3613. Four registers; 3611 has slate-shingled mansard, 3613 asphalt. Same developers as 3607-09.”

(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic Places, 1985)

Previous Residents

Click for Time Line

1870, Sept. 23: Fire insurance issued by the Enterprise Insurance Cp. Of Philadelphia was issued to Nathan Stretch.

1871, Jan. 1: Title transferred to William B. R. Smith by Nathan Strech

1880:

W. B. R. Smith 48 Bill broker

Isabell Smith 45 Born in N.J.

Montgomery Smith 21 Works in dry goods

Bradford Smith 19 Salesman

Oswald Smith 17 Works in grain store

Whitney Smith 14

Phoebe Ricketts 48 Servant; black; born in Del.

Emma Mason 19 Servant; black; born in Md.

In 1870, they lived at 3712 Baring St.

1881 Directory: William B. R. Smith of W.H. Newbold’s Son & Co.

1883, Aug. 15: Marriage of Emma B. Cozens of 402 N. 32^nd St. to Montgomery Smith

1886 Directory: Bradford Smith

Montgomery Smith, bookkeeper

William B. R. Smith of W. H. Newbold's Son & Co.

Oswald Smith and his new wife were living at 402 N. 32^nd St. In 1900 and 1910, they lived in Aston, Delaware Co., Pa.

1888, Mar. 29: Title transferred to Levi G. Fouse by William B. R. Smith

1890 Directory: Levi G. Fouse, Fidelity Mutual Life Association

In 1880, the Fouse family lived at 3703 Hamilton St. In 1887, they lived at 3227 Powelton Ave.

Levi Gerner Fouse was born Oct. 21, 1850 in Clover Creek, Blair, Pa. to Adam B. Fouse and Susanna Garner. He married Mary Belle Hause Jan. 10, 1871 in Philadelphia. She was born Feb 11, 1851 in Mercersburg, Franklin, Pa. to Harman G. Hause and Susannah Minnich. They had two children who died as infants before the birth of Harry Hause Fouse May 12, 1874.

“FOUSE, L. G.: President of the Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company of Philadelphia; born In Blair County, Pennsylvania, Oct. 21, 1850. In 1870 he entered the life Insurance business in the capacity of solicitor; he organized the Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company in 1878 and has been its President continuously. Author of numerous publications on life insurance and has served in a number of companies as consulting actuary; he was the first in this country to formulate a plan adapted to the conditions as they exist in the United States, based on the actual experience of British offices, for insuring under average or impaired lives. He is a member of a number of scientific organizations, through which he has contributed articles of special interest with reference to the economic and ethical features of life insurance. Address, 3613 Baring St., Philadelphia, Pa.”

(Who’s Who in Pennsylvania, 1904, p 234.)

1893: L. G. Fouse was one of the founders of the Powelton Club.

1896 Blue Book: Mr. &. Mrs. L. G. Fouse

Henry H. Fouse

Miss Ida B. Fouse.

1897, March 18: Death of Ida B. Fouse, 21 years old, niece of L.G. Fouse of 3613 Baring St. Burial at West Laurel Hill Cemetery.

1898 Blue Book: Hariet H. Fouse

Miss Ida B. Fouse

Levi G. Fouse. Member of Finance Committee of the Powelton Club

1900, April 26, Harry Fouse married Mary Ella Stresse in Phladelphia.

They moved to 4335 Pine St. The 1900 census states Mary was born in Minnesota. Harry was superintendent of an insurance company.

1900:

Levi G. Fouse 49 President Fidelity Life Ass’n; owner, free of a mortgage

Mary B. Fouse 49 Married 30 years, 3 children, 1 surviving

Nannie L. Krebs 24 Boarder; private secretary; born in Va.

Lena Lanford 26 Servant

Mary Finn 25 Servant; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1895

1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. L. G. Fouse

Miss Nannie L. Krebs

Levi G. Fouse. Powelton Club. Vice President.

1908: Levi Garner Fouse. President of Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company of Philadelphia. Graduated from Juniata Collegiate Institute, 1866; Heidelberg College, 1867, Married 1/10/1870 Mary B. Hause. He organized the Fidelity Life Insurance Company in 1878 and has been its president continuously. (Who’s Who in Pa.)

1909: L. G. Fouse: Member of Geographical Society of Philadelphia. (Bulletin of the same).

1910:

Levi G. Fouse 60 President of life insurance co.; owner, free of a mortgage

Mary B. Fouse 59 Married 40 years, 3 children, 1 surviving

Alice Cahill 26 Servant; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1902

Mary E. Cahill 22 Servant; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1908

1914, Jan. 16: Death of Levi G. Fouse, 63 years old, of 3613 Baring St.

The deed was transferred to Mary B. Fouse. She died April 17, 1916 at the Marlyn Hotel at 40^th and Walnut Sts. where she was living. The funeral was held at the Northminster Presbyterian church, 35^th and Baring.

1917, May 23: Title transferred to Owen McGrath and Marie (rest unreadable) by Mary B. Fouse

1920:

Owen McGrath 49 Liquor dealer (saloon); parents born in Ireland; owner with a mortgage

Maria C. McGrath 42 Born in Ireland, immigrated in 1887, became a citizen in 1903

Margaret M. McGrath 15

Maria C. McGrath 14

John P. V. McGrath 12

Anastasia G. McGrath 10

Owen McGrath 8

James McGrath 5

Edward McGrath 3 yrs., 8 months.

James F. Tasnan 52 Brother-in-law ; bartender; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1886, became a citizen in 1897

Bridget Tasnan 90 Mother-in-law; born in Ireland, immigrated in 1887

1925, Jun. 17: Title transferred to Helen R. Barrett by Owen McGrath and Marie, his wife

It was immediately transferred to Marie C. McGrath, wife of Owen by Helen R. Barrett

1930:

Owen McGrath 63 Parents born in Irish Free State; owner, house valued at $10,000

Marie McGrath 53 Born in Irish Free State

Margaret McGrath 25 Stenographer for an oil refining company

Maria McGrath 24 Proprietor of a beauty parlor

John McGrath 22 Cost clerk, wholesale drugs

Anastasia McGrath 21 Nurse in a hospital

Owen J. McGrath 19

James McGrath 16

Edward McGrath 14

1931, Dec. 14: Title transferred to Sixty-Third Lansdowne Ave. B. & L. Assn. by sheriff

1936, Apr. 29: Title transferred to John T. Jones by Sixty-Third Lansdowne Ave. B. & L. Assn.

1940:

Dorothy Rutter 26 Nurse in hospital, worked 84 hours in previous week, earned $800 in 25 weeks of work in 1939; 2 years high school; renting for $25 per month

— next household

Madeleine Brown 49 Public school teacher, earned $2000 for 40 weeks work in 1939; 4 years high school; renting for $40 per month

— next household

Gus Bledsoe 43 Unemployed for 2 years; previously a bookkeeper for wrought iron manuf; born in Arkansas; 4 years of high school; renting for $40 per month

Henry Davis 22 Unemployed for previous 52 weeks, previously an accountant for a newspaper, earned $400 in 1939 for 13 weeks of work; born in Maryland; 4 years of high school

— next household

Isabella Stanbaugh 50 Unemployed for past week, previously a nurse at a hospital, earned #1,000 for 30 weeks of work in 1939; single; 4 years of high school; renting for $37 per week

— next household

Eleanor Johnston 46 Cashier for wholesale grocer, earned $1,400 in 1939; married; 3 years of high school; renting for $32 per week

1950 Directory: Winston S. Bailey

Elizabeth S. Horton

Catherine McLaughlin

Catherine Shields

1955, Mar. 8: Title transferred to E. J. Elliot by John T. Jones

2009: owners: Ayse Gursan-Salzmann and Laurence D. Salzmann, purchase in October 1996

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Revised 6/6/2023

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