3615 Baring Street

 

Description: Description: 3615baring

 

The History of the Building

 

 two-and-one-half story red brick Victorian house with ornate wood porch and gabled entry; pressed and corbelled brick detail and front gable with overhang”

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

 

Previous Residents

 

Click for Time Line

 

1868, Oct. 10: Title for 3615-19 Baring St. transferred to Fulton W. Hastings by Jacob Hines

 

1875, Aug. 27: Title for 3615-19 Baring St. transferred to W. C. Eliason by Fulton W. Hastings

            William Eliason lived next door at 3619 Baring St.

 

1883, Sep. 5: Title for 3615-3619 Baring St. transferred to Henry B. Chapman by W. C. Eliason, Thomas W. Eliason, executor

 

1884, May 24: Title for 3615 transferred to Emma Atkin by Henry B. Chapman, et al.

 

1886 Directory (Fall, 1885): Hercules Atkin, Hercules Atkin & Co. (Hercules Atkin & Ellsworth Bright), carpets at 1011 Market St.

            The 1885 directory listed him at 1817 Mt. Vernon St.

 

“HERCULES ATKIN: From errand boy to proprietor of one of the largest carpet houses of Philadelphia is the business history of Hercules Atkin. The analyzation of his life record indicates that his advanced steps were carefully directed by intelligent purpose and laudable ambition and resulted from indefatigable energy and close application. The record is one well worthy of emulation.

            “A native of Ireland, Hercules Atkin was born in Rossard, County Wicklow, July 31, 1838, a son of William and Jane (Jones) Atkin. The family records show that the ancestry can be traced back to John Atkin, who was born in 1618 and became a resident of Ireland. In 1616 the Atkin family were located at Billbrook, in the parish of old Cleade, near Morehead, Somersetshire, England, where representatives of the name occupied a position of wealth and prominence for many generations. Many were warriors and served under the early English sovereigns. Others gained distinction as lawyers and clergymen, and still others left their impress in various ways upon the history and civilization of the country. Land in Ireland was given to some of the ancestors of Hercules Atkin for valiant deeds performed during the different wars of Great Britain, and all inherited large means. One of the number, John Atkin. who resided in County Wexford, Ireland. secreted a list of names of those doomed to die in 1798 because of their loyalty to the king, and no less than fourteen Atkins were on the list but because of the order of execution being hidden none so lost their lives. William Atkin was a gentleman farmer of Ireland and for a short time engaged in business pursuits there. He later disposed of all his land and commercial interests and came to America, settling in Philadelphia in 1847. His wife also came from the landed gentry, the Jones family being owners of one of the finest estates in Ireland.

            “Hercules Atkin was only eight years of age at the time of the voyage across the Atlantic. and. following the establishment of the family home in Philadelphia. He attended the public schools until fourteen years of age. At that time he secured a position as errand boy with the firm of Shumaker & Huff, who were engaged in the carpet business on Second street. His fidelity, diligence and earnest purpose enabled him to work his way steadily upward from one position to another, until eventually he became junior partner in the firm, After the death of the senior partner the business was reorganized under the firm name of DeBois & Atkin . A few years later Mr. DeBois withdrew and the business became the property of Mr. Atkin under his name. which was carried on successfully and continuously until his demise. At the time of his death he was the oldest carpet merchant in business in Philadelphia and had one of the leading establishments in that line. The trade had been built up on a solid foundation, the business management of the house never seeking nor requiring disguise, and by careful study of the wants of the public and by progressive business methods an extensive patronage had been secured.

            “Mr. Atkin , however, did not confine his attention solely to business affairs. He never neglected the higher and holier duties of life. On the contrary he was a consistent, active and faithful member of the Methodist church, originally holding membership in the old Union church on Fourth street, called the Academy in 1848. He was ordained deacon in 1873, and in March, 1900, was ordained an elder and minister of the church. He took a most deep, profound and helpful interest in the various lines of church work to which he devoted much time, and he was a member and secretary of the Philadelphia Local Preachers Association. He was also instrumental in organizing the congregation and building the Methodist church at Tioga, Pennsylvania, where he resided for about two years.

            “On the 17th of January, 1873. Mr. Atkin was married to Miss Emma Bodine, a daughter of John F. and Martha (Swope) Bodine. Her father was a member of the state senate and also served as judge of Gloucester county, New Jersey. For many years he conducted an extensive and profitable business in glass manufacturing and was one of the leading and influential men of his district, not only contributing to material progress, but abo upholding the political and legal status of the commonwealth. He served in both the house of representatives and the senate of the New Jersey legislature and left the impress of his individuality upon a number of important laws. His father, Joel Bodine, was the pioneer glass manufacturer of New Jersey. John Bodine, the great-great-grandfather of Mrs. Atkin, served for seven years during the Revolutionary war and held the rank of captain. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Atkin were born two sons and two daughters. John F. B., who married a Miss Raymond of New Jersey, is a graduate of the law department of the University of Pennsylvania and is now a successful young attorney of Philadelphia. Grace is at home. Corinna is the wife of Ernest Stebben of New York city . Hercules B. is a mechanical engineer of Philadelphia.

            “In politics Mr. Atkin was a republican with firm faith in the party principles. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, was of a most social disposition, was fond of reading and possessed a remarkably retentive memory. Outside of business, his leisure hours were spent in those things which bring broader mental culture and constitute sources of genuine pleasure and recreation. He passed away June 22. 1906 – a citizen of worth who had ever been loyal to the highest municipal interests, a business man of unimpeachable integrity. a friend of unquestioned fidelity, and a devoted and loving husband and father.”

(Philadelphia, A History of the City and its People: A Record of 225 years. Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer. 1912)

 

1895 Directory:  E. Bodine Atkin, secretary at 1011 Market St.

                        Hercules Atkin, president, Hercules Co., Ltd. at 1011 Market St.

                        William A. Radford, clerk

                                    He is also listed here in the 1896 and 1897 directories. In 1897, he was listed as a salesman.

 

1900:

Hercules Atkin             60        Carpet dealer; born in Ireland, immigrated 1848; owned with a mortgage

Emma B. Atkin            50        Married 27 years, 4 children; born in N.J.

Grace B. Atkin             26

John F. B. Atkin          23        Lawyer

Corinna Atkin              21

Hercules B. Atkin        14

Sarah Martin                22        Servant; black; born in Va.

Sadie Green                 22        Servant; black; born in Va.

            Hercules Atkin died in 1906.

 

1903: Hercules Boyd Atkin. Freshman. Mechanical Engineering. (U. of Pennsylvania Catalogue)

 

1906 Blue Book: Mr. & Mrs. Hercules Atkin

                           John F. Bodine Atkin

                           Hercules B. Atkin

                           The Misses Atkin

 

1906: Marriage license issued to Corrina Atkin of 3615 Baring St. and Ernest B. Stebbens

              In 1910, they lived in the Montrose Apartments at 4629 Baltimore Ave. and in 1920 they lived in the Sunderland Apartments at 35th and Powelton. In 1930 and 1940, they lived in Radnor, Delaware Co., Pa.

 

1906, June 22: Death of Hercules Atkin.

            "Hercules Atkin, the former carpet manufacturer, died on Friday night at his home, 3615 Baring street. Heart failure was the cause of death. Mr. Atkin was born in Ireland sixty-eight years ago. He was ordained as a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but never took a charge. He always took a great interest in church affairs. Mr. Atkin was one of the oldest retail carpet dealers in the city. A year ago ill health compelled him to give up his business. The dead man is survived by a widow, two sons and two daughters. One of his sons, Hercules B. Atkin, was to have road in Pennsylvania's four-oared crew at Poughkeepsie today." (Phila. Inquirer, June 24, 1906)

 

1908: E. B. Stebbins of 3615 Baring St. elected member of the Illuminating Engineering Society.

 

1910:

Emma B. Atkin            55        Widowed, 4 children; born in N.J.

Grace B. Atkin             28        Daughter; single; father born in Ireland

H. Boyd Atkin             24        Son; mechanical engineer for telephone co. [?]

Mary Browney             42        Servant; black; widow with one child; born in Md.

 

1911, May. 23: Title transferred to Ida Waugh by Emma Atkin

 

1913, Sep. 22: Title transferred to Thomas S. Gates (Guaridan?) by sheriff as of Atkins

 

1914, May. 22: Title transferred to Ann C. Robertson

 

1920:

Anna C. Robertson      57        Single; owned, free of a mortgage

 

1927 Directory: Miss A. C. Robertson

 

1930:

Anna C. Robertson      67        Single; owned, house valued at $10,000

 

1940:

Anna Robertson          77        Four years high school; owner, value $10,000.

 

1943, Apr. 14: Title transferred to Ralph E. Gordy by estate of Ann C. Robertson

 

1950 Directory: Joseph N. Goodman, Jr.

                          Ernest C. Miller

                          Sidney L. Miller, Jr.

                          Richard C. Russell

                          Charles A. Thomas, Jr.

                          C. Robert VanderVoort

 

2022: owners: Frank T. Horrigan and Lou Zing-Jian, purchased January 2003

 

< 3619 Baring                                                                                                        3613 Baring >

Revised 5/18/2022

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