3813 Baring Street
“two-and-one-half story Second Empire-style double. Stone facade over brick. Porch alterations and. cornice covered with aluminum, Circa 1960. Slate shingled mansard.”
(Inventory
of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the
National Register of Historic Places, 1985)
The
History of the Building
1880:
William
L. Phillips 26 Medical doctor; father born in England
— 2nd
household
Hamilton
T. Groff 46 Miller; born in N.J.
Emma
M. Groff 43 Born in N.J.
William
Groff 18 Bookkeeper; born in N.J.
Harry
Groff 13 Clerk; born in N.J.
George
T. Groff 5 Born
in N.J.
Julia
B. Lehminy 43 Sister-in-law; born in N.J.
Rebecca
Webster 25 Boarder; dress maker; born in N.J.
In 1870, the Groff family lived in Pilesgrove, Salem, N.J. In the 1887 Directory, they were
listed at 1530 Summer St.
Hamilton and Harry were listed as drivers and William was still a
bookkeeper. In
1900, they lived at 2330 N. 16th St.
1890 Blue Book: Dr. & Mrs. J.
M. Brown & sister
1892-‘93 Catalogue of the Univ. of Pennsylvania; Faculty: James M.
Brown, Instructor in Otology, 3813 Baring
In 1895, he lived at 4021 Spring
Garden St.
1895 Directory: Charles S. Bair
(Andrew J. Bair & Son), h 3813 Baring
The Andrew J. Bair & Son funeral
home was primary located at 33 N. 19th St. However, for a brief time
in the 1890s, they had a second location at 3819
Lancaster Ave.
1898 Blue Book: Mr. and Mrs. C. S.
Bair
1900:
Charles
S. Bair 36 Undertaker; owner with a mortgage
Josephine
Bair 35 Married 13 years, 3 children
Andrew
J. Bair 11
Charles
S. Bair 8
Edna
S. Bair 3
Rose.
Uhlman 32 Servant; born in Germany
Katie
Green 25 Servant; born in Ireland
In 1880, Charles Stuard
lived with his parents at 1841 Filbert St. His father, Andrew J. Bair; was also
an undertaker. The
Bair Funeral Home was at 3925 Chestnut St. He married Josephine G. Smith in
1886.
“Most Philadelphia undertakers began
as furniture makers who produced coffins as a sideline. During the 19th
century, they expanded their services to managing all aspects of the funeral.
One of the city's oldest undertakers was Andrew J. Bair & Son, founded in
1822.
“In 1926, Bair moved to a lavish
mansion on Chestnut Street in West Philadelphia. The servants' quarters on the
3rd floor became the casket showroom (right). In 1972, Bair & Son merged
with R.R. Bringhurst & Co., Inc. (Photo courtesy
of H. Blair Anthony/William Sickel)
“The merged firm is now affiliated
with West Laurel Hill Cemetery, while the former Bair offices are now the
Ronald McDonald House.”
(http://www.phillygraves.com/synopsis.html,
accessed 5/11/2010)
1906 Blue Book: Mr. and Mrs. C. S.
Bair
1910:
Charles
S. Bair 46 Funeral director
Josephine
Bair 44 Married 23 years, 3 children
Andrew
J. Bair 2nd 21 Funeral director
Charles
S. Bair Jr. 18
Edna
S. Bair 13
Rose Ollman 44 Servant; born in W.D.C., parents born in
Germany
In 1920, they lived at 4232 Spruce
St.
Revised 5/7/2022