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March 2001

Following the "Cochran Trail”...

by Scott Ryder

Although the Cochran War Memorial at 37th St. and Powelton Ave. is a familiar site in our community, neighborhood lore doesn’t include much information on the monument’s history. Recently, my attention was drawn to the site when the Greening Committee was asked to consider possible improvements. When I asked around about the background of the site, I found out very little. I learned that the triangular area was redesigned with the help of area residents in the 1970s. Sue Minnis recalled that there had originally been some sort of pool or basin by the monument. Also, there was an estate-style wrought iron fence that mysteriously vanished during the refurbishment.

The monument’s inscription reads “Corp. James J. Cochran V.F.W. Post 251.” Although my attempts to track down this particular Cochran yielded little information, I did uncover several other intriguing Cochrans with connections to Powelton or Philadelphia.

Unfortunately, there is no dedication date on the stone to provide a historical lead. I contacted the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars Office, and they obligingly reported everything that they knew about Post 251. The Post, mustered in 1919, was named in honor of Corp. Cochran. The Post’s name was changed to West Park in 1982, and the Post closed in January of 1997. Corp. Cochran’s identity remains a mystery.

However, Powelton’s history does include an identifiable Cochran family. In 1891 Henry and Pauline Cochran built what would be the last of the large Victorian mansions of Powelton at 3511 Baring Street, only a few blocks from the monument. Mr. Cochran did not enjoy his mansion for long. The 1910 census reveals that Pauline was already widowed. In 1920, she continued to reside at 3511 with her two daughters, a son-in-law, and three live-in servants.

The Cochran’s house was designed by renowned American architect Wilson Eyre, Jr. Eyre was born in Europe. His family later returned to America, but continued their up-scale, nomadic life style. Eyre came to Philadelphia to work in the office of James Peacock Sims, which he later took over. In addition to designing homes for the wealthy, Eyre was the project architect for the University of Pennsylvania Museum. He was a founder of House and Garden magazine and its editor from 1901 to 1905. Eyre was a strong proponent of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Philadelphia did have an identified Cochran who played a role in military history. In 1798, Capt. Stephen Cochran was a commander in the naval fleet at the Battle of Tripoli during the brief unofficial war between the U.S. and France over trade and control of piracy.
Stephen Cochran’s daughter, Mary Cochran Hirst, died in 1858 at the age of 61. Her elaborate burial monument is located in Cathedral Cemetery at 48th St. and Lancaster Ave. The tomb is one of the finest examples of the First Empire style. The design is a sarcophagus topped by a classical goddess, probably Nike, goddess of victory, which rises to 13 feet. Mary Cochran Hirst’s husband, William Lucas Hirst, served as legal advisor to the Roman Catholic Diocese and, despite the intense anti-Catholicism of the time, also served as City Solicitor.

Although I was not able to track down Corp. Cochran, I learned a lot during my search. In the end, it really is not important that we know who James J. Cochran was. Today he is a symbol. Regardless of how each of us feels about armed conflict, the monument reminds us that this community united to show respect for one of their own and the others like him who had fallen.