3611 Baring Street
The History of the
Building
There was a property transfer from John R. Paul to
William Moland sometime between 1866 and 1869.
3611-13: “Circa
1870, two-and-one-half story, Second Empire-style double… 3611 has
slate-shingled mansard…. Same developers as 3607-09”
(Inventory of Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
Previous Residents
1877, Feb.
13: Death of Virginia (Ginnie) L. Fleming, 39 years
old, wife of W. S. Fleming. Funeral at the home of her husband, 3611 Baring St. She was born in Baltimore. Burial at Baltimore, MD.
In Nov.,
1870, they lived at 3425 Walnut St. The
1867 directory lists a William S. Fleming, a broker, at 117 S. Front St.
1880:
William N. Moland 37 Grocer
Josephine H. Moland 38
Albert Moland 11
Mary Gallagher 20 Servant; parents born in
(ED 487, 17)
In the 1866 IRS Records, he is listed at
1881 Directory: William N. Moland (William Moland & Sons)
1890 Directory: Moland
William N. (William Moland & Sons) & pres Bullitt Bldg
William N. Moland was a member of the board of directors of the Corn
Exchange National Bank.
(Philadelphia and Popular Philadelphians,
1891. p. 72)
1900:
William N. Moland 57 Wholesale grocer; owned free of a
mortgage
Josephine H. Moland 60 Married
30 years, 1 child who is deceased
Florence A. Moland 15 Adopted
daughter; born in
Margaret Callan 28 Servant;
born in
Mamie Geddes 24 Servant;
born in
(ED 543, 9A)
1902: “R. Monroe Stout is taking bids for alterations and
additions to the property at 3611 Baring street, planned by Architect C. K.
Schermerhorn, for William N. Moland.” (Phila.
Inquirer, May 29, 1902)
1904, March 13: Death of Josephine H. Moland, wife of William
N. Moland; funeral services at her late residence, 3611 Baring St.
1907, May 25: Death of William N. Moland of 3611 Baring St.
“William N. Moland is Buried
“The funeral of William N. Moland,
of the firm of Moland & Sons, 120 Market street, took place yesterday afternoon. He died suddenly at Atlantic City from
aneurism of the heart, and leaves a daughter and brother, George, a member of
the firm. Ten employees acted as pall
bearers. The services were held from Northminster
Presbyterian Church.” (Phila. Inquirer, May 30, 1907)
1910:
Stanley A. Stanford 35 Hotel
cashier; born in England immigrated in 1878; owner with a mortgage
Beatrice Stanford 32 Married
6 years, 2 children; born in
Beatrice
Stanford 15
Arthur Stanford 13 Born in
John W. McCoach 35 Boarder; hotel
manager; single
Penola Hyland 21 Servant;
born in
(ED 492, 4A)
1911, Real Estate Ad: “3611 Baring St., Rent or Sell; 15 rooms,
2 baths, hot water heat, hardwood floors, large yard, possession. C. P. Peters
& Son, 608 Chestnut.” (Phila.
Inquirer, Dec. 23, 1911)
1915 Real Estate Ad: “3611 Baring. Completely renovated, hot
water heat, electric lights, hardwood floors; garage privileges. Convenient to center of city. Price right. Wm. H. W. Quick & Bro., Inc.
830 40th St. (Phila. Inquirer,
Sept. 19, 1915) Note: electric lights
not mentioned in 1911 ad.
1916: “New Door of Blessing Opened
“Dedicatory exercises were held at
‘The Door of Blessing,’ the Violett Whelen Home, at 3611 Baring street,
yesterday. The Home was previously
located at 648 North Thirty-third street, but was recently moved to its new
headquarters. The Home is maintained to
help women who have been discharged from prison and who find themselves without
adequate means of support. The exercises
were presided over by Dr. Floyd W. Thomkins and Rev. Clarence W. Bisham.” (Phila.
Inquirer, May 13,, 1916)
Window Erected in Door at
3611 Baring St.
(Evening
Public Ledger, April 21, 1917)
1920:
Gertrude T. Brown
55 Matron at “Door of
Blessing;” single; born in N.Y.; renting
Catherine E. Brown 52
Relationship to Head: Assistant; Assistant
at “Door of Blessing;” single; born in N.Y.
(ED 686, 5B)
“The Door of Blessing, recently opened
by the King's Daughters of Philadelphia, has an object similar to Mrs.
Ballington Booth's Hope Hall, the principal difference being that, while the latter
is intended for men just out of prison, the former is for women. The Door of
Blessing is open to every woman who is penniless and friendless. The
establishment is fitted like a private home, in the care of a housemother, and
the women may remain in it until they are accustomed to freedom, earning in the
meanwhile their living or learning some industry. No one is constrained to stay
against her will.”
(Charities;
A Weekly Review of Local and General Charities. Vol VII, 1901. By Charity Organization Society of the City
of New York. P 88..)
“PHILADELPHIA
COUNTY PRISONS. The General Agent, FRED. J. POOLEY, has assisted several
hundred at the time of their discharge with lodging, clothing, railroad fares,
and with articles to sell, while they are awaiting more permanent employment.
He has given help to a considerable number in securing situations. The Door of
Blessing has indeed proved to be true to its name in giving help to the women
at the time of their discharge .”
(The
Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy .
“A
few homes have been established for the purpose of caring more exclusively for
those who have been released from prison.
In
(The
report of the Pennsylvania State Parole Commission. Pennsylvania State Parole Commission, Clair
Wilcox c1927. p 105.)
The
Temple Univ. Library has reports for the Door of Blessing: The Mignonette
Violett Whelen Home
1930: 3611 Baring is listed twice in
the 1930 census on the same day by the same enumerator. Once as a house with two households and once
as an institution:
Gertrude Brown 65 Born
in N.Y.; renting for $100 per month
Mary Savage 74 Servant;
parents born in Irish Free State
Elsie Will 45 Servant;
born in Germany, immigrated in 1900
- 2nd Household
Agnes V. Voelk 52 Renting
for $40 per month
William E. Etter 28 Son-in-law;
accountant
Louis De Hesville 56 Lodger;
machinist in a boiler factory; born in N.Y., father born in N.Y., mother in
Irish Free State
(ED 398, 8B)
ALSO:
Gertrude Brown 65 House
Mother, Door of Blessing; owner, house valued at $30,000
Inmates:
Mary Savage 74 Widowed;
parents born in Irish Free State
Elese Witt 45 Married
at age 20; born in Germany, immigrated in 1900
Early Hamilton 33 Negro;
married at age 20; born in Va.
Catherine Hogan 62 Single;
born in Irish Free State, immigrated in 1895
Nellie James 55 Married
at age 17
Jennie Hudson 22 Married
at age 20
Marian Murphy 19 Single
Lillian Haydon 40 Negro;
married at age 17; born in Va.
Nellie Lee 20 Negro;
single; born in Va.
(ED 398, 10A)
1950 Directory:
Margaret E. Lawrence
M. Pearl
Joseph Tomaino
Mrs. Charles E.Tuckwood
Matilda Wilkinson
2009: current
owners: Minerva Barayuga and Tracy Smith
Purchase
date: September 1997
Revised 1/23/2012 About Powelton Village