114 East Park Road
5 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathroom
Built between 1907 and 1913 in Colonial revivalist style
The home was built sometime before 1913, as it is included in the 1913 Atlas of Haverford Township under ownership of the Johnsons. It's possible that this land is the land mentioned in a 1907 land transfer between Charles S. Taylor and W. Percival Johnson, although the identity of the plot of land is unclear. The Johnsons were still living on Davis Road prior to 1910.
Inhabitants
| Names | Years |
|---|---|
| Francis Carroll Barton & Clara Margaret Wilson Barton | fl. 1918–1920 |
| Harry Clifton Hopper & Emma S. Mansure Hopper | fl. 1930–1942 |
| Eliot Spence Baker & Sydney Stuart Millar Baker | fl. 1950–1951 |
| Frank M. McDonough & Suzanne Haykel McDonough | fl. 1974 |
| John F. Betz & Suzanne M. Betz | 1992–2012? |
History
The Barton family (father originally from Queen Anne, Maryland) occupied the hone as early as 1918, listed in an advertisement where they're looking to sell a country home north of Willow Grove due to the owners' passing.
1920 census: Marylander iron foundryman Francis is living with his family.
| Name | Age | Relation to Head of Household |
|---|---|---|
| Francis C. Barton | 41 | Head |
| Margaret Barton | 38 | Wife |
| Francis C. Barton | 16 | Son |
1930 census: Engraving manufacturer Harry is living with his family.
| Name | Age | Relation to Head of Household |
|---|---|---|
| Harry C. Hopper | 44 | Head |
| Emma S. Hopper | 42 | Wife |
| Thomas V. Hopper | 81 | Father |
| Evelyn V. Hopper | 17 | Daughter |
| William T. Hopper | 14 | Son |
| Harry C. Hopper | 7 | Son |
In 1932, Thomas, father of Harry, died in the home.
1940 census: Hoppers & Connecticut-origin maid of African-American descent.
| Name | Age | Relation to Head of Household |
|---|---|---|
| Harry C. Hopper | 55 | Head |
| Emma S. Hopper | 53 | Wife |
| Evelyn V. Hopper | 27 | Daughter |
| William T. Hopper | 24 | Son |
| Harry C. Hopper | 17 | Son |
| Elizabeth Harley | 59 | Maid |
The Hoppers lived in the home at least as late as 1942, according to Harry's draft registration card. The home went on sale in 1945 for $15,000, and it was listed on sale again in 1948 for $18,500. The kitchen was stated to be modernized (for the time) and that the roof needed to be replaced.
1950 census: Accountant Eliot is living with his family and Virginian maid of African-American descent.
| Name | Age | Relation to Head of Household |
|---|---|---|
| Elliot Baker | 55 | Head |
| Sydney Baker | 52 | Wife |
| Judith Baker | 60 | Daughter |
| Deborah Baker | 60 | Daughter |
| Marie Johnson | 25 | Maid |
The Bakers' stay at 114 East Park Road can be summed up in one word: tragic. On April 6th, 1951, Eliot's 4-year-old daughter was playing witch matches and caught fire. She was hospitalized with severe burns all over her body & even had "rare" xeroform shipped to her for the purpose of creating sterile bandages that would do minimal trauma to her burns when changed. She fought for more than a month in the hospital but succumbed to her injuries in mid-May.
Philadelphia Inquirer, April 6th, 1951, page 27; Philadelphia Inquirer, April 15th, 1951, page 40; May 19th, 1951, page 16
The house went on sale in 1959, and at some point, Frank McDonough, a psychologist, resided there & lived there up until his death in 1974.
Philadelphia Inquirer, December 2nd, 1974, page 14
The McDonoughs sold the home in 1992 to the Betz family, who in turn sold the home sometime between 2012 and 2021 for $457,500.