Timeline for Kensington and Fishtown, 1680 to 1899
This timeline was extracted from the Independence Hall Association's website
Their timeline includes all of Philadelphia. I have extracted only those items which shed light on Kensington and Fishtown's history. The material for the IHA' Timeline was originally excerpted from:
"Happenings in ye Olde Philadelphia 1680-1900" by Rudolph J. Walther, Philadelphia: Walther Printing House, 1925.
Walther Printing is suppose to have been located in Kensington at 3rd & Girard.
Kensington & Fishtown Timeline
1682
* November. Penn's Treaty with the Indians at Shackamaxon.
1715
* A club was formed called the Bachelors' Club, situate on the Delaware shore above Gunners' Run. This was the first country club adjacent to the city. "Bachelors' Hall," as it was commonly called, was made notorious by its festivities.
1729
* The first bontanic garden, for the cultivation of plants having medicinal properties, was established at Bachelor's Hall, Kensington, in the neighborhood of the present Allen and Shackamaxon Streets.
1761
* Lottery schemes proposed and ran riot. Lottery held for disposing of 46 acres of land on Petty's Land on Petty's Island, the property of Alexander Alexander. Other projects were for the paving of streets in Philadelphia, and for the benefit of various churches.
1786
* July 20th. The first vessel ever moved by steam was navigated on the Delaware River, at Philadelphia, by John Fitch, being a skiff fitted up for the purpose.
1787
* August 22 A steamboat, forty-five feet long, navigated at Philadelphia, in presence of the delegates to form a Constitution of the United States, by John Fitch, assisted by Henry Voight.
1788
* July Another steamboat, sixty feet long, navigated from Philadelphia to Burlington, New Jersey, By John Fitch.
1789
* December A new steamboat navigated at Philadelphia by John Fitch.
1790
* June-September The first steamboat navigated in the world for a passenger and freight-boat ran on the Delaware, between Philadelphia, Burlington, Bristol, Chester, Wilmington, etc., advertising her trips regularly in the newspapers and passing over three thousand miles in that summer. This was seventeen years before the Clermont, Robert Fultons's first steamboat, navigated the Hudson River.
1798
* March. An act was passed by the Legislature chartering "The Germantown and Reading Turnpike Road," said turnpike to commence at the intersection of Front Street with the Germantown Road, thence through Germantown to the top of Chestnut Hill and thence through Hickorytown, the Trappe, and Pottstown to Reading.
1803
* District of Northern Liberties incorporated.
* On the same day another company was incorporated to build a turnpike "from Front Street through Frankford and Bustleton to the Morrisville Ferry, Bucks County."
1804
* Manufacturing enterprises continued to be established. The largest of the year was the Seth Craige cotton mill (later the old Globe Mill), bordering on the Cohocksink Creek, Germantown Ave. Below Franklin Ave. (Girard Ave.). This formally was "the Governor's grist mill." This cotton mill became later on an extensive concern, manufacturing cotton and woolen fabrics.
1815
* December 29. Launching of the new steamboat Baltimore at the shipyard of Vaughn & Bowers, Kensington.
1818
* The legislature passed an act dividing the Northern Liberties into seven wards. The boundaries were as follows: First Ward, Vine Street to Willow, from the Delaware River to Third Street; the second Ward, from Third Street to Sixth, and from Vine to Willow; Third Ward, from Third Street to Delaware, between Willow and Green streets, and Wells Alley, commonly called Whitehall Street; the Forth Ward, from Third Street to Sixth, between Willow and Green, Fifth Ward, from Third Street to the Delaware River, between Green Street and Poplar Lane, and that part of Cohocksink Creek called the Canal; Sixth Ward, from Third Street to Sixth, between Green street and Poplar Lane; Seventh Ward bounded by Cohocksink Creek on the North and east, Poplar Street to the South, and Sixth Street on the west. "There are now in the city and liberties thirty-four engines and fifteen thousand feet of hose, under the direction of forty-nine companies. These companies are all willing to receive new members."
* In November, 1815, the county Commissioners proposed a plan of education to the City Councils, which led, in January, 1816, to the appointment of a committee to consult with the commissioners of Southwark and of the Northern Liberties. But it was not until 1818 that the details were sanctioned by the Legislature, when an act was passed providing for the education of poor children at the public expense in the city and county of Philadelphia, forming the "first School District of Pennsylvania." The School Controllers established two schools in Southwark, two in Moyamensing, two in Northern Liberties and two in Penn Township. A model school was erected on the side of Chester Street, above Race. The first Superintendent of schools was Joseph Lancaster.
* In order to prevent danger as much as possible it was directed that the manner in which power should be transported from vessels in the Delaware River to the magazine on the Grays Ferry Road should be by landing at Conoroe & Co.'s Wharf, in the village of Richmond; thence up Ann Street west to Frankford Road; down that road to the Black Horse and Mud Lane (Montgomery Avenue); thence to Sixth Street; down the latter to Hickory Lane (Coates Street, now Fairmont Avenue); thence west crossing the Ridge Road, to Broad Street, and to the Callowhill turnpike road; thence west to Schuylkill Front Street (Twenty- Second); down the same, and by way of the Grays Ferry Road to the destination. The intention was that the powder should be carried at a distance from the built-up portions of the city.
1820
* March 6. District of Kensington incorporated.
1823
* May 31. Turner Camac conveys to the Bible Christian Society a lot of ground on the west side of Third Street above Girard Avenue, sixty feet front and two hundred feet deep to a twenty feet wide alley. On this plot was erected a church later on sold to Louis and William Burk. The bricks forming the sidewalk fronting this church were studded with nails.
1824
* September 27. Arrival of Gen. Lafayette in Philadelphia stopping and sleeping at the Frankford Arsenal.
* Grand procession on the 28th. Reception in Independence Hall.
1827
* Penn Treaty monument erected upon the spot where Wm. Penn made his treaty with the Indians.
1828
* August. Stephen Heimer, a watchman, set upon and killed at corner of Third and George Streets. This precipitated a riot among the weavers residing in this neighborhood.
1831
* December 26. Stephen Girard, a native of France but for many years an active merchant and citizen of Philadelphia, died in his house, Water Street above Market. He was buried on the 30th of December at the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity, Sixth and Spruce Streets. The remains were transferred in 1850 to the sarcophagus in Girard College, under the control of members of the Masonic order. At his death the value of his estate was appraised at $7,500,000.
1833
* April 8. Cornerstone of St. Michael's R. C. Church laid at the southeast corner of Second and Jefferson Streets.
1834
* September 28. St. Michael's R.C. Church consecrated.
1838
* March 15. The Commissioners passed an ordinance establishing the Northern Liberties Gas Works. Capital, $200,000.
1840
* Riots in Kensington. The Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad torn up on Front Street, and Emery's tavern burned.
1842
* Ground purchased at the southeast corner of Fifth Street and Franklin Avenue (Girard Avenue) for the erection of a German Catholic Church. Purchase price $11,700.
1843
* January 11. Weavers' Riots in Kensington, (Germantown Avenue and Master Street). Rioters assemble at "The Nanny Goat" Market, Washington (American) Street north of Master. Sheriff's posse assailed and beaten. Rioters later dispersed by General Cadwalader's brigade.
* August 15. Cornerstone laid of Roman Catholic Church of St. Peter, Fifth Street and Franklin Avenue (Girard Avenue). Solemnly consecrated February 14, 1847. In 1853 the Christian Brothers took charge of the boys' school.
1844
* May 6. Riots in Kensington. Several killed.
* May 7. Riots renewed in Kensington. More people killed.
* May 8. Riots continued. St. Michael's Church (Second and Jefferson Streets) with the Female Seminary adjourning, burned in the afternoon. St. Augustine's Church (Fourth and New Streets) burned in the evening. All of above buildings totally destroyed.
* July 7. (Sunday). riots in Southwark; Church of St. Philip de Neri attacked. Fight at night between the military and the rioters; several persons killed.
1845
* April 12. By act of Assembly, the city of Philadelphia and the incorporated districts of Spring Garden, Northern Liberties and Penn, and the township of Moyamensing are required to establish and maintain police forces of "not less than one able-bodied man for one hundred and fifty taxable inhabitants" for the prevention of riots and the preservation of the public peace.
* July 4. Cornerstone of St. Anne's R.C. Church laid at Memphis Street and Leigh Avenue.
* December 29. St. Peter's R.C. Church dedicated.
1846
* August 24. Cornerstone laid of new St. Michael's R.C. Church, to replace the one destroyed by fire in 1844.
* November 5. St. Anne's R. C. Church dedicated.
1847
* February 7. Dedication of the new St. Michael's R.C. Church.
* February 14. St. Peter's R.C. Church consecrated.
1848
* February 27. Incorporation of the district of Richmond in the county of Philadelphia. Bounded on the east by the Delaware River, on the north by Westmoreland Street, along the same westward to the westward side of Emerald Street, along the same to the southerly side of Hart Lane, and along the latter to the northern boundary of Kensington district, and by the same to the Delaware River and place of beginning. March 25, 1848, the boundaries were extended to beginning at the river Delaware, on the west side of Westmoreland Street,, and extending along the river to the north side of Tioga Street; thence along Tioga to the east side of the Point Road; along the Point Road to Westmoreland Street, and along the same to the place of beginning.
1854
* February 2. Consolidation Act passed.
1856
* July 17. An excursion train on the North Pennsylvania Railroad leaving the Cohocksink depot, Germantown Avenue and Thompson Street, containing about six hundred children and young people of St. Michael's R. C. Church, on reaching Camp Hill, near Ambler, collided head-on with a train going southward. Fifty dead and one hundred injured.
1857
* November 2. Dedication of the new hall and parade of the American United Mechanics, Northeast Corner of Fourth and George Streets.
1858
* January 20. City passenger cars run for the first time in Philadelphia, over Fifth and Sixth Street Railway.
1859
* August 20. Great fire. Stout's Planing Mill and Sewing Machine Factory, 18th Ward. Loss very heavy.
* September 8. Great fire. Good Intent Mills, 24th Ward.
* December 25. Dedication of Siloam Methodist Episcopal Church, Wood and Brown Streets (E. Susqehanna Avenue and Moyer Street).
1860
* January 5. Bishop John Nepomucene Neumann falls dead at Thirteenth and Vine Streets.
* January 9. Obsequies of Bishop Neumann at St. Johns Cathedral, Thirteenth Street above Chestnut. Buried at St. Peter's Church, Fifth Street and Girard Avenue.
* May 24. Cornerstone of Episcopal Hospital, Lehigh Avenue and Front Street, laid.
1861
* October 19. Boiler explosion at I. P. Morris' machine works, Richmond. Two men killed.
1862
* September 12. Tremendous rains. Cohocksink Creek overflows. Several lives lost. Great damage in upper part of city.
1863
* November 7. Dummy engines commence running from the depot of the Fifth and Sixth Street Railway, Fourth and Berks Streets to Frankford. They proved very satisfactory.
* December 18. Destructive fore in a petroleum warehouse, Delaware Avenue below Almond Street.
1864
* July 22. Simon's Wagon Works, Second and Huntingdon Streets, entirely destroyed by incendiary fire.
* December 26. Serious riots among coal heavers, Port Richmond.
1865
* February 1. Passenger railway fares raised to 7 cents.
* April 15. News of assassination of President Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the evening of Good Friday, April 14, General mourning throughout the city.
* April 22. President Lincoln's body escorted to Independence Hall by a large military and civic precession.
* July 3. Mary Ridey kills, by stabbing, two brothers, Joseph and Isaac Sides, at 1170 North Third Street, a house known as "The New Idea."
* November 29. Boiler explosion, Penn Treaty Iron Works, one man killed, three injured.
1866
* July 7. Fire, Fitler, Weaver & Co.'s rope factory, Germantown Avenue and Tenth Street (fronting this factory was the toll-gate, Germantown Pike). Loss, &130,000.
1867
* August 27. Cornerstone laid of new Siloam Methodist Church, Wood Street above Duke (E. Susquehanna Avenue above Thompson Street).
1868
* April 27. Boiler explosion, Penn treaty Iron Works, Beach above Marlborough street. Five persons killed.
* December 30. Depot of 2d and 3d Street Railroad destroyed by fire.
1869
* March 24. Joseph W. Smith, janitor of hall at Sixth Street and Girard Ave., found dead; Corner's jury rendered a verdict that his death was caused by violence.
* June 25. Destructive fire at Sixth Street and Columbia Ave. Loss, $250,000.
* June 26. Cornerstone of First Reformed Church, Seventh Street below Oxford, laid.
* August 15. Destruction of the Boston Fish Company's building, Fifth Street and Columbia Avenue. Loss over $50,000.
1870
* June 13. Gaul's brewery, New Market and Callowhill Streets, destroyed by fire.
* September 11. The cornerstone of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Front and Canal (Allen) Streets, laid.
* October 20. The chair factory of George Fennen, 1730 North Fifth Street, destroyed by fire.
1871
* February 2. The Kensington Bank, Beach Street, below Laurel, entered by pretended policemen, and its vault robbed of bonds and cash to the amount of $100,000.
* June 23. Gillingham & Garrison's saw-mill, Richmond and Norris Streets, destroyed by fire. Loss, $40,000
* July 11. Pattern-shop of I.P. Morris & Co., Port Richmond, struck by lightning and destroyed by fire; loss, $55,000.
* September 24. Cornerstone laid of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Michael, Trenton Ave. and Cumberland Street.
* October 17. Old brick church building, Second Street above Poplar, used as an opera house by Samuel S. Sandford's Minstrels, destroyed by fire.
* October 21. Planing-mill of Wm. Barth, Trenton Ave. and Adams Street, destroyed by fire; loss, $11,000.1872
* January 21. The new Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception at Front and Canal Streets opened with appropriate ceremonies.
* Water pumped for the first time into the new reservoir of the Delaware Water Works at Sixth Streets and Lehigh Avenue.
* February 4. Central Presbyterian Church, corner of Franklin and Thompson Streets, dedicated.
* April 7. Trinity Reformed Church, Seventh Street below Oxford, dedicated.
* May 27. Steam boiler explodes at the factory of Troth, Gordon & Co., Crease Street above Griard Avenue. Two persons killed and six injured.
* August 15. The iron steamship Pennsylvania, the first vessel of the American Steamship Company of Philadelphia, launched at Cramps' shipyard, Beach and Norris Streets. The ship was 355 feet over all in length, with a beam of 45 feet, a depth of 43 feet and a capacity of 3016 tons.
* The Ohio, the second iron steamship of the American Steamship Company, was launched at Cramps' Shipyard, Port Richmond.
* December 15. St. Bonifacius R. C. Church, corner Hancock and Diamond Streets, dedicated.
* Lehigh Avenue M. E. Church, Lehigh Avenue and Hancock Street, dedicated.
* December 22. German Methodist Episcopal Church, York Street above Frankford Avenue, dedicated.
* December 31. Gottfried Kuehnle was killed at his residence and bakery, Frankford Road below Girard Avenue. Frederick Heidenblut, a journeyman under employ, tried for the crime, convicted and hung for the murder, January 20, 1875.
1873
* January 22. The boiler of the locomotive Kedge Hill exploded at American and Norris Streets, North Pennsylvania Railroad; one man killed, and several wounded.
* March 25, The Indiana, the third ship of the American Steamship Co.'s line, launched at the ship-yard of Wm. Cramp & Sons.
* April 13. Norris Square United Presbyterian Church, corner Hancock Street and Susquehanna Avenue, dedicated.
* April 24. Cornerstone laid of the Cumberland M. E. Church, southwest corner Coral and Cumberland Streets.
* June 7. The steamship Illinois, the fourth vessel of the American Steamship Company, launched from the ship-yard of Wm. Cramp & Sons.
* August 12. Very heavy rain fell continuing until next day. The rainfall being seven ad thirty-two hundredths inches. Great damage and loss, especially in the district east of Fifth Street, between Poplar and Oxford Streets.
* September 7. Chapel of the North Star Mission (Baptist), Seventh Street and Susquehanna Avenue, dedicated.
1874
* February 27. First demonstration made against taverns and lager beer saloons in imitation of proceedings in Ohio and other Western States. About twenty women visited three or four saloons in the neighborhood of Susquehanna Avenue and Fifth Street, Sang hymns in front of these places and delivered prayers. None of the saloons closed.
* March 24. Machine shops and other buildings at the Shipyard of Wm. Cramp & Son, Beach and Norris Streets, burned; loss $175.000.
* July 1. Charles Brewster Ross, a boy four years old, son of Christian K. Ross, of Germantown, together with an elder brother, was carried off and kidnapped by two men. The older boy was released at Richmond and Palmer Streets, and return to his home, but the younger one was not heard from. Very large rewards were offered for his recovery, and the case was one which attracted attention all over the United States.
* August 4. Fire at mill, northwest corner of Germantown and Columbia Avenues; loss, $22,000.
* November 2. Fire at glassworks of F.J. Cook, York and Thompson Streets; loss, $35,000.
* December 14. William Mosher and Joseph Clark, abductors of Charles Brewster Ross, shot and killed while attempting burglary at the residence of Judge Van Brunt, at Bay Ridge, Long Island.
1875
* February 9. Fire at Keen & Coates Foundry, 943 North Front Street; loss $46,000.
* October 4. Fire at Burgin & Sons' glass factory, Girard Avenue and Palmer Streets; loss, $20,000.
* October 14. Mattress and furniture factory on Randolph Street above Oxford Street, burned; loss, $20,000.
1876
* February 27. Main auditorium of Siloam M. E. Church, Otis Street above Thompson, dedicated.
* March 6. First train of cars from Philadelphia to New York, over the Delaware and Bound Brook Railroad (depot, American and Berks Street) passed through from city to city.
* March 26. East Montgomery Avenue M. E. Church dedicated.
* May 26. John Hay's waste paper warehouse, northeast corner of Germantown Avenue and Master Street, collapsed from being overweighted with materials during alterations. Three persons were killed and four injured.
* Fire at Detwiler & Hartranft's Quaker City Flour Mill, Delaware Avenue above Laurel Street, Landell's soap works, lumber yard of Collins & Co., and B.F Taylor & Co., and Taxis' screwdock; loss, $90,000.
* July 7 Fire, yarn mill of James Meadowcraft & Son, Emerald and Sergeant Streets: loss, $25,000.
* October 1. Audience room of the Fifth Reformed Presbyterian Church (General Synod) York Street near Coral, dedicated.
* October 22. Cornerstone laid of Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Visitation, Leigh Avenue and B Street.
1877
* February 6. New police station at Girard Avenue and Vienna (E Berks) Street, 11th District, formally occupied.
* Siloam Primitive Methodist Church, Otis (E. Susquehanna Avenue) and Moyer Streets, re-dedicated.
* November 7. Fire at Randolph Mills, Randolph Street above Columbia Avenue, occupied by Weil & Sons, Harvey & Good, and others; loss, $50,000.
1878
* January 11. Chatham Mills, Howard and Berks Streets, burned; loss, $50,000.
* February 20. New building of the Kensington National Bank, Frankford and Girard Avenues, opened for public inspection. Business commenced Saturday the 23d.
* March 16. Fire at the bedstead factory of Meyer, Tufts & Co., Richmond Street above Montgomery Avenue; loss, $15,000.
* May 16. Iron steamship State of California launched from the shipyard of William Cramp & Sons.
* July 10. Explosion at the blast furnace of S. Robbins & Son, at Beach and Vienna Streets, by which seven persons were injured. John McChesney died. Two others died subsequently.
* September 2. Ground broken for the building of Eden M. E. Church, Leigh Avenue below Fifth Street.
* September 5. Stalls in new (Zimmerman) market house, southwest corner of Frankford Avenue and Adams Street, sold and the market opened. (now site of Weisbrod & Hess brewery).
* October 12. Hero Glassworks of W. A. Leavitt, at Aramingo, Cedar, Gaul and Adams Streets, destroyed by fire; loss, $60,000.
* November 12. Fire at chair factory and lumber yard of Hutchinson, Nichols & Co., American Street above Susquehanna Avenue; loss, $10,000.
* December 1. Norris Square M. E. Church, Mascher Street above Susquehanna Avenue, dedicated.
1879
* Steamer Wanderer, for New Orleans and Havana Line, launched from shipyard of Birely, Hillman and Streaker, foot of Montgomery Avenue.
* Steam boiler exploded in the planing mill of Alphas Wilt & Sons, Front Street, below Brown. Four persons killed and several injured.
* October 12. Cornerstone laid of new building of the German Evangelical Reformed Bethlehem Church, Blair and Norris Streets.
* December 25. George Sheppard badly injured in Shackamaxon Street above Richmond, by oil of vitriol being thrown on him, as was alleged, by George Wood.
1880
* January 26. Twenty-two locomotive engines belonging to the Reading Railroad Company were seized at the Port Richmond depot by U. S. Internal Revenue Collector, by instruction from Washington, upon a claim of the U. S. Government for taxes on scrip issued by the company in 1878-79.
* February 2. Fire at furniture factory of John A. Elbert, on Edward and Lydia Streets, above Hancock. Loss, $60,000.
* Fire at Keystone Flour Mill, corner. of Leopard Street and Girard Avenue, occupied by Stetler & Co., millers. Loss, $25,000.
* February 9. Fire at Clifton Mills, Berks Street between Hope and Howard Streets. Loss, $191,000.
* Stable of the Richmond branch of the Union Passenger Railway Company, Thompson and Norris Streets, burned. Loss $20,000.
* April 11. Mrs. Elizabeth E. Goersen died at the house of her husband, 255 East Cumberland Street. Coroner's jury found that her death was occasioned by poisoning with arsenic, administered by her husband, Dr. Alfred G. F. Goersen. On the 19th of April Corner's jury also found that Mrs. Elizabeth F. Souder, mother-in-law of Dr. Goersen, who died on the 25th of March, was poisoned by him. Dr. Goersen was convicted of murder.
* Fire at hosiery mills, Crease Street above Girard Avenue. Loss, $30,000.
* July 4. Steamboat Argonauta, of the Ridgeway Park line, ran down a small boat near the foot of Otis Street. Kate Mahey and three children were drowned.
* August 11. Excursion by congregation of St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church to Atlantic City by the West Jersey Railroad route, carrying about 1,300 persons. Collision between two sections of the train on the return trip at May's Landing, N. J. at 6:30 P. M. One person was killed outright. Thirty-two persons were scalded by escaping steam, of whom twenty-five subsequently died.
* September 3. Fire at Marshall Bros.' Rolling Mill, Beach and Marlborough Streets. Loss $50,000.
* October 22. Fore at the yarn factory of Dixon & Roberts, Canal Street above Lawrence Street and Girard Ave., also occupied by Alexander & John McConnell, morocco manufacturers. Loss, $86,000.
* October 27. Cornerstone laid of East Baptist Church, Hanover Street above Girard Avenue.
* Fourth Moravian Church, Hancock Street above Dauphin, dedicated.
* December 23. Fire at B. Crawford's tannery, Sixth Street east side) above Thompson. Loss, $25,000.
1881
* January 2. Delaware River frozen over from shore to shore. Persons passed over the ice to Camden; skating lasted for some days.
* January 14. Fire at Columbia Shoddy Mill, Columbia Avenue and Fifth Street. Loss, $15,000.
* January 18. Fire in the carpet-yarn mill of James Whitaker, Trenton Avenue and Sergeant Street. Loss, 16,000.
* March 26. Iron steamship Perseus, built for Iron Steamship Company of New York, launched from Cramp's Shipyard.
* April 7. Iron steamboat Pegasus, built for Iron Steamboat Company of New York, launched from Cramp's Shipyard.
* April 9. Iron Steamship Caraccus, built for New York and Venezuela line, launched from Cramp's Shipyard.
* June 1. Steam-boiler in dye-house of Thomas Gaffney & Co., 2430 Collins Street, exploded, causing the death of three, and injuring five others. Loss, $31,000.
* August 6. Iron screw steamship Allegheny, built for the Merchants and Miners Transportation Company, launched from the shipyard of Wm. Cramp & Sons.
* August 29. Fire at Globe Mills, Germantown Avenue below Girard Avenue, occupied by Schatchard & Hoffman, silk-yarn spinners, and the Midnight Yarn Co. Loss, $15,000.00.
* September 3. Steamship Berkshire for Merchants and Miners Transportation Company, launched at shipyard of Wm. Cramp & Sons.
* September 14. Fire at the Union Hub, Spoke and Wheel Works of Fitler & Dubois, cor. Otter and Leopard Streets. Loss, $30,000.
* October 12. Fire at the Randolph cotton and woolen mill, occupied by Charles H. Landenberger, Randolph Street above Columbia Avenue. There were thirty-eight workman and girls in the building, all of whom were cut off from escape by the rapid progress of the flames. Nine were killed by jumping from the windows or burned to death while in the building, or died afterward from their injuries; thirteen were seriously maimed or injured; sixteen escaped. Loss by the fire on the building, $10,000; on stock and machinery, heavy.
* Steamship City of Puebla, 2,900 tons burden, for New York and Havana line, launched from shipyard of Cramp & Son.
* November 27. Thomas E. Conaty and Owen Burns instantly killed while riding on a car on Fourth Street above Master by the pole of a steam fire-engine drawn by runaway horses.
1882
* January 26. Keystone hub, spoke and wheel works, Charles Scott's railway car spring factory, and N. H. Harned's silk fringe factory, New Market Street above Laurel, destroyed by fire. loss estimated at $125,000.
* March 18. Iron steamship Valencia launched from shipyard of William Cramp & Son, for New York and Venezuela Line. Dimensions, 260 feet long, 34.6 feet beam, 22 feet deep. Engines, 900 horsepower, 1,800 tons.
* Last rail of the River Front Railroad laid on Delaware Avenue and thereby complete railroad connection made between the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks at Greenwich point and the tracks of the same road and the Reading Railroad at Kensington and Port Richmond.
* April 22. Mill buildings, Sophia St. between Edward and Van Horn, occupied by Isaac Casson & Co., machinists, Joseph Weiss, and Roher & Noell, furniture manufacturers, destroyed by fire. Loss, $30,000.
* August 3. Excitement in business circles in consequence of the discovery of extensive forgeries and frauds by Charles M. Hilgert, sugar-refiner, refinery, Lawrence St. Below Girard Ave., estimated to amount to $ 1,000,000. Hilgert absconds.
* August 22. Eighth General Convention of the American St. Cecilia Society for the culture of Catholic church music assembled at St. Peter's roman Catholic Church, Fifth and Girard Ave.
* August 24. Iron steamship San Pedro, built for Central Pacific Railroad Company launched at shipyard of William Cramp & Son. Length, 350 feet; breadth, 42 feet; depth, 30 feet carrying capacity 3,500 tons.
* December 5. Arrott's mill, N. W. Corner Coral and Taylor Sts., destroyed by fire January 31, 1881, having been rebuilt, reopened.
* Arrott's mill, N. W. Cor. Coral and Taylor Sts., occupied by Joseph Greer, cotton and woolen manufacturer, Jaggard & Jones, Henry Grant, Stead Bros. And Robert Beatty, yarn spinners, burned. Loss, $115,000.
* December 25. Joseph Jarvis, police-officer, stabbed severely, while in the discharge of his duty, at Leopard St. And Girard Ave., by William Rusk, with whom at the time was Jacob Rusk (twin brothers). The two escaped to Trenton, New Jersey, where, having learned that officers of the law were in pursuit of them, they committed suicide by drowning.
1883
* January 3. Bucks and Montgomery County Farmers' Market opened in building some years abandoned, formerly erected for market-house purposes, at S. E. Cor. Of Sixth St. And Columbia Ave.
* January 29. New freight-station of Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Shackamaxon St. And River-front Railroad, open for business
* The iron steam pleasure yacht Atlanta, built for Joy Gould, of New York, launched from the shipyard of Cramp & Sons. Length from knighthead to taffrail, 230 feet, 3 inches; beam, 26 feet, 4 inches; depth, 16 feet; rigged with three masts. No. 246.
* April 14. Fire at the plumber's metal-works of C. A. Blessing, Montgomery Ave. bel. Sixth St. Loss, $70,000.
* May 3. Iron steamship Alameda, built for the Oceanic Steamship Company, San Francisco, launched at the shipyard of Cramp & Sons.
* Fire at S. E. cor. Germantown Ave. and Master St., occupied by D.F. Rawle, flour dealer; John Richardson, furniture manufacturer; Montague & White, hosiery; Walton Ritter, cotton goods. Loss, $23,000.
* May 6. Cornerstone laid of new Roman Catholic Church and school of St. Edward the Confessor, N. E. cor. Seventh and York Sts.
* May 22. Fire at saw and planning mill and steam packing-box factory, Marshall Sr. above Girard Ave., occupied by W. H. Howard, Williwar & Yiest and William Stone. Loss, $11,500.
* Ground broken for Cohocksink M. E. church, S. W. cor. Seventh and Norris Sts.
* July 1. Henry Disston Memorial M. E. Church, Tacony, dedicated.
* August 29. Fire at wollen-mill, N. W. cor. Cumberland and Third Sts., occupied by Gilmour & Morris, finishers; Lee & Bowers, woolens; Robert Laycock, woolens; Garner & Co., worsted; Joseph P. Murphy, shawls, etc. Loss, $50,000.
* September 3. William J. Menow shot and killed on Front St. above Poplar by Mrs. Emily Bickel, who claimed to be the wife of Menow.
* September 19. Saw and planing mill, Norris and Richmond Sts., occupied by Jesse W. Taylor & Sons, and Henry Bradshaw, hardwood goods, burned, and adjoining property damaged. Loss, $30,000.
* Fire broke out in the lumber yard of James Gill, 1168 N. Third St., which spread and destroyed nearly the whole block of buildings bounded by Gill's lumber yard, Eagle Iron Works of Hoff & Fontaine, and from fifteen to twenty dwelling houses, shops and other buildings. Loss estimated at $75,000.
* November 10. Iron steamship San Pablo, built for the Pacific Improvement Company, Launched from shipyards of Wm. Cramp & Sons. Length, 350 feet; width, 42 feet; depth, 29 feet; engines, 2,000 horse-power; carrying capacity, 4.000 tons.
1884
* January 15. Fire at hosiery mill of J. R. Bridges & Co., 1347 N. Front St. Loss $11,000.
* January 26. Perseverance Woods Works of Mahlon Fulton, Ninth St. above Oxford, totally destroyed by fire, loss $75,000.
* January 27. Farewell Services in Cohockink M. E. Church, Germantown Av. above Columbia Av., building then abandoned by the congregation.
* Hall of St. Michael's T. A. B. Society, Germantown Ave. above Columbia Ave. dedicated (formerly Cohocksink M.E. Church).
* May 11. Cornerstone laid of monastery of the Redemptorist Fathers of St. Bonifacius' Church, Hancock and Diamond Streets.
* May 14. Iron side-wheel steamer Hero, built for service on the Orinoco River, South America, launched form the yard of the America Shipbuilding, Company, Port Richmond. Length, 110 feet; beam, 22 fee; depth of hold, 8 feet.
* June 4. Iron steamship Eureka, built for the Morgan Line; between New York and New Orleans, launched from the shipyard of Wm. Cramp & Son. Length, 350 feet; breadth of beam, 42 1/2 feet; depth of hold, 32 1/2 feet; engine, 1800 horse-power.
* August 13. Fire at drying-room of Theodore Morganstern's dye-house, Third and Huntingdon Sts. Loss, $35,000.
* September 12. Saw-mill of Bonta & Fenderich, Nos. 1063-10676 Germantown Ave., Loss, $15,000.
* Fire at furniture manufactory of W. T. Richardson, 1204-1210 Frankford Ave. Loss, $15,000.
* November 23. St. Mark's German Reformed Church, Fifth St. Above Huntingdon, rebuilt, rededicated.
* November 24. New Line of People's passenger Railway Company, via Susquehanna Ave., from Eighth to Twenty-second St., and by way of Islington Lane and Twenty-third to Norris St. And east on Norris to Germantown Ave., on Fourth St., to Walnut, and Eighth St., to Susquehanna Ave., opened for travel.
* Kensington Hospital For Women Established, 136 Diamond Street. Public Hospital.
1885
* January 8. New monastery of Redemptorist Fathers attached to Roman Catholic Church of St. Boniface, Diamond St., Norris Square, dedicated.
* January 26. Cable passenger railway of the Philadelphia Traction Company went into operation on Columbia Ave. And Master St.
* May 10. Cornerstone laid of new St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Seventh St. And Montgomery Ave.
* May 12. Fire at planning-mill of A. H. Higham & Sons., Nos. 1043-1053 East Cumberland St. Loss, $12,000.
* May 29. Shackamaxon Bank, cor. Frankford Road and Norris St., failed in consequence of the allowance and payment of heavy over-drafts upon the funds.
* July 7. William H. Bumm, George W. Bumm and Samuel P. Milligan, late teller of Shackamaxon Bank, bound over on the charge of conspiracy to defraud the bank.
* July 12. East Montgomery Avenue M. E. Church, rebuilt, reopened.
* July 14. Walls of boiler-house of Star Mill, Mascher and Jefferson Sts., fell in. One person killed; nine injured.
* August 3. Heavy rains at intervals, with sharp lightning and thunder from 11.35 A. M. to 9:50 P.M. About 3.30 P.M. a tornado of great force crossed the river Delaware from Gloucester Point. Three large buildings in the Neck at the Pennsylvania salt-works were entirely prostrated, and other property in the neighborhood was damaged. The course of the wind was nearly north by east. The tornado crossed the Delaware to New Jersey. The steamboat Major Reybold, of the Salem Line, and the Peerless ferry-boat, of Gloucester line, were struck by it in the river, had all their upper works, pilot houses and cabins carried away, and the pilot of the Reybold was drowned. At Kaighn's Point the storm took the shore and pursued a northwardly course, by way of Front, Second and Third Sts., to Federal and Linden Sts., extending eastward to Fourth and Fifth Sts., and then upward to Cooper's Point where again crossing the Delaware, it struck the Port Richmond coal-wharves, at the foot of William St., passed to the North to the neighborhood of Harrowgate Lane and Kensington Ave., where its force was spent. In Camden large factory-buildings were thrown down or greatly damaged. The round-house of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company was totally demolished and locomotives damaged. Dwelling-houses, stores, etc., were unroofed or walls blown in ; trees in great numbers were thrown down; 400 buildings were damaged. In Kensington similar destruction took place. Houses were partially blown down, walls blown in and roofs taken off , with other damage; 150 buildings in this part of the city were damaged.. The value of property destroyed was immense. In the city there were 3 lives lost and 38 persons injured; in Camden 4 were killed and 48 injured. In Camden the damage to real estate was estimate at $500,000, in Kensington, at $250,000. The value of personal property destroyed was impossible to compute. The course of the tornado was from 200 to 300 yards in width. In the afternoon there was a heavy flood in the Schuylkill. At the Falls the water, rushing down from the streets and descending to Ridge Ave. Rose on the road 7 feet, carrying away small houses and fences, flooding cellars and the first stories of mills and buildings.
* October 8. Robert White attacked and killed, by the elephant Empress at winter-quarters of Forepaugh's circus and menagerie, Lehigh Ave. and Edgemont St.
* December 6. Consecration of new building of St. Luke's Lutheran Congregation, at Seventh St. and Montgomery Ave.
* December 7. At the winter quarters of Forepaugh's menagerie, Lehigh Ave. and Edgemont St. the Nubian lion, Prince, escaped from his cage and attacked the elephant, Bolivar. He was disabled by a blow from the trunk of the latter, who finished by tramping upon the lion's body.
* December 24. Cornerstone laid of Girard Avenue Farmers' Market cor. Ninth St., and Girard Ave., 198 ft. on Girard Ave, by 194 ft. on Hutchinson St.
1886
* January 10. Tugboat James Kelly caught fire off mouth of Pennypack Creek. Loss, $5,000. Fire consumed the whole block of buildings between Emerald and Letterly, Taylor and Coral Sts., Thirty-first ward.
* January 16. A majority of the stock in the People's Passenger Railway (Callowhill Street) Company, which was lessee of the Fourth and Eighth, Green and Coates, Girard Avenue and Norris and Susquehanna roads, sold to a syndicate composed principally of stockholders of the Lombard and South Streets, P. R. W. Company, and reorganized by the latter
* February 14. Brick dwelling-house No. 1225 Lawrence St. fell to the ground and totally destroyed eleven persons in it at the time injured and bruised by the falling walls, joists and floors.
* March 20. Daniel Coyle, electrical engineer in employ of the Northern Electric Light Company, instantly killed at No. 1116 N. Second St. while readjusting a light, by the full current of electricity being turned on.
* April 2. The traction company withdrew the night cars running on the Richmond, Columbia Ave., Seventeenth and Nineteenth Sts., and Chestnut and Walnut Sts. Branches.
* April 18. St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Seventh St. And Montgomery Ave., consecrated.
* April 21. Iron steamboat Newburgh, intended for passenger service on the North River, launched from the shipyard of Neafie & Levy, Kensington. Length, 245 feet; beam, 43 feet; depth of hold, 15 feet; engines, 1100 horse-power; burden, 1000 tons.
* April 23. Spinning-mill of J. Meadowcraft & Sons, Emerald and Sergeant Sts., burned. Loss, $29,000.
* May 3. East Baptist Church, Hanover St. Below Thompson, dedicated.
* June 11. Cornerstone laid of the parish building of St. Barnabas Protestant Episcopal Church, Third and Dauphin Sts.
* June 21 Fire at George Smith's scroll and carpenter mill, Philadelphia St. Between York and Dauphin. Loss, $10,000.
* June 25. Iron steamship El Monte, built for the Morgan Line, between New York and New Orleans, launched from the yard of Cramps' Shipbuilding Company. Length, 338 feet; beam, 42 feet 8 inches; depth of hold, 31 feet 8 inches; carrying capacity, 9,000 bales of cotton; engines, 2500 horse-power.
* June 28. Fire at warehouse and factory, Northeast cor. Oxford and Randolph Sts., occupied by C. W. Hall, chair manufacturer, and B. F. Richardson, furniture manufacturer. Loss, $11,500.
* July 10. Cornerstone laid of new building of East Montgomery Ave. M. E. Church, Montgomery Ave. And Frankford Road.
* August 28. Steamship Cherokee launched from the shipyard of William Cramp & Sons, built for William P. Clyde & Co. Length, 290 feet; beam, 43 feet; depth, 29 feet; measurement, 2500 tons.
* September 24, New temple of the Jewish congregation, Adath Jeshurun, Seventh St. above Columbia Ave. consecrated.
* September 25. Iron Steamship Seminole launched from the yard of William Cramp & Sons, ship and engine builders; vessel built for William P. Clyde & Co. Length, 290 feet; beam, 43 feet; depth, 29 feet, measurement, 2500 tons.
* September 28. Planning and sash-mill of Gotlieb Hoersch, American St. above York, burned. Loss $16,000.
* October 3. Fire at the terra-cotta works of Harvey, Moland & Co., Seventh and York Sts. Loss $27,5000.
* October 10. Cable-cars commenced running on the Columbia Ave. the Union Passenger Railway.
* October 24. Fifth Reformed Church (Dutch Reformed), Otis St. near Cedar, dedicated.
* October 30. New Girard Avenue Farmers' market-house, Girard Ave. and Ninth St., opened for business.
* November 10. Fire at John Brombly & Sons' carpet-mills, Front and Jasper SSTs. Loss, $10,000.
* November 11. Explosion and fire at cigar-box factory of Henry H. Sheep & co., Randolph St. above Columbia Ave. One women Killed; fourteen persons burned and injured.
* November 28. New building of Beacon Presbyterian Church, Cumberland and Cedar Strs., dedicated.
* December 11. Steamship Herman Winters, for the Metropolitan Steamship Company of New York, launched from the shipyard of William Cramp & Sons. Length, 286 feet, breadth of beam, 41 1/2 feet; depth of hold, 29 feet; burden, 2500 tons.
* December 16. Fire in mill-building at Coral and Dreer Sts., occupied by H. Davenport & Co. and Davenport & Hepworth, manufacturers of curtains and upholstery goods. Loss, $19,000.
* Market-sheds and stalls on Girard Ave. between Sixth and Twelfth Sts. sold at auction preparatory to the abandonment of the public markets there.
1887
* January 9. Explosion -- supposed of dynamite -- in a shanty at Thirteenth and Stiles Sts. Building totally destroyed ad a watchman killed. The report was heard as far north as Chestnut Hill and the shock felt at Burlington and Princeton, NJ Houses on Girard Ave. and from Twenty-eighth to Thirty-first St., and in intersecting streets, suffered the equity suit arising in consequence of the failure of the Shackamaxon Gank filed his report, deciding that the amount; lost by the bank was $430,210,.29, and the defendants, Thomas L. Huggard, cashier of the bank, and Samuel P. Milligan, teller, were chargeable with the whole amount; also that Joseph Concklin was liable for $149,538.23, the estate of William Bumm, deceased, $285,823.42; G. W. and W. H. Bumm, surviving partners, $136,285.13, and G. W. and W. H. Bumm, new partners, $4,720.39. Fire at curled-hair and glue factory of Delany & Co., Hancock and Jefferson Streets. Loss, $12,000.
* January 23. New chapel of East Montgomery avenue M.E. Church, corner Frankford Road and Montgomery Avenue, formally dedicated.
* February 2. The toboggan slide erected for the use of the public in Fairmount Park at the expense of William M. Signally, used fro the first time. Width of the slide, 34 feet; length of the slide and the ground to be covered, 2200 feet.
* March 22. ground broken at N. E, corner Ninth Street and Lehigh Avenue, for new German Lutheran Church of the Cross Church dedicated November 6
* May 12. hay sheds and other buildings at Burgin & Sons', glass factory, Montgomery Avenue above Girard Avenue, destroyed by fire, with damage to swelling houses on Palmer Street. Loss, $$2,000.
* May 19. Iron steamship Josefita, intended for the Cuban trade, launched from the shipyard of Neafie & Levy. Length, 230 feet; beam, 34 feet, depth of hold, 21 feet; 1500 tons register.
* November 2. Fire at stone factory building, and engine house, Wister Station, Germantown, belonging to estate of John Bromley and occupied by Henry F. Scatchard, William R. Taylor and Stirling & Son, manufacturers of yarns. Loss, $115,000.
* December 27. Thomas L. Huggard, late cashier of the Shackamaxon Bank; Samuel P. Milligan, late teller; George W. Bumm and William H. Bumm, directors, put on trial to answer the charge of conspiracy to defraud the bank previous to the failure which took place May 29, 1885. Huggard pleaded guilty, and sentenced to one year and three months' imprisonment; Milligan and George W. Bumm convicted and sentenced to one year's imprisonment each; William H. Bumm acquitted. Gorge W. Bumm pardoned July 17.
1888
* January 10. Cable cars of the Traction company began running on Seventh and Ninth Streets between Columbia Avenue and Mckean Street.
* February 15. Roman Catholic Cemetery of the Most Holy Redeemer, Richmond Street below Orthodox, Twenty-fifth Ward, opened for use.
* February 27. George M. Palmer, a baker residing at No. 504 Lehigh Avenue, convicted of causing the death of Louisa Drebel by adulterating cakes and buns with chromate of lead, sentenced to six months' imprisonment. For like adulterations, Frederick Schmidt, a baker residing at Vienna Street and Frankford Avenue, charged with a similar offense, sentenced to six mouths' imprisonment and a fine of $100.
* June 26. Norris Square M. E. Church, Mascher Street above Susquehanna Avenue, dedicated.
* July 3. Cornerstone laid of German Lutheran Church of the Cross, Ninth Street and Lehigh Avenue.
* July 11. George M. Palmer, a baker residing at No. 504 Lehigh Avenue, held to bail by Corner Ashbridge to answer the charge of having poisoned four persons by adulteration of buns and cakes which he baked with chromate of lead (chrome yellow), used to give the articles a rich yellow color.
* July 12. George M. Palmer and F. Schmidt, bakers, and George W. Millett, salesman, charged with poisonous adulteration of food with chromate of lead (chrome yellow), bound over to answer.
* July 21. Fredrick Schmidt, a baker at baker at Vienna Street and Frankford Avenue, was by the verdict of a Corner's jury found guilty of having caused the death of Anna E. Helm by the use of poisonous matter (chromate of lead) in the preparation of buns and other breadstuffs which were eaten by the deceased.
* April 11. The pneumatic dynamite gun built by William Cramp & Sons for the Italian Government sent to Fort Lafayette, where it was tested under the direction of Lieutenant Zalinski.
* April 28. Launch of the gunboat Yorktown and the dynamite cruiser Vesuvius from Cramp's shipyard, Kensington. Secretary Whitney and a number of members of Congress and other distinguished guests attended the launching.
* July 31. The boiler of a locomotive of the Reading Railroad Co., exploded while standing at Columbia Avenue station, killing Andrew Pond, the engineer, and Peter Graklow, the fireman.
* August 4. Steamship Corona, built for the Oregon Steamship Company, launched from the yards of Neafie & Levy. Sailed for San Francisco, October 27.
* October 6. United States cruiser Baltimore launched at Cramps' Shipyard in the presence of the Secretary of the Navy, and a distinguished party from Washington.
1889
* January 11. Dynamite Cruiser Vesuvius on her official trial trip made a speed of 21.64 knots per hour.
* March 25. Gunboat Yorktown formally accepted by the government.
* April 19. The family of the late George L. Harrison presented $200,000 to the Episcopal Hospital to found and endow a building for incurables.
* April 23. U.S. warship Yorktown put in commission, and sailed for New York two days later.
* May 13. A salmon weighing 121/2 pounds caught in the Delaware the first salmon caught in the Delaware for many years.
* September 6. Mass meeting of property owners and residents along the line of the Cohocksink sewer urged the finance committee of Councils to take immediate measures to prevent further breaks in the sewer.
* October 1. A storm caused the extension of the break in the Cohocksink sewer. William F. Keppler was carried down in the break and drowned.
1897
* November 18. The new building of the Kensington Hospital for Women, on Diamond Street opposite Norris Square, was formally opened.