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Friday, May 31, 2019

Conflagration in Philadelphia - Ninth and Washington to Federal - February 8, 1865 - Harper's Weekly 25 Feb 1865















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Stunt Reporter Vivian Shirley atop the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge - 1929





Item No: pdcp01075
Title: Vivian Shirley standing atop the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge (under construction)
Additional Title: "Stunt reporter" for the Evening Public Ledger
Creation Date: 6/28/1929 
Source: Free Library of Philadelphia




Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Philadelphia Bread Wagon - Fulton, Walker & Co. - 1877







The Automotive Manufacturers Vol.18, 1877


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Exhibition Transfer Coach - Omnibus - Fulton, Walker & Co., Phila. 1877






The Automotive Manufacturers Vol.18, 1877


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Volunteer Fire Departments - Ambulance Aid to the Wounded - 1860s















Before the military could get organized early in the war, Volunteer fire companies lent their ambulances with personnel to transport the wounded arriving by port from the war for conveyances to various hospitals in the city. 

Images: The tribute book, a record of the munificence, self-sacrifice ...Goodrich, Frank 1865


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Monday, May 27, 2019

Harrowgate - Kensington Combined Veterans Memorial Day Parade - circa late 1960s



Photo Source:  John Rowe



Castor Ave. on West side of Frankford Ave. ready to feed into order of marching headed south (left on this photo.





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208 S Fourth Street - circa 1910








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Civil War Output of Henry Simons' National Wagon Works, Philadelphia Pa.



Standardized Civil War Era "Wheeling Style" Ambulance Design
Photo: Library of Congress




Henry Simons Jr.. son of wheelwright Henry Simons (died 11 August 1851)

In the History of American Manufacturers by Bishop, Vol. 3, page 62, published 1866 is the following:

... During the Rebellion, this was one of the few establishments fully prepared to supply the wants of the Government without delay, and during the war, furnished 10,000 baggage wagons, 4000 ambulances of all kinds, 250 signal corps wagons, 150 medicine wagons, 1000 carts and timber wheels, 1000 wheel barrows, 150 travelling forges, 100 caissons and limbers for artillery, 50,000 tripods, poles and rings for Sibley tents, 1,000,000 spokes, 5,000 hubs, 50,000 wagon hounds, etc., etc."

Above from:
The History of and Old Philadelphia Land Title - 208 South Fourth Street - John Frederick Lewis, 1934

Average price of Simons Philagelphia built wagon $105 to Government 1861 - $308 in 1865.  

After War Philadelphia a hub of carriage manufacturing due to two factors - highest quality of blacksmithing skills and ready access to various woods. 

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Saturday, May 25, 2019

Details of the Simons' Wagon Works Factory Fire - N Second and Huntingdon Streets - Inquirer 23 July 1864









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Simon's U.S. National Wagon Works - N Second and (Cumberland) Huntingdon Streets - 1861






National Wagon Works - Hexamer








McElroy City Directory 1861









Inquirer 17 April 1861




(ushistory.org) 1864- 
  • July 22. Simon's Wagon Works, Second and Huntingdon Streets, entirely destroyed by incendiary fire.

Inquirer 16 Feb 1865


Inquirer 4 Aug 1864


Inquirer 5 Aug 1864



Inquirer 6 Oct 1864



Inquirer 4 Sept 1865




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Typo ? Allegheny House vs. Atlantic House 814 Market Street - The Ways of the Circus - George Conklin / Harvey W. Root 1921 Bio





Trying to find an Atlantic House in the 1860s and 1870s as a Clearing House for Circus performers to negotiate a contractual seasonal deal with the likes of Circus impresarios Pogey O'Brien or Adam Forepaugh on the local scene during the Winter months of circuses wintering in places like Frankford, Pa. for the Pogey O'Brien Circus animals and crowd and like Port Richmond, Pa. for the Adam Forepaugh winter menagerie and crowd, I think that George Conklin's dictated bio to Reporter Harvey W. Root, makes a mistake in memory of fifty years past and names the Allegheny House between eighth and ninth streets on Market as the "Atlantic House". I cannot find Atlantic House in the same time and place and think that this was a historic tangent not fully vetted or fact checked in an old circus player's book on the subject. I have also in research found that the hotel had a bar and restaurant which was the likely meeting and business discussing and contracting proposal areas like as in old Coffee Houses where business was regularly conducted in the same time period. 



Atlantic House Philadelphia - Circus Clearing House in Winter







Allegheny House - 814 Market Street - Place of Rendezvous and Other Business Matters



Inquirer 3 June 1861

Civil War Recruitment - Semper Fi



Inquirer 11 Nov 1865


Gopsill's Pennsylvania State Business Directory - J. Costa, Agent, Office, Allegheny House, No. 814 Market Street, Philadelphia.

Atlas Phila Vol.3,Wards 6,9,10 - 1875



Friday, May 24, 2019

George Conklin (1845-1924) Animal Trainer - Tamer of Lions


photo: The Ways of the Circus - George Conklin / Harvey W. Root


Chief Animal Trainer for Barnum & Bailey Circus for 20 years. 

Born: Cincinatti, Ohio December 7, 1845

Died: Bridgeport, Connecticut February 25, 1924
                                                        Interment - St. Michael's Cemetery

Brother of famous Circus Clown Pete Conklin  1842-1924 "The King's Jester", Born NYC

Brother of famous Circus Cannon Ball Performer John Conklin  1838? - 1885, Born NYC


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