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Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Burr & Dodge 123-125 N. 5th Street - Pre 1888











Personal Reminiscences of James Mapes Dodge - 1916



Tuesday, May 19, 2020

John B, Stetson Company Cafeterias - 1921


Central Kitchen for Employee Cafeterias -
John B. Stetson Factory Complex Phila.


May, 1921. PLANT-RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT
The Three Cent Unit Check
Problems That Have Been Solved in the Big Restaurants of The John B. Stetson Company
By William H. Linton. (Manager, Employes' Cafeterias, The John B. Stetson Co.)

Years ago, during the prime of his business career, John B. Stetson planned and developed ideas in welfare work along many lines that are now being followed more universally than was thought possible in his time. The care of his “family”. as he called the small group about him, extended in every direction where his fatherly interest could be of benefit. Among these activities he soon saw the wisdom of providing for the comfort of the "inner" man and established a dining room for the use of workers.
At first, only coffee, tea and milk were provided to supplement the lunches carried by the workers and later soup, sandwiches and ice cream were added to the list as required. Today however, with the tremendous growth of the plant to a group of 28 buildings and 4000, or more, employes, the present officers of the Stetson plant felt the need of more up to date appointments. and have established a complete new cafeteria system comprising four large dining rooms and a modern kitchen with butcher shop and store-room attached.
This department opened on September 3, 1919. and proved a decided success from the start and during the first year of operation served 333.113 meals to the workers as well as 1905 to guests and special parties. The kitchen is located on the 6th floor of the main office building with a dining room adjoining on either side. allowing for easy distribution of supplies and renewals during the lunch hour.
RESTAURANT FOR GIRLS.
One room seats about 250 men of the office and finishing room groups, while the other accommodates about 500 from the sizing department. which had never been provided with adequate seating accommodations before. On


Men workers are permitted to play cards and smoke in the cafeteria after the lunch is over.

In the Stetson restaurants, most careful study has been given to the order in which lunchers shall he served.

An additional aisle outside of the guard rail, permits the convenient passage of lunchers to the tables.

the fourth floor of the same building, another cafeteria is established for the benefit of the girls of the various finishing departments and has a double U-shaped service counter and a seating capacity of 800 or more.
In building 13, there is a fourth cafeteria on the third floor arranged to accommodate both men and women to the extent of 450. All food and supplies are carried to this point on trucks by way of elevators and bridges and is entirely satisfactory. as there is no need of going out of doors during the trip. Each service station is provided with ample steam tables, coffee and tea urns and dish washing facilities. The wooden service counters are of uniform type throughout with ash tops, easily cleaned, and ample shelves for display and storage purposes.
Three of the rooms have double service units on the one counter with the steam table inserted in the center and the employes approach from the outside, picking up their trays and cutlery at the end and secure their ice cream, pastry, salads, bread and butter, beverages, soup and combination dinners in the order mentioned, leaving the counter at the center and passing the checker as they turn to the aisle leading to the tables. In the girls' room on the fourth floor the service counters are back to back and the trays and cutlery are stacked at the end where the girls can pick them up before they reach the tray slide.
The order of service is somewhat reversed as each counter has a small steam table and they secure their food in the following order: soup. combination meals. salads. bread and butter. pastries and beverages. The coffee urns in this case being on a central stand between the counters with faucets on both sides of each for the benefit of the two groups of servers.
USE WAl.l. MENU BOARDS.
There is an additional aisle outside of the guard rail to allow those carrying their lunches to pass by freely and dishes and silver are stacked on one of the tables for their use. Many of these girls step to the further end of the counter and secure coffee or tea thus reducing the number which would otherwise be forced to pass by the regular service counter.

In each room large menu signs are hung where the menu and prices for the day are displayed and arranged to be seen as the men or women form in line. The number of checks required for each dish is marked up rather than the cash value, so as to minimize the chance of error on the part of the checker. The checking system is probably rather unique as they are sold by the cashiers in strips of ten for thirty cents, every article being priced at three cents or a multiple thereof.
For example a Friday menu:
Clam Chowder . . . . . . 2 checks ( 6 cents) 
Broiled Shad, Boiled Potatoes, Peas 
. . . 8 checks (24 cents) 
Roast Beef, Boiled Potatoes. Peas 
. . . 8 checks (24 cents) 
Sandwiches: Ham or Cheese........... 2 checks ( 6 cents) 
Pies: Apple, Cherry or Cocoanut.... 2 checks ( 6 cents) 
Peaches, oranges or apples. . ...... .. 2 checks ( 6 cents) 
Ice Cream . . . . . . . . . . ./ . . . ... . . .. 2 checks ( 6 cents) 
Coffee, Milk, Tea or Cocoa. .. . .... . 1 check ( 3 cents)
It. has always been the firm's practice to sell their lunches at less than cost, to such an extent that, previous to the establishment of the present cafeteria system, the checks were sold on a two cent basis and soup and sandwiches were served for four cents and coffee, tea or milk at two cents. However, with the development of a more elaborate menu and service it seemed wiser not to jump to a five cent basis, which prevails outside the plant, but adjust it to a three cent unit which has proven entirely satisfactory. It soon developed that the combination meal served to the men at twenty-four cents was more liberal in quantity as well as too expensive in price for the girls' requirements and a smaller combination was served at four checks or twelve cents which immediately became popular and has added materially to their interest in the cafeteria. Such combinations as these are offered: Hamburg steak, onions and mashed potatoes; frankfurter, krout and mashed potatoes; salmon, mayonnaise and potato salad; ham croquette, tomato sauce and potatoes.
It is interesting to note the various check averages of the different rooms as they seem to respond to the physical activities of the working groups.
NO COM PULSORY PATRONAGE.
For example: Room I, catering to the office and finishing departments averages around 24 cents per man; Room 2, the sizing department, where heavy physical work is required, runs about thirty-one cents; Room 3, comprising all girls who are seated at work all day, 15 cents. Room 4, catering to both men and women, 21 cents.
The general average check during the busy season ran around 23 cents, while at the opening of the cafeteria it ran about 17 cents. This shows very emphatically that the people of all departments soon found that the substantial meal served at such moderate price easily over balanced any economy in carrying lunches and added materially to one's comfort and well being during the rest of the working day.
As you may observe from the arrangements described, there is absolutely nothing compulsory about patronizing the cafeteria in so far as the buying of food is concerned but all employes are instructed to leave the work rooms for the noon period and eat their lunches in these rooms where everything is arranged for their use. After their meal is done the men are at liberty to play cards or smoke in the cafeteria and the girls have very attractive rest rooms with literature, couches and easy chairs at their disposal. Music is not provided in the cafeteria but pianos and phonographs are in many of the girls' work rooms and are used during the working hours.
The Stetson auditorium is one of the largest in Philadelphia, seating over 5,000 and is used extensively for meetings and celebrations, the notable one being the day before Christmas when approximately $500,000 in bonuses and gifts were distributed to the employes.

August 1921 Issue

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Monday, May 18, 2020



Green Street Coaling Station Philadelphia and Reading Railroad 9th and Green Streets. Erected 1889. The Link-Belt Engineering Co. Collection




Photo thanks to John Rowe






Friday, May 15, 2020

Camerons of Boston, New York, Philadelphia - Wool Merchants


NY Daily Graphic 8 Feb 1888



85 Walker Street - NYC


Trow City Directory - Business Partnerships - 1890



NY Herald 2 Oct 1891




2306 N. American Street 


Boyds City Ditectory - 1895



Public Ledger 15 Jan 1920

Alpin W. Cameron  joins the firm. 





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Partial Collapse of Roof at A. J. Cameron's Mill - January 1910

American Textile Reporter - January 20, 1910

MILL BUILDING COLLAPSES.
Part of the roof and the walls of one end of the third floor of the worsted yarn mill of A. J. Cameron & Co., Glenwood avenue and Pacific street, Philadelphia, collapsed shortly before 6 o'clock on Friday of last week. A serious catastro phe was narrowly averted by the time ly warning of J. C. Platt, the general superintendent of the mill, whose prompt action saved the lives of 35 girls who escaped from the room in which they were working just in time to avoid an avalanche of bricks and steel girders. Frightened by the screams of the girl's more than 150 other women employes fled from the building in a panic but none were injured.
A pedestrian, however, was caught beneath a mass of falling debris and so badly Injured that he died shortly after.
Soon after the collapse of the building which was erected about six years ago and considered one of the model mills of the country because constructed solely of brick and steel, thereby being fireproof, Inspectors of the Bureau of Building Inspection examined the ruins. They declared they could assign no reason for the accident.
The collapse was accompanied by the bursting of automatic fire sprinklers throughout the building and for two hours before the flow was shut off, water poured over the finished and unfinished products of the mill. The loss from this source will be heavy and experts declare that the damage done to the building is so great that it will have to be practically rebuilt in many sections.


Tuesday, May 12, 2020

William P. Denegre 1853-1931




William P Denegre 1853-1931. Business partner of A. J. Cameron and Cameron Worsted Co etc. Born in New Orleans, one of 15 children. Family possibly from Corsica. Graduate of St. John's College / Fordham, class of 1873. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, class of 1877 . Photo: Greek Letter Men of Philadelphia 1899





Cameron Factory 1952- E Glenwood and Castor Ave. Defunct.

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Inquirer 28 Oct 1907 

First wife - Mary R. Miller 1858?/1907- Married in 1880 in Frederick County Maryland.



Inquirer 19 Aug 1951

Second wife - Sophia R Denegre 


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West Arch Street Presbyterian Church - circa 1861




FLP Collection


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Monday, May 11, 2020

UFO Over Harrowgate Found In 1910 Photo







1900 E Pacific Street looking toward Glenwood Ave. and A. J. Cameron Yarn Mill - Harrowgate - circa 1910

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Sunday, May 10, 2020

Terminal Station, Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company - 1913





Photographic reproductions illustrating some of the works of graduates... Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 1913


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Saturday, May 9, 2020

Machine Shop of New York Shipbuilding Co, Camden, NJ - 1913




Photographic reproductions illustrating some of the works of graduates... Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 1913


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60 Ton Cable Rope -John A Roebling's & Sons Co., Trenton NJ - 1913


Photographic reproductions illustrating some of the works of graduates... Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 1913

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Railway Bridge Over Thirtieth Street - Philadelphia U.S.A., Mr. Joseph M Wison, Engineer


Plate LXXXI Railway Bridge Over Thirtieth Street - Philadelphia U.S.A., Mr. Joseph M Wison, Engineer

http://digital.lib.lehigh.edu/cdm4/bridges_viewer.php?ptr=3510&view=co


Click on image to enlarge.







A. J. Cameron & Co - Yarn Manufacturers - E Glenwood Ave and E Pacific St - Harrowgate - 1913







1910 Bromley Map

Photo: Photographic reproductions illustrating some of the works of graduates... Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 1913


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Tuesday, May 5, 2020

The New Isaac A Sheppard School - Inquirer 7 Aug 1898




The above is taken from a picture of the new Isaac A. Sheppard School, Howard and Cambria streets, which, it was expected would be ready to be turned over to the city on Monday. The frequent rains experienced during the past two weeks have bad the effect of retarding work on the drainage of the school. It is not thought that the school will be ready to be turned over much before the latter part of the month. 

The Sheppard school is one of the handsomest school built in a lot 228 feet by 200. It is built of Port Deposit granite, with Hurricane Island trimmings, and cost the ctty $66,250. The school is heated and ventilated by the new induction system. It contains fifteen class rooms, with a teachers' room and toilet room on each floor. The ceilings are of decorated steel. The basement of the school is cemented and thoroughly lighted, with the view of using it as a playground in wet weather. 

The Fitlcr School, Knox and Seymour streets, Germantown, which it is expected will be turned over to the Board of Education in the course of a week to ten days. It is an exact replica in every respect, except that of grade, the Sheppard School. It cost the city $67,995. In a conspicuous place in the entrance hall of the Fitler School is fixed a handsome terra cotta tablet bearing the words "Edwin H. Fltler, 1898." Both schools are heated by the latest and most approved system of steam heating.  

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Saturday, May 2, 2020

National Hall, Philadelphia - 1224-1228 Market Street - 1850s to 1873






1868 image - link below.

"...We find but little to interest us in the block from Twelfth street to Thirteenth on Market. On the south side, near Thirteenth street, stood National Hall, a structure which was mainly noted for the abolition meetings which were held there. The hall was opened in the early 50's, and was the scene of many mass meetings, fairs and similar efforts to add to the gaiety of nations. During the Civil War there were frequent meetings, concerts and fairs held there, and in 1866 a convention of Southern Loyalists was opened on September 3d. Probably the greatest excitement ever seen in the hall was on the occasion of an Abolitionists' meeting to protest against the hanging of John Brown in 1859. It was an historic occasion and excitement was very high throughout the city, in which there were a large number of Southern sympathizers as well as Abolitionists. It seems that a large number of the former attended the mass meeting, which ended almost in a riot.
The arrest of Brown also was discussed at a meeting held at National Hall on October 28, 1859. On that occasion Joshua R. Giddings, a venerable Abolitionist, told of the relation he had sustained toward the erratic leader of the Harper's Ferry raid. The hanging of Brown, how ever, was too much for the Abolitionists. They were not only indignant, but they insisted upon expressing them selves in no uncertain or guarded manner. A meeting was held at National Hal on December 2. The call had gone out, and the whole city was in a ferment of excitement. James Mott presided, and there were present on the plat form Lucretia Mott, Theodore Tilton, Mary Grew and Robert Purvis. The speakers were all allowed to proceed in silence until Purvis arose to address the meeting, and there the storm of hisses which greeted him revealed the presence of a large pro-Southern contingent. For some minutes he was not able to speak for the noise and din. Finally, the disturbers became tired and then he began his address, which was a rather remarkable one, and did not tend to pacify the pro-Southern element. His allusion to Brown as a man "who would be looked upon as the Jesus Christ of the nineteenth century," set the meeting on fire again. The uproar continued until Chief Ruggles, with a detail of policemen, appeared, when the meeting was allowed to adjourn.
National Hall in the summer of 1873, was transformed into a theatre, which at that time was said to have the largest stage in the city outside of the Academy of Music. The New Olympic Theatre, as it was called, was devoted to vaudeville, and had the old actor and dramatist, James Pilgrim, for stage manager. The career of the house was very brief, for between 2 and 3 o'clock on the morning of January 29, 1874, the entire structure was burned by a fire of unknown origin. Two firemen lost their lives when the rear wall fell.
National Hall and later the Olympic Theatre, occupied the properties 1224 to 1228 Market street, and the ground floor was devoted to business purposes. The theatre never was rebuilt, but an iron front building was put up on the site by Croft, Wilbur & Allen, candy manufacturers..."



(Page 273, 274 - America's most historic highway : Market street, Philadelphia ... Joseph Jackson, 1926)

https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/digitool%3A99104?fbclid=IwAR1b9HeItR4NPtvwPufJny1WLKfJXKO9Rz-6x9r7myz78Eiw33bNedLosJQ


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