Sunday, August 30, 2020
Queen Street Nativist Riots - Southwark - July 1844 - The Story of Philadelphia, 1919
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| Riot in Philadelphia July 7, 1844 Library Company of Philadephia
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On the evening of Friday, July 5, some persons passing the Roman Catholic Church of St. Philip de Neri, on Queen Street above Second Street, in Southwark, saw muskets being carried into the church. Southwark was one of the strongholds of the Native American party, and its people became greatly excited when the report spread that the church was "a fort filled with guns and ammunition." In the evening hundreds of people gathered about the church. A small force of police of the district came to be ready for emergency, but as the crowd increased they felt that they would not be able to handle the crowd in case it became turbulent. The police, therefore, requested aid of the sheriff, Morton McMichael. As he had no posse organized, he applied for troops to General Patterson and himself went to Queen Street. He found the crowd in hostile mood, demanding that the church should be searched for arms.
The sheriff, with Aldermen Hortz and Palmer, entered the church and came out with twelve unloaded muskets, with bayonets. The crowd not being satisfied with this report, decided to investigate the matter themselves and deputed three of their own number to examine the church. They discovered seventy-five additional muskets, fully loaded, as well as a substantial supply of pistols, knives, clubs, axes, cartridges, a keg of powder and bayonets fastened on poles to be utilized as pikes. While this party of investigators was in the church the detachment of soldiers asked for by Sheriff McMichael arrived and dispersed the crowd; so that the report of the second investigation was not circulated until the next morning.
It was several days later before the presence of these arms in the church was explained. William H. Dunn, an Irishman and brother of the rector of the church, a lawyer and a man of militant disposition, had, after the riots in May, organized a company of forty men for the defense of the church. As they were without arms, he secured from Governor David R. Porter an order for twenty-five muskets to be served from the arsenal and had secured from Brigadier General Horatio Hubbell, of the Third Brigade, a commission as captain of a volunteer company. The company had drilled in the church for some time before the Fourth of July, and on that day, fearing an attack, there had been 150 men in the building. The guns, which had been seen taken into the church, were guns which had been sent for repair and were being returned by the gunsmith.
The story of the secreted guns stirred the population to fury, and a crowd, ominously sullen and revengeful, gathered in the neighborhood in numbers that steadily increased as the day wore on. At night General George Cadwalader, who was in charge of the troops, concluded to clear the streets, in which cannon were planted. The people stood their ground until the pressure became heavy, and then they relieved their unwillingness to leave the scene by taunting the soldiers. General Cadwalader, finding this conduct unbearable, ordered his men to fire.
As the gun was trained on a dense crowd of people and many women and children among them, Charles Naylor, ex-Congressman and lawyer, stepped out in front of the gun and protested against the order, shouting: "Don't fire! Don't fire!" Whereupon he was placed under arrest and sent into the church under guard to be held as a military prisoner.
As the gun was trained on a dense crowd of people and many women and children among them, Charles Naylor, ex-Congressman and lawyer, stepped out in front of the gun and protested against the order, shouting: "Don't fire! Don't fire!" Whereupon he was placed under arrest and sent into the church under guard to be held as a military prisoner.
The crowds dispersed, feeling much incensed against the soldiers. On the morning of Sunday, July 7, the story was told all over the city how Charles Naylor had saved the people from being mowed down by artillery. He was still in the church. After the crowds had been dispersed the night before, most of the troops had been released, except the Markle Rifles, the Mechanic Rifles and the Montgomery Hibernia Greens. This last-named company was made up solidly of Irish Catholics, so that the complaint that Naylor, "friend of the people," was being held prisoner by the Catholics made a rallying cry.
The crowd clamored for the release of Naylor, brought some old cannon, but could do no damage with them because they lacked ammunition of appropriate size. Then they procured a heavy piece of timber, and, using it as a battering ram, forced open the door of the church. The soldiers within did not fire on the crowd. They released Naylor in custody of the aldermen of the district, who released him upon his own recognizance to appear when called.
The crowd clamored for the release of Naylor, brought some old cannon, but could do no damage with them because they lacked ammunition of appropriate size. Then they procured a heavy piece of timber, and, using it as a battering ram, forced open the door of the church. The soldiers within did not fire on the crowd. They released Naylor in custody of the aldermen of the district, who released him upon his own recognizance to appear when called.
Afterward, the crowd demanded that the soldiers should be removed from the church. Finally they left, the crowd cheering the Mechanic Rifles and the Markle Rifles, but they saluted the "Greens" with jeering and derisive yells and later with stones and brickbats. Finally, a soldier fired at the crowd, upon which his company broke and ran, hotly pursued by the crowd, who caught and beat several of them, one of them, who was suspected of having fired the shot, being left for dead. The soldiers having withdrawn from the church, the leading men of the Native American party took steps to protect the building. The utmost vigilance was necessary, because the news of the events of the day had spread all over the city and had brought continually increasing accessions to the crowd. When any new act of violence seemed to be impending the leaders, among whom were Thomas D. Grover, Lewis C. Levin, Charles J. Jack and John Perry, addressed the would-be aggressors.
In the middle of the afternoon, however, some of them took the battering ram, which had been so successfully used against the door of the church in the morning, and with it made a breach in the west fence-wall of the churchyard. Breaking through doors and windows, they swarmed into the church. The Native American leaders, who had been keeping guard outside, went into the church and adjured the people to avoid destruction. In this they succeeded. Hundreds went through the church, and beyond the initial damage to doors and windows, nothing was done to injure the property. When the sightseeing desire of the crowd had been satisfied, the prominent Native Americans formed a committee of 100 to defend the church, and kept outsiders from entering the building. The crowd dispersed and it seemed as though the trouble was over. It would have been if the citizens' committee had been left in charge of the church.
In the middle of the afternoon, however, some of them took the battering ram, which had been so successfully used against the door of the church in the morning, and with it made a breach in the west fence-wall of the churchyard. Breaking through doors and windows, they swarmed into the church. The Native American leaders, who had been keeping guard outside, went into the church and adjured the people to avoid destruction. In this they succeeded. Hundreds went through the church, and beyond the initial damage to doors and windows, nothing was done to injure the property. When the sightseeing desire of the crowd had been satisfied, the prominent Native Americans formed a committee of 100 to defend the church, and kept outsiders from entering the building. The crowd dispersed and it seemed as though the trouble was over. It would have been if the citizens' committee had been left in charge of the church.
During the afternoon, while the crowd had been marching through the church, the bell in the State House was rung for the militia to assemble, the authorities having decided to call the troops together to prevent further outbreak. At half-past 6 o'clock the troops left Independence Square, with the bands playing, which attracted a steadily growing crowd. The head of the procession reached the church at about 7 o'clock, when the citizens' committee defending the church turned it over to General Cadwalader. An order was given to clear the streets, and the Cadwalader Grays endeavored the execute the order in Queen Street. They found it difficult to do so, for the crowd was too dense to get away quickly and some of its members were sullen. The City Guards, Captain Joseph Hill commanding, were ordered to support the Grays, and advanced with bayonets pointed as for a charge.
The crowd was for the most part peaceably inclined, but a few rough fellows made mischief by altercation or taunts addressed to the soldiers, and while this was going on some bricks and stones were thrown into the ranks from the crowd and struck some of the soldiers. Captain Hill, who was in front of his company with sword drawn, was attacked by one of the roughs, who tried to take his sword from him and had him beaten down on one knee. Captain Hill ordered his men to fire. Volleys rang out down Queen Street and Second Street, killing William Crozier, Isaac Freed, a boy named Linsenberger, Ellis Lewis, and perhaps some others, and wounding many, including some women who were on the steps of their own houses. This result infuriated the crowd. They procured guns and artillery from various sources and pitched battles took place in the streets until about 11 o'clock, when reinforcements of cavalry arrived, captured the cannon and dispersed the crowd. Two non-commissioned officers of the Germantown Blues and twelve citizens were killed and scores were wounded, many of them seriously. Governor Porter arrived in the city on Monday afternoon with more troops, and at its highest mobilization there were more than 5000 men under arms.
These riots revealed the unprepared state of the city, and, on July 11, Councils appropriated $10,000 for the enlistment of a battalion of artillery, a regiment of infantry and a troop of horse. Further sums were later voted, and by September these units had been made up, with a complement of 1350 men.
A new police act was passed April 12, 1845, by which the Legislature required the city of Philadelphia and the districts of Spring Garden, Northern Liberties, Kensington, Penn, Southwark and the township of Moyamensing to establish and maintain police forces consisting of not less than one able-bodied man for "every one hundred and fifty taxable inhabitants." Each district had its own superintendent. The sheriff of the county, in case of riot, could call to his aid the police forces of any or all of the other corporations, and he was authorized also, in case of need, to call upon the commanders of the militia forces to aid in restoring public peace.
The police force was a vast improvement over the old "watch" plan which had continued, with few modifications, from the old colonial days. An act which passed May 3, 1850, strengthened the efficiency of the force by providing for a marshal of police for the entire police territory to be elected every three years. By this later act the police force was at no time to exceed one for every 150 taxable inhabitants, as enumerated at the last septennial census, nor less than one for every 600 taxable inhabitants. At first, 400 were chosen as the unit of representation, which gave the city 55 policemen; Spring Garden, 26; Kensington, 24; the Northern Liberties, 21; Southwark, 18; Moyamensing, 12; Penn, 4 ; Richmond, 4, and West Philadelphia, when that district was incorporated the following year, was given 3. The city was entitled to four lieutenants and each outlying district one. The force then numbered 180, with 1 marshal, 12 lieutenants and 167 men. From 1848 on efforts had been made to get the police into uniform, but the men had objected. They regarded the wearing of a uniform as "a glaring violation of our republican institutions", but finally they were adoped and used in 1864.
Race Riot Moyamensing - California Hotel - October 1849 - Story of Philadelphia, 1919
There was a riot on the night of the election, October 9. A party of men were dragging an old wagon, upon which a load of combustibles had been placed and set on fire, through the streets of Moyamensing. There was a brick building at the corner of Sixth and St. Mary Streets called the California House and kept as a tavern, of which the chief patrons were negroes. The proprietor was a mulatto, and he had a white wife. That kind of miscegenation was very unpopular in those days and threats against the proprietor had been quite frequent. The negroes had been expecting a raid for some time, and when they saw the blazing wagon coming along they concluded that the threatened attack was soon to begin. So the negroes started trouble by throwing stones and bricks at the men drawing the wagon. The asault led to retaliatory measures. By attacking the California House, and by the use of bricks, stones and firearms they gained it, piled the furniture together, tore out the gas fixtures and set the gas free so that the place burned completely. Houses nearby the California House were burned, and the mob increased.
Whites and blacks both were full of the fighting spirit and the police had difficulty in persuading the colored men to refrain from attack on the white rioters, who fought the police and firemen. About midnight the State House bell rang a call for the military, and about the same time the rioters dispersed, leaving Charles Himmelwright dead and John Hollick dying, both of these men being members of Good-Will Fire Company. When the militia arrived on the scene they found everything quiet and they soon took up the return march to the mayor's office, where they were dismissed.
This was a mistake, for before daylight the mob, reassembling and finding no soldiers on the ground, resumed their mischievous work, set fire to a frame house in St. Mary's Street and began to attack the colored people of the neighborhood. The Phoenix Hose Company, on its way to the fire, was stopped and assailed with a volley of stones. The mob seized the Robert Morris hose carriage and ran it into Moyamensing, and cut the hose belonging to the Diligent Hose Company. The firemen later rallied and succeeded in saving the burning house, and this so reassured the negroes that they engaged in battle with the whites in Fifth Street until about 8 o'clock. The military returned about 10 o'clock and remained on the ground for two days. Besides Himmelwright and Hollick, Thomas G. Westerhood was shot and died that same month; Thomas G. McShane was shot and killed while looking out of a window and John Griffith, a colored boy, was killed. Nine white and sixteen black wounded were taken to the hospital, and there were, doubtless, other wounded who were privately looked after.
This was a mistake, for before daylight the mob, reassembling and finding no soldiers on the ground, resumed their mischievous work, set fire to a frame house in St. Mary's Street and began to attack the colored people of the neighborhood. The Phoenix Hose Company, on its way to the fire, was stopped and assailed with a volley of stones. The mob seized the Robert Morris hose carriage and ran it into Moyamensing, and cut the hose belonging to the Diligent Hose Company. The firemen later rallied and succeeded in saving the burning house, and this so reassured the negroes that they engaged in battle with the whites in Fifth Street until about 8 o'clock. The military returned about 10 o'clock and remained on the ground for two days. Besides Himmelwright and Hollick, Thomas G. Westerhood was shot and died that same month; Thomas G. McShane was shot and killed while looking out of a window and John Griffith, a colored boy, was killed. Nine white and sixteen black wounded were taken to the hospital, and there were, doubtless, other wounded who were privately looked after.
Saturday, August 29, 2020
Nativist Riots - Olde Kensington - 1844 - Story of Philadelphia, 1919
...men of the older American strains (all, of course, descendants of immigrants) felt that some united action was called for, and out of this feeling came the Native American. In Philadelphia a weak attempt to organize some such party was made at a meeting in Germantown in 1837, which demanded the repeal of the naturalization laws. The nativistic idea was greatly strengthened by the attacks of Roman Catholics in some sections upon the pub lic free school idea. The opposition varied in different places. In some it was against any schools which were "Godless" schools, that is, schools not under church management. In some, including New York, it was opposition to the reading of the bible in the public schools. In Philadelphia there was a similar opposition but modified by the statement that it was the King James trans lation that was objected to.
In 1843 and 1844 several ward associationswere organized of the Native American party, whose program called for a twenty-one year residence as a prerequisite to naturalization ; that "Native Americans only should be appointed to office to legislate, administer or execute the laws of the country"; and "that the bible, without note or comment, is not sectarian; that it is the foun tain of morality and all good government, and should be used in our public schools as a reading book."
On May 3, 1844, a meeting was held to organize a Native American Association in one of the wards of Kensington, a region largely inhabited by Irish and other foreign-born people. The meeting was to be held in a vacant lot at the corner of Second and Master streets. A band of men of the neighborhood armed with clubs attacked those assembled and dispersed them, but the Native Americans rallied and passed resolutions denouncing the outrage. They agreed to meet there again on Monday, May 6, and were again assaulted and driven off, taking refuge in the Nanny Goat market, which had been used as a fortress by the weavers in the riots of the previous year. An Irish fire company, from their house near by, fired shots into the market, which caused some of the Native Americans to make their escape, while others stood their ground and responded to the fusillade with stones and bricks. Reinforcements came to each side and the bat tle shifted to other ground. George Shifler, a boy who was carrying a United States flag for the Native Americans, was mortally wounded, and there were eleven others wounded during the day. In another encounter during the evening two men were killed at Second and Thompson Streets. George Shaffer's tragic death, and the circumstances surrounding it, made him a popular hero, and he was buried with honors. His name became a rallying cry for the Native Americans, and was used in the oratory of the party's campaigners with telling effect.
On the day following these encounters a meeting was held in the afternoon in the State House yard, in response to handbills which invited every man to come "prepared to defend himself." The resolutions passed at that meeting declared that the actions of the Irish on the preced ing day furnished sure evidence that the Native American view of naturalization was correct and that "foreigners in the short space of five years are incapable of entering into the spirit of our institutions." and the meeting also emphasized its belief in the retention of bible reading in the public schools.
After the passage of these resolutions some persons suggested that those present should march to Second and Master Streets in Kensington, where the previous disturbance had occurred, and the Shifler boy had been killed. A large procession mobilized in Chestnut Street, whence the march was taken up for Kensington and it was arranged that the American flag should be hoisted on the spot where Shifler had fallen. When the persons assigned to that duty arrived at the place they were fired at from the Irish hose house. The crowd, infuriated over this attack themselves became attackers. They descended upon the hose house, broke it open and burned it.
The flames spread to other buildings nearby and in the fighting that ensued some persons were killed and several wounded. One Irishman who was caught by the mob narrowly escaped being hanged to a lamp-post, but the fire was not checked until about thirty buildings, including its Nanny Goat Market, were burned. More would have been destroyed at that time if the militia had not arrived to protect the firemen, who had been prevented from using their hose until the soldiers arrived. The authorities acted unwisely in withdrawing the troops from Kensington, for the next day several more home there were sacked and burned. The Irish people of the neighborhood, in large numbers packed up what they could carry or get conveyance for, and fled. But the mob gathered numbers and momentum, set fire to St. Michael's Church, destroying it and several other buildings. The arrival of the First Brigade, under command of Brigadier General George Cadwalader, with whom were Major General Robert Patterson and Morton McMichael, sheriff of the county, protected Kensington, but other parts of the city were left unguarded. Mobs destroyed St. Augustine's Church on Fourth Street, near Vine Street, which was burned to the ground, and several other adjoining structures, including the Catholic school, and a large library belonging to the Augustinian fathers. All that was saved was a few of the books which were thrown out into the street. They were trampled on by the mob and consider ably damaged, but some time after the fire were returned to the fathers. Many of the troops camped at Kensington were then ordered to town to protect Catholic property. Following the outrages outside militia regiments were brought to the city, comprising a full division under com mand of Major General Robert Patterson, who made his headquarters in the Girard Bank. Citizens formed themselves into companies for patrol and guard duty, and quiet was restored for about two months.
A presentment by the Grand Jury made soon after these occurrences was favorable to the Native Americans, charging that the beginning of the disturbances was caused by "the efforts of a portion of the community to exclude the bible from the public schools," such efforts leading to the formation of a party of those opposed to such exclusion, which, while holding a peaceful meet ing was fired upon by "a band of lawless, irresponsible men, some of whom had resided in the country only a short time," and recited that citizens had been killed, and that retaliatory measures had led to further disturbance. Prominent members of the Catholic laity of Philadelphia held a meeting of which Hon. Archibald Randall, judge of the United States District Court, was chairman, denied that Catholics began the disturbances, and said that the Catholics had not attempted to take the bible out of the public schools, but had only sought to procure the use of the Catholic version of the Scriptures for children of Catholic parents.
The net result of the dispute was to add greatly to the strength of the Native American party, and the leaders of the party, as an exhibit of strength, resolved upon a parade for the Fourth of July. It was a very imposing procession, in which fifty ward and township associations participated, with a gorgeous display of banners, flags, floats and devices. About four thousand five hundred people were in line and there were over fifty thousand spectators. As a political pageant it made a record that was not surpassed for fifty years in Philadelphia.
There was no disturbance, although some Catholics had anticipated that there would be, and though the Fourth of July passed quietly, they seemed to dread that there would soon be more trouble with the "Church-Burners." as they called the Native American partisans.
Weavers' Riot in Kensington 1843 - Story of Philadelhia 1919
A weavers' riot in Kensington, in 1843, was quelled by a similar exhibit of preparedness. Some of the weavers organized a trade society and called a strike for higher wages. Other weavers in considerable numbers refused to join either the union or the strike. The work in Kensington was mostly done by weavers upon hand-looms in their own homes. The strikers, infuriated by the refusal of their fellow workers to join in the strike, made organized assault upon the houses of the workmen, who refused to go out, cut warps, destroyed looms and stuff in process of manufacture. William A. Porter, then sheriff, hearing of the trouble, went with a posse and was badly beaten. He called out four companies of the Volunteer Battalion, which went to Kensington, and in the evening eight companies of General Cadwalader's brigade were assembled at their armories. Knowledge of these preparations caused the rioters to subside.
Philadelphia Race Riots - August 1842 - Story of Philadelphia, 1919
Riots broke out in August, 1842, when colored people, who were marching in a procession of the Moyamensing Temperance Society, were attacked by white men and boys, who were in the street. Heavy fighting followed and assaults were made on buildings in Lombard Street, between Fifth and Eighth Streets, and various small courts and alleys near by, windows being broken, doors smashed, furniture thrown into the street and negroes beaten. A negro in Bradford's Alley fired a gun, which infuriated the mob, and as the man retreated into a house, he was fol lowed, the house forced and all the occupants dragged out and beaten. The assaults were renewed in the evening and Smith's Beneficial Hall, a large building used by the colored people for recrea tion, was fired and destroyed, and a colored people's church on St. Mary's Street was burned. The next day some Irish laborers working in coalyards on the Schuylkill, made an assault on a force of negroes engaged in similar work near by. A posse of sixty men, sent by the sheriff to quell the disturbance, was driven off by the rioters, who marched to Moyamensing and made assaults upon the negroes residing in Thirteenth Street and adjacent alleys. When the mayor's posse returned, Sheriff Morris applied to the County Commissioners for means to pay for mili tary aid to quell the disturbance. He was authorized to use five thousand dollars for that purpose and called out a large body of troops with artillery, muskets and munitions, and with police in force to patrol the neighborhood, while the troops, in number ample for the purpose, camped in Washington Square.
Friday, August 28, 2020
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
John Maxwell's Sons - Stone - S 30th Street below Spruce - Philadelphia A History of The City and Its People V..3 -1912
J. WALTER MAXWELL.
Since the establishment, in 1854, of the granite paving and building stone contracting business which is now conducted under the name of John Maxwell Sons, the same straightforward, reliable business policy has been followed and interests of an enterprise that has had a continuous expanse of fifty-six years. The company furnished three-fourths of the granite and bluestone for the Philadelphia street railways for street paving and curbing and until other paving material came into use they were the most extensive producers of bluestone in the United States, their business having reached a large volume in all of the important cities east of the Mississippi river. With the advent of other paving material the sale of bluestone decreased, but their granite business on the con trary has greatly increased and more than makes up for the deficiency in the other output. The company own their own granite quarries in Maine and bluestone quarries in New York. Their granite quarries are practically inexhaustible, and the output is of such superior quality that it is largely sought by the architects and builders throughout the country in the construction of large buildings. The company maintain a New York office at No. 51 Chambers street in addition to the Philadelphia office. They have a most modern and thoroughly equipped plant and use the most improved tools for cutting and polishing granite. Their trade has remained undiminished through the passing years and in fact their success has continually increased for their enterprise, energy and reliability insure them a liberal patronage.In 1886 Mr. Maxwell was married to Miss Kate Saylor, of Philadelphia, and they have become parents of five children: James T., who was born in 1888 and is engaged in the general contracting business; Helen; Alice; Katherine; and John.Mr. Maxwell is a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 134, F. & A. M., holds membership in the Episcopal church and gives his support to the republican party, of which he is a stalwart advocate, feeling that the best interests of the country are advanced through the adoption of republican principles.
Angry Mob Tried To Get At Dyers - Kenward Dye Works - Inquirer 22 Sept 1903
ANGRY MOB TRIED
TO GET AT DYERS
Non-Union Workers Narrowly
Escaped Injury, Even Under
Police Protection
—
Taken Away In Patrol Wagon, While
Five Thousand Howling Persons
Ran After Them
More than five thousand excited men, women and children, shouting and threatening, pursued two patrol wagons containing a score of non-union dyers employed at the establishment of William Kedward, Cedar and Somerset streets, yesterday afternoon. The vehicles were surrounded by a squad of mounted police, and it was necessary for the drivers to lash their horses furiously in order to escape from the infuriated crowd. From the angry threats of the mob it is probable that the men would have been severely dealt with had they not had the protection of the police. The mill did not stop work for the day until 6 o'clock, but a crowd had gathered around it fully two hours before that time. There were angry mutterings, and one man in the crowd exhibited a handful of cartridges which he threatened to use if the opportunity presented. At 5 o'clock nearly a hundred policemen arrived at the dye house. They consisted of mounted men from the Tacony station and two squads of policemen from the Belgrade and Clearfield streets station and the Tacony station in charge of Sergeant Henderson.
Police Charged Mob
Kedward's mill is located in the center of a large lot, and the crowd surged around the building on all sides. Before the whistle blew at 6 o'clock, the mounted policemen charged the crowd and drove them back from the mill a distance of more than a hundred yards. The greatest difficulty was experienced in keeping the mob in check, and as the horsemen dashed to and fro they narrowly averted running down many persons. A dense wall of people surrounded the mill on all sides when the whistle blew. Nearby streets were crowded and persons living in the vicinity climbed to the housetops to secure points of vantage.
Two patrol wagons drove to the door of the mill, and as the non-union men emerged from the place with their dinner pails a chorus of jeers and shouts rolled across the open space. Hisses, profanity, yells and threats were hurled at the workmen, and they were hurried into the patrol wagons with all haste. Despite the efforts of the police, the crowd broke through the line and ran toward the patrol wagons. The drivers got a good start, however, and lashed their horses into a furious pace.
Race To Escape Crowd
A squad of mounted policemen galloped beside each of the vehicles, and they dashed across the lot at top speed with the mob in pursuit. It was a wild race, but the police soon outdistanced the pursuers. The breakneck pace was maintained through the streets, and as the patrols darted around corners to elude crowds, the hoots and jeers were kept up by the persons in houses along the way taken by the vehicles. Most of the workers lived some distance from the dye house and each man was taken to his home.
Although the police succeeded in eluding the mob, angry threats were made against the mill, most of the windows of which had been shattered. The members of the Dyers' Union deprecated the action of the mob yesterday and on Saturday, Arthur McDonald, financial secretary of the Executive Board of the organization, said yesterday:
"The Dyers' Union does not countenance acts of violence in any way. It is preposterous to say that any plans have been made to prevent the non-union men from leaving the mills. Such stories hurt our cause, as do also congregations of persons around the houses as was the case Saturday at Kenward's Dye Works.
"It is not the fault of the dyers that such disturbances take place. Sympathizers who let their zeal for our cause lead them into making such demonstrations are to blame. While we want their sympathy, such acts injure us more than help us. All these dye houses where non-union men are employed are picketed, but in orderly way, and all the members of the union are cautioned to steer clear of trouble.''
Blanket Weavers' Union, No 369, at a meeting held last night at Leithgow and Cambria streets, voted to remain on strike until the 55-hour work week is granted. The union comprises more than a hundred men, all of whom are employed by William Ayres, Third and Cumberland.
Thomas Kedward Retirement - Story of Philadelphia 1919
THOMAS KEDWARD
ANNOUNCEMENT recently of the retire ment from active business of Thomas Kedward, president of the William Kedward Dyeing Company, and sale of the big plant at Cedar and Cambria Streets, where the business has been conducted for many years, influenced genuine regret in textile circles, where Mr. Kedward was well known. The business is being continued at the old location, however, under its original firm name. It was established in 1872.
Thomas Kedward is the son of William Kedward, founder of the firm. The original plant of the firm was a small one and was opened on the same site on which the present building is located.
Under William Kedward's direction the business prospered from the start. Mr. Kedward became a prominent figure in Kensington textile circles. Many of the most prominent mill owners in the district were among the firm's customers. Its high quality of dyeing, bleaching and beaming, especially of cotton warps and skein yarns, attracted general attention and the business grew rapidly.
Several times additions had to be made to the plant to take care of increased business and soon the firm became one of the best known in the Philadelphia mill district.
Thomas Kedward followed the footsteps of his father at the plant, which he entered when a boy. He quickly developed a thorough knowledge of every branch of the business and when the elder Mr. Kedward died, the son succeeded him, becoming head of the firm. Under his supervision the business prospered materially, and until his recent retirement from active association with the company and the subsequent sale of the plant he was continually at the helm directing the business.
During the war with Germany this firm was awarded some large orders from important Government contractors, each of which was executed to the fullest satisfaction of those who placed the contracts. In fact, the patriotism of the company and its devotion to all the material interests of Philadelphia were a feature of its management in this trying period, when there were many incentives to profiteer.
All their dealings with the various Government contractors from whom they had orders were based on the same fair, square and equitable principles upon which their business with other firms and the general trade is conducted.
Growth of the plant followed extension of its business to various lines of trade. Mr. Thomas Kedward early became known to virtually every textile manufacturer in this section and the Company's business extended to virtually all branches of the textile industry.
While Mr. Kedward has given up active participation in the Company's business he has retained many of his outside business interests and still maintains an office in the center of the city.
His son William, named for his grandfather, is associated with a large lumber manufacturing company here.
Thomas Kedward is the son of William Kedward, founder of the firm. The original plant of the firm was a small one and was opened on the same site on which the present building is located.
Under William Kedward's direction the business prospered from the start. Mr. Kedward became a prominent figure in Kensington textile circles. Many of the most prominent mill owners in the district were among the firm's customers. Its high quality of dyeing, bleaching and beaming, especially of cotton warps and skein yarns, attracted general attention and the business grew rapidly.
Several times additions had to be made to the plant to take care of increased business and soon the firm became one of the best known in the Philadelphia mill district.
Thomas Kedward followed the footsteps of his father at the plant, which he entered when a boy. He quickly developed a thorough knowledge of every branch of the business and when the elder Mr. Kedward died, the son succeeded him, becoming head of the firm. Under his supervision the business prospered materially, and until his recent retirement from active association with the company and the subsequent sale of the plant he was continually at the helm directing the business.
During the war with Germany this firm was awarded some large orders from important Government contractors, each of which was executed to the fullest satisfaction of those who placed the contracts. In fact, the patriotism of the company and its devotion to all the material interests of Philadelphia were a feature of its management in this trying period, when there were many incentives to profiteer.
All their dealings with the various Government contractors from whom they had orders were based on the same fair, square and equitable principles upon which their business with other firms and the general trade is conducted.
Growth of the plant followed extension of its business to various lines of trade. Mr. Thomas Kedward early became known to virtually every textile manufacturer in this section and the Company's business extended to virtually all branches of the textile industry.
While Mr. Kedward has given up active participation in the Company's business he has retained many of his outside business interests and still maintains an office in the center of the city.
His son William, named for his grandfather, is associated with a large lumber manufacturing company here.
Sunday, August 23, 2020
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Porposed Monument - Charles Allen Smith - Granite, Marble and Bronze Magazine -1916
A monument to the memory of Charles Allen Smith, the Kensington boy who lost his life at Vera Cruz, two years ago, will be erected in Kensington. The monument is the design of Francis Moitz, of Frankford, and is to be of Barre granite, 11 feet high, seven feet by
four at the base. The front will have two fluted columns with the name of the sailor and the place of his death at the center. The raising of the fund is being pushed by the Allied Monument Association.
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Industrial Complex - Castor (Erie) Avenue and Sepviva Street - 1912
Public Ledger 30 Aug 1920
Not certain if Isaac Sheppard or Wm. Seller ever occupied property as advertised in 1912 to be in the future. Or Haverford cycle Co. etc.
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Thursday, August 20, 2020
Mrs. Neilia Biden and Daughter Killed in Delaware Car Crash - Syracuse Post Standard 19 Dec 1972
I can remember this - Delaware Crash Kills Mrs. Biden and Daughter -
clipping - Syrachuse Post Standard 19 Dec 1972 -
Delaware in the Philly Media Zone back then. Local news so to speak. Biden was 29 when elected to the Senate. Would turn 30 before his oath of office.
Pullman Taxicab Company of Philadelphia - 1540-42 Wood Street - "The Green Taxis" - 1912-1915
eBay
Inquirer 26 Jan 1913
New Tag Laws - Inquirer 22 Dec 1913
Inquirer 1 Jan 1915
Inquirer 27 Jan 1915
Inquirer 31 Jan 1915
Inquirer 19 Dec 1915
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