USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Early Philadelphia; its people, life and progress > Part 6
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The Roman Catholics had about as hard a time at home as the Quakers and were glad to find a refuge under Penn's tolerant government. Even in Philadelphia they were compelled to worship quietly so as to give no offense and create no disturbance for the Anglican party was prompt to protest against them and coupled this with their objec- tions to the peace policy of the Quakers. Thus we cannot surely tell just where the first place of worship for the
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Roman Catholics was, but St. Joseph's Church in Willing's Alley was built in 1733 and this was so carefully tucked away that it could give offense to no one. At any rate, after that the Catholics did not have to meet in dwelling houses and shops beyond the city limits for fear of molesta- tions by the "Church Party." When Whitefield came the breach was widened. " He strikes much at priest- craft, and speaks very satirically of Papists," writes James Pemberton, an eminent Friend, in 1739, adding with seren- ity, " His intentions are good, but he has not yet arrived at such perfection as to see so far as he yet may."
Friends, however, remained calm (a habit they had) under the lashing of the Christ Church party which called the colony a " nursery of Jesuits " and William Penn " a greater Antichrist than Julian the Apostate." St. Joseph's was built under Father Greaton and he was succeeded in 1741 by Reverend Robert Harding, who built St. Mary's on Fourth Street below Walnut in 1763.
Perhaps one of the most distinguished and best loved prelates of the Roman Catholic faith in Philadelphia was Archbishop James F. Wood, who was born at Second and Chestnut Streets in 1813. He had some commercial train- ing, after a good education in England and in Philadelphia, and brought the finances of his church into such splendid shape as to complete the cathedral on Logan Square, which was dedicated in 1864. It is said that he always claimed to be a member of the Society of Friends, saying that it was a " society and not a religion."
The Methodists began in a sail loft on Dock Creek near the river in 1768, where Captain Thomas Webb officiated. Francis Asbury, whom Wesley had sent, was the apostle of Methodism in America and really the first organizer. He became their bishop. The first church was named St.
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Courtyard and Church
ST. JOSEPIT'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN WILLING'S ALLEY, BUTET 1733
LUTHERAN CHURCH. FOURTH AND CHERRY STREETS, BUILT 1766
ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, FOURTH STREET ABOVE SPRUCE STREET BUILT 1763
CHURCHES AND THEIR PEOPLE
George's and was in Fourth Street near New. Here the singing was especially good and the dress of the congrega- tion plain. They did not insist upon an educated ministry and " Black Harry," who accompanied Mr. Asbury as his servant, frequently preached, although he knew not a letter.
Little record of the Hebrews in Philadelphia is found prior to the Revolution, although it is supposed they had a congregation thirty years before that time. Between 1747 and 1775 they are believed to have worshipped in a small house in Sterling Alley, which ran from Race to Cherry Street, between Third and Fourth.
After that they built a plain brick building in Cherry Street, west of Third, which seated about two hundred persons. Among the prominent early Hebrew families were Gratz, Franks and Saloman. Haym Saloman was a remarkable man. A banker from Poland, he was confined in a dungeon when the British took New York but escaped to Philadelphia and gave valuable assistance to the young republic. He negotiated the war securities from France and Holland on his own personal security without the loss of a cent to the country and required a commission of only one-quarter of one per cent. for his invaluable services.
Although the religious controversy of the time was spirited in Philadelphia from the beginning, it took the form of pamphlets and preachments rather than the riots and bloodshed which occurred in some of the other colonies and this was due to the peaceable principles of the Quakers which some of the sects most benefited objected to, and to their insistence upon freedom of conscience for every man.
THE MARKET PLACE
HE Founder of Pennsylvania dis- played his wisdom in no greater way than in the encouragement he gave to the settlement of his province by men of sterling worth. In striking contrast to the Colonies of the South there came to Pennsylvania artisans and farmers who were to build a foundation of lasting pros- perity. There were no Cavaliers in silks and plumes to greet the Proprietor upon his landing at New Castle, but we read that there were welcoming shouts from settlers in woodland garb, the men in leather breeches and jerkins, the women " in skin jackets and linsey petticoats." Penn writes that the land is like " the best vales of England watered by brooks; the air, sweet; the heavens, serene like the south of France; the seasons, mild and temperate; vegetable productions abundant, the chestnut, walnut, plums, muscatel grapes, wheat and other grain; a variety of animals, elk, deer, squirrel, and turkeys weighing forty or fifty pounds, water-birds and fish of divers kinds, no want of horses; and flowers lovely for colour, greatness, figure and variety."
What golden opportunities are here presented for the industrious men who settled in the new country and their first association in a common institution was naturally the market place. From earliest times the market place has been the centre about which the life of the community re- volved. Bringing the people 'together for the necessities of life, it has affected their social, religious, political and economic life. Indeed, the history of every community begins at the market place. Philadelphia was no excep- tion to the rule and the daily life of the town was focussed
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at the old Provincial Hall in the market place at Second and High Streets. Here was the Jail and here were those much dreaded but effective instruments of correction-the Pillory, Stocks and Whipping Post. Here monarchs on their accession were proclaimed, here wars were declared and here new Governors from the balcony addressed the people over whom they were appointed to rule, and here the Royal Arms of England were displayed. Elections here took place and here the Provincial Council sat. The town bell was kept here, trade regulated and weights and measures established. But we are hurrying on too fast. Let us see how it all came about and who played the parts.
The High Street, as Market Street was originally called, was the familiar name of the principal street in nearly every English town. It was so called from the time of the Roman invasion of Britain, when they built their famous roads by laying stones so that the thoroughfare was raised somewhat above its surroundings. But if Phila- delphia is indebted to England for the name of High Street nearly every American town founded since 1700 is, in turn, indebted to Philadelphia for its Market Street, which is particularly Philadelphian in street nomenclature. This, too, was due to the plan of Penn, who, long before his city was laid out or settled, had provided a wide High Street, where markets could be held on regular days of the week under certain restrictions and rules. Before that time no city or town in the Colonies had made a like provision for its inhabitants. The markets which from very early in the city's history were characteristic of the High Street caused the inhabitants to refer to the latter as "Market Street," just as the Arch over Mulberry Street at Front involuntarily led Philadelphians to allude to the street as
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" Arch." After the consolidation of the city the name of the street was changed to conform to usage.
The earliest recorded date of a market house in Phila- delphia is 1683 when " a market place was established where butchers have movable stalls." This was at Front Street. In 1693 Robert Brett was chosen Clerk of the Market by the Councils, fees established of sixpence per head for cattle killed, two pence per head for calves and lambs, three pence for hogs and nothing for what the coun- try people brought ready killed. Fees for the sealing of weights and measures were also fixed. In the same year rules for the regulation of the markets were drawn up by the city fathers. The market was fixed for Wednesdays and Saturdays at Second and High Streets and anything sold at any other place was forfeited, the returns to go one- half to the poor of the city and one-half to the Clerk of the Market. Nothing was to be sold until the ringing of the town bell from six to seven o'clock in the morning from April 1st to September, and an hour later during the remainder of the year. For the protection of the farmers and butchers nothing could be sold on the way to the Mar- ket and no hucksters were allowed to buy or cheapen any article until it had been two hours in the market. In 1701 the duty of the Clerk was " to have assize of bread, wine, beer, wood and other things, and to act as regulator of weights and measures."
The importance of the place as a town centre soon be- gan to grow and in 1704 a "Watch House," sixteen by fourteen feet, was built and the Mayor and a Committee of Aldermen appointed to oversee the placing of gravel. It seems as if this was the first municipal structure and its importance is recorded in the following minute of the Councils, May 15, 1706: " Whereas the Govr having recd
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HIGH STREET, PRISON, STOCKS AND SHAMBLES
THE GERMANTOWN MARKET SQUARE
THE MARKET PLACE
an Express from the Govr of Maryland of sevall vessells lately seen some few legues off the Capes of Virginia, and two of them chasing and ffiring sevall Shotts at an Eng- lish vessell bound to Virginia or Maryland, which are sus- pected to be ffrench vessells, and pbable may have a de- signe upon some of the Queens Colonies. It is therefore ordered that the Watch of this City be carefully kept, and that the Constables at their pill take Care of the same, and in lease their appeare any show or danger of the Enemy, that they give the Alarm by Ringing the Market Bell and that every night one of the Aldermen see the Watch set and see that two Constables be sett thereupon till further orders."
The accommodations now began to be cramped and in November of 1708 a new market house was ordered to be built " where the salls stand." Some delay appears and in February, 1709, a pillory, stocks and whipping post were ordered to be added. To defray the cost of this extrava- gance the Council members were to advance the money and to be repaid with interest from the rent of stalls.
Seven Aldermen were ordered to pay double what the Common Councilmen do. As this Market House was to be of considerable importance, it is interesting to note that " Alderman Masters and Joshua Carpenter are appointed to lay out ground and contrive the building."
By 1710 the building was under roof at the eastern end of the old market house on High Street between Second and Third Streets. There was to be a market on the ground floor and the upper floors to be devoted to public use. Built of brick and of two and one-half stories, this building is familiar to many Philadelphians by reason of the frequent publication of the old print of the " first City Hall." It was City Hall, Court House, Town Hall,
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State House and meeting place of the Municipal Council and Legislature as well as a market house until 1735, when the State House was built. From its balcony the early Governors delivered their inaugural addresses, the people assembled there for the discussion of public questions and at one time a speaker addressed an assemblage of six thou- sand persons gathered about the building. The structure contained open passageways on the first or street floor where there were market stalls, the building proper being over where the market was held. In 1714 the entertain- ment of proclaiming the King cost the Mayor and Alder- men thirty pounds and ten shillings.
The rent of the stalls was only to " ffreemen " at nine shillings per annum and meat was to be sold at the west end only. When rents were not paid promptly the " Bea- dle was ordered to pluck up the stall."
The city was growing rapidly and in November of 1718 the building of new stalls was planned. Whereupon Thomas Rodman produced a plan which the Councils approved. The stalls were to extend west of the Court House, to be the same width and ten feet to the " joice." The length of two stalls was eighteen feet with a four foot alley between them and the next two, the breadth of stall and shelter at the back to be each three and a half feet and the stalls to begin eight feet from the Court House. A fourteen foot walk down the middle, posted at both sides, completed the design. Aldermen Norris and Logan offered to lend one hundred pounds each for forty-eight stalls.
The method of building the stalls was debated again and again until January, 1720, when Alderman Rodman proposed to build thirty stalls with brick pillars three feet higher than originally intended and to arch and plaster the roof for four hundred pounds. By 1722 the old stalls
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suffered in comparison with the new and they were ordered removed from under the Court House and west of the new ones. The butchers were put out of the old stalls between the prison and Court House and they were let for herbs, milk, butter and fish, the Cryer giving public notice of this edict. The rents were raised to three pounds per annum, but all through the records we find much trouble in collect- ing the rents and fees. The Clerk's job was no sinecure. A curious regulation appears at this time that no person be " suffered to Smoak Tobacco in the market or Market House or in any of the stalls," in harmony with the Act of Assembly prohibiting " smoaking " in the streets. A pa- ternal government indeed was this!
A wave of reform and cleanliness seems now to have engaged the Council's attention. The killing of animals and the leaving of dirt and offal in the market was pro- hibited. We wonder now how a shambles could have been tolerated in the City's centre for so long a time. Mary Whiteker was employed at two shillings a week to sweep the Court House and Stalls twice weekly. Although the Councils no doubt with the best intentions passed very excellent rules, they seem to have been as much disregarded as are so many of our present City ordinances. In 1727 there is much complaint of the hucksters buying up of pro- visions and selling to persons coming to Market so that the City ordinance regulating this practice was ordered published. In 1730 the killing of meat by the butchers was declared a nuisance, although prohibited in 1722.
The close of the year 1729 marked another important period in the enlargement of the Market. In January of 1730 twenty stalls were ordered built from the Court House to the river to begin one hundred feet eastward from the stairs of the Court House. This was called the
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"Jersey Market " and it was customary for farmers to come two days a week from the sister Colony to expose their produce. A bell was put up at Front Street, and it was the custom to have it rung when a boat of produce had put in at the wharf. From an early print by Henry Dawkins it is seen that these stalls were open to all weathers in 1764.
More objections appear in 1736. Private stalls in front of the Court House, selling goods, empty carts and the lying of horses in the Market Place were objected to. In this year a committee of Councils recommended paving in front of the Court House, erecting posts, making new "moving stalls " to be covered with painted canvas and the exhibition of two sample stalls, all at a cost of 200 pounds. This was the first paving in the City and here also was begun the work of sweeping the City streets. Both these suggestions came from Benjamin Franklin.
In 1740 the middle of the street from the Pillory to Laetitia Court was posted or gravelled the breadth of twenty feet and new stalls erected from the Court House to Laetitia Court. These improvements brought a need for more regulations and the Councils declared that the driving of carts and carriages through the Market Place was dan- gerous and ordered chains to be put up to prevent it from sunrise to ten o'clock in summer and for an hour longer in winter on Market days. So we see the beginnings of street paving, street cleaning and traffic regulations to have originated in the Market Place.
No doubt the market now was crowded, for merchan- dise was definitely excluded and Patrick Baird was com- pelled to pay twenty-five pounds per annum for a stall under the Court House.
On May 20, 1745, the residents of the southern part of
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SECOND STREET MARKET FROM LOMBARD STREET
SECOND STREET MARKET FROM PINE STREET
THE FISH MARKET, FOOT OF HIGH STREET, 1764-1864
MARKET STREET FROM FRONT STREET, 1769-1859
THE MARKET PLACE
the City known as " Society Hill," prayed for permission to erect a market on South Second Street from Pine to Cedar, as " an ornament and convenience." This section of the City known as the "New Market Square " was surrounded by the lands of Joseph Wharton, Edward Shippen and Samuel Powell and it was the first two who proposed to build sixteen stalls on South Second Street, eight south of Lombard and eight north of it, to be paid for out of the rents. The building which we know at Second and Pine Streets was after the design of the Court House at Second and High Streets, and it constitutes an historical evidence of past customs, the last of a type inti- mately associated with the early history of the City. It is an example of the town hall and market place which was the centre of civic life here as in the old world. The stone aisle has echoed to the tread of famous people and the fairest of Philadelphia's prominent families who lived nearby. President and Mrs. Washington, Dolly Madison, Stephen Girard, Joseph Bonaparte and other notables are said to have frequented the Second Street Market.
In 1759 the stalls on High Street were extended to Third Street and a vault for oil to use in the City lamps was built under the Meat Market. This was quite an ex- tension and when we realize that the forest began at Eighth Street we will understand what a sizable market the City had.
In 1763 repairs were necessary to the Jersey Market and stalls with brick pillars were ordered eastward of the Court House and forty feet from the line of Second Street, to be covered, and at the east end on Front Street at the top of the hill a building was to be built for a green market and exchange. Five hundred pounds was appropriated but the work was deferred until 1769. The terminal at
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Front and High Streets with its architectural dome re- mained until all were taken down in 1859. The North Second Street Market was built about 1763.
In 1764 a Fish Market was established " between the Stone Bridge in Front Street and the Wooden Bridge in King Street at the Drawbridge." This was in the middle of High Street from Water to the river. The people having complained of the offensiveness of shad and her- ring their sale was confined to this market and the "Public Wharffs." In front of the old London Coffee House, which stood at the southwest corner of Front and Market Streets until 1883, it was customary for the fishermen to erect a Maypole on May Day. They decorated it with greens and boughs and bright coloured ribbons.
The year 1773 brought a demand for further extensions both on High and Second Streets. The Councils were agreed to go forward with the addition on High Street, but the residents on that thoroughfare from Third to Fourth Streets arose in protest as one man. They ob- jected in a " dignified and gentle address couched in terms the least offensive possible " to the further encumbrance of the street as lowering their property values and abridg- ing their rightful liberties. The Corporation, however, resolved to go on, workmen were employed and materials collected. The objectors sought legal advice and though convinced of their rightful opposition, wishing to avoid a disturbance of tranquillity, waited upon the Mayor with another petition which met a similar fate to that of the remonstrance. Now some of the residents hired wagons and hauled away the stones intended for pillars and re- moved the sand and lime. They destroyed by night what the workmen did by day. Mayor William Fisher looked on at the proceedings in angry astonishment and some of
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the angry Aldermen gave orders to those who were interfering to stop. But the residents were deter- mined and had their men continue to remove all mate- rial brought there and deposited on a vacant lot in the neighbourhood.
This acute state of affairs continued for almost a week, during which time a rough wooden shed erected to store lime was demolished. At the end of the peaceful week's struggle the Council relented and upon petition of " the Society of the People called Quakers " to suspend on account of the agitation of the people, the work was de- ferred. The troublous times preceding and during the Revolution now intervened and the extension of the sheds to Fourth Street was not made until 1786.
Gradually the sheds were pushed westward until in 1816 they reached Eighth Street and later Thirteenth. In 1830 similar sheds were built in High Street from Fifteenth to Seventeenth Street. In 1859 all markets were removed from the center of High Street, mainly on account of the demand for street car tracks, and the Fish Market was vacated in 1864.
As the rapidly expanding needs of the City required, market sheds and houses were built on Callowhill and Bainbridge Streets. In 1875 Ridge Avenue Farmers' Market, below Girard Avenue, opened for business. Octo- ber 6, 1877, marked the opening of the New Farmers' Market at the northwest corner of Broad Street and Columbia Avenue. In 1885 there were Markets at Ninth Street and Girard Avenue and on Girard Avenue between Sixth and Twelfth Streets. There was one on Broad between Chestnut and High Streets. The Mercantile Library on Tenth Street north of Chestnut was formerly a Market House. Juniper and Race Streets, Fortieth north
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of Market and South Eleventh Street were other locations of markets, and at one time the City owned 49 market sheds on as many different streets.
We are, however, at present concerned with the old markets in Colonial days which were so much the centre of the City's life. Watson tells us that " Fairs were held in the Market Houses, and opened with the same formali- ties as the business in our Courts at this time. The Fair times were every May and November and lasted for three days. In them you could purchase every description of dry goods, millinery of all kinds, and caps, toys, confec- tionery, and so forth. The Stalls were principally and fancifully decorated and enclosed with well made patch- work coverlets. The place was always thronged, and your ears were perpetually saluted with toy trumpets, haut- boys, fiddles and whistles, to catch the attention of the young fry, who, on such occasions, crowded for their long- promised presents at Fair-time. They were finally dis- continued by an Act of the Legislature somewhere about the year 1787. It is really surprising they should have been adopted in any country where regular stores and busi- ness is ordinarily found sufficient for all purposes of trade."
Watson seems to have more regard for the regularity than the picturesqueness of life. How dull and humdrum life would have been without a little gayety for the people who had so little opportunity of amusement in those days! These annual events brought mountebanks, peddlers and wanderers from all parts of the country as at no other time, to enliven the provincial folk.
On Tuesday and Friday evenings the citizens were apprised of the next day's market by the pealing of Christ Church bells which on these occasions were known as the " butter bells." The ladies went to Market themselves
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CALLOWHILL STREET MARKET
WASHINGTON MARKET, BAINBRIDGE STREET
SPRING GARDEN STREET MARKET
THE MARKET PLACE
and at such a time of day as would shock their great- granddaughters. One gay gallant from a sister colony, having a curiosity to see the justly famous markets, tells us that early one morning he jumped from his bed, de- signing long before to have been at the Market Place. He got there by seven and " had no small satisfaction in seeing the pretty Creatures, the Young Ladies traversing the place from Stall to Stall, where they could make the best Market, some with their maid behind them with a Basket to carry home the Purchases. Others that were designed to buy but trifles, as a little fresh Butter, a Dish of Green Peas or the like, had Good Nature and Humility enough to be their own porters." It was the custom for the buyer to test the butter before purchasing and the farmers often brought in small pyramids of butter from which people could sample the quality. Some of the City's most promi- nent men would stop before a stall where butter was dis- played for sale, take a coin from their pocket, scoop out an edge full and taste it. The sellers encouraged the sampling of their wares and would have a spoon or fork with them for the purpose. The markets were generally very crowded and as there were no side aisles a good deal of difficulty was experienced, especially when the women began wearing hoop skirts. Then the men had a pretty hard time when they came to market.
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