History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 103

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1150

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Sergeente, T. Edward Clyde, J. Frank Fairlamb, Horace F. Larkio, Har- well A. Cloud, J. Engle Baker.

Corporals, William J. Morgao, Charlee B. Rose, J. Alexander Cochrane, Milton M. Allan, Robineon McCurdy, George C. Worrell, Samuel A. Price, Frank L. Brown.

Privatee, James H. Birtwell, Theodore Blakeley, Charles B. Cutling, Radcliffe Chadwick, William G. Clyde, William R. Carson, William H. Derbyshire, Dean J. Deakyne, Edward Dougherty, Jackeon B. Fields, Arthur Grant, U. S. Grant, N. Clarence Grove, Emil O. Haas, Alfred Hinkson, Lewis E. Hickson, John A. Ledomua, Edward Miles, Frank B Eddy, George C. Johnson, R. Bruce Mowry, Alvin G. Mills, Thendore Mooney, Charlton McCurdy, Edwin P. Mellvain, Harry S. Mellvaio, Edward A. Price, Arthur G. Rose, Matthew F. Ross, R. Wilson Roberte, D. Elmer Reasio, William S. Ranier, Hil- yard B. Sweeney, Charles R. Sweeney, Garrett G. Slawter, George B. Smedley, William N. Sparka, Horace F. Temple, David M. Un- anget, J. M. B. Ward, S. Ulrich Ward, Robert P. Wilson.

The Fire Department .- As early in our history as October, 1696, an act was passed by the Colonial As- sembly designed " for preventing of accidents that may happen by fire in the towns of Philadelphia and New Castle," and as the provisions of this law were made in 1700 operative in Chester also, it is interesting to learn the safeguards which by legal enactments our ances- tors attempted to establish in the infant settlements

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THE CITY OF CHESTER.

to avoid destructive fires. The act prescribed that ten days after the publication of the law any person " who should set on fire their chimneys to cleanse them, or shall suffer them to be foul, that they shall take fire so as to flame out at the top," on conviction, should be fined forty shillings. By the same enact- ment, within twenty days after its promulgation, "every owner of every dwelling-house within the towns aforesaid, shall provide and keep in or by his or her house a swab twelve or fourteen foot long, and a Bucket or pail, to be always ready agt such accidents of fire." The act of Aug. 26, 1721, repealed that part of the old law which required swabs and buckets to be kept in every house under a penalty, but the advantage of having such articles was so apparent that it became the rule to have leather fire-buckets in every house in the village, which were suspended from the ceilings in the hallway, so that in the event of an alarm they were easily obtained by opening the front door. At a fire it was the recognized duty of every able-bodied man to fall into the line, which ex- tended from the burning building to the most availa- ble point where water could be had, and along this line full buckets would be passed to those persons who had taken post near the flames, to throw the water upon them, and the empty buckets would be re- turned the same way to be refilled. Persons who re- fused to fall into line and pass buckets were usually doused with water as a punishment by their indig- nant neighbors. After the fire had been subdued, or it had ceased because it had totally destroyed the building, it was rare sport for the boys to gather the leather fire-buckets and return them to their several owners, for every man's name was painted on his bucket.

I do not know when the first fire company was es- tablished in Chester, but seven months ago I found among a quantity of old paper in a waste store a torn leaf from a book which was the record of a fire company. From the scrap which has fallen into my possession, it seems evident that the organization was similar in character to that of Darby borough. On July 8, 1808, is given a list of members as follows : William Graham, John Caldwell, James Withy, John Odenheimer, James Birchall, William Anderson, Jonathan Morris, Ephraim Pearson, Isaac Eyre, Jonathan Pennell, Joseph Engle, Daniel Broomall, William Siddons, Jonas Eyre, Samuel Anderson, Jo- seph Piper, and Jonas Sharpless. From the report of the various committees appointed, we learn that in that time the buckets and ladders are up and in good order, but that " the engine and hose want oiling." Whitehead, in his historical introduction to the " Di- rectory of Chester for 1850-60," says, " A beer-house, called the Globe, was once kept upon James Street, below Market, by a man named Scott, but abandoned as a public-house for nearly fifty years. It was burned down in 1830, and the site is now occupied by the Upland buildings owned by Samuel A. Price." This

building was brick, with a curb-roof. It had been a tavern in 1796, kept by William Harrison, and was known as "The Indian Queen." Harrison's widow, Elizabeth, followed her husband in the business until 1805, when Samuel Price had the house, when it was known as " The Ship." After that date it ceased to be an inn, but became an eating-house, the first ever established in Chester. Martin1 says Scott sold eat- ables and table-beer, and that the fire occurred iu 1835 or 1836, not in 1830, as stated by Whitehead.

The doggerel lines, which bring back the names of residents of Chester about 1790, are said to have been written shortly after a fire which consumed an old shed on the property of John O. Deshong, in North Ward. The lines, so far as they remain to this day, are as follows :

"Fire! Fire! cried Anthony Guyer, Where ? where? said Squire Eyre, It's up street, said Parson Heath. It's down town, said Dr. Brown. It's here! it's here! cried Charlie Lear.

It'a iu Anderson's Hall, said Capt. Paul. You are all wrong! cried Peter Deshong.

It's up in the shed, said Morris' Deb.º You lie ! you lie! cried Kerlin's Sie,$ I'll go to it, said Mrs. Hewitt. You sha'n't! you sha'n't! said John Denant.

It's time you're startin'! said Dr. Martin. You'd better be quick, said Thomas Dick. I'll be there in an hour, said Richard Flower. Here's my hucket, said Jonathan Duckett. Put on the water, said Martin Carter. They're all too lazy, said Mrs. Daiay. The roof is rotten, said Johnny Shotten. Keep off my toes, said Odenheimer's Rose." I'll make them whiz, said Odenheimer's Liz." S

The fire-engine was known as the " Liberty," and was housed in a one-story frame building, still standing, between the City Hall and the First National Bank, now used as a coal-house and a place of deposit for all the trash which accumulates in the mayor's and other offices in the hall. Samuel Edwards was president of the company in 1832. Some time after 1844 a new hand-engine was purchased, the " Friendship," which was more generally known as the " Pickle Tub," from the fact that in 1850, at the fire at Market Square, some of the active firemen of that day emptied the contents of a tub, in which a lady had been greening pickles, into the engine, and it began squirting pickles at the fire, until an unusually large one got fastened in the nozzle, and effectually stopped the flow. After the introduction of water into the city, the old fire- engine became useless, and steps were taken to organ- ize an efficient fire department.

The Franklin Fire Company was instituted Nov. 30, 1867, and incorporated Feb. 22, 1869. During that year the lot on Concord Avenue was bought, and a two-story brick hose-house, fifty by twenty-two feet, was erected. For over ten years this house served the purpose for which it had been built, although, after

1 History of Chester, p. 277.

" Slaves of the familiea whose names are giveu.

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY,, PENNSYLVANIA.

the company had purchased, in 1874, the steam fire- engine "Franklin," at a cost of four thousand dol- lars, the organization was much cramped for room. At first the handsome Silsby steamer was drawn by hand, but the company purchased a pair of horses, and it became necessary to enlarge the building. This was done in 1882; the old structure was re- moved, and a new building, three stories in height, erected, on which was located a look-out station, and a large bell suspended therein. The cost of this im- provement was three thousand dollars. In October, 1882, the building was dedicated. On the roll of the Franklin Fire Company at this date (July, 1884) are seventy-eight active members. Samuel Phillips is president; Benjamin D. Ayers, Jr., secretary ; and Thomas Brooks, chief engineer.

The Hanley Hose Company derives its name from John Hanley, "Old Blind Jack," as he was called, who, though sightless, was earnest and active in effecting the organization of the company. The Hanley Hose Company, No. 1, of Chester, was insti- tnted Jan. 12, 1869, and was incorporated by the court of Delaware County February 22d of the same year. At first a hose-carriage was alone the appa- ratus used ; afterwards a hand-engine was purchased, and on April 8, 1874, the city authorities, at a cost of five thousand dollars, procured a large steam fire- engine from R. J. Gould, manufacturer, of Newark, N. J., which, by ordinance, July 21, 1874, was as- signed to the custody of the Hanley Hose Company, No. 1, the city, however, retaining title to the steamer. Prior to 1871 the company was located in a frame building, which had formerly been a blacksmith-shop, at the northeast corner of Fifth and Welsh Streets, but in that year the lot now owned by them was por- chased from John O. Deshong, and the present three- story building erected, to which improvements and additions have been made from time to time. After the steamer "City of Chester" had been placed in their care the company purchased a pair of large bay horses, known as Ben and Bill, which continued to draw the engine until 1873, when the present team of dapple grays superseded them. On the roll of the Hanley are fifty-two active members. William Gillson is president, and John Mackanaugh chief engineer.

On Aug. 23, 1869, the Good Will Steam Fire-En- gine Company, No. 2, of the city of Chester, was incorporated, but no further steps were taken to organize an active company under this charter.

The Moyamensing Hook-and-Ladder Company, No. 1, of Chester was incorporated by the court of Delaware County Feb. 28, 1870, and at first was located in a frame building at the southeast corner of Mechanic and Broad Streets; the truck and hose- carriage being the gift of the Moyamensing Company of Philadelphia, for whom that of Chester had been named. On July 26, 1875, the corner-stone of the two-story building on Broad Street, west of Upland,

was laid. The following year the house was finished and occupied by the company. Iu 1883 a lookout- station and bell was placed on the building. The expenses of maintaining the organization have largely exceeded the annual appropriation from the city, and the members are discussing whether, under the cir- cumstances, the company should not disband to avoid the personal cost which annually is entailed on them for the support of the organization.

Parades and Public Demonstrations .- It is not the purpose under this title to narrate the political demonstrations which have occurred in Chester, for if that was the intention, a bulky volume would be re- quired to relate the story of the numerous instances which could be gathered, but it is designed herein to record those public ceremonies which have made a lasting impress on the annals of the city. Washing- ton, when on his way to be inaugurated President, was received by the good people of Chester at that day, and Dr. William Martin delivered an address, the manuscript of which is in the possession of his grandson, John Hill Martin. On April 29, 1841, a mock funeral was held in the ancient borough on the occasion of the death of President Harrison, in which the Sunday-school, literary, temperance, beneficial and secret societies took part. Maj. Samuel A. Price was chief marshal, with Spencer Mellvain, John G. Dyer, Robert McCay, Jr., Jonathan Vernon, and J. Gifford Johnson as assistants. A funeral oration was delivered by Rev. M. R. Talbot. On Nov. 8, 1851, the Pennsylvania Historical Society celebrated the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Anniversary of the Landing of William Penn at Chester. William Rawle acted as president. The ceremonies were held in the Metho- dist Church on Fifth Street, and an address was made by William Armstrong; after which the meeting ad- journed, and in procession went to the foot of Penn Street, where were planted several pine-trees near the site of the venerable ones, the last of which was blown down .in a gale in October, 1846. On this occasion John F. Watson, the annalist, states that the "holly tree" standing at the foot of Penn Street was there prior to the landing of Penn. At midnight, Friday, Jan. 1, 1876, the streets of Chester were thronged with the population of the city who had determined to welcome the birth of the centennial year with an enthusiastic, popular demonstration. The hotels, lodge-rooms, newspaper-offices, public buildings, and private dwellings were decorated with American flags, and the windows brilliant with lights, while rows of Chinese lanterns spanned the streets and were pend- ent from almost every building. At an earlier hour in the evening a public meeting was held in the City Hall at which addresses were made by Mayor Forwood, Col. William C. Talley, William Ward, and John P. Gartside. About ten o'clock Maj. Daniel Brown, mar- shal, ordered the procession to move, and the long line -consisting of all the military, fire, and most of the I civic societies in Chester and outlying boroughs-tra-

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THE CITY OF CHESTER.

versed the principal streets of the city, greeted with body, issued an address to the citizens of Chester and Delaware County, calling a general meeting on the 15th of that month, to effect an organization to carry out the object. At the meeting then held the follow- ing officers of the General Committee were elected : Hon. James Barton, Jr., chairman; George E. Dar- lington, vice-chairman ; J. Craig, Jr., recording sec- retary ; H. G. Ashmead, corresponding secretary; H. B. Black, treasurer ; Col. W. C. Gray, chief marshal. the shouts of the populace and the glare of rockets and noise of firearms and crackers which added to the gen- eral hubbnb. At half-past eleven o'clock the colonial salute of thirteen guns was fired by the artillery detach- ment of Post Wilde on Seventh Street. When the hands of the dial of the illuminated clock in the tower of the City Hall marked the hour of twelve, the bells of the city rang out a joyous peal, while the music from the various bands, the cheers of the crowd, the dis- "The day fixed for the celebration of the bi-cen- tenary of the landing of William Penn in Chester," charge of firearms and cannon made a din such as Chester never before knew, and the scene will never be said William Shaler Johnson, "was ushered in soon forgotten by those who wit- nessed the tribute to 1876 as that year showed itself upon CO. the dial of time. The parade on the 4th of July, 1876, was one of the most imposing pa- CREEK LINE OF FAST LAND geants ever witnessed in Ches- RESIDENCE 01 ter; the various organizations, R. WADES Dr: FORmosa under the direction of Chief BUILT 1565 WELL 1682 . Marshal Dr. Stoever, traversed WHERE OLO HOLLY. PRIOR TRIE STOOD FROA I COVERED BY 140-130 1482 TO 455 ST PENN most of the streets in the city. ' CHESTER The literary exercises, under SITE OF ROST WADES PLANTED HOUSE IN IGUE STREET DRAW BRIDGE the direction of Col. W. C. FRONT RAIL-ROA Gray, were conducted on the MONUMENT ERECTED Nov 9. 1892 Beale House lawn ; noticeably will be remembered the histor- BOARD FENCE INJEREMY ical sketch of Chester, written by William Ward, and the ora- HIGH ATER IN 4850 tion of Dr. F. T. Coates, subse- quently published in a volume. On April 6, 1878, when the steamship " City of Para" was launched at Roach's ship-yard, NIGH . BOARD FELISE IN 100 Chester was visited by Presi- BICENTENNIAL LANDUNG dent Hayes, members of his 231882 cabinet, Governor Hartranft, DELAWARE RIVER State Treasurer Rawle, Col. SKETCH Quay, together with many Con- gressmen and politicians who LANDING FLACE OF WY PENN AT CHESTER IN 1682 for the time being were con- AND OP spicuous, but have now faded THE BICENTENNIEL entirely out of public remem- of DCT 23./872. brance. The President, suite, and friends, in a special train, were brought to the railway station, where, received by the city authority, they after midnight by the ringing of all the bells in the were conducted in carriages and with military escort to the ship-yard, the streets leading thither being crowded with people, who greeted the President with cheers and other demonstrations of welcome.

In the early spring of 1882 the idea of properly celebrating the bi-centennial anniversary of the land- ing of William Penn at Chester was discussed, but no definite steps were taken until June 5, 1882, when James Barton, Jr., mayor, and H. B. Black, president of Council, D. M. Johnson, Frank S. Baker, Isaiah H. Mirkil, and Richard Miller, a committee of that

city, each bell giving two hundred strokes. The morning was cloudy and threatening, but as the day advanced the weather changed for the better. The city put on its gala dress at an early hour, the houses being handsomely decorated, and flags flying from every available point. The Historical Committee had designated all the important historical sites with banners, on which the name and date of construction were plainly marked, while at the landing-place a staff, eighty feet high, carried the American colors, and it was evident from the beginning that the citi-

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

zens had given themselves up heartily to the enjoy- ment of the great anniversary. All the mills and in- dustrial establishments in the city and many of those in the county were closed, and, as a consequence, people had little else to do than to participate in the exercises of the day. Residents of the city and county, and hundreds of visitors, who had arrived on Saturday to spend the bi-centennial season with friends, thronged the streets long before the hour for the celebration to begin, and each incoming train from the north and south brought thousands to the city."

The ceremonial landing of Penn was had at half-

THIS STONE - MARKS THE SPOT WHERE WILLIAM PENN . : LANDSD OCTOBER

PENN MEMORIAL STONE.

past nine o'clock in the morning of Oct. 23, 1882, at the foot of Penn Street, as near to the exact spot where Penn actually landed as could be, considering the changes that have been made in the river-bank in two centuries. Penn was represented by John J. Hare, of Chester, and the other characters were supported by members of the Chester Dramatic As- sociation and the organizations of Red Men. The landing was made from a large old-fashioned yawl- boat, and a dialogue, which had been written by W. S. Johnson, gave dramatic features to the scene. After these inauguration ceremonies the crowd gath-

ered at a lot on the corner of Concord Avenue and Second Street, where the exercises were held. On the grand stand were a number of prominent citizens, including the invited guests from Philadelphia and elsewhere, and the civic dignitaries from surrounding cities. Among these were Governor Hoyt, Col. A. Wilson Norris, Adjt .- Gen. James W. Latta, Col. D. Stanley Hassinger, Col. Campbell Tucker, Chief En- gineer Samuel L. Smedley, the Executive Committee of the Bi-Centennial Association, Capt. Dean, U. S. R. M., Col. M. Richards Muckle, Maj. Charles K. Ide, President John McDonald, of the Produce Ex- change, Frederick Lovejoy, Charles Lain, Carl Edel- hein, and S. J. Linch, Hugh J. Hamill, Galloway C. Morris, John E. Ford, Lewis Wiener and Alexander Barrows, of Baltimore; Mayor Barton, ex- Mayors Larkin and Forwood, Messrs. G. P. Denis and D. F. Houston, Hons. William Ward and Robert Chadwick, Cols. W. C. Gray and P. M. Wash- abaugh, of Chester; George E. Darlington, of Media; Hon. W. B. Waddell and Robert E. Monaghan, of West Chester; William Simpson, Benjamin Gartside, Samuel Riddle, Dan- iel C. Abrams, Samuel Lewis, Hon. John M. Broomall, George Broomall, David S. Bunting, Charles Roberts, Hugh Shaw, John B. Roach, Abram Blakeley, Richard Mil- ler, H. B. Black, Orlando Har- vey, Revs. Thos. J. McCauley, William J. Paxson, Henry Brown, and others. The num- ber of people assembled in the square and streets near by must have exceeded ten thousand. The exercises consisted of au introductory address by Mayor Barton, followed by a prayer by Rev. Henry Brown. Rev. Samuel Pancost read a bi- centennial pocm, and Hon. John M. Broomall de- livered an able oration appropriate to the occasion. The ceremonies at the stand closed with the chil- dren of the public schools of Chester singing the Bi-Centennial Hymn, the words composed by Pro- fessor Charles F. Foster, superintendent of the pub- lic schools, and set to music by Professor John R. Sweeney, followed by a prayer by Rev. Thomas Mac- auley. In the afternoon the exercises of the day were continued by a parade under the direction of Col. W. C. Gray. The parade was the largest ever witnessed in Delaware County. Over six thousand men were

417

THE CITY OF CHESTER.

in line, and several of the industrial establishments- for all the manufacturing interests were represented- presented designs that were novel and interesting. The fifth division, restricted to the various trades, was one of the most noticeable in the parade. In the evening a display of fireworks took place at the corner of Ninth and Parker Streets.

On Thursday, Nov. 9, 1882, a number of gentlemen connected with the Historical Society of Pennsylva- nia and the Penn Club, having determined to cele- brate the two hundredth anniversary of the landing of William Penn by placing a memorial stone at the actual spot where the landing occurred in Chester (then Upland), came to Chester in a special train, and were received by the mayor, members of Council, and a number of prominent citizens, and escorted to the ground, foot of Penn Street, in front of the residence of Mayor J. L. Forwood.

The memorial stone had been erected on the 8th of November, the preceding day, and was covered with the national flag. Permission had been previously obtained from the city authorities and the owners of the adjacent property to place the stone on and within the curb line, on the northerly side of Front Street, which would bring it within a few feet of the actual place where William Penn landed. The stone was of granite, about five feet high and three feet by two feet at the base, weighing over two tons. On the northern or inner face was a marble tablet, on which was cut the coat-of-arms of Penn and the words, "This Stone marks the spot where William Penn landed October 28-29, 1682." The stone, which was designed by John Struthers, of Philadelphia, was set upon a foundation of solid masonry, five feet square and three feet deep, the whole resting upon two thicknesses of heavy planks, laid transversely.

Charles S. Keyser, who acted as director of the ceremonies, made a brief address, after which Rev. Henry Brown offered a prayer. Charles J. Stille, LL.D., in behalf of the donors, presented the me- morial stone to the city, which was received by James Barton, Jr., the then mayor of Chester. Addresses followed by William Ward, Lloyd P. Smith, Justice Cox, Jr., Samuel Chew, George M. Conarroe, who in his address read a letter from John G. Whittier to Col. Frank Etting, regretting his inability to be pres- ent. The ceremonies were closed by a few remarks by Dr. James J. Levick. The party from Philadel- phia, under the guidance of the Chester committee, examined some of the historical buildings iu the city. The site of the Essex house and the old well, the Boar's Head Inn, the old court-house and prison, site of the House of Defense, Graham (Hoskins) house, Logan house, Richardson house, tomb of John Mor- ton, Friends' meeting-house, site of Sandelands' double house, and other places of interest were among the points visited. About noon the Philadelphians took the special train for Codnor Farm, Col. Frank M. Et- ting's place, in Concord, to which they had been in-

vited. The party was accompanied by a number of gentlemen from Chester and Delaware County. Let- ters of regret were received by Col. Etting from Maj .- Gen. W. S. Hancock, Benson J. Lossing, and others.

Chester Lodge, No. 69, A. Y. M .- The warrant for this lodge which was granted June 24, 1796, was signed by William Moore Smith, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of Pennsylvania; Gavin Hamilton, District Grand Master; Thomas Town, Senior Grand Warden; John Poor, Junior Grand Warden; Thomas Armstrong, Grand Secretary ; John J. McElwee, Grand Treasurer. The warrant is di- rected to William Martin, Worshipful Master; James Bernard, Senior Warden; William Pennell, Junior Warden ; John Odenheimer, Master Mason; Matthias Kerlin, Master Mason; William Hill, Past Master ; and Robert Smith, Master Mason. The first meeting was held August 30th of the same year, in the third story of a building on the corner of Fourth and Mar- ket Streets, at which time it was the " Hope's Anchor" Tavern, now kept as the "Farmer's Market Hotel" by Edward Kelly. The device of the seal of the lodge was, at the top the all-seeing eye, the square and compass, enclosing two clasped hands expressive of friendship, and the motto " United and Free." At the first communication of the lodge, September 27th of the same year, the first degrees were conferred on Preston Eyre and Daniel Harmony. From that time to 1836, when the lodge surrendered its charter, one hundred and eighty-six Masons had been made or de- mitted from other lodges and united with this lodge. The following are the names of a few of the Past Masters : 1797, James Bernard ; 1799, William An- derson; 1800, Preston Eyre; 1801, Joseph Engle ; 1810, John Mackey; 1811, Joseph T. Johns; 1812, Job Terrill ; 1814, William Hill ; 1815, Joseph Engle. The property whereon the market-house now stands was owned by Lodge No. 69 prior to 1815; mention is made of it in the minutes as late as 1819, when all reference to it ceases.

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History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 103

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts Number of Pages: 1150

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1150