Details
Creator Taylor, Frank H. (Frank Hamilton), 1846-1927
Title "Matt" Baldwin's First Locomotive Shop
Date ca. 1922
Description View of a row of buildings on a cobblestone street, one of which has a bay where a horse-drawn carriage is parked.
Notes The above structure was occupied by Matthias W. Baldwin from 1831 to 1835. It stood upon the north side of Grand Lodge Alley (now Ranstead Street), west fo Seventh Street. Here Mr. Baldwin built five locomitives, beginning with "Old Ironsides," which was operated with success upon the Germantown and Norristown Railroad, starting from Ninth and Green Streets, on November 23, 1832. Mr. Baldwin began his business life as a jeweler, later he conducted a shop for engraving book-binders' dies. Early in 1831 he constructed a miniature locomotive for Mr. Franklin Peale, which was run upon a circular track in Peale's Philadelphia Museum, in the Arcade, on Chestnut Street, drawing cars with passengers. "Old Ironsides" was the fifth practical locomotive built in America and the first employed in regular service in Philadephia. The shop shown in this drawing had a frontage of 53 feet on Grand Lodge Alley and extended through to Market Street, with a frontage thereon of about 29 feet, at No. 714. In 1835 the requirements of the business induced Mr. Baldwin to remove to Broad and Hamilton Streets. His estate held the title to the old shop until 1907, when it was bought by William Steele & Sons Co., who have since erected a warehouse on the site.
Taylor Catalog Number: 54
Is part of Frank H. Taylor Collection
Identifier Taylor - Case 7-6 [2717.F]