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Title: The terrible conflagration at Ninth and Washington Streets, Philadelphia On the morning of Wednesday February 8th 1865
Description: Disaster print showing the scene at the "disastrous conflagration commenced in the storage yard [of Blackburn & Co.] at Ninth & Washington Street" in the early morning hours of February 8, 1865. In the foreground, displaced and panicked residents of all ages attired in their night clothes, many holding their few possessions, run down and gather on the snowy streets. Amongst the commotion, police officers assist residents with their possessions (trunks, bedding, and cookware) and direct firefighters toward the blaze and burnt ruins of and surrounding the coal yard. The firefighters transport a ladder, hoses, and hose carriage toward the burning buildings as other volunteers rush to smother a man on fire and comfort a fleeing girl. Others depicted at the scene include two men laying an unconscious man attired in a nightshirt on the ground; a man and woman clutching their children to their chests; and a woman falling and dropping her baby in her flight as a dog runs past them. In the background, a small number of survivors and firefighters carrying victims, run down the 1100 block of Ninth Street that is lined with burning and destroyed buildings. Across from the coal yard, presumably the proprietor, James McManus, holds a bundle, and prepares to exit the doorway of the "Lager Beer Saloon" on the northeast corner of Washington Avenue and Ninth Street. Furniture covers the sidewalk in front of his establishment, the upper floors visibly on fire., Also contains several lines of text explicating the economic and human cost of the fire, including "loss of property" at "$400, 000," the "property destroyed" at about "one hundred structures," and the "List of Dead and Missing - Mrs. Barbara Ware, aged 43 years. Miss Annie Ware, 23 years._Emma Ware, 20 year._Helen Ware, 13 years._Isabella Ware, 4 years._Rebecca Ware._Albert Ware, 17 years._Clayton Ware, 10 years._The Scott Family is missing._Samuel McMenamin Fleetwood". A barrel of coal oil ignited through arson stored at Blackburn & Co. started the blaze shortly after 2 A.M. The fire destroyed the coal yard, which then caused a stream of burning oil to flow down Washington Avenue and Ninth Street that spread the fire to neighboring blocks of Federal and Ellsworth streets., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 746, Wainwright retrospective conversion project, edited., Reaccessioned as P.2215., Historical Society of Pennsylvania:, Fire described in the Philadelphia Inquirer, February 9, 1865, p. 8.
Date: 1865
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *W397 [6549.F]

Title: Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, supported gratuitously by the citizens of Philadelphia, Pa
Description: Print containing an exterior view and three titled interior views of the saloon and hospital of the volunteer relief agency located near the Navy Yard at Swanson and Washington Avenues. Exterior view shows heavy street activity. A Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad train stops on the grounds in front of a cheering crowd of spectators. Hundreds of soldiers line up to enter and depart the "Hot Coffee and Refreshment" and "Water" stand and "Dining Saloon Free for Volunteers"; officers direct foot traffic onto the train; and other soldiers enter the adjacent "Post Office" and are greeted by women in front of a row of adjoining row homes. Also shows the O.K. House in the background, the fence of "W. Thorn Lehigh & Schuylkill Coal Yard," and an American flag marked "Union for Ever" adorning the saloon. Interior views, framed by scroll ornaments, shows a line of soldiers at, and others waiting for a row of wash basins at the "Washing Department"; the "Interior of the Dining Saloon Free for Union Volunteers" where soldiers wait in line for food, eat standing up at tables, and are served by female volunteers; and civilian spectators watching the men volunteers of the "Cooking Department" attend cauldrons atop ovens, and carry baskets of food and large coffee pots. Also contains facsimile signatures of saloon supporters and a vignette portrait of General Winfield Scott below the image. Portrait framed by a laurel wreath held in the beak of an eagle surrounded by American flags, a fasces, cannons, and a banner reading "Respectfully dedicated by the Committee to Winfield Scott General in Chief of the U.S.A." Situated at the transportation hub between the North and the South on land leased en gratis from the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad, the agency provided meals, hospital care, washing, sleeping, and writing facilities to military personnel, refugees, and freedmen. It served over 800,000 men, 1,025,000 meals before closing., Second state., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 813.2, Wainwright retrospective conversion project, edited., Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Bc 32 U 58b (3 copies). Two of HSP copies contain blind stamp of B.S. Brown.
Creator: Boell, William
Date: c1861
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *W438.2 [P.9001.2]

Title: Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, of Philadelphia Being the first institution of the kind in the United States. Organized, May 27th. 1861
Description: Lively scene containing a view of the two hospitals, refreshment stand, and other buildings of the Refreshment Saloon located near the Navy Yard at Swanson and Washington Avenues. Depicts a large crowd gathered to watch the arrival and departure of Union troops in November of 1863. Arriving soldiers march past the cannon, known as "Fort Brown," fired to forewarn saloon volunteers of the forthcoming arrival of troops. Departing soldiers board a Philadelphia, Wilmington, & Baltimore railroad car for the South. American flags dot the landscape. Crowd includes a band and an African American man. Contains the names of committee members and volunteers below the image. Situated at the transportation hub between the North and the South on land leased en gratis from the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad, the Saloon was a volunteer relief agency providing meals, hospital care, washing, sleeping, and writing facilities to military personnel, freedom seekers. It served over 800,000 men, 1,025,000 meals before closing on December 1, 1865., Union Volunteer Refreshment Committee's blindstamp on recto., Title from item., Date inferred from content., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 771, Detailed inscription by Fales about the history of the saloon on recto. Transcription available at repository., Manuscript note on recto of 5778.F Union Volunteer: "John A. McAllister Esq. with the kind regards of Saml B. Fales, Phila. Nov. 24th, 1866." Fales served on the Union Volunteer Refreshment Committee as correspondence secretary and financial agent, and became the committee's main fundraiser., Manuscript note on recto of P.2023.2: Mr. McNally with the compliments of Samuel B. Fales, No. 707 Vine St. Philadelphia., Description revised 2023., Access points revised 2021., P.2023.2 gift of Philadelphia Magazine., Digital image shows 5778.F Union Volunteer., Queen was a premier Philadelphia lithographer and pioneer chromolithographer known for his attention to detail, who served in the Civil War militia from 1862 until 1863, and created several lithographs with Civil War subjects, including views of and contribution certificates for the city's relief institutions.
Creator: Queen, James Fuller, 1820 or 21-1886, artist
Date: [1863]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department **W412 [5778.F Union Volunteer and P.2023.2]

Title: View of the Philadelphia volunteer refreshment saloons
Description: Civil War souvenir print containing six views of the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon at the southwest corner of Washington and Swanson Avenues and the Cooper Shop Volunteer Refreshment Saloon at 1009 Ostego Street. Contains a large central view of the exterior of the Union Saloon with troops arriving, entering the dining saloon, and departing on a Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad car as crowds of people flock around them. Other views depict soldiers using the wash basins adjoining the Cooper Shop Saloon; pro-Union flags and Saloon banners; the Union Saloon's outside washing and cooking departments including an African American man carrying a pail of food; and interiors of both saloons where male and female volunteers attend to long tables of food and a large simmering vat on a hearth. Contains an eagle clutching large American flags and a pro-Union banner above the scenes. Situated at the transportation hub between the North and the South, the relief organizations provided hospital care, washing, sleeping, and writing facilities to over 1,000,000 military personnel, sailors, refugees, and freedmen during the war., Title from item., Date from copyright statement: Entered according to An Act of Congress in the Year 1861 by Job T. Williams in the Clerks Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 806, Print trimmed., Gift of Isadore Lichstein, 1984., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Queen, a Philadelphia lithographer and pioneer chromolithographer known for his attention to detail, served in the Civil War militia from 1862 until 1863, and created several lithographs with Civil War subjects, including views of and contribution certificates for the city's relief institutions.
Creator: Queen, James Fuller, 1820 or 1821-1886, artist
Date: 1861
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department **W434 [P.9001.6]

Title: Citizens Volunteer Hospital. Corner of Broad St. and Washington Avenue
Description: Fundraising certificate containing views of the exterior and interior of the volunteer hospital opened September 5, 1862 opposite the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad depot. Exterior view shows civilians and a troop of Union soldiers standing in front of the hospital as a train arrives. Interior view shows rows of beds lining a central hallway. Women volunteers attend to bed-ridden soldiers and set a long table for a meal. Framed by decorative motifs including the seal of Philadelphia; angels hovering above an able-bodied and an injured soldier in front of columns inscribed "The Glory of the Volunteer"; American flags; and floral elements. The hospital provided care to the most seriously injured before their reassignment to other hospitals. Closed on August 11, 1865., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 130, Wainwright retrospective conversion project, edited., Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Bc 15 C 581, Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of material concerning Civil War volunteer saloons and hospitals.
Creator: Queen, James Fuller, 1820 or 21-1886, artist
Date: [1862]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *W68 [5778.F Citizens Volunteer]

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