Album of photographs documenting the Philadelphia, Middle, and Pittsburgh divisions of the Pennsylvania Railroad, incorporated in 1846. The consolidated company sought to build a trunk route from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh through the Allegheny mountains in order to compete with the Erie Canal for freight traffic. In 1854, rail passage through the Alleghenies via the "Horse Shoe Curve" was achieved and spurred the establishment and growth of the several towns depicted along the route.
Rooftop view looking east from the Continental Hotel at the southeast corner of Ninth and Chestnut streets. Shows the 800-700 blocks of Chestnut Street, predominately storefronts on the north side, including Sharpless Brothers, wholesale wools & dry goods (801-803 Chestnut); a billiard saloon (N.E. cor. Eighth & Chestnut); the Masonic Temple (built 1855, 713-721 Chestnut); Marxsen & Witte, china and glass (713 Chestnut); and signage attached to a dry goods business advertising a "Grand Closing Sale.", Photographer's imprint printed on mount., Title printed on mount., Yellow mount with rounded corners., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
Creator
Simons, M. P. (Montgomery P.), photographer
Date
ca. 1874
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department stereo - Simons - Streets [P.8497.3]