Pre-consolidation view of several properties and pedestrian activity on Walnut Street near Third Street. Includes J.H. Earle's tailor shop and Charles Toppan's bank note engraving business (60 Walnut Street, east of Third Street); Watson's Lithography at the southeast corner (62 Walnut Street), with Samuel W. Thackara, conveyancer, facing Third Street; J. Hancock & Co., upholsterers, at the southwest corner of Third and Walnut; and the first building of the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society. Pedestrian traffic including men, women and children strolling down the street in groups, a horse-drawn carriage traveling north on Third Street, and a man pushing a handcart west on Walnut Street., J.F. Watson operated his lithography business from 62 Walnut Street between 1835 and 1843., Title supplied by cataloger., Not in Wainwright., Philadelphia on Stone, POSA 83
Date
ca. 1837
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department ***Drawings & Watercolors - unidentified - W [357M]
View looking toward the water works originally built between 1812 and 1822 after the designs of Philadelphia engineer Frederick Graff. In the foreground, elegantly dressed women and men sit and stand on the veranda admiring the vista as street and pedestrian traffic approaches and departs from the covered Upper Ferry Bridge. Traffic includes horse-drawn carriages and men, women and children walking or standing on the bridge, looking over the rail at the Schuylkill River below. Canal barges travel under the bridge and in the canal lock across from the water works. The water works include the engine house, mill house, and pavilions on the mound dam and on reservoir hill. A water fountain and trees complete the view. Also shows businesses and residences behind the water works in the background. The Lancaster-Schuylkill Bridge, known as the Upper Ferry Bridge, was erected 1809-1812, with Robert Mills serving as architect and Lewis Wernwag as engineer. Served as the basis for the lithographed view created by J.T. Bowen after a fire destroyed the bridge in 1838., Not in Wainwright., Philadelphia on Stone, POSP 262
Creator
Smith, John Rubens, 1775-1849, artist
Date
[ca. 1837]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Third Floor Storage [P.2008.34.12]
