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Westcott Volume 5 Notes
Page 135
August 1881
Under “Local Affairs”
The Mechanics’ Insurance Company Building, at Fifth and Walnut Streets. –
When the Mechanics’ Insurance Company purchased the building at the southwest corner
of Fifth and Walnut streets, of which recent mention was made, it was not intended that
any exterior changes should be made to the building, but the Board of Directors have
since concluded to put an entire new front on Walnut Street, and make many changes to
the Fifth street side of the building, the plans for which have been drawn by Willis G.
Hale, architect.
The first story of the Walnut street front will be of iron, with a large plate-glass
window on Walnut street, and two somewhat smaller, on Fifth street. The upper stories
will be of pressed brick, with black mortar and blue marble trimmings. The recess head
under the brick arches spring over the top of each window will beornamented with iron
castings, containing fire insurance insignia. The transom in the first story will contain
stained glass. Peerless brick in paneled work will constitute the cornice. A tower,
finished in a pointed roof, surmounted by a galvanized iron finial, will be placed on the
corner of the building.
The side front on Fifth street is to be renovated, and between the heads and sills of
the windows buff and black brick laid in diagonal courses, and over each window head a
galvanized iron cap. The cornice will be of ornamental brick work and raised three feet
higher than at present. The door and stairway leading to the upper stories, now about the
centre, will be removed to the south end of the building.
The insurance company will occupy the entire first floor, 18 feet by 62 feet, the
finishing of which will be in chestnut. The upper floors are intended for office purposes.
Page 179
January 1882
Formal Opening of the New Mechanics’ Insurance Company, -- The new building of the
Mechanics' Insurance Company of Philadelphia, Fifth and Walnut streets, was formally
opened on Thursday. The Company, which was organized in 1854, occupied since its
establishment, until quite recently, two buildings on Sixth street, corner of Cherry. These
properties were sold in November to the Odd Fellows’ Association, the company having
purchased in July last the building at Fifth and Walnut streets. Shortly thereafter the
work of improving the old structure was begun, and as it now stands the Mechanics’
Company’s building is practically a new edifice. It has a handsome front on Walnut
street, the first story of which is of iron and the upper stories of pressed brick, with
ornamental blue stone trimmings. On Walnut street is a high and wide plate glass
window, and two smaller windows are on the Fifth street side. The recess head under the
brick arches sprung over the top of each window is ornamented with iron castings,
containing fire insurance insignia. The transom in the first story is of stained glass. The
cornice is formed of peerless brick in paneled work. A tower, finished in a pointed slated
roof, surmounted by a galvanized iron finial, surmounts the corner of the building. The
Fifth street front has been similarly remodeled. The entrance to the insurance offices is
from Walnut street. The offices are handsomely finished in hard wood. The entrance to
the upper stories, which are arranged for lawyers’ offices, &c, is from Fifth street, at the
southern end of the building.
Page 6 November 1880
TO BE DEDICATED
The Philadelphia Home for Incurables, on Monday Next – Character of the Institution
On Monday next the new Philadelphia Home for Incurables, at Woodland avenue
and Forty-eight street, is to be dedicated, the ceremonies, to which the public are invited,
to being at 4 p.m. Two years ago a site was purchased at Forty-eighth on the avenue for
the sum of $5,500, and thereon has been erected the new Home which, in its exterior
appearance and in its interior arrangements, is one of the most complete institution
buildings in the city. It stands on an elevated piece of ground, affording not only a wide
expanse of view in all directions, but combining, as well, the benefits of a healthy
temperature and thorough ventilation.
Viewed from Woodland avenue the Home presents an imposing appearance. It
stands back about fifty feet from the street pavement and is fronted with an enclosed plot
of ground, fresh sodded with grass. It is three stories in height and in the prevailing style
of architecture, with fancy brick front, finished with ornamental tiling, with broad
porches designed somewhat after the Queen Anne fashion, and with deep slanting Gothic
roof covered with Akron tiles in red and buff. Fairmount stone laid with random black
joints, and the Dorchester grey stand-stone, are used also in the construction of the face
of the house. The front is divided into three sections, the centre part receding, while the
projecting ends are built with triplet windows in the second and third stories finishing
above in towers, the finial of which is 20 feet above the roof, and in each of which there
are four louver windows. Stacks for ventilation and smoke are built with buff tile roofs.
Nearly all of the windows have their upper frames set in stained glass, which enhances
the brightness of the general effect.
The building has a frontage of 72 feet on Woodland avenue, exclusive of the
additional length caused by the bay windows at either end. The depth of the house is 44
feet. From these dimensions some idea may be had of its form, which, as arranged
interiorily, is odd and pleasing. The house is entered from a broad piazza extending the
length of the front. Wide front doors open into a hall 15 by 24 feet, with grate directly
opposite the entrance. The hall, as indeed is the case throughout the house, is finished in
light woods. On the right hand, on entering, is a long room, admirably lighted by side
windows and the bay window at the end. This is to be used as a reception room and
library, and will be furnished completely by a number of members of the Society of
Friends. A duplicate room on the other side of the main corridor is to be used as a
committee room, and will be furnished by Mr. Caleb Milne. In fact, all the rooms in the
house will be furnished gratuitously by friends of the institution. Thrown open, the two
apartments mentioned form, with the hall, a long stretch of rooms. Running
perpendicularly to the main hall is a long entry, which extends the entire width of the
building. Opening on this entry are all the other rooms on the floor, via: the diningroom, the physician’s office, the matron’s room, and one dormitory, with store-room,
closets, etc., with two dumb waiters, one running from the kitchen to the dining-room,
and the other from the kitchen to the upper floor, to carry the meals to the patients unable
to leave their rooms. There also opens on this entry the elevator closet, with passenger
elevators to carry the patients. The elevator is very handsome, and is also the gift of a
private gentleman. On the rear is another broad piazza, the counterpart of that on the
front of the house.
On the upper floors are the rooms for the patients. They are all capacious, well
lighted and ventilated by a patent process. The heating of the house will be by steam and
indirect radiation. Each room on the third story has a register in the ceiling for summer
ventilation, which has its outlet in the tower dormers. The drainage of the house is said
to be complete in every respect. In the basement are the kitchen, laundry, and servants’
quarters. The entire cost of the building is $25,000. It will accommodate forty patients.
It is contemplated, if the institution meets with popular endorsement and substantial aid,
to add to the main building two wings, for male as well as female patients, and designed
also to provide for such cases as epilepsy, consumption and cancer.
The formal opening of the building will be held on Monday next, which will be
the third anniversary of the opening of the temporary home. The following are the
officers of the Home for Incurables:
President: Mrs. Seth B. Stitt.
Vice-Presidents – Mrs. C.K. Inglish, Mrs. Israe Maule.
Treasurer – Mrs. Henry C. Townsend.
Secretary – Mrs. Edward R. Fell.
Board of Managers – Mrs. M.R. Trevor, Mrs. G. Albert Lewis, Mrs. Benjamin Griffith,
Mrs. Charles H. Abbott, Mrs. Nathan H. Sharpless, Mrs. John A. Lewis, Mrs. Samuel A.
Harrison, Mrs. Edward H. Ogden, Mrs. J. Eastburn Mitchell, Miss Augusta Taber, Miss
Susan Gorgas Miss Helen V. Wriggins, Miss Clara Gilbert, Mrs. Samuel R. Shipley, Mrs.
Benjamin J. Crew, Mrs. Horatio Gates Jones, Mrs. J. Lewis Crozer, Mrs. Charles H.
Caldwell, Mrs. C.G. Hunsworth, Mrs. H.S. Hoffman, Mrs. J.E. Kingsley, Mrs. C. A.
Dickey, Mrs. W.A. Griswold, Mrs. Thomas Roberts, Mrs. L..D. Brown, Mrs. T.G.
Woraley
Page 9 November 1880
Home for Incurables .—The dedication of the new and beautiful building for the Home
for Incurables, located at the corner of Forty-eighth street and Woodland avenue, took
place yesterday afternoon > There was an unusually large attendance of the friends of the
institution, every car stopping at the grounds being crowded to its utmost capacity. The
rooms were handsomely decorated with flowers.
Mr. John M. Colins, who occupied the chair, referred to the institution, which had
been founded to supply a want long felt. He said it was unsectarian and disinterested, and
sprang from a love for God and man.
After an anthem by the choir Rev. Dr. George Dana Boardman read a portion of
the Scriptures and led in prayer. Then addresses were made by Mr. Francis Well and
Rev. W. Neilson McVickar, after which the prayer of dedication was made by Re. Dr.
J.M. Crowell, of the Woodland Presbyterian Church;
The following is a list of persons furnishing rooms in the home:
Managers Room, Mr. Caleb J. Milne; Reception Room, “The Friends,” Matron’s Room,
Miss Susan Gorgas; Doctor’s Room and Nos. 9 and 23, furnished by Mrs. William
Singerly; Hall furnished by Mrs. Seth B. Stitt; Room No. 25, Mrs. Hugh Craig, in
memory of Wilson D. Craig; No. 1, by Mrs. Thos. Henderson, in memory of Mrs. Maria
J. Nesmith; No. 4 by Mrs. Elizabeth Hemphill; No. 5 by Miss Hemphill, Mrs. Tabor and
Mrs. G.D. Boardman, in memory of Annie C. Ingles; No. 6 Mrs. Henry C. Townsend;
No. 7 Mrs. J Lewi Crozer; No. 8 Mrs. John P. Crozer; Nos. 10 and 22 Miss Fannie
Gilbert; No. 11, Memorial Band; No. 12, Mrs. H. S. Hoffman; No. 15, Mrs. Henry L.
Fell; No. 17, Miss Clara Gilbert.
Thanks are returned by the managers to Mr. James L. Claghorn for fine
engraving; to Mr. Caleb J. Milne for three pictures; to Mr. John De Zouche for portieres;
Mr. Allen for the hall chairs; Mr. Henry L. Ashmead for 750 invitation cards and
envelopes and the printing of same, also 250 order of exercises; to Mr. Samuel A.
Harrison for two mantel sets, clock and candelabra; to Mr. John Orne for carpet for
second-story corridor; to Thackara, Buck & Co. for the chandeliers; Gibson & Shaw for
two hall chandeliers; to Mrs. H.C. Townsend for three sofas, seven large easy chairs, a
centre table and a large secretary; to Mr. B.H. Bartol for one dozen pairs of blankets; to
Mrs. W.A. Griswold for one dozen pairs of blankets, and to Mrs. J.E. Mitchell for one
oak sideboard.
Volume 5 Page 242 June 1882
LOCAL AFFAIRS
Removal of the Philadelphia Record” to its New and Handsome Building, -- For some
days past extensive preparations have been going forward looking to the removal to-day
of the ital Philadelphia Record, from its old quarters at Third and Chestnut streets to the
new and spacious building erected by the proprietor, Wm. M. Singerly, for the purposes
of his journal, on Chestnut street, above Ninth, adjoining the new Post-office. A new
Hoe perfecting press, and also an old one of similar style, were placed in the cellar the
past week, on which part of the edition was run off. In the composing room the gas
fixtures have been provided, and new iron frames for the compositors’ cases, the latter
containing a new font of type, with which to bring the paper out in a new dress on
Monday morning, when it will be issued for the first time from its new quarters, the final
steps towards this end being taken to-day in the removal and setting up of the pres at
work last night and of some of the heavier portions of the machinery. For a time, the
publisher, cashier, bookkeeper and clerks will occupy the offices on the sixth floor, the
publication office not being expected to be ready for occupants until the first of next
month, at which time the tenants of the other portions of the building will be given
possession. A pit has been dug in the basement over which it is intended t place another
perfecting press as soon as circumstances may render necessary such addition to the
printing machinery. It is the intention of Mr. Singerly to issue a Sunday paper on and
after to-morrow week, the size of the sheet being the same as that published daily, but
containing, if possible, more reading matter.
The new edifice, which occupies the site of the old Markoe House, purchased by
Mr. Singerly, and demolished to make[way] for his imposing structure, has a front of
[illegible 100?] feet on Chestnut street, and extends nearly the whole depth of the lot back
to Chant street, 220 feet. The material of the front is Fox Island granite, with polished
granite trimmings, the eastern corner, adjoining the Post-office having a face of 30 feet,
being of the same construction and design as the portion fronting on Chestnut Street. The
height of the building, to the top of the cornice, which is eight feet above the roof of the
Post-office building, is 96 feet, of modern style with gothic details. In the centre of the
front a square iron tower, reached by a spiral staircase from the sixth floor, surmounts the
building, and affords a fine view of the city and surrounding country, the elevation being
about 147 feet. The openings in the front of the building are very large, the head of one
window forming the sill of the other. The lintels are furnished with polished raised
panels of massive appearance, decorated beneath with carved leaves. On each side of the
entrance there are triple columns each 16 inches in diameter, in two sections, with a
band-stone between them. The shafts of these are of heavy dark Quincy granite,
polished. The space between the face of the pedestal upon which these columns rest
gives a recess entrance to the doorway of six feet. Over the entrance is a semi-circular
projection for a statue which it is intended t place there.
The building being of massive design and contructions, the foundations were
necessarily made as solid and enduring as possible. There are sixteen foundation piers,
each is feet square, and supporting an estimated weight room the corridors above of 240
tons. The height of the basement, which is equally as roomy as any of the six stories
above is 15 feet; of the first floor 20 feet; second 15; third, 14; fourth 13 ½ ; fifth 12, and
sixth, 16 feet. The basement will be occupied by the press room, engine room and carrier
room, the former being 45 by 71 feet with stone floor, and provided with all the latest
improvements for printing and prompt delivery of the paper.
The first floor is divided by a [illegible] corridor, running from the main entrance
to the rear of the building. On the [west?] side of this corridor is one continuous [store?]
room front to rear, supplied with a skylight in the centre. The publication office, 58 feet
long and 16 ½ feet wide, and handsomely [furnished?] in hard woods, polished, occupies
the front half of the eastern side, with windows on Chestnut street and alongside the Postoffice front. Back of this is a wide iron [a___tone?] stairway, leading to the top of the
building, by half flights to each floor. Behind the stairway and along the northern end of
the eastern side are the offices of the proprietor and cashier, with closets and wash rooms
for the clerks and other employees.
The second floor front is one large room at the head of the corridor, the sp[ace?]
on the west side and on either side [illegible] the stairway on the east side , being broken
up into numerous good-sized communicating rooms, intended as offices for [lawyers?]
and others, and all finished in hardwood, in handsome style. The door frames along the
corridor are models of richness and elegance, and do not fail to attract the attention of the
most casual observer. These rooms have all been rented, as well as those on the third and
fourth floors, which, though not finished as elaborately as those on the second floor,
correspond in general style. Peirce’s Business College will occupy several of the largest
rooms on this floor.
On the fifth floor will be the editorial and reportorial rooms, library, &c each
department having space assigned it corresponding to the force employed. At present
these are scantily though newly furnished, the design being to fit them up in harmony
with the general style of interior finish, as soon as time is given from more pressing
demands.
The front half of the sixth floor, 47 by 58 feet, is the composing room, while the
other half, in the rear of the stairway, is intended for an extra composing room, stereotype
foundry and mailing room. A small elevator in the back part of the building leads from
the foundry to the press room, for the delivery and reception of the stereotype plates
before and after printing from them, while in front of the stairway a large passenger
elevator runs from the basement to the sixth story.
The building, which is fireproof, is to be heated by steam, and every provision has
been made to secure proper ventilation, while comfort has been otherwise looked after in
supplying the premises with all modern improvements, such as pneumatic tubes, electric
call-bells &c.
The editorial force of the “Record” is constituted as follows: Editor-in-Chief,
Theodore Wright; Managing editor, M.M. Gillam; Associated Editors, J.L. Stickney, J.H.
Filler, A.S. Chambers and Charles, D. Crutchfield; Financial Editor, Charles M. Town;
City Editor, John Norris. The paper employs about a dozen reporters and also
correspondents in various cities. R.G. Oellers is the treasurer and business manager; John
W. Bally is the foreman of the composing room, and Henry Ayres is the pressman, each
of whom has a large force of men under his charge.
Page 246 June 1882
The “Record’s” New Building.
The Record, having removed from its old quarters at Third and Chestnut streets, on
Saturday, was yesterday issued from its handsome new building, on Chestnut street,
above ninth. The new structure, which cost $200,000, is fitted up with a special regard
for the convenience of its workmen.
Architecturally considered, the building is one of the finest in the city, and
contains all the modern appliances for the rapid execution of newspaper work. The
editorial department occupies the entire fifth floor, and the quarters set apart for the
managing and associate editors and the city editor and his staff are supplied with all the
essentials for their work. The sixth floor is used as the composing room, and an elevator
is kept in continual motion for the convenience of the occupants of the upper floor. The
building is lighted by three hundred electric lights.