Indoor plumbing in mid-19th century Philadelphia
December 27, 2023
Some statistics about early indoor plumbing, illustrated with pictures of early toilets.
Supporting the party in power
December 26, 2023
Records of “voluntary” donations by Philadelphia Department of Public Works employees to the city’s Republican Party, 1903-1914
Delaware River Harbor Police Report, 1884
December 20, 2023
The bare-bones report of the Delaware River Harbor Police in 1884 gets some tasty fleshing out, thanks to online newspapers from that year.
Schuylkill River Harbor Police Report, 1884
December 20, 2023
Activity along the Schuylkill River, as reported by the Harbor Police in 1884.
CITIZENS’ BUSINESS: 1939-1946
December 19, 2023
A collection of concise, informative pamphlets about water problems of the time.
Smith and Windmill Islands
December 19, 2023
Images from the Castner Scrapbooks of the Free Library of Philadelphia Print & Picture Collection, and others (along with my musings on changing technology)
High Water: Flooding in Philadelphia
December 18, 2023
A video of Adam Levine’s fascinating illustrated talk, “High Water,” along with links to printed resources on flooding for Philadelphia residents.
The Schuylkill and Wissahickon banks in 1858
December 17, 2023
Pictures from the First Geological Survey of Pennsylvania, and other resources about the state’s geology.
Petition of manufacturers along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia for a new upstream water supply, 1868
December 17, 2023
This self-serving petition, which would have allowed manufacturers to continue polluting the water supply of Philadelphia, was rejected by the Pennsylvania Legislature, but manufacturers kept polluting the river anyway.
The Worry of the Wires
December 16, 2023
A cartoon for the holidays, showing that the problem of unsightly overhead wires is hardly new.
Wooden Pipes in Philadelphia
December 16, 2023
A brief explanation, with pictures, of the use of wood to convey water (but not sewage).
Beauty from Utility: The Architect of the Southwest Sewage Pumping Station
December 16, 2023
Celebrating a pumping station built 100 years ago with recently-discovered drawings.
Lighthouses along the Delaware, 1913
December 16, 2023
For every possible topic–even lighthouses–you can find someone who is obsessed with it.
Visions of the Schuylkill, 1884 and Now
December 16, 2023
An early idea of what the banks of the Schuylkill could be–and what they look like today.
Centre Square Water System
December 16, 2023
Three sets of rarely-seen drawings of a national engineering landmark.
An electrifying experience
December 5, 2023
A brief diversion into the fluid known as electricity
From Creek To Sewer
November 30, 2023
This post is where this website (under a couple of different names) began more than 20 years ago. The text is still the same, but I have added new maps and new high-resolution images that are worth checking out.
Native American Heritage Day
November 24, 2023
Celebrating Philadelphia before the European invasion with a beautiful map of Lenapehoking.
Aramingo Canal, Then and Now
November 15, 2023
Uncovering the history of the Aramingo Canal, aka Gunner’s Run.
State of the Schuylkill River in 1876: Sewage pollution and possible remedies
November 11, 2023
A brief but forward-thinking report on sewage pollution in the city’s drinking water supply.
Drainage and Sewerage Report, 1853
November 11, 2023
A groundbreaking report that promoted sewers in stream valleys and the adoption of combined sewers for Philadelphia.
Dealing with the city’s wastes in the mid-19th century
November 11, 2023
Excerpts from the reports of the the first chief engineer of consolidated Philadelphia.
Three reports on Philadelphia’s Sewage Treatment Project, 1911-1914
November 11, 2023
Without sewage collection and treatment, the city would be unlivable.
Northeast Philadelphia history, one page at a time: The Holmesburg Library Scrapbook Collection
November 6, 2023
These scrapbooks, first published on PhillyH2o, are now easier to read and are searchable by keyword.