Subjects Technology

Birch’s Views of Philadelphia, 1800

men standing around a trench with pipes seen crossing through it. there is a steam engine on wheels behind them to the left, and a building in the background on the right with a sign they says Hotel Abbey, T G Schmidt & Sons, Pilsner & Puritan Beer.

Pipeline being laid in Wissahickon Avenue

A section of wooden water pipe, long out of service, removed from a Philadelphia street in 1901. It had been installed about 1801.

Wooden Water Pipe, removed from Market Street, December 6, 1901

Centre Square Engine House, location of one of two steam engines used in the city’s original water system. Engraving by Birch.

Centre Square Engine House, ca. 1807

Black-and-white photo of men, horses and a cart inside of a barn-like structure

Ash dumping house, 2nd floor, 15th and Wood St.

Lab tech at Philly Home Show, 1960

Lab tech, water cleaning demo, Philly Home Show, 1960

Torresdale Conduit work gang, 1906

Torresdale Conduit work gang, 12/18/1906

Laboratory Alkalinity test, ca. 1943

Laboratory Alkalinity test, ca. 1943

Photo of a work crew constructing a sewer in Rock Run, Tacony Creek, Philadelphia

Sewer construction, Rock Run, 1922