Subjects Urban Development

Birkinbine Schuylkill Hydrographical Survey 1861-66

Two reports on the state of the Schuylkill River, 1867

Mill Creek Sewer under construction. Several men standing beside a giant partially constructed sewer pipe.

Mill Creek Sewer under construction, 1883

Bridge Street Draw, Cofferdam, ca. 1896

Torresdale Conduit work gang, 1906

Torresdale Conduit work gang, 12/18/1906

Finished Upper Roxborough filters, 1903

Finished Upper Roxborough filters, 1903

Outhouse over Schuylkill near Pottstown

Outhouse over the Schuylkill near Pottstown

City officials tour new interceptor sewer, 1953

Two bottles of water from a river, one dark with pollution and one clear after filtration

Water Before and After Roxborough

Two black-and-white photographs of pipeline construction on State Road. Depicted are a group of people, trees, buildings, a fire hydrant and a grid of boards over the pipes.

State Road triple pipeline construction, 1904

A list of rules governing the sanitary maintenance of privy vaults in Philadelphia in 1915

Be Thankful You Don’t Live in Pre-Flush Philly