Hertz Lot/West Shipyard

Upcoming Public Open House Dates - 5/8, 1pm-3pm

The Durst Organization is planning a vibrant mixed-use development designed by Handel Architects that will bring residential apartments and ground-floor retail to the neighborhood. This development will provide waterfront access, create green space, and preserve the important history of the site.

Historic Background

1690s

James West established a Shipyard on a 100 foot wide water lot north of Vine Street

1720s

Other shipwrights and related crafts persons had taken up occupation of the project area

Notable shipwrights included: Michael Hulings, James Porteus, Joseph Lynn, Charles West, William Taylor, Christopher Smith, and Jacob Casdorf.

1760

A view of West shipyard wharf and shipbuilding within the project area c. 1750. Extract from “An East Prospect of the City of Philadelphia” by George Heap and Engraved by Thomas Jeffrey's (New York Public Library Digital Collections-Image ID: 53921)

1782

Overlay of the 1762 map of Philadelphia by Matthew Clarkson and M. Biddle (Philadelphia Street Department-FF-Maps_1762)

1794

“To Thomas Mifflin, governor and commander in chief of the state of Pennsylvania, this plan of the city and suburbs of Philadelphia is respectfully inscribed by the editor, 1794” by A.P. Folie, R. Scot, and S. Allardice.

1796

“This plan of the city of Philadelphia and its environs…”, c. 1796 by John Hills.

18th Century

Merchants began moving into the area as the city expanded north.

Samuel Shoemaker was the first, and then the Charles West Junior. Samuel Shoemaker, Thomas Britton, William Massey, Jacob Clements, Joseph Cowperthwaite, Charles West, William West, Isaac Jeans, and eventually, John Harrison, George Knorr, Isaac Hazlehurst, and Thomas Leiper
Lumber merchants north of Wood Street steps, salt, flour, ship provisions, and commission merchants to the south.
Landscape dotted by small alleys, stores and warehouse

c. 1800

“Wharves-Vine to Callowhill” c. 1800 by Unknown, reprinted in “Philadelphia and Her Merchants” by Adam Ritter.

By 1800 the wharves had largely been built out as far as modern Columbus Blvd.

1830

“Plan of the city of Philadelphia and adjoining districts: shewing the existing and contemplated improvements”, c. 1830 by Henry Schenck Tanner

July 9, 1850

The Great Conflagration

On, July 9, 1850, warehouse located at 139 Water Street, between Vine and Race caught fire igniting the stores of saltpeter on the first floor of the warehouse causing a massive explosion

Debris from the explosion was found as far west as Broad Street
Explosion spread the fire to the surrounding area
367 houses and businesses. Properties as far west as Fourth Street, as far south as Race Street, and north past Callowhill
Fire killed upwards of 17 people
The damage from this fire totaled over 1.5 million dollars in 1850

1850

The Reconstruction

Hexamer and Locher (Free Library of Philadelphia, Map Collection, HXL1859v4-PL43)

Insurance Records show that the entire Vine Street lot was destroyed as was most of the surrounding area.

Was reconstructed over the next 2 years, during which Delaware Ave was built to the east.
Completely new layout of buildings shown in 1859 Hexamer.

1870s

By the 1870’s area between the rebuilt merchant houses infilled with a large market in the south.
Fruit warehouse and domestic/commercial buildings replaced the southernmost Lumber yard north of Wood Street

1895

Overlay of map “Plan 20” from Baist's Property Atlas of the City and County of Philadelphia, Penna, complete in one volume, 1895 by G. William Baist (Athenaeum of Philadelphia - BST1895.Phila.022.Plan20)

1916

Overlay of map “Sheet 209” from Insurance maps of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Vol.3, 1916, Sanborn Map company (Penn State: Digital Collection Library)

20th Century

By the early 20th century the whole block had been razed to establish a railyard for the Pennsylvania Railroad.

1969

By 1969 Land was acquired by the Hertz Rent-a-Car company and turned into a rental lot and maintenance facility.

The Hertz building was torn down when the DRWC took over the lot, but it has remained a parking lot ever since the Hertz days.

Prior Archaeological Efforts

Hertz Lot (1987) - Carmen Weber

The first excavations on the site were conducted by Carmen Weber in the northern portion of the Hertz Lot. Identified 18th and 19th century wharf structures.
Major Find – Identified A slipway structure used for shipbuilding and for hauling vessels out of the river for repair on a cradle.

West Shipyard (2012) - John Milner Associates

Exploratory testing on behalf of the DRWC.

This effort consisted of 3 trenches and was mostly focused on the West Lot at the south end of the Vine Street Lot.
Identified a number of 19th century foundations.
Major Find – Identified a grillage wharf structure, made of criss-crossed logs. One of the first incarnations of “wharfing out” on the site and a likely surface upon which ships were built by the West family during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

Current Archaeological Efforts

Vine Street Lot (2019) - AECOM

Due diligence testing on behalf of the Durst Organization.

This effort consisted of 5 trenches located in both the north and south of the site.
2 trenches in north and 3 in south
Identified 45 cultural features
1556 artifacts collected

Current Archaeological Efforts

Vine Street Lot (2019) - Trench 1

Identified likely early 19th century wharf timbers (Context 17) in line with those identified by Weber in 1987.
Feature 1/2 foundation complex at end of wharf timbers
Woodworking debris from hewing timber at interface with former river bank
Context 88 – Another hewn timber, perpendicular to the others and deeper
Possible pilings from a pier

Current Archaeological Efforts

Vine Street Lot (2019) - Trench 2

Foundation wall aligned with the western edge of Wood Street steps
South side of wall had associated pine floor with joist beneath
Well feature capped by floor
Large hewn beam with mortises and bevel cuts

Current Archaeological Efforts

Vine Street Lot (2019) - Trench 3

Encountered Stone Wall and Wood floor. Wall cut into fill.
Additional stone walls beneath wood floor
Wall supported by large stone flag spread footers
Southwest of wall was a well capped by mid 19th century fill
Several piles from a likely pier

Current Archaeological Efforts

Vine Street Lot (2019) - Trench 4

Additional portion of Wall in alignment with that seen in Trench 3 but no floor
Area built on a thick deposit of dredge spoil with coral
Late 18th early 19th century foundation and brick porch
substantial quantity of largely intact late 18th and early 19th century ceramics

Current Archaeological Efforts

Vine Street Lot (2019) - Trench 5

Series of walls and floors similar to those observed in Trench 3 of the 2012 excavations.
Walls sat atop of spread footer made of large boulders
Large deposit of red clay roofing tile in fill above grillage wharf.
Wall in north of trench had a floor on its north side
Beneath floor at a water table logs related to a grillage wharf were

Interpretations

2019 - AECOM

Throughout all three excavations virtually all artifacts found in all contexts pre-date 1850, the period of the Great Conflagration
Subsequent Grading for Railroad and Parking Lot eliminated much of the evidence of the Late 19th century
Some foundations correspond with the post fire period like those in Trench 3 and possibly Trench 2
Earlier foundations related to the mercantile landscape of the late 18th and early 19th century survive

Foundations configurations found in Trench 5 and Trench 3 of 2012 excavations align with pre-fire alleys and building configurations as indicated by deeds, wills, and historic mapping
Additional grillage wharf related deposits survive on the West and adjacent Rakestraw lot as well as Rawle lot in the north
Shipbuilding or at least waterfront woodworking evidence survives
Woodworking debris found in the westernmost trenches including Trench 1, 5, and Trench 3 of 2012
Hertz lot building did not destroy early deposits.

Upcoming Public Open House Dates - 5/8, 1pm-3pm