Item Info

Item 1, top:  Image of Point House, at Greenwich Point on the Delaware River.  The Gloucester Ferry transported passengers and goods between Greenwich Point (South Philadelphia) and Gloucester Point (Gloucester, NJ), from 1688-1865.  Point House was built at Greenwich Point, to provide storage for the incoming and the outgoing products being ferried between Philadelphia and South Jersey.  In this image, a group of men affiliated with the ferry terminal are seen at Point House.  Given their mode of dress, the presence of a wooden tripod camera, and the fact that this is an albumen print, the photograph was probably taken around 1860. In 1865, the Pennsylvania Railroad purchased land along the Delaware River which included Greenwich Point, thereby eliminating the Gloucester Ferry service at that location.  The ferry continued to operate until the 1920s, connecting with Philadelphia at landings further north.  Albumen photographic print, 21 x 15.5 cm, undated (but most likely c.1860).

Item 2, bottom left:  Text of a short news item with details of the history of the Gloucester Ferry.  It lists the numerous ferries that operated between Philadelphia and South Jersey, and changes in their routes. Newspaper clipping for an unidentified newspaper, 5.5 x 10.5 cm, undated.

Item 3, bottom right:  Image titled, "Penn's Tree, with The City & Port of Philadelphia, on the River Delaware from Kensington. Decayed and blow'd down in 1810."  Artist Thomas Birch originally painted this scene in 1800. The iconic elm tree, also called the Treaty Tree at Shackamaxon, was reputedly the tree under which William Penn signed his treaty with the Lenni-Lenape in 1682.  This image depicts the busy Philadelphia harbor, with boats docked and sailing, and individuals laboring, fishing, and relaxing by the pier. In 1804, an engraving was translated from this painting by Thomas's father, William Birch, who then published it.  It was republished in 1828, with the added information about the elm's demise in 1810. The image seen here is an albumen print reproduction of the 1828 engraving, for an unidentified publication, 13 x 11.5 cm, undated.