Working in Philadelphia Photo Gallery: North Country At Work
On September 22 North Country At Work visited Philadelphia for a photo scanning session, and thanks to individual donors and the Philadelphia Historical Society Museum, we came away with over fifty photos of work, and a real picture of the industries that built the town. Philadelphia feels a little sleepy now, but it had its heyday, and the photos prove it.
Frieda Kent, lifetime resident of Philadelphia, boiled it down to this: the chair factory, the railroad (as Philadelphia was a major passenger railroad junction for lines running to Syracuse, Utica/Rome, Clayton, and St. Lawrence County), and dairy farming and milk products (they’re fiercely protective of Philadelphia Cream Cheese!). For a look at Philadelphia’s work history, check out some photo highlights below!
Our next photo scanning is on October 6 in Heuvelton – if you’re from the surrounding area, we hope to see you there.
Philadelphia’s chair factory, circa 1900. Photo: Philadelphia Historical Society Museum
Philadelphia’s railroad junction in 1906, picturing the Haynes Hotel in the background. Philadelphia was a railroad hub, and much of its business derived from running the station and providing food and lodging for travelers. Photo: Philadelphia Historical Society Museum
Lloyd Storie (left) and James Matteson at Philadelphia Milk Producers Co-op before its closing in the late ’60s. Photo: Philadelphia Historical Society Museum, donor Roy Riechle
Donald and “Doll” drawing milk cans to the cheese factory in 1930. Dairy farming was big industry in Philadelphia, unsurprisingly, as the birthplace of Philadelphia Cream Cheese. Photo: Philadelphia Historical Society Museum
Logging at the Newston Falls Tract for Gould Paper in Lyons Falls, 1913. Bill Smith of Philadelphia is driving the team. Photo: Philadelphia Historical Society Museum. photo loaned by Karl Hart of Philadelphia.
The interior of Berry’s Restaurant, owned by Harold and Pearl Berry. Taken in May of 1937 in Philadephia. Written below was this: They did not use menus. When you were waited on you were asked if you would like one of the following sandwiches – Beef, Pork, Egg, Cheese or Western (always asked in that order). Photo: Philadelphia Historical Society Museum
Interior of the Hubbard Garage showroom floor, featuring a Model T car and Fordson tractor. Circa 1920, Philadelphia, New York. Photo: Philadelphia Historical Society Museum
Harley McAllester in front of Ashley’s Market and Restaurant on Philadelphia’s main street. Circa 1940, Philadelphia, New York. Photo: Philadelphia Historical Society Museum
Tags: ncatwork, North Country At Work, philadelphia new york history
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