Left Behind Philadelphia Electric Co.
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Left Behind Copyright © 2015 Marissa Nicole Pina All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or in any means – by electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise – without prior written permission. Artwork by Marissa Nicole Pina Archived Photos by Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Design by Marissa Nicole Pina Edited by Marissa Nicole Pina Text composition by Marissa Nicole Pina Hosted on www.issuu.com/marissanicolepina Printed in the United States of America by Fireball Printing 3237 Amber St Box 3 Floor 5, Philadelphia, PA 19134 Left behind was a project created in 2015 by photographer and writer, Marissa Nicole Pina. She produced, designed, printed and published this book in its entirety. This work is inspired by city of Philadelphia and the fall of industrialism that left the city full of abandoned factories and manufacturing sites. 3
For the City of Philadelphia.
Table of Contents
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Introduction
pg 8
Philadelphia Electric
pg 12
Botany 500
pg 40
Edward G. Budd
pg 62
The Remnants
pg 92
Reflection
pg 118
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Philadelphia Electric Co.
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All that remains It’s hard to imagine that at one point, Philadelphia once proclaimed to be the, “Workshop of the World.” This city was celebrated as one of the largest economic and industrial centers of the entire country. Today, the city is only known for its tourism and consumption. People flock to Philadelphia to see our nation’s first capital, the Art museum, the city’s colleges and universities and our countless restaurants that are above the rest. But at one point, Philadelphians were hustling to factories, manufacturing plants and other industrial sites to work day in and day out. What happened? Where did it all go? What is left behind? These 8
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are questions many frequently ask when learning about the city’s industrial history. Philadelphia’s industry was everywhere by 1890, however it was mostly domestic. The success continued straight into the 1900s, and by 1914, Philadelphia’s textile industry had taken center stage in the eye of industry. When World War I and II came around, the city’s industrial epicenters took on the responsibility of producing most products needed for the war efforts. These very factories and plants were leading the way in employing women, as most of the men once employed, were deployed. At one point in history, Philadelphia could and did produce just
about anything, anywhere. The city was known for the diversity of their industrial companies, which proved to be beneficial in the long run. While other cities in New England and the Midwest were falling due to the loss of their industries, Philadelphia was able to survive off of numerous businesses. With all these companies enjoying much success in the city, many of Philadelphians were enjoying being employed by such employers. To paint the picture of just how many residents were employed by these companies, one can look at many of the divisions of industry. It is astounding to note that around the 1900s, an estimated 700 separate
companies operating in the textile industry employed around 60,000 people. Industry was the premiere life source of jobs in the city for a long while. It wasn’t until around 1975 did Philadelphia see its final industrial plants fall to other cities. So what does a city do when almost all of its industry vacates? Where do those employed by these companies find work? What becomes of the spaces where thousands once toiled every single day? The answer to the latter question is developed in this book, an examination of the fall of industry in Philadelphia and the state of its factories and plants today. 9
Workers putting a steel rail car together at Budd Manufacturing Co. 10
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The Budd Manufacturing Factory in November 2014. 11
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the Philadelphia electric Co. 13
Philadelphia Electric Company’s Delaware Station towers over the rest of Kensington and Fishtown’s factories and row homes. The large structure is something to marvel at, with a beautiful façade, the factory once provided the area’s power. Today, it sits empty awaiting a new purpose. The Delaware station was built in 1917 but had a rocky start up. It wasn’t until 1920 that the power plant was up and running fully. It is said that the building’s architect believed it was important for such mundane, utilitarian buildings to have a beautiful appearance. It is situated between Penn Treaty Park and the Delaware River, and it still has an air of class about it today. At its peak of operation, it is said that 14
Delaware station once burned up to 325 tons of coal per hour. This amount of coal was burned and the steam was used to turn huge turbines still in the plant today. These turbines were able to provide power for the entire Northeast Philadelphia area. The plant was so successful that PECO added on to the 1917 original building in 1954. Delaware station was so active that it once burned bright on the banks of the river in the dead of night. Like most factories and plants in Philadelphia, the Northeast area found its turbines grinding to an abrupt halt by 1984. However, the story of the station runs deeper than the power it generated for the city. The plant was built upon the Neafie & Levy
Shipyard. This very naval yard was the site of multiple firsts: the Union’s first submarine during the Civil War and even the nation’s first Naval Destroyer. Today the station’s turbines sit quietly and unmoved. Coal is no longer pumped in and out of the factory, nor does it supply the majority of the Northeast’s power. Excelon Generation LLC bought the site recently and the company reported having no plans to build on or destroy the site. The company is hoping to restore the site to its fully functioning glory it once had. Until then, the smoke stacks sit quietly; waiting to spill out and the turbines no longer turn, but wait their turn to once again provide for the city of Philadelphia.
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Young men who responded to an open call for workers at the Delaware Station.
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A danger sign displayed outside the Delaware Station.
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Inside the Delaware Station, 1960s.
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Inside the Delaware Station, 1960s.
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An impressive building sits 10 stories high on the intersection of Broad Street and Lehigh Avenue that is unlike any other. The Botany 500 Building, as it’s referred to today, is the only building situated on that block and is unexpectedly triangular in shape. The building itself has been home to multiple ventures and successful companies, but today it is a hollow shell. The building opened its doors in 1914 to the Ford Motor Company, and began producing Ford auto bodies in the heart of North Philadelphia. It was strategically built next to a railroad, making it easy to export and import goods and production. Ford’s production was responsible for shipping up to 150 cars a day from the site. Once the country entered into World 42
War I, the Ford Motor Company joined up with many of the other manufacturers in the city and began producing to contribute towards the war effort. Instead of building cars everyday, the factory took on a new life, producing around 40,000 helmets, thousands of body armor and machine gun trucks a day. After the war, the company lost ground to the Chester waterfront plant and put the building on Broad and Lehigh up for sale in 1925. For a few years the building had many purposes: U.S. Army storage and even a Sears, Roebuck Company warehouse. It wasn’t until 1950 that Joseph H. Cohen & Sons bought the building and began producing men’s suits in the famous triangular building that was once home to many others. The ‘Garment Corner’ started to gain
ground in the manufacturing industry in Philadelphia. But before long, the company itself declared bankruptcy in 1970 but was bought out once more, and was still pushed as the Botany 500 Building. It was notable to learn about the conditions of the fireproof building. Workers say there was air-conditioning and music playing throughout the entire building all day. In 1982, Botany industries downsized due to recessions in the economy, yet they still went on producing suits. It wasn’t until 1995 that the company shut its doors for the final time. Many large companies and industries have looked at the budiling, even Temple University. Yet, today the Botany 500 building remains the way it was left in 1995. A fairly recent closure, the building remains untouched, waiting for its next revival.
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Edward G. Budd Manufacturing 63
Situated in Northeast Philadelphia, the Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company has had a history painted with success and prosperity. It began from humble roots and transformed into one of the largest auto body and railcar manufacturers in the area. In 1912, Edward G. Budd left his job at Hale & Kilburn to create his own manufacturing company. Armed with 13 men and a vision, Budd was able to create the first American full steel auto body. The company experienced such rapid success that the plant was force to expand further to adjacent plots of land. Soon, the company had claimed a stake in a large section of Northeast Philadelphia. The Budd Company was able to endure various hardships by not only limiting themselves to the production of automobiles. 64
The manufacturers were also known to develop leading innovations in rail cars, wheels and planes. Budd also focused his energy on war efforts during times of War, which kept his plants successful. The highlight of the war production was the fact that the Budd factory began to employ women, namely 5,500, in place of the thousands of men who were sent into combat during World War II. With the rising success Budd faced, the company began to meet demand outside of and across the country. Budd shipped orders to as far as Europe and as close as Michigan. Eventually in the 1950s the company developed different sectors that were responsible for a variety of things such as automotive, rail car and even nuclear systems. Budd Company continued to see growth
well into the 60s, and in 1967 Edward G. Budd retired and left the company to his son. As the company remained fruitful, it began to shift its focus toward Michigan and by 1971, the headquarters had moved fully there. It wasn’t until 1980 that the Budd Company began to see losses to the business. Eventually employment dropped from around 21,000 to 12,000 overall across the country. Philadelphia evaded closing up shop until 2002. Today, the buildings stand as a confusing, abandoned village. It is possible to start in the same spot but never quite find the same entrance twice. Today, there are no plans towards development or destruction. For now, the Budd Company site will remain a playground for artists and explorers alike.
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A steel worker at the Budd Manufacturing Company.
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Auto bodies being produced at Budd Manufacturing Company.
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Constrution of train cars inside the Budd Manufacturing Company.
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A woman employed by the Budd Manufacturing Company, 1940s.
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Manufacturing missles for World War II at Budd Manfacturing.
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Steel worker.
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Steel worker.
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Two workers at the Budd Manufacturing Comapny.
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Manufacturing planes for the war effort, Budd Manufacturing.
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Philadelphia’s industrialism left a mark on the city and left countless factories and warehouses vacated for years. For the curious individuals who hope to gain a glimpse into the city’s past, these buildings offer a learning experience with consequences. While many “urban explorers” take to the streets to find a new abandoned location to enter, countless of artists are doing the same. However, these street artists and photographers do it for a different reason. Many of them flock to the sites to hone their skills. Graffiti artists load up their backpacks, find the open window, door, or crack and climb inside. Factories that were once home to thousands of people making an honest living have turned into an urban playground. These buildings provide a respite from the anxiety 94
of street art, allowing the artists to just create without worrying about who is going to turn the corner and catch them in the act. Abandoned sites indulge not only street artists but they also beckon to photographers. Many of them may be urban explorers, but many of them are just looking for a new view of the city. Whatever the reason behind their journey to the newest abandoned factory, they all have an opportunity to show the world their perspective on these places. Some call its abandonment porn, but to photographers these factories are also a place to hone their skills in a new light. While many artists find themselves wandering in and out, hoping to go unnoticed, there is a select group of people who come to these factories and plants with one goal in mind:
to make money off of the metal left behind. Scrappers, as they are known around the city, flock to abandoned sites hoping to score their next treasure that could be worth a few dollars. These treasures could be what puts food on the table, pays the rent, or keeps the scrappers moving to find more precious metals. Previously, these businesses provided for the city in a traditional way. They were the source of jobs, economic growth and innovation. Today, they are still providing in an untraditional sense. Buildings like the Budd Company, the Delaware Station, and even Botany 500, give artists a place to create and express themselves and scrappers a place to make a new kind of profit. These buildings are living and breathing, still, in different ways that were probably never even imagined in 1912.
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When I thought about abandoned factories in the past, the first thing that I thought about was “urban explorers.” This title is somewhat loathsome to most photographers and I knew that I didn’t want any part of abandoned photography. Once my interests shifted this year towards the history of the city I called home for the past four years, I realized that there was something more to these places. There was something beyond a pretty picture of destroyed and dilapidated structures. Each place has its own story to tell. Each place has its own history to be discovered. I began researching the history of industrialism in Philadelphia after I read an article describing the city as the Workshop of the World. When I realized just how successful and fruitful this city had once been, I began to wonder where it all went and why it left town. Ultimately I became increasingly curious about the factories and what they look like today. I wanted to enter into these places to get a glimpse of how they once were and understand it all. It wasn’t until I went into my first factory that I realized these were once places full of people just like me, trying to make a living. I was fascinated by how different a few years and a couple of graffiti artists can change a place. And so, this book was born. It is all about stepping into the shoes of those who came before us and got their start in factories and manufacturing plants, and ultimately providing a glimpse and an understanding into the things we leave behind.
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Thank you... ...to my parents who push me and support me every day.
...to Dr. Trayes, for four amazing years of knowledge.
...to my photojournalism peers, for challenging me.
...to Temple University, for all the opportunities I’ve had these four years. ....to Philadelphia, for being a place to call my home away from home. ...to my best friend, for believing in me and keeping me sane. &...to everyone who ever doubted me, you motivate me to be better.
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