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c/o Historical Society of Frankford |
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| ABOUT US |
NEWS &
EVENTS |
DISCUSSION BOARD
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NEIGHBORHOODS
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When William
Penn arrived in 1682 to establish the City of Philadelphia, a vast area
presently known as Tacony was already in existence along the Delaware
River. Swedish farmers, millers, furriers, and artisans lived in harmony
with the native Lenni Lenape American Indians. The name "Tacony"
was derived from the Indian word "Tawacawonick," meaning
"forest," "wilderness," or "uninhabited
land." In 1846, the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad was
granted a charter to operate rail service. The City of Philadelphia denied
permission to run trains into the city and Tacony became the terminus of
the railroad. In 1861, there were three hotels, a few taverns, and other
businesses in the vicinity of the train station and the boat pier. The
entire riverfront was owned and inhabited by a relatively few wealthy
people, including William H. Gatzmer, the businessman credited with
securing the charter for the railroad. Henry Disston, owner of
Disston Saw Works, which eventually became the world's largest saw
manufacturer, purchased 390 acres of land on both sides of the railroad
terminus. Disston visualized an ideal working class community where
workers would not only be given a chance to live in homes with ample open
space but also given a chance to own their own houses. |
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