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Benjamin H. Latrobe Designs of Buildings, 1799
Designs of buildings constructed in 1799 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prefaced by an elaborate breakdown of the geography and waterways of the region, this folio contains elevations, floor plans, and detail drawings of the Schuylkill Engine House and the Center Engine House. No. 1 building,...
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| Collection: | Historical Society of Pennsylvania bound graphics collection (#V66) |
| Date: | 1799 |
| Dimensions: | 34.7 x 28.2 cm |
| Call Number: | Bd 615 L354 |
| Format: | Electronic |
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| Copyright: | Please contact Historical Society of Pennsylvania Rights and Reproductions (rnr@hsp.org) |
| Online Access: | https://digitallibrary.hsp.org/index.php/Detail/objects/13834 |
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| Summary: |
Designs of buildings constructed in 1799 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prefaced by an elaborate breakdown of the geography and waterways of the region, this folio contains elevations, floor plans, and detail drawings of the Schuylkill Engine House and the Center Engine House. No. 1 building, the Schuylkill Engine House, was located by the Schuylkill River Dam and No. 2 is the Second, or Center Engine House, was positioned at the intersection of Market and Broad street. These buildings were constructed to house steam engines designed to supply the city with water. Predecessor to the Philadelphia Water Works, Benjamin Latrobe's system was an answer to the yellow fever epidemic, which was thought to be caused by unclean water at the time. These buildings worked in unison to pump clean water throughout the city but failed frequently and could only provide water if both engines were operational. Latrobe's problematic system was replaced in 1812 by the Water Works building designed by Frederick Graff. |
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