Item Info

Historic Street Address: 2027 Fairmount Avenue
Media Type: Scrapbooks
Source: Print and Picture Collection
Notes:

Item 1, top:  Image of the Cherry Hill State Prison--today, the Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, at 2027 Fairmount Avenue.  It was designed in 1821 by architect John Haviland, and was in operation from 1829-1971. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965. The caption describes in detail the 10-acre property and its accommodations, as well as the new philosophy of a penitentiary as a "separate system" of imprisonment, as distinguised from traditional "congregate" system.  Initially intended to promote introspection and atonement through solitary confinement, the widely-copied design and philosophy were eventually abandoned as inhumane, with the prison closing in 1971.  During a period of disuse, the property was considered for redevelopment; but in 1988, a neighborhood task force successfully stopped it, and in 1994, the Eastern State Penitientiary Historic Site opened to the public for history tours.  Lithograph, drawn by Samuel Cowperthwaite ("convict No. 2954") and printed by P.S. Duval & Co.'s steam lithograph press, 25.5 x 23.5 cm, 1855.

Item 2, bottom right:  Caption reads, "A correct view of the State Prison, in the vicinity of Philadelphia."  The prison became operational in 1829, but construction began in 1822.  This image of Eastern State Penitentiary appeared in 1827, in The Casket, a monthly Philadelphia magazine.  For more details about the building, see the above item description.  Engraving by The Casket's staff artist George Gilbert, 12 x 10 cm, 1827.

Creation Year: 1845
Geocode Latitude: Geocode Longitude:-75.172655
Geocode Latitude:39.968368

Call Number: A917.481 P536 v.19
Creator Name: Castner, Samuel, Jr., 1843-1929 - Compiler
Samuel Cowperthwaite - Artist
P S Duval & Co. - Lithographer
John Haviland - Architect
George Gilbert - Engraver