Philadelphia Timeline, 1869

1869

• January 7. The commission appointed to provide for the erection of new public building, meet and organize.
• January 14. Jewelry establishment of J, E. Caldwell, Chestnut Street, above Ninth, destroyed by fire. Two clerks in Caldwell's store were burned to death.
• February 21. Mrs. Lydia R. Bailey, a well- known printer, dies in her 91st year.
• March 24. Joseph W. Smith, janitor of hall at Sixth Street and Girard Ave., found dead; Corner's jury rendered a verdict that his death was caused by violence.
• April 4. The Beneficial Saving Society robbed of $1,000,000 in bonds by burglars; bonds subsequently returned.
• April 6. The new building of the Fidelity Insurance, Trust and Safe Deposit Company opened.
• April 26. Grand parade of Odd Fellows on occasion of the semi-centennial celebration.
• April 28. Burning of the old depot of the Germantown and Norristown Railroad Co., Ninth and Green Streets.
• April 29. Skating Rink, at 21st and Race Streets, burned.
• May 3. The steam canal-barge Fulton sunk at the foot of Walnut Street. Two men drowned.
• May 10. The cornerstone of Zion German Lutheran Church, Franklin Street below Vine, laid.
• May 12. Parade of the Improved Order of Red Men. Imposing display.
• May 17. John Dobson's blanket factory, Falls of Schuylkill, destroyed by fire. Pennypacker & Sildey's panel factory, Willow Street above 11th, burned down.
• May 31. The will of Dr. James Rush, bequeathing over $1,000,000 to the Philadelphia Library Company, admitted to probate.
• June 20. The carriage of the West Philadelphia Hose Co. is thrown into the Schuylkill by a party of rowdies.
• June 21. The Independent Order of Druids celebrate their twenty-fifth anniversary at Washington Retreat.
• June 23. Vista drive at Fairmount Park, opened by Park Commissioners.
• June 25. Destructive fire at Sixth Street and Columbia Ave. Loss, $250,000.
• June 26. Cornerstone of First Reformed Church, Seventh Street below Oxford, laid.
• June 30. Raid made on the unlicensed distilleries in the Twenty-Fifth Ward. Revenue officers accompanied by a corps of marines.
• July 4. German Lutheran Church, Fourth and Carpenter Streets, Consecrated.
• July 5. Unveiling the statue of Washington Monument in front of Independence Hall. Dedicated by the school children.
• July 13. The Third Reformed Church, Tenth and Filbert Streets, damaged by fire.
• July 15. New building of the Mercantile Library, Tenth Street above Chestnut, inaugurated with appropriate ceremonies.
• July 20. cornerstone of the German Synagogue, "Rodef Sholem," laid.
• August 4. Great conflagration of Col. W. C. Patterson's bonded warehouse, Front and Lombard Streets. Thousands of barrels of whiskey burnt. Loss over $2,000,000.
• August 15. Destruction of the Boston Fish Company's building, Fifth Street and Columbia Avenue. Loss over $50,000.
• August 16. Scarcity of water in the Schuylkill. Steam fire engines used to pump water into Fairmount basin.
• August 24. Large factory building, Ninth and Wallace Streets, destroyed by fire. Loss, $100,000.
• August 26. Additional steam fire-engines used to pump water into Fairmount basin.
• August 28. The Tax Receiver's office at Sixth and Chestnut Streets entered and robbed of $28,000.
• August 31. The art store of James S. Earle & Sons, Chestnut Street below Ninth, destroyed by fire. Loss over $100,000.
• September 12. Burning of spice mills, 137 North Front Street. Loss, $40,000.
• September 13. The Humboldt Centennial celebrated by a parade and laying the cornerstone of a monument in Fairmount Park.
• September 16. Barrel manufactory of W. B. Thomas, 12th and Buttonwood Streets destroyed by fire. Loss, $50,000.
• October 3. The tide in the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers overflow the wharves and fill cellars.
• October 19. The stockholders of the Philadelphia Library Company vote in favor of accepting the legacy of Dr. Rush.
• November 24. Centennial celebration at St. George's M. E. Church.