Philadelphia Timeline, 1870

1870

• February 3. Horace Binney, Jr., a noted lawyer, dies.
• February 17. The cotton mill of J. P. Bruner & Sons, Twenty-fourth and Hamilton Streets, destroyed by fire. Loss, $200,000.
• February 22. Parade of firemen and dedication of monument to the late Chief Engineer David M. Lyle.
• March 8. Tremendous hailstorm; hail fell for twenty minutes, some of the hailstones larger than hen eggs; great destruction of windows.
• June 13. Gaul's brewery, New Market and Callowhill Streets, destroyed by fire.
• June 29. Robert J. Hemphill, secretary to the Board of School Controllers from 1849-1862, dies.
• July 10. Flour-mill of Rowland & Ervien, Broad Street below Vine, destroyed by fire; rioting among firemen, and carriage of Goodwill engine is thrown in the Schuylkill.
• July 26. Sugar refinery of Newhall, Brewery destroyed by fire.
• August 27. Coulson's planing mill, Twenty-fourth and brown Streets destroyed by fire.
• September 6. Smith & Harper's saw-mill, beach and Coates (Fairmount Ave.) Streets, destroyed by fire; loss over $475,000.
• The new synagogue "Rodef Sholem" dedicated.
• September 11. The cornerstone of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Front and Canal (Allen) Streets, laid.
• Zion German Lutheran Church, Franklin Street below Vine, dedicated.
• September 17. The planing mill of N. F. Wood, Spruce Street Wharf, Schuykill, destroyed by fire.
• September 22. Race on the Schuylkill between the Nassau boat Club of New York, and a crew of Philadelphians, won by the New Yorkers.
• October 11. Penn Square selected as the site for the Public Buildings by a vote of the people, the vote being 51,623 for Penn Square, and 32,825 for Washington Square.
• October 20. The chair factory of George Fennen, 1730 North Fifth Street, destroyed by fire.
• November 9. The schooner Harmonie capsized and sunk in the Delaware off South Street during a gale.
• November 22. Steamboat City of Bridgeton burned while lying above Pier 7, North Wharves, on the Delaware. Loss about $70,000.