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Philadelphia letters 1887-
Local addresses
1876 Centennial Baseball
Fairmount Park
Forrest Home Girard
College Philadelphia theatres
Philadelphia Churches
Broad Street Train
station Willow Grove
In 1871 EJ Phillips "began a three years engagement under the management of Lawrence Barrett, and next appeared at the Chestnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, which was then controlled by FF Mackay.
An 1876 Gopsill's Philadelphia City Directory lists three Elizabeth Phillips. Only one might be EJP. Her address was 3232 Mansard Square. [Mapquest does not recognize this address.]
FF Mackay was manager of the Chestnut Street Theatre from 1875-78, along with William Gemmill (c. 1845- 1882 CDP) and J. Frederick Scott. However in 1878 severe internal difficulties began and the Company's previously favorable position (as Philadelphia's only first-class resident company) began to erode. Many of the company's best actors resigned. [source]
EJ Phillips joined New York's Union Square Theatre Company in 1877.
Philadelphia Old City Map http://www.oldcity.org/oldcitymap.pdf
Local
addresses
The John Dolmans, Sr. lived at 1738 Franklin St. in Philadelphia [North
Franklin, at Cecile B. Moore Ave., near Temple University?]
The Dolman law offices were at 727 Walnut Street, according to Gopsill's Philadelphia City Directory 1890. http://olddirectorysearch.com/Philadelphia__Pennsylvania_1890/index.html At the Northwest corner of Washington Square.
Did EJ Phillips ever eat at Bookbinders? 125 Walnut St, since 1865. Has it reopened since closing in 2002? http://philadelphia.about.com/cs/dining/a/bookbinders.htm Bookbinders' Foods http://www.bookbindersfoods.com/
Washington Square history http://www.ushistory.org/tour/tour_washsq.htm
John
and Hattie Nickinson Dolman married in April 1887 and first lived at 2116
Warnock St.
New York, Mar
17, 1887 [Hattie] goes to Phila on Tuesday to look after her house
& get it in order. A fire was built in the range yesterday. Nellie [Dolman
Law] has made the [wedding] cakes.
Warnock St. now seems to run only from 800-899, according to Mapquest. Yahoo maps places Warnock St. so close to Temple University that 2116 may well have become part of that campus.
They
moved to Keystone St. Wissinoming in August 1888. Jack Dolman had
been born in May 1888.
Yahoo maps places Wissinoming about 7 miles north of Philadelphia
Keystone
St. San
Francisco Aug.10,1888
Have just received a telegram from [son-in-law] John [Dolman] telling me
this, "Moved safe & comfortable to Wissinoming. All
well". Had a letter from Hattie this morning telling me John had been
looking at the place. It is 30 minutes ride from Broad Street on the
Pennsylvania road. House has 9 rooms, heater & range and a large lot
of ground, 42 by 100 ft. Rent $17 per month.
Wissinoming
Wissinoming is a small neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia in the State of
Pennsylvania, United States of America. Most people would agree that the
boundaries of Wissinoming are the Delaware River on the east, Frankford Avenue
on the west, and Robbins Avenue on the north. Few agree on the southern
boundary which some put at Cheltenham Avenue, some at Sanger Street, and some at
Bridge Street. Where and what is Wissinoming? http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~wdstock/
History http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~wdstock/history.htm
In
Jan. 1891 the Dolmans [Hattie and John] arranged to move to 826 North 27th St.
Elizabeth Ellen was born in May 1891.
826
North 27th St Jan
23rd, 1891
John and Hattie are endeavoring to move back to the City. They have a house in
view on 27th Street North, no 826, above Brown Street and near the Park
entrances. The only difficulty is getting released from their lease of the
Wissinoming house!
This moment, a letter from Hattie, saying "John has paid the 1st month's rent for 826 N. 27th Street, dating from February 1st. Says the worst Castor can do is to sue him for 7 months rent and John thinks he can save that money by the change. So now moving will begin -- 8 days to do it in. Mrs. Dolman will be so delighted that she will work day and night for them. I think the change will be beneficial to Hattie for I think nervousness at being so much alone is half the trouble with her.
New York, Feb. 5, 1891 I suppose you were surprised to hear my daughter Hattie had left Wissinoming. They have been thinking of moving for sometime but a desirable house was offered to John in the City the week I was there, and the moving was decided upon in three days. The house is near two or three entrances to the Park. It is a three story brick, same number of rooms as the Wissinoming house but more complete & comfortable. And of course gas & water. The dining room and kitchen are smaller than I should like, but it's the style they build houses in, now in Philadelphia.
They had very nice weather for moving, and all their goods and chattels arrived in safety at their new home, Hattie included. She begins to look pretty stout but not very strong.
This address is/was southwest of Girard College, about two and a half miles from Franklin St. 826 North 27th St. would have been much closer to 1738 North Franklin St. and to Fairmount Park than Wissinoming.
They moved to 2130 North 30th St in Oct. 1891, and eventually to 3207 Clifford Street.
2130
North 30th St. Oct.
4, 1891
Now to surprise you with a bit of news that greatly surprised us. The house has
been sold, and Hattie has to move within two months, but has the privilege to
move as soon as she pleases. John saw a house yesterday that he liked and after
Hattie has seen it he may take it. It is 2130 North 30th Street. The Ridge
Avenue cars are the line they will have to use.
Should the house prove satisfactory I think they will be in a better neighborhood than here, and not far from the Park. The house is entirely new, same rent as this one, but with more advantages in the way of electricity, lighting, gas and gas burners in cellar. Looking glasses over mantel and on wardrobe doors. And one small extra room that will do for storage.
3207
[or 3219] Clifford St.
May 25 1892 is the first mention of this address. The distance between
this house and 2130 N 30th St. is/was less than a mile and just over two miles
from Franklin St.
June 27th 1892 Tell Neppie the journey to the Park is much shorter and easier to accomplish than at 27th St.
5-30-1894 Buildings are going up all around us. Twenty-six homes are being built on the square of ground between our block and the reservoir. A Chapel and four houses on the block behind us and South of Columbia Ave they are building as fast as they can, and as far as the Park boundary will let them. I used to be able, from three windows, to see West Phila but the view is blocked by three story houses.
Fairmount
Park http://www.phila.gov/fairpark/
History http://www.phila.gov/fairpark/history/index.html
Fairmount Civic Association http://www.fairmountcivicassociation.org/
May 27 1891 I have made two trips to Lemon Hill with Jack. He has walked all the way and we have played ball there. We see the Observatory from the sitting room windows - I suppose you remember the Observatory and the elevator running up & down it.
Lemon Hill http://www.phila.gov/fairpark/culture/architecture/lemonhill.html May 27 1891
Strawberry Mansion seems to be just east of the Clifford Street address. http://www.phila.gov/fairpark/culture/architecture/strwaberrymansion.html
Centennial
of 1876
Following
the end of the American Civil War, Americans began to prepare for the
celebration of the nation's 100th birthday in 1876. Various citizens of
Philadelphia proposed that this exhibition should be held in this city and a
resolution to that effect was adopted by the Select and Common Councils in
January 1870. The International Exhibition opened to the public on 10 May
1876 and closed on 10 November 1876. http://www.phila.gov/phils/Docs/Inventor/graphics/agencies/A230.htm
Memorial Hall history and Centennial http://www.phila.gov/fairpark/history/memorialhall.html
Centennial
Exhibition 1876, Free Library of Philadelphia http://libwww.library.phila.gov/CenCol/
Centennial Exhibition of 1876, World Expositions Pavilion http://parallel.park.org/Pavilions/WorldExpositions/philadelphia.text.html
Fairmount Water Works http://www.phila.gov/fairpark/culture/architecture/fairmountwater.html
Philadelphia
churches
Philadelphia,
Sept. 20, 1891 I went to Church this Morning at Girard Ave &
27th Street. Quite a bright pretty church inside -- surpliced boy choir but no
further attempt at "High Church".
St. Augustine's Church of the Covenant is at 2701 West Girard Ave.
Louisa Lane Drew's funeral Sept. 1897 St. Stephen's Church Louisa Lane Drew is buried in Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Philadelphia, 3501 West Lehigh Ave
John Dolman's funeral July 1895 Zion Church
New York, July 19th 1895 I returned last Evening after seeing the last sad but beautiful rites performed over our dear departed friend [John Dolman Sr]. Services by the Rev'd Mr. White, who married Hattie & John, and Mr. Walker of Zion Church were conducted at the house and finished at the grave.
Zion
Church 4th and Cherry Sts. http://www.ushistory.org/architects.html
Zion Church was an offshoot of St. Michael's. This congregation erected a
building at the corner of Fourth and Cherry Streets in 1766. It was destroyed by
fire on December 26, 1794 and rebuilt in 1796. It was the largest church
building then in Philadelphia. So prominent was the Church attended by George
and Maria Garlinger, that when news of Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown
reached the city, the Continental Congress assembled at Zion Church to give
thanks on October 24, 1781. On December 26, 1799, the Mock Funeral of
Washington proceeded to Zion Church, where Henry Lee delivered an oration on the
General and first President. In this discourse, he made use of the phrase
"first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his
countrymen." When he originally offered a resolution in Congress, he used
the word "country" instead of countrymen." The
building was removed, in 1870, after the erection of the present church.
(Source: Encyclopedia of Philadelphia, Page 1065) On July 4, 1776, the
Continental Congress declared Independence for the united States. This occurred
just down the street from the St. Michael and Zion Church. http://www.garlinger.com/gerlinge/d0/i0000521.htm
Seems to be a Lutheran church.
Transportation or along the 1870s - 1890's ways
Broad Street Railroad Station drawings and
photos http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/17945
Market St., North Broad St., Filbert St. and North 18th Street.
Broad Street Station opened in December, 1881. A large train shed covering the stub-ended tracks which serviced it was begun in 1892 and completed in 1893. Pennsylvania Page, 30th Street Station History, Allen P. Underkofler , 1996-2002 http://www.chesco.com/~apu/prr/prr_30.html more on Railroads
Reading Terminal Market http://readingterminalmarket.org/about.php 12th and Arch Streets, 1892.
Philadelphia-Camden NJ ferry http://www.riverlinkferry.org/
Victorian trolleys now http://www.phillytour.com/2006_PTW_Brochure_Final.pdf "Burgundy and green Victorian style trolleys" Are these like ones the Dolmans and EJ Phillips rode? A trolley tour of Fairmount Park is also available.
City Hall Virtual Tour http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/2115/tour1.htm
Forrest Home, Philadelphia http://www.futurefocus.net/afund/edwin_forrest.htm During his lifetime, [Edwin] Forrest was a major supporter of both the General Theatrical Fund and the American Dramatic Fund Association, two charities that were predecessors of The Actors' Fund of America. His principal dream, though, was to create a retirement home for the elderly members of the profession he so loved, and he left the bulk of his enormous estate to be used for the realization of that dream. The Edwin Forrest Home opened its doors in Philadelphia in 1876, four years after Mr. Forrest's death. It continued to serve retired members of the profession until the 1980s, when its Board of Managers decided to close the home, sell the property, and contribute its sizable assets to The Actors' Fund for the construction of its new nursing home in Englewood, New Jersey, whose main section has been named the "Edwin Forrest Wing."
The first site for the Forrest Home was the actor’s summer residence, Springbrook, which he built in 1865 on 100-plus acres in Northeast Philadelphia, from the Delaware River to Frankford Avenue adjoining Cottman Avenue; he stipulated that it be made an actors’ retirement home after his death. ... There was a maximum of only 12 residents at a time, because Forrest wanted it to be a real home, not an institution. The residents lived among souvenirs of Forrest’s career — his costumes, suits of armor, daggers, dueling pistols and knives, including some Bowie knives given to him by their inventor, Jim Bowie, who was one of his friends. Steve Cohen, Superstar Part 2, Philadelphia City Paper, Feb. 3-10, 2000http://citypaper.net/articles/020300/feat.cover2.shtml
Girard
College http://www.girardcollege.com/
History http://girardcollege.schoolwires.com/4398_115712105345/site/default.asp
Girard College opened in 1848 with the aim of supporting orphaned poor boys who
had lost their fathers, as had the Wood boys EJ Phillips knew. Their
father, who had worked with John
Nickinson, died in 1886.
Hattie to Neppie Aug 26, 1897 We are going to Willow Grove this afternoon. Mama has never been there, & I want her to see it, so this is our birthday spree. John will meet us out there. We will ride out by trolley. It is such a beautiful ride.
Willow
Grove Park 1896-1976 http://apnostalgia.crosswinds.net/willowgr.html
in Willow Grove, Montgomery County, Pa, about 10 miles north of
Philadelphia. The park was located at Easton Rd. and Welsh Rd. (Rte 63) and was
reachable by trolleys from Philadelphia and Doylestown
Rise and decline of Willow Grove Park, Harold E. Cox http://indians.syr.edu/mfrantz/wgpark/page.asp?pid=5
Philadelphia
Squares
Franklin Square http://www.phila.gov/fairpark/squares/franklin.html
Logan Square http://www.phila.gov/fairpark/squares/logan.html
Penn Square http://www.phila.gov/fairpark/squares/penn.html
Rittenhouse Square http://www.phila.gov/fairpark/squares/rittenhouse.html
Washington Square http://www.phila.gov/fairpark/squares/washington.html
Philadelphia
Entertainment
Baseball Philadelphia,
August 29,1887 On Saturday [son-in-law John
Dolman] took us and Mrs. Dolman & Walter [Dolman] to
see a game of baseball by the "Philadelphias" & Detroits.
Mrs. Dolman & I got pretty excited over the game. I standing up at a
home run and Mrs. Dolman crying out "Stop, stop" to one of the men who
was running from 3rd base. We quite disgraced ourselves.
In 1883, [second baseman Al] Reach founded the Philadelphia Phillies with Colonel John I. Rogers, a politician and lawyer. In 1887, Reach built the new Philadelphia Base Ball Park at Huntington and Broad. The stadium cost $101,000 and seated 12,500. ... Atwater Kent Museum http://www.philadelphiahistory.org/akm/collection/object/ Yahoo Maps places West Huntington one block south of West Lehigh.
Baker Bowl http://www.ebaseballparks.com/baker.html
Philadelphia
Theatres
The
[New] Chestnut Street Theatre was built in 1862 on the north side of
Chestnut Street between Twelfth and Thirteenth Streets, a full seven blocks to
the west of the old theatre, and considered by many too far removed from the
theatre district to succeed. But "the rapid westward expansion of
center-city Philadelphia soon made the new Chestnut Street Theatre the
city's most fashionably located theatrical facility." [from?]
Chestnut St. Theater 1211-1215 Chestnut St. photos http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/5770
Hattie's picture taken as 1204 Chestnut Street would seem to have been in this same block.
Concert Hall and Chestnut Street Theatre, Chestnut Street at Twelfth (north side), 1211-27 Chestnut Street, Watercolor by Benjamin R. Evans, 1879, Library Company of Philadelphia. http://www.brynmawr.edu/iconog/washw/images/C/C11.jpg
Chestnut Street Opera House, 1021-1029 Chestnut St. http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/14712 http://www.brynmawr.edu/iconog/ajnls/tsq/images/i/tsq030.jpg
"Our Boys" at the Chestnut [Street Theatre] ran the whole Centennial summer [June 26- November 18, 1876]. A program lists Mrs. EJ Phillips as Miss Champneys, an elderly young lady. The cast included McKee Rankin as Charles Middlewick.
Our
Boys 100th Performance Sept. 6, 1876
The Chestnut Street Theatre Stock Company disbanded in 1880 and the theatre was demolished in 1917.Durham1986
Other
Philadelphia theaters
Arch Street Theatre
Opened in 1828 as a rival to the Chestnut and Walnut Street Theatres in
Philadelphia. The theatre's heyday began in 1861 when Mrs.
John [Louisa Lane] Drew (1820-1897) established it as one of the
greatest of American stock companies. The house was under her control for
the next 31 years.
Louisa Drew's funeral Sept. 1897
John
Drew founded the Arch St. Theatre and married Louisa Lane Drew. They were the
parents on Georgia Drew Barrymore, and grandparents of Lionel, Ethel and John.
http://www.theatrealliance.org/barrymores/barryname.html
Arch Street Theatre, 609-615 Arch Street photos http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/16554
Irwin R. Glazer Theater Collection, Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Broad
Street Theatre , South Broad Street photos http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/7992
Now the site of the Doubletree Hotel Broad and Locust Streets. Academy of
Music is across the street.
Hotel Davidson, Nov 8, 1893 Milwaukee New Years day open in Philadelphia for two or more weeks at Broad St theatre.
Philadelphia, Mar 15, 1898 I was called very unexpectedly to play a part at the Broad St. Theatre -- and everything had to be given up to that.
Girard
Theater May
5, 1895 On Monday the 13th I appear at the Girard Theatre for one
week as the "Marquise de St Maur" in Caste. It is 19
years [1876] since I played it at the Chestnut [Street Theatre,
Philadelphia].
621 West Girard Ave. http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/5420
National Theatre New York, Mar 5, 1894 So I expect my season will close on the 1st of May. Where I do not yet know, as we have not yet heard our route: only that we close Holy Week and begin our new season at the National Theatre, Phila on Easter Monday.
834-836 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, drawings http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/5945
Park
Theatre, Broad and Fairmont Ave, Broken Seal Mar
28, 1892
701-705 North Broad, now a YMCA? http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/6835
Walnut
Street Theater 825 Walnut St. photos http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/20373
Isabella
Nickinson Walcott and her husband Charles Walcott were in this
theatre company before joining Daniel
Frohman's New York company in 1887
Walnut Theatre Online (1809-present) http://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/ 825 Walnut St. at 9th Street
Historical Tourism
I made many trips to Philadelphia when I was in college, and lived in Swarthmore
the year after I graduated. I did meet cousin
Barbie Dolman Spencer but not her daughters Sue or Peggy. I
hadn't been back in many years until 2002 visiting
Effingham Dolman in Delaware after a meeting in Princeton NJ. He took me
to Swarthmore Players Club to see the family plaques on the recently
restored seats.
I went to Philadelphia for a meeting in April 2004 and met high school friend Jeffrey Ray for lunch and a visit to the Atwater Kent Museum where he works. We visited the Walnut Street Theatre and Washington Square.
Bibliography
Glazer, Irvin R. Philadelphia Theaters: A Pictorial Architectural History,
Athenaeum of Philadelphia and Dover Publications, Inc New York, 1994.Looney
Robert F. Old Philadelphia in Early Photographs 1839-1914, Free Library of
Philadelphia and Dover Publications, New York, 1976.
Atwater
Kent Museum http://www.philadelphiahistory.org/
A background to Philadelphia history http://www.ushistory.org/philadelphia/index.html
Philadelphia timelines 1871 http://www.ushistory.org/philadelphia/timeline/1871.htm
1876 http://www.ushistory.org/philadelphia/timeline/1876.htm
National Historic Buildings Survey: Pennsylvania, National Park Service http://www.cr.nps.gov/nhl/designations/Lists/PA01.pdf
Philadelphia Theatrical Papers 1877- 1943, Univ. of Delaware Library http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/findaids/phila.htm
Philadelphia trolleys, The John Gibb Smith, Jr. Collection, Free Library
of Philadelphia http://www.library.phila.gov/pix/trolleys/trolleys.htm
Free
Library of Philadelphia Theater Collection, 1901 Vine St. between 19th and 20th
Streets
http://libwww.library.phila.gov/research/research.taf?_function=detail&_UserReference=BC982E2E3BF4334A40A65B12
Historic Landmarks.com http://www.historiclandmarks.com/locations/philadelphia.php Renovations and property management.
Last Updated Dec. 23, 2006