Historic Photographs

Home

Search

Subject Browse
Browse by Subject >>

State/City Browse
Alaska
Alabama
Arkansas
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Iowa
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Maryland
Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Mississippi
Montana
North Carolina
North Dakota
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
Nevada
New York
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin
West Virginia
Wyoming


Home

 >

Delaware

 >

Wilmington

 >

Harlan & Hollingsworth Company Factory, 100 South West Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, DE



See 35 maps of this location


B&W Photos

HB317019

HB317020

HB317021

HB317022

HB317023

HB317024

HB317025

HB317026

HB317027

HB317028

HB317029

HB317030

HB317031

HB317032

HB317033

HB317034

HB317035

HB317036

HB317037

HB317038

HB317039

HB317040

HB317041

HB317042

HB317043

HB317044

HB317045


Data Pages


Item Title


Location
100 South West Street, Wilmington, DE

Find maps of Wilmington, DE


Created/Published
Documentation compiled after 1968.

Notes
Survey number HAER DE-8
Building/structure dates: 1880 initial construction
Building/structure dates: 1905 subsequent work
Significance: The Harlan & Hollingsworth Co. began the manufacture of railway passenger cars in 1836 and commenced iron shipbuilding in 1843. Energetic management, competent production, and expanding markets for its products established the firm as Wilmington's leader in both fields. In 1845, Harlan & Hollingsworth launched the "Bangor," the first American-built iron vessel for deep sea use. By 1860, at which time Wilmington assumed pre-eminence in the field of iron shipbuilding, Harlan & Hollingsworth was the city's leading concern in that industry. During the second half of the 19th century, Harlan & Hollingsworth established a national reputation for high-quality railway passenger cars, iron-hulled steamers, steam engines, and boilers. By 1880, the firm's work force numbered over 1,000 and the plant, situated between the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Christina River, spread over 43 acres on Wilmington's south side. In 1904, high cost of materials, labor unrest, and problem-ridden contracts brought the sale of the firm to the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation. Production of ships ceased in 1926 and car manufacture ended in 1939.

Subjects
Smokestacks
Office Buildings
Furnaces


Related Names
Betts ,
Pusey
Harlan , Samuel
Siler, Arthur J.
Lamont Gear Works
Harlan & Hollingsworth Company
Foote, Charles, Photographer
Edmonson, James, Historian


Collection
Historic American Engineering Record (Library of Congress)

Contents


Back to Wilmington, Delaware