The Days Of Philadelphia’s Tubercular Slaughterhouses

“Interior of Slaughterhouse (Abattoir), 5319 Westminster Avenue, Dr. Schreiber, Meat Inspector. January 16, 1909” | Courtesy of  Phillyhistory.org

• Ken Finkel over at the Philly History Blog takes us back to the remarkably unsanitary and dangerous days of turn of the twentieth century slaughterhouses in Philadelphia. This sordid tale is led by Dr. Albert Schreiber and his army of health inspectors who would hunt down tuberculosis-laden beef shops that were “badly kept, lacking in equipment, …without order or intelligent direction, and sometimes [a] jumble two or more lines of trade obviously not compatible under one roof.”

• The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia explains its support for Project 250, the proposed $100 million velodrome project for FDR Park. A velodrome would bolster the coalition’s outreach to the next generation of cyclists, providing valuable office space which will help their programs, says the BCGP. Careful not to oversell that component and avoid charges of special pleading, the coalition also takes note of the promised environmental improvements that the project would have, including the dredging of “21 acres of lakes and ponds to remove accumulated silt and debris” in order to “restore existing freshwater wetlands.”

• According to NewsWorks, City Council is considering an exponential increase in fines associated with the posting of bandit signs–those cardboard advertisements on telephone polls soliciting “ugly house” and used car sales–from the current penalty of $75 to $2,000 per sign.

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About the author

Stephen Currall recently received his BA in history from Arcadia University. Before beginning doctoral studies, he is pursuing his interest in local history, specifically just how Philadelphians engage their vibrant past. Besides skimming through 18th century letters, Steve is also interested in music and travel.

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