Scavenger Hunt location: Village Velo Bikes
Historical location: A.H. March’s Meat Packing Company

The Schuylkill River made businesses along the riverfront attractive because the waterway ensured that goods were able to be taken down to Philadelphia quickly. In 1816, 35 years before the Borough of Bridgeport was incorporated, work on the Schuylkill Canal began. The work was completed by 1824, which made this shipping process easier and even more profitable.

Photo 1: The backside of A.H. March’s Packing Company can be seen on the left next to the canal which made the shipment of the meats they packaged easier than ever before.

The Importance of the Schuylkill Canal

By the 1890s, Bridgeport was an industrial hub in the area, but known internationally because of the access the canal provided to Philadelphia and beyond. This access also allowed for goods to be shipped in, too, making this location an extra convenient place to work. Many businesses took advantage of this riverfront location including Bridgeport Flour Mills, Andrews Brick Yard, and Hughes’ Lumber. It was only in 1892 that A.H. March Meat Packing Plant moved into the location that we now know as Village Velo Bikes (which is located in the same building as Puddler’s Kitchen & Tap by Conshohocken Brewing Company). Before they moved in, this was the site of the J.B. Horn Packing, Curing and Smoking Mill, which was one of the most prominent mills up until that time.

Photo 2: The A.H. March Meat Packing Company was situated next to the Schuylkill Canal, as were other businesses that grew profitable from shipping their goods via the river to Philadelphia.

While March’s was excited to move into this excellent spot, they only stayed until 1934 when they moved their operations to Lederach, PA, which is next to present day Harleysville, PA.

Photo 3: A.H. March’s Meat Packing Factory in the early 1900s.

Pollution of the Schuylkill River

Due to the success of this and other riverfront businesses along the Schuylkill River, there were also some negative consequences that came from a lack of respect for the river itself. In the late 1800s, the Pennsylvania State Board of Health wanted to figure out why the Schuylkill was becoming so polluted, so they completed a study that researched the impact that different businesses – especially factories – had on its ecosystem. In 1897/1898, the Board released their findings which included Bridgeport Borough, and more specifically the A.H. March Mill. You can check out the report online here: https://books.google.com/books?id=wKwQAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA217#v=onepage&q&f=false

Photo 4: Behind the A.H. March Meat Packing Plant Company, showing the pollution of the Schuylkill Canal, which would flow into the river.
Photo 5: A.H. March Meat Packing Company in 1928.
Photo 6: A.H. March Meat Packing Company in 1928.
Photo 7: A.H. March Meat Packing Company in 1928.
Photo 8: View of the back of the A. H. March Meat Packing Plant on the Schuylkill Canal in 1928. The DeKalb Street Bridge is visible in the background.
Photo 9: The A. H. March Meat Packing Plant in Bridgeport, PA. Like so many manufacturers and residents at the time, the meat packing plant was disposing of its wastes and garbage onto the banks of the Schuylkill Canal. Most likely, they were depending on the next rise in the river level to carry away the wastes.

Sources: 

-Bridgeport, Jack Coll, 2007

-King of Prussia Historical Society, care of President Dave Montalvo

-The Historical Collection of the Philadelphia Water Department