Sparks' Shot Tower (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
| arsenal / weapon and ammunition storage, place with historical importance
USA /
New Jersey /
Camden /
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania /
Carpenter Street, 129-131
World
/ USA
/ New Jersey
/ Camden
World / United States / Pennsylvania
arsenal / weapon and ammunition storage, place with historical importance
www.amusementparknostalgia.com/sparks.html
Many people see it from I-95 in South Philly. Most of them don't realize what it is.
It looks like a smokestack with a lid, or a hat. It's just south of the Columbus Ave. exit in the Penn's Landing area of Philadelphia.
What is it? America's first Shot Tower !
* * *
In the early 1800s, the lead shot used by hunters in America was imported from Great Britain. But in those days, there was tension between the two countries and Great Britain was slowly raising the prices for the shot.
Thomas Sparks, a Phila. hunter, grew tired of paying the higher prices for his supplies, so he developed the idea to build his own shot tower.
He began a partnership with John Bishop and a third person and they built the brick tower between Front and Second Sts at Carpenter St. It was 140 foot tall, with a 30 foot diameter base, tapering to 15 foot diameter at the top.
They opened the tower on Independence Day 1808. At the time it was the tallest building in Phila.
Molten lead was poured from the top of the tower through grids or screens of different sizes. The drops that formed became perfectly round as they dropped. There was a vat of water at the bottom of the tower to catch the drops and cool them.
The lead shot was used for small arms, muskets, and shotguns.
At first the shot was used for hunting. But during the War of 1812, production turned to wartime purposes. John Bishop, who was a peace-loving Quaker, withdrew from the partnership.
When the war ended, production decreased, but it would pick up again to supply shot for the Civil War.
The tower stayed in operation until 1903, a total of 95 years.
* * *
In 1913, the City of Philadelphia bought the site and turned the surrounding area into a playground. It's managed by the city's recreation department.
The roof was placed on the tower in the 1900s by the city.
Many people see it from I-95 in South Philly. Most of them don't realize what it is.
It looks like a smokestack with a lid, or a hat. It's just south of the Columbus Ave. exit in the Penn's Landing area of Philadelphia.
What is it? America's first Shot Tower !
* * *
In the early 1800s, the lead shot used by hunters in America was imported from Great Britain. But in those days, there was tension between the two countries and Great Britain was slowly raising the prices for the shot.
Thomas Sparks, a Phila. hunter, grew tired of paying the higher prices for his supplies, so he developed the idea to build his own shot tower.
He began a partnership with John Bishop and a third person and they built the brick tower between Front and Second Sts at Carpenter St. It was 140 foot tall, with a 30 foot diameter base, tapering to 15 foot diameter at the top.
They opened the tower on Independence Day 1808. At the time it was the tallest building in Phila.
Molten lead was poured from the top of the tower through grids or screens of different sizes. The drops that formed became perfectly round as they dropped. There was a vat of water at the bottom of the tower to catch the drops and cool them.
The lead shot was used for small arms, muskets, and shotguns.
At first the shot was used for hunting. But during the War of 1812, production turned to wartime purposes. John Bishop, who was a peace-loving Quaker, withdrew from the partnership.
When the war ended, production decreased, but it would pick up again to supply shot for the Civil War.
The tower stayed in operation until 1903, a total of 95 years.
* * *
In 1913, the City of Philadelphia bought the site and turned the surrounding area into a playground. It's managed by the city's recreation department.
The roof was placed on the tower in the 1900s by the city.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparks_Shot_Tower
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 39°56'5"N 75°8'46"W
- Ben Franklin Bridge 2.4 km
- Old City 2.5 km
- Site of New York Shipbuilding Corporation 2.7 km
- Center City 4.4 km
- Harleigh Cemetery 4.4 km
- Downtown Trenton 45 km
- Washington Crossing Historic Park 47 km
- Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve 47 km
- Washington Crossing State Park 48 km
- Lambertville, New Jersey 53 km
- Queen Village 0.4 km
- Old City 1.6 km
- Washington Square West 1.7 km
- Center City 2.2 km
- Southwest Center City/Graduate Hospital Area 2.9 km
- South Philadelphia 3.3 km
- South Philadelphia Sports Complex 3.8 km
- University of Pennsylvania 4.5 km
- University City 4.9 km
- West Philadelphia 8.6 km