European settlers purchased Hog Island from the Lenape (Delaware) tribe in 1680. The settlers gradually developed the island by building log and earthwork dikes to minimize storm damage and convert the marshes into good grazing meadows. Hog Island supposedly got its name from the pigs which local residents left to roam free, as no fencing was needed.
Air view of Emergency Fleet Corporation's Hog Island yard 1920.
The first ship, named SS Quistconck for the Lenape name for the site, was christened August 5, 1918, by Edith Bolling Wilson, wife of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson.[2] The shipbuilding process practiced on Hog Island was an early experiment in standardized construction of ships. The ships built there, known as "Hog Islanders", were considered ugly but well-built. In all, 122 Hog Islanders were built, mostly cargo ships, and a few troop transport ships. The shipbuilding continued until 1921, after which the facility was rapidly demolished. None of the ships were ready in time to participate in World War I, but many of them were involved in World War II. Two of the locomotive steam gantry cranes were sold as surplus to the city of Trenton, New Jersey, where they remain today as the Hog Island Cranes, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[3] Another crane, a 20-ton industrial locomotive crane, was sold to the Hyde, McFarlan & Burke contracting company.[4]
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers filled in the creek separating Hog Island from the mainland with silt dredged from the shipping channels, making Hog Island part of the mainland.
Air operations began on Hog Island in 1925, when the Pennsylvania Air National Guard used a small part of it as a training field for its pilots. In 1927, the site was dedicated as the "Philadelphia Municipal Airport" by Charles Lindbergh, who flew in on the Spirit of Saint Louis. But more than a decade would pass before the airport would become the region's main air hub. The city of Philadelphia bought Hog Island from the federal government in 1930 for $3 million but the Great Depression delayed work until 1937. In the meantime, Camden Central Airport, opened in 1929 in New Jersey, served as the city's main airport until Philadelphia Municipal Airport opened on June 20, 1940.
Cultural contextedit
One legend of the origin of the hoagie sandwich is tied to Hog Island. Domenic Vitiello, professor of Urban Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, asserts that Italians working on Hog Island in the old Navy Yard introduced the sandwich, by putting various meat, cheese, and lettuce between two slices of bread. This became known as the "Hog Island" sandwich; hence, the "hoagie".[5]
^Netzlof, Robert T. (7 March 2001). "Corporate Genealogy Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington". Robert T. Netzlof. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
^Worcester, Kimball (7 February 2015). "The Great War's Largest Shipyard: Hog Island, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania". roadstothegreatwar-ww1.blogspot.com. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
^"Machinery Markets and News of the Works". The Iron Age. 107 (17): 1151. April 28, 1921.
^"Philly Via Italy", thirtyfourthstreetmagazine, April 17, 2007, page 9.
External linksedit
Frederick W. Wood papers at Hagley Museum and Library. Wood was vice president of the American International Shipbuilding Corporation and played a major part in the construction and operation of the shipyard at Hog Island.
, James J. Martin
January 01, 1970
island, philadelphia, island, historic, name, area, southeast, tinicum, township, pennsylvania, united, states, along, delaware, river, west, mouth, schuylkill, river, philadelphia, international, airport, sits, land, that, once, island, islandneighborhood, ph. Hog Island is the historic name of an area southeast of Tinicum Township Pennsylvania United States along the Delaware River to the west of the mouth of the Schuylkill River Philadelphia International Airport now sits on the land that was once Hog Island Hog IslandNeighborhood of PhiladelphiaWorkers reading The Hog Island News in 1918Hog IslandCoordinates 39 52 19 N 75 14 28 W 39 871944 N 75 241111 W 39 871944 75 241111CountryUnited StatesStatePennsylvaniaCountyDelawareCityTinicum TownshipArea code s 215 267 and 445 Contents 1 History 2 Cultural context 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editEuropean settlers purchased Hog Island from the Lenape Delaware tribe in 1680 The settlers gradually developed the island by building log and earthwork dikes to minimize storm damage and convert the marshes into good grazing meadows Hog Island supposedly got its name from the pigs which local residents left to roam free as no fencing was needed nbsp Air view of Emergency Fleet Corporation s Hog Island yard 1920 In 1917 as part of the World War I effort the U S government contracted American International Shipbuilding Corp to build ships and a shipyard at Hog Island At the time Hog Island was the largest shipyard in the world with 50 slipways In 1918 a 4 5 mile 7 2 km rail line was built to connect Hog Island with Philadelphia the 60th Street Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad 1 The first ship named SS Quistconck for the Lenape name for the site was christened August 5 1918 by Edith Bolling Wilson wife of U S President Woodrow Wilson 2 The shipbuilding process practiced on Hog Island was an early experiment in standardized construction of ships The ships built there known as Hog Islanders were considered ugly but well built In all 122 Hog Islanders were built mostly cargo ships and a few troop transport ships The shipbuilding continued until 1921 after which the facility was rapidly demolished None of the ships were ready in time to participate in World War I but many of them were involved in World War II Two of the locomotive steam gantry cranes were sold as surplus to the city of Trenton New Jersey where they remain today as the Hog Island Cranes listed on the National Register of Historic Places 3 Another crane a 20 ton industrial locomotive crane was sold to the Hyde McFarlan amp Burke contracting company 4 The U S Army Corps of Engineers filled in the creek separating Hog Island from the mainland with silt dredged from the shipping channels making Hog Island part of the mainland Air operations began on Hog Island in 1925 when the Pennsylvania Air National Guard used a small part of it as a training field for its pilots In 1927 the site was dedicated as the Philadelphia Municipal Airport by Charles Lindbergh who flew in on the Spirit of Saint Louis But more than a decade would pass before the airport would become the region s main air hub The city of Philadelphia bought Hog Island from the federal government in 1930 for 3 million but the Great Depression delayed work until 1937 In the meantime Camden Central Airport opened in 1929 in New Jersey served as the city s main airport until Philadelphia Municipal Airport opened on June 20 1940 Cultural context editOne legend of the origin of the hoagie sandwich is tied to Hog Island Domenic Vitiello professor of Urban Studies at the University of Pennsylvania asserts that Italians working on Hog Island in the old Navy Yard introduced the sandwich by putting various meat cheese and lettuce between two slices of bread This became known as the Hog Island sandwich hence the hoagie 5 See also editFort Mifflin Hog Islander Hog Island CranesReferences edit Netzlof Robert T 7 March 2001 Corporate Genealogy Philadelphia Baltimore amp Washington Robert T Netzlof Archived from the original on 22 July 2012 Retrieved 7 October 2019 Worcester Kimball 7 February 2015 The Great War s Largest Shipyard Hog Island Philadelphia Pennsylvania roadstothegreatwar ww1 blogspot com Retrieved 4 October 2018 Kardas S Larrabee E Hog Island Cranes National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Machinery Markets and News of the Works The Iron Age 107 17 1151 April 28 1921 Philly Via Italy thirtyfourthstreetmagazine April 17 2007 page 9 External links editList of ships built by the Hog Island Shipyard Controversy about the shipbuilding operation Frederick W Wood papers at Hagley Museum and Library Wood was vice president of the American International Shipbuilding Corporation and played a major part in the construction and operation of the shipyard at Hog Island The Saga of Hog Island 1917 1921 The Story of the First Great War Boondoggle James J Martin Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hog Island Philadelphia amp oldid 1222096540, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
