 Workshop of the World
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Ships and locomotives; yarn and hats; soup and beer -- these are just some of the things that Delaware Valley industries produced during the 19th century.
Workshop of the World, an original WHYY production explores the region's role as a burgeoning industrial center from the mid 1800s to its eventual decline in the 1970s.
Produced by WHYY's Ed Cunningham, Workshop of the World looks at the region's contribution to nine different industries -- steel, textiles, shipbuilding, publishing, machine tools, rail, food, electricity and brewing -- that made Philadelphia well-respected for its quality workmanship. The program also seeks out the little-known stories of the people whose laborious efforts helped establish so many successful companies.
Philadelphia's location along the Delaware River made it a prime spot for industry. Hundreds of immigrants landed in the city, bringing with them unique craft skills and a fervent desire to make a new life in America. One of these skills was shipbuilding, which created hundreds of jobs and contributed heavily to the country's war efforts. Among the best-known shipbuilders is Cramp's Shipyard, one of the nation's largest for nearly 100 years.
Railroads also brought workers to the area, and Philadelphia played a large role in the development of that industry. Philadelphia's Baldwin Locomotive was the preeminent builder of locomotives, and the Pennsylvania Railroad dominated the industry for many years. Thousands of African Americans rode the rails to the city, establishing new lives and significantly increasing the number of industrial laborers.
With this influx of people, new communities sprang up all around the city. Henry Disston, head of Tacony's Disston and Sons Saw Works, envisioned an idealized community, building houses, parks, banks and movie theaters around his factory, some of which still stand today. Over 100 beer breweries populated one small corner of the city, creating a community still known as Brewerytown.
Philadelphia became defined by its small craft businesses that produced superior quality goods. As years passed, many Philadelphia industries quietly closed their doors, but some, like Coatesville's Lukens Steel, still thrive in the face of change. The program celebrates the extraordinary skills of the people who helped the region flourish and remembers a time when Philadelphia was truly the Workshop of the World.
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