Bottles to Bankruptcy: The Failure of Eagle Glass Works, 1845–1849

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Working on the 19th-Century" session, at the 2019 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

New historical and archaeological evidence uncovered as part of the I-95 project has illuminated the story of the rise and eventual demise of Eagle Glass Works (1845–1849). Despite its brief life-span, this little-known glassworks was connected with major names in the mid-19th century glass and pharmaceutical fields. Founded as a soda and beer bottle factory, Eagle was a latecomer to an industry crowded with competition and was acquired by two entrepreneurial druggists who quickly found themselves in over their heads.  This paper will demonstrate not only Eagle’s ties to Philadelphia’s Kensington-Fishtown and Port Richmond neighborhoods, but also more clearly define its place within the 19th century glassmaking industry.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2019   •
• Working on the 19th-Century

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 146