"The borough of Conshohocken, incorporated in 1850, is located on the east bank of the Schuylkill River, thirteen miles northwest of Philadelphia, on one square mile of land in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Its proximity to major transportation links, natural resources, and markets created a favorable environment for the rise of a virtually self-contained industrial, commercial, residential, civic and religious community. Perhaps best known for its great industrial firms, such as the Alan Wood Iron and Steel Company, whose roots date back to the early 1800s, and "Lee of Conshohocken," the automobile tire company founded in the early 1900s, Conshohocken played a major role in the industrial development of southeastern Pennsylvania. The growth of the town's industries brought together wealthy Quaker mill and landowners with immigrant laborers from Ireland, Poland, Italy, and other European countries to give the borough its distinctive character. As the town's industries expanded and moved outside the borough limits in the early twentieth century, Conshohocken evolved from an industrial leader into a primarily residential community."
Bibliography:
Quoted text from: Conshohocken Historical Society. "Conshohocken Historical Survey." Accessed May 18, 2012. http://www.conshohockenpa.org/visitor/history.
From the guide to the Conshohocken Historical Society family vertical files, 1863-2012, (Conshohocken Historical Society)
"The borough of Conshohocken, incorporated in 1850, is located on the east bank of the Schuylkill River, thirteen miles northwest of Philadelphia, on one square mile of land in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Its proximity to major transportation links, natural resources, and markets created a favorable environment for the rise of a virtually self-contained industrial, commercial, residential, civic and religious community. Perhaps best known for its great industrial firms, such as the Alan Wood Iron and Steel Company, whose roots date back to the early 1800s, and "Lee of Conshohocken," the automobile tire company founded in the early 1900s, Conshohocken played a major role in the industrial development of southeastern Pennsylvania. The growth of the town's industries brought together wealthy Quaker mill and landowners with immigrant laborers from Ireland, Poland, Italy, and other European countries to give the borough its distinctive character. As the town's industries expanded and moved outside the borough limits in the early twentieth century, Conshohocken evolved from an industrial leader into a primarily residential community."
Bibliography:
Quoted text from: Conshohocken Historical Society. "Conshohocken Historical Survey." Accessed May 18, 2012. http://www.conshohockenpa.org/visitor/history.
From the guide to the Conshohocken Historical Society local history collection, 1846-1979, (Conshohocken Historical Society)
"The borough of Conshohocken, incorporated in 1850, is located on the east bank of the Schuylkill River, thirteen miles northwest of Philadelphia, on one square mile of land in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Its proximity to major transportation links, natural resources, and markets created a favorable environment for the rise of a virtually self-contained industrial, commercial, residential, civic and religious community. Perhaps best known for its great industrial firms, such as the Alan Wood Iron and Steel Company, whose roots date back to the early 1800s, and "Lee of Conshohocken," the automobile tire company founded in the early 1900s, Conshohocken played a major role in the industrial development of southeastern Pennsylvania. The growth of the town's industries brought together wealthy Quaker mill and landowners with immigrant laborers from Ireland, Poland, Italy, and other European countries to give the borough its distinctive character. As the town's industries expanded and moved outside the borough limits in the early twentieth century, Conshohocken evolved from an industrial leader into a primarily residential community."
Bibliography:
Quoted text from: Conshohocken Historical Society. "Conshohocken Historical Survey." Accessed May 18, 2012. http://www.conshohockenpa.org/visitor/history.
From the guide to the Conshohocken Historical Society scrapbooks, 1967-2009, (Conshohocken Historical Society)
"The borough of Conshohocken, incorporated in 1850, is located on the east bank of the Schuylkill River, thirteen miles northwest of Philadelphia, on one square mile of land in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Its proximity to major transportation links, natural resources, and markets created a favorable environment for the rise of a virtually self-contained industrial, commercial, residential, civic and religious community. Perhaps best known for its great industrial firms, such as the Alan Wood Iron and Steel Company, whose roots date back to the early 1800s, and "Lee of Conshohocken," the automobile tire company founded in the early 1900s, Conshohocken played a major role in the industrial development of southeastern Pennsylvania. The growth of the town's industries brought together wealthy Quaker mill and landowners with immigrant laborers from Ireland, Poland, Italy, and other European countries to give the borough its distinctive character. As the town's industries expanded and moved outside the borough limits in the early twentieth century, Conshohocken evolved from an industrial leader into a primarily residential community."
Bibliography:
Quoted text from: Conshohocken Historical Society. "Conshohocken Historical Survey." Accessed May 18, 2012. http://www.conshohockenpa.org/visitor/history.
From the guide to the Conshohocken Historical Society subject vertical files, 1930-2012, (Conshohocken Historical Society)
"The first of the Wood family to engage in iron making in America was James Wood, who in 1792 established a smithy near Hickorytown, Pennsylvania. In 1826, James Wood and his son Alan leased a small water mill at Wooddale near Wilmington, Delaware, for rolling iron plates from purchased bar-iron. The enterprise was moved to Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, in 1832, the employees of the Company moving with the business. In 1857, Alan Wood formed a partnership, known as Alan Wood & Company, establishing the Schuylkill Iron Works in Conshohocken. The partnership was incorporated in 1885. In 1901, a new company was formed under the name Alan Wood Iron & Steel Company, principal owners of which were Howard Wood and Richard Wood, Alan's son and grandson, respectively. Open hearths and a blooming mill were constructed on [sites] at Ivy Rock to produce the blooms to be rolled into sheets at Schuylkill Iron Works...
The company expanded rapidly over the ensuing decades, extending to production of various steel and iron products. It was especially successful under the leadership of Alan Wood, Jr. (1834-1902), who also served as a United States Congressman in the House of Representatives (R-PA) and built Woodmont Mansion in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. Alan's uncle John Wood (1816-1898) was also a member of the United States House of Representatives.
In 1907, the Alan Wood company founded Upper Merion and Plymouth Railroad Company as a wholly owned subsidiary to service Company operations on both sides of the Schuylkill River. The railroad was classified as a Class 2 common carrier by the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1923.
After 145 years, the Alan Wood Steel Company filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors in 1977.
Bibliography:
Quoted text from: Alan Wood Steel Company. "A.W. Presents Plants and Products." Conshohocken, Pa.: 1961. Document found in collection.
From the guide to the Conshohocken Historical Society Alan Wood Steel Company collection, 1928-1980, (Conshohocken Historical Society)
The Conshohocken Art League was established in 1922 with the mission "to promote interest and appreciation toward the arts, to sponsor classes and to host related events." The group is active as of 2012, offering youth and adult workshops in the fine arts.
Bibliography:
Conshohocken Art League. "Home." Accessed May, 23, 2012. http://www.conshohockenartleague.org/Home_Page.html.
From the guide to the Conshohocken Historical Society Conshohocken Art League collection, 1948-1980, (Conshohocken Historical Society)
"The borough of Conshohocken, incorporated in 1850, is located on the east bank of the Schuylkill River, thirteen miles northwest of Philadelphia, on one square mile of land in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Its proximity to major transportation links, natural resources, and markets created a favorable environment for the rise of a virtually self-contained industrial, commercial, residential, civic and religious community. Perhaps best known for its great industrial firms, such as the Alan Wood Iron and Steel Company, whose roots date back to the early 1800s, and "Lee of Conshohocken," the automobile tire company founded in the early 1900s, Conshohocken played a major role in the industrial development of southeastern Pennsylvania. The growth of the town's industries brought together wealthy Quaker mill and landowners with immigrant laborers from Ireland, Poland, Italy, and other European countries to give the borough its distinctive character. As the town's industries expanded and moved outside the borough limits in the early twentieth century, Conshohocken evolved from an industrial leader into a primarily residential community."
Bibliography:
Quoted text from: Conshohocken Historical Society. "Conshohocken Historical Survey." Accessed May 18, 2012. http://www.conshohockenpa.org/visitor/history.
From the guide to the Conshohocken Historical Society photograph collection, circa 1850-2012, (Conshohocken Historical Society)
