Historical Society of Tacony

Henry Disston was born in Tewkesbury, England in 1819 to Thomas and Ann Harrod Disston. He came to Philadelphia in 1833, and began to make saws in 1840. Despite many setbacks and difficulties Disston eventually was successful, and in 1849 started his own company. In 1871 he began to move his saw works from the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia to Tacony. He sought to develop an utopian family-centered community in Tacony for his workers. He built affordable housing, and also funded the building of schools, churches, and a library. The company became one of the leading suppliers of saws and files in the United States and continues today to produce these same items as Disston Precision.

Bibliography:

Disston, Jacob S., Jr. "Henry Disston (1819-1878): Pioneer Industrialist Inventor and Good Citizen." Accessed September 23, 2011. http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/disstonbio.html.

From the guide to the Historical Society of Tacony Henry Disston & Sons, Inc. collection, 1876-1920, (Historical Society of Tacony)

Tacony is a historic neighborhood located in Northeast Philadelphia. Tacony gained recognition in 1846 when the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad built a Ferry Wharf to transfer passengers to downtown Philadelphia by steam-boat. In 1872, Henry Disston bought a large tract of land in the area to which he moved his saw mill, which became the world's largest saw manufacturer. Disston also sought to develop a "utopian" residential community in Tacony for his workers, and funded the building of schools, churches, and a library. The Tacony Iron and Metal Works became famous for crafting the dome and statue of William Penn which now sits atop City Hall in downtown Philadelphia. An important resident of Tacony was Frank Shuman (1862-1918), an inventor whose most notable inventions were wired safety glass and the first solar power steam engine.

From the guide to the Historical Society of Tacony local history collection, Bulk, 1920-2011, 1861-2011, (Historical Society of Tacony)

Tacony is a historic neighborhood located in Northeast Philadelphia. Tacony gained recognition in 1846 when the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad built a Ferry Wharf to transfer passengers to downtown Philadelphia by steam-boat. In 1872, Henry Disston bought a large tract of land in the area to which he moved his saw mill, which became the world's largest saw manufacturer. Disston also sought to develop a "utopian" residential community in Tacony for his workers, and funded the building of schools, churches, and a library. The Tacony Iron and Metal Works became famous for crafting the dome and statue of William Penn which now sits atop City Hall in downtown Philadelphia. An important resident of Tacony was Frank Shuman (1862-1918), an inventor whose most notable inventions were wired safety glass and the first solar power steam engine.

From the guide to the Historical Society of Tacony photograph negatives collection, 1974-2011, (Historical Society of Tacony)