JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
" Union Refreshment Saloon ", Washington Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the Civil War, taken from a photograph found in New York Public Library's digital collection.
There are several images, both photographic and drawn by era artists for newspapers of the Union Refreshment Saloon, Philadelphia. This, inclusive of a small cannon and crowd decorating a Washington Street scene call to mind the famous Wanamaker's eagle erected decades later in the same city.
"In South Philadelphia, at the corner of Washington Avenue and Swanson Street, a
neighborhood grocer named Barzilai Brown began distributing food to soldiers traveling
to and from the nearby Navy Yard and railroads. This operation, originally referred to as
“Brown’s,” became the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon on May 27, 1861. Samuel
B. Fales was the Corresponding Secretary of the saloon. "
http://hsp.org/sites/default/files/legacy_files/migrated/findingaid1580fales.pdf
It's ' Volunteer Hospital ' although always termed ' refreshment saloon ' in photographs.
Ever since New York Public Library gifted us with their release to the public of digitized images inclusive of those drawn and photographed throughout the Civil War it has been like Christmas 12 months of the year.
" The establishment grew and became a place of rest, relaxation, and, of course,
refreshment for travel-weary soldiers, whom the saloon provided with food, drink,
paper, and stamps. Troops stopping at the saloon were also given travel directions,
names of army officials and contacts, and places of local interest. In September 1861 a
hospital was added to better accommodate sick and wounded soldiers. "
Last edited: