Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Incinerator
This incinerator was used to burn trash and scrap wood.
In 1937, prison administrators replaced the penitentiary's massive oak doors with the sliding metal door seen today. The original oak doors, dating from the 1820s, were burned in the prison incinerator. (Records are not clear: the location of the incinerator may have changed over time.)
A small section of those impressive doors survives today in the historic site's collection.
[Captions:]
The stone addition to Eastern State's facade under construction, 1937. When completed, the old oak doors were removed and burned. Construction of new exterior entryway from The Bulletin, reprint, November 2, 1938. Photo: Courtesy of Temple University Libraries, Urban Archives, Philadelphia, PA.
Removal of the oak doors, March 1937. Photo: The Evening Bulletin, courtesy of Temple University Libraries, Urban Archives, Philadelphia, PA.
Erected by Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Law Enforcement. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1937.
Location. 39° 58.142′ N, 75° 10.319′ W.
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Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, New Netherland, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The United States no longer has the highest rate of incarceration in the world. (a few steps from this marker); The Big Graph (a few steps from this marker); Memories of the Penitentiary Hospital (within shouting distance of this marker); Morgue (within shouting distance of this marker); Tuberculosis Yard (within shouting distance
Another marker is no longer nearby. 2020 Rate of Incarceration (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 324 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 26, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
