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. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Big Graph (a few steps from this marker); 2020 Rate of Incarceration (a few steps from this marker); Morgue (within shouting distance of this marker); Tuberculosis Yard (within shouting distance of this marker); The Hole (within shouting distance of this marker); Cellblock 14 (within shouting distance of this marker); Sports at ESP (within shouting distance of this marker); Eastern State in Ruin (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.
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 84 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 26, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
