Why isn’t it called Benville? We are standing in Franklinville a neighborhood in North Philadelphia. It bears the name of Benjamin Franklin. Though, many locals do not even use the name Franklinville anymore. It is roughly bounded by West Sedgley Avenue North Broad Street and West Hunting Park Avenue.
Franklinville’s history is quite interesting. The original 72-acre tract was farmland. It was part of the Northern Liberties Township. In 1852, it was subdivided. However, even before that, around 1848, Potter & Carmichael, oilcloth manufacturers, put up a sign that read “Franklin-ville” on their factory. The farmland was divided into 1000 lots for townhouses. Each lot had a minimum 20-foot frontage. They sold for $400 or $500 each. That is about $21000 today. Coleman Fisher owned the land. His large house stood in the middle of Venango Street. It was moved in the early 20th century.
The Franklin Land Company played a key role. John Turner was its president. They met at Franklin Hall. It was one of the city’s first mutual land firms. Turner aimed to “aid those of small means.” His mansion built in 1750 was taken down to make way for the “industrial classes.” Lots went quickly. The price to stockholders was set at $37.50 per lot. If fenced with posts and rails it was $40. The center of the village was at Nicetown Lane and Rising Sun Lane now called Avenue.
Rising Sun was southeast of Franklinville. The Rising Sun Tavern was a colonial-era establishment built in 1746. It was run by A Nice. It stood at Germantown Road and Old York Road. The Pennsylvania Abolition Society was founded at the tavern in 1775. Dinah Nevill, a black woman insisted she was free-born. She helped fuel the abolitionist movement. It is said that the Lenapes used to watch the sun there.
Franklinville appeared as “Franklin” on maps in 1860 and 1868. Nicetown was to the northeast. Feltonville was to the north. Rising Sun was to the southwest. Coopersville was to the east-southeast. One of the first appearances of “Franklinville” on a map was in 1862. It was in the 25th ward of the city. In 1888, it was narrowly defined. It was the “vicinity of Erie Avenue to Westmoreland Street between Broad Street and Sedgley Avenue.”
The North Pennsylvania Railroad laid tracks through the area in 1854. It went to Jenkintown. The line opened the following year. The North Pennsylvania Junction station was on the east side of 5th Street at Tioga Street. It serviced Franklinville. A new station was built in 1889. The North Penn freight station was east of the Junction station. It was on the north side of the tracks. The Philadelphia and Reading Railway Company line joined the North Pennsylvania Railroad here.
Industries flourished in Franklinville. These included livestock yards and oil cloth works. Nail manufacturers dye works and ice companies also operated here. Thomas Potter and James Carmichael established the Franklinville Oilcloth Works around 1848. The 1895 city directory listed many businesses. These included the Franklinville Carriage and Wagon Works. There was also the Franklinville Steam Coffee Roasting Establishment. You could find the Franklinville Dye Works and the Franklinville Ice Manufacturing Company. Also listed was the Franklinville Maennerchor Hall a German social club.
The Franklinville Times newspaper was published between 1891 and 1900. It came out on Saturdays. E H Rosenberger was the editor and publisher. His offices were at 642 Tioga St.
The Franklinville Consolidated School was organized in 1856. It was at the Franklin Baptist Church. It was on Rising Sun Lane and the North Pennsylvania Railroad. Henrietta Woodruff was the first principal. It moved above Venango Street in 1869. It was called the Enterprise Consolidated School. In 1872 it became Bayard Taylor Consolidated.
Many churches emerged in the area. Religious services were first held in the 18th century in Nicetown. It served Catholics in Frankford Germantown and Nicetown. Also those in what would become Franklinville. Services were held at the home of John Michael Browne.
Franklinville has transformed over the years. It has a rich industrial and cultural heritage. It is a testament to Philadelphia’s dynamic past.