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Year Built: 1820

Era: 19th Century

Original Architect: Unknown

Architectural Style: 

Historical: Designated as a contributing building December 31, 1984

In 1684, when the City of Philadelphia was originally platted; the site where the John Grass Wood Turning Company now sits was a basic rectangular site. What is now Quarry Street; only continued part of the way through the block. It wasn’t until sometime between 1840-1866 that Quarry Street was extended all the way through to 2nd.

The earliest records show this site in 1777 occupied by an innkeeper; Leonard Melchor. The adjacent property owner, Philip Boehm may also have had a portion of the site we identify today as 146 N 2nd Street, but records are unclear about specific property dimensions. Historic maps do show that a street was added as early as 1810 where Quarry Street now extends, and we know the building at this site was constructed in 1820, so it stands to reason the current property dimensions have been in place since 1810 or before.  In 1795; the sites were held by another Innkeeper, George Lehfer and the adjacent parcel was held by a merchant, Daniel Bohm (likely a descendent of Philip Boehm).

The current structure (although it has been altered) was constructed in 1820 in the (Greek Revival) style. This brick structure once had 4 stories and in 1866 was occupied by a Restaurant and Inn with a 2 story dwelling house at the rear. Located on the corner of 2nd Street and Quarry, this neighborhood was known as “The workshop of the world.”  A wide variety of industries filled this neighborhood including confectioners, saw mills, copper works, tin companies, a malt house, umbrella factories, and even a cigar box factory (to name just a few).

Historic maps show variations to the footprint of the building, showing clear additions to the North side of the building in 1895 and again in 1921.

John Grass Wood Turning Company (1916-2003)

When the John Grass Wood Turning Company moved in in 1916, they had already been in business for 53 years. The founder of the company, John Grass, was a Bavarian immigrant. He started his company in 1863 in the same general area, known as “Old City.”

In 1936, 20 years after taking over the building, they removed the 4th story of the building. We are researching this further. 

One of his biggest customers, Johannes Stortz, who owned a cutlery and tool company, later became his relative when John’s daughter Matilda married Johannes’ son, Henry. Their businesses and families remained joined ever after. After Grass retired from business, the company was taken over by another of Stortz’ sons who incorporated the company and moved it to its current location at 146 2nd Street where it operated for another 87 years; closing in 2003 after 140 years in business. 

The John Grass Wood Turning company provided balustrades for Independence Hall and Christ Church, and also produced night sticks for the Philadelphia Police Department. When they closed their doors, they still had equipment dating back to the 1870’s. Originally the equipment was operated with a steam engine in the basement; later converted to an electric motor.

Albert LeCoff, the founder of the Center for Art in Wood (located just down the block) championed the salvage of the equipment and building in an effort to share in the appreciation of the art of woodturning. His efforts led to the purchasing of the building and its equipment by the Philadelphia United Carpenters and Joiners of America.  Information on the history is on display at the Center for Art in Wood located at 141 N 3rd Street (centerforartinwood.org)

Stories

We want to share with you an article that really brings this space to life. As written in his article “Hidden City Reveals Wood Shop Frozen In Time” by Peter Crimmins and published for NewsWorks.org in 2013, he writes “Unlike modern woodshop machines that each have their own motor, the drill presses, lathes, and saws of the John Grass Woodturning Shop were all powered by a single shaft overhead, which is itself powered by a single, massive motor in the basement — steam-powered at first, then one of Grass' descendents converted to an electric one.

"There was no additional noise," said Albert LeCoff, director of the Center for Art in Wood, with its own woodturning operation a block away. "All you heard was the flapping of the belt. There was a radio on and people were talking — you could talk. It was a very quiet shop and very efficient shop."

Woodturning is the practice of locking a long piece of wood between two motorized spindles, which rotates the wood very quickly. An operator carves into the spinning wood, creating table legs, balusters, bowling pins, wooden bowls, finials and baseball bats. Many local churches had collection plates made at John Grass, and policemen would come in to have hardwood batons made.”

The property is currently vacant and in a state of disrepair.  A campaign to restore the building is in place.  If you are interested in participating see the link below.

Building Materials