William P. Moreland, October 5th, 1839
On the night of October 4, 1839, sometime after 11:30 pm, a fire broke out at 14 S. Wharves St. The building was occupied by Prescott’s Provisions Store. Wharves Street is located between High (Market) and Chestnut Streets. The fire spread fast and damaged or destroyed nearly 60 buildings. This was the worst fire in Philadelphia to that date.
During the fire the walls of the building at the Southwest Corner of Water and Chestnut Streets came crashing down, injuring seven men and killing two. The dead, William P. Moreland of the Good Will Fire Company and Thomas Barber an engineer at the Mint were killed instantly. Many other firefighters were less seriously injured during the fire.
NOTE
It was reported that 20-year-old William Moreland had been married only three weeks. Upon the face of the building, located at the Northeast Corner of Black Horse Alley and Water Street, which was taken down to construct I-95, appeared a limestone plaque embedded in the brickwork, which was inscribed as follows:
“The store house formerly on this sight and 51 other buildings in this vicinity were destroyed by the great fire of 4th and 5th October A.D. 1839 Rebuilt A.D. 1839”
This limestone plaque is currently displayed on the first floor of Fireman’s Hall Museum.
William P. Moreland, October 5th, 1839
On the night of October 4, 1839, sometime after 11:30 pm, a fire broke out at 14 S. Wharves St. The building was occupied by Prescott’s Provisions Store. Wharves Street is located between High (Market) and Chestnut Streets. The fire spread fast and damaged or destroyed nearly 60 buildings. This was the worst fire in Philadelphia to that date.
During the fire the walls of the building at the Southwest Corner of Water and Chestnut Streets came crashing down, injuring seven men and killing two. The dead, William P. Moreland of the Good Will Fire Company and Thomas Barber an engineer at the Mint were killed instantly. Many other firefighters were less seriously injured during the fire.
NOTE
It was reported that 20-year-old William Moreland had been married only three weeks. Upon the face of the building, located at the Northeast Corner of Black Horse Alley and Water Street, which was taken down to construct I-95, appeared a limestone plaque embedded in the brickwork, which was inscribed as follows:
“The store house formerly on this sight and 51 other buildings in this vicinity were destroyed by the great fire of 4th and 5th October A.D. 1839 Rebuilt A.D. 1839”
This limestone plaque is currently displayed on the first floor of Fireman’s Hall Museum.
Career History
Volunteer with the Good Will Engine Company