The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-12

l2. 2.......... .1l62 1912 27............ $50 1851
f3............ g31 1876 rs. .~........ e.
15........... 662 4O94 1851 37,s22
21957
Majority for Penn Squares res................15,S6 S65
Az, by the result shown above, the Penn Squares
have been chosen as the site for the buildings,
short history of the way in which they were first
laid out and Of the uses to which they subse-
quently put will be of interest to the public.
In the original plan of the city, as laid out by
Thomas Holmes, the first Surveyor General and
adopted by William Penn, the locations of five public
squares are shown. On these there were lots num-
beTed for first purchasers but on the two eastern
ones, now Washington and Franklin, the words
"Eight acres for public uses" were written The
western squares had the same words written upon
them, with the addition in the Of the north
western Of "By William Penn, Esq" On the Centre
tnow Penny Square were the words "Centre Square,
The advertisement annexed to the "Iist of First
Purchasers" contains the following
I'm the centre of the city is square of ten
acres; at each angle are to be houses for public
mar ret and several other build
city square of eight to be of like the
All the squares were thus dedicated to public
uses, but there was a marked distinction between
the central and the other squares. In the case OF
Centre Square the ground was not to be kept open,
but built upon, and thus serve the public uses by
public buildings. In the of the other squares,
there was no building to be allowed, but they were
The first use made Of the Centre Square was to
build Friends meeting house on the southwest
section, in 1856, then natural forest of oaks and
hickories. This William Penn well knew of, and no
doubt there worshipped. Robert Turner's letter to
him, In 1885, says:-"We are now laying the founda-
ton Of plain brick building for Westinghouse in
the Centre sixty feet long by forty feet broad and
and hands at work that will do it." AS the Friends
religion was then what was equivalent to the esta-
house was strictly public building, and as such
was allowed upon the ground.
Ins 5CSn Gay oo OF Octoeer cl tne re Friends
Square, as appears by William Penn's first charter
Of that date to the City OF Philadelphia; for thereby
the proprietary granted to the Inhabitants of the city,
lands, with this provso:EThat nothing herein con-
from fencing in all the vacant lands that lie between
the Centre Meeting house and the Schuylkil, which
intend shall be divided from the land by me al
iOtted for the Delaware side by straight line along
Broad street from Edward Shippen's land, through
In the spring Of M i7Ss ' the Phiadephia @ % Water
Works were begun and erected in the centre of
tercepted, and all business and travel made to pass
round circle except travel by foot passengers. The
works remained for more than a quarter of a CEN
tuTy, when the main streets were again continued
on their direct course and again cut che square into
four sections. The main building of these public
light OF public building, and as such obtained
the ground Various pictures OF the funny y-looking
of which came the smoke, can still be seen. The
ground surrounding the works was fitted up and
used as park and fine fountain usually play
ing directly in front Of the house.
No written deed Of conveyance appears to have
Deen MADE by william Penn OF any OF the puOC
squares to the city or State. They were but dedt.
Gated TO public uses in laying out the plan of the
city, and in granting lots upon that plan, whereby
the squares became dedicated to the public as rrevo
eaby and in the same manner as the public streets
were. No deed was necessary. Therei no partcu-
lar form or ceremony necessary in the dedication OF
land to public All that is required is the assent
OF the owner OF the land, and the fact OF its being
used for the purposes intended by the appropriation
On the city OF Philadelphia, as that part Of the
public most Immediately interested, had devoved
The care and control of the public squares. But
q.
to them is vested in the city, that the city has
power to dispose o. them Such dedications are for
the use OF the public OF the Commonwealth and the
ultimate control is in the Legislature of the Com
monwealth. And this is so though the title may be
lottery were directed to be invested by the Commits
sioners OF the county of Philadelphia in the purchase
OF landings in the Northern Liberties. under act
reciting the needs Of that vicinity, in trust to let the
same for the pubic use. When the township of the
tricts and the landings and funds had been trans
1errei to that first Incorporated, within which the
landings Were u was held that the others could not
recover profits that had accrued and were held for
the general public.
Whena religious society," under a grant from
Thomas Penn, in 174l, OF portion OF Franklin
Square, for burial lot had used it for the greater
part OF century, recovery was had Of it in the
OF the Commonwealth, on indictment for a nui-
sance.
And though the charter by William Penn, granted
to the city in 1701 declared tnat he for himself and
his heirs did grant and ordain that the streets in said
city should forever continue they were laid out
and regulated, and that the end of each street ex-
tending into the river Delaware should be and CON
tnue free for the use and service OF said city and the
inhabitants thereof, who might improve the same
for the best advantage OF the city; yet it held
be trust for the public "The use dedicated and
transferred is public and indefinite to be used and
enjoyed according to its nature and circumstances,
as TO afford TO the public the accommodation in
tended" II there be abuse of authority, which is
not 10 be presumed, 1t bwould be corrected by the
Legislature Though the squares were not granted
by the charter to the city, that charter did recognize
their existence as dedcatons to the publicas above
seen.
lie use the use is indefinite and may vary according
10 circumstances. The public not being able them
selves to manage or attend to it, the care and em-
ployment OF 1t must deVove upon some local autho-
rty or body corporate as its guardian, who are in
the first instance to determine what use OF 1t, from
time TO time, is best calculated for the public inte-
rest subject, as charitable are to the control
Of the laws and the courts, in case OF any abuse or
mlsappcation OF the trust
Under these circumstances the act OF che Legsla-
ture giving the use OF the square for the purpose is
eminently legal, though in the case OF Washington
Square, had II been chosen, the authority of the
Legislature might have been seriously questioned ;
that body having only the power TO administer the
original design, whether In giving the of one or
in Withholding the use OF the other.
Various have been the public uses to which the
Penn Squares have been devoted. Ia 1888 iE was
nsed for fair, by authority OF the Governor and
authority OF William Penn In 1926 the Grand Jury
presented TWO old wells, very Deep which lie open
at the Centre Square. John i. Watson, VINO was
born June l3, ll19 says III his Annals:-"When the
writer was lad, the Centre Square was never
named but in connection with military trainings or
as an object OF universal terror to boys, as the
gallows ground Next 1t was adapted by the city
for the Water Works; and lastly, IL has been en-
closed by the city with substantial iron raings
improved by gravel walks and green swards, as we
The next use to which it will be put, as author
lied by the vote OF yesterday, will be the ground
on which to erect our fine new public buildings,
which by this choice OF site will De in locality
in which they can be seen TO perfection. In such a
place il will be worth the while TO build costly build
Inna VIII he a nj tu