The Newkirk Viaduct Monument was erected in 1838 at the completion of the Gray's Ferry Bridge in Philadelphia. The bridge was then known as the Newkirk Viaduct, and a monumental obelisk was erected to commemorate its completion.[1] It was surrounded by an iron fence on a high bank in the lee formed by the junction of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad and the Chester Branch of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway, just below the western end of the bridge.[1] It is located at +39° 56' 22.20", -75° 12' 38.26" , and is visible on the north side of the railroad tracks from Amtrak Northeast corridor trains between Wilmington and Philadelphia, and from SEPTA Regional Rail trains on the SEPTA Airport Line and the SEPTA Wilmington/Newark line just before trains pass under the 49th Street Bridge.
The 30 foot obelisk is of white marble with a base 10 feet square. The main body of the monument is slightly smaller with a tapering marble shaft on top.[1]
Currently the monument is in disrepair, is abandoned and nearly forgotten.
Contents |
The monument was built to commemorate the completion of the railroad between Philadelphia and Baltimore.[2] The path of the railroad closely paralled the King's Highway (the main land route to the southern states).[3] The completion of the viaduct was an important link which is why the builders chose to commemorate it.
The obelisk is known as the Newkirk Monument in honor of Matthew Newkirk (1794-1868), a Philadelphia business and civic leader who was president of the merged company, the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad. The first bridge at Grays Ferry, by which the railroad was extended into the city late in 1838, was known as the Newkirk Viaduct.[2] [4]
The railroad and bridge was built by three separate companies that merged into one before the line was completed. Each face of the base of the monument was decorated with the names of the officials of each of the four companies.[2] The four sides of the base and monument bear the following legends: [1]
| Inscription | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
PHILADELPHIA WILMINGTON AND BALTIMORE RAILROAD COMPANY President Vice President Directors Secretary ALLAN THOMSON AUBRY H SMITH Ass't |
BALTIMORE AND PORT DEPOSIT RAILROAD COMPANY President Directors Secretary and Treasurer Engineer Assistant Engineer |
DELAWARE AND MARYLAND RAILROAD COMPANY President Directors Engineer Assistant Engineer |
WILMINGTON AND SUSQUEHANNA RAILROAD COMPANY President Directors Secretary Treasurer Engineer Assistant Engineer |
| Base Inscriptions | |||
|
THE PHILADELPHIA WILMINGTON AND BALTIMORE RAILROAD COMPANY Formed AD 1838 by the Union Of the several charters obtained from Pennsylvania Maryland and Delaware Work commenced July 4 1835 Completed December 25 1838 Cost $4,000,000 |
Railroad Contractors William Slater John Ahern Beers & Hyde Kennedy Lonergan Superintendents Charles Lombaert George Craig Alfred Crawford |
NEWKIRK VIADUCT Samuel H Kneass Engineer Alexander and Charles Provost, Stone Masons Uziel H French, Bridge Carpenter |
NEWKIRK VIADUCT Commenced July 4 1837 Completed December 25 1838 SH Kneass Engineer Railroad from Philadelphia to Wilmington Herman J Lombaert Asst Eng'r |