The photo at right is of 1009 Arch Street circa 1960. Don't you love the fins on the cars? The sign says: Dougherty's Kitchen Equipment and Supplies. *William F. Dougherty was born December 11, 1850 in Philadelphia to Mary McCrory and Charles Joseph Dougherty. In the 1870 US census Charles lists his occupation as sheet metal worker and William is apprenticed to a tin smith. William is listed in the 1875 Philadelphia City Directory living at 808 Buttonwood Street and with an occupation of "stoves". In 1877 at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, William married Mary Ann Fitzgerald and in the ensuing years they had eight children: Charles, Alice, William, Thomas, Joseph, John, Anna Mary and Edward.
At the time of his death in 1920, William F. Dougherty's (my gggrandfather) obituary states that he was in the business of manufacturing cooking equipment for 55 years and the business was located at 925 Arch Street. Over the years it was located at 158 North 9th Street, 925 Arch Street and 1009 Arch Street.
I have an undated list of installations (which states the business started in 1852!) with such notable institutions as US Public Service Hospitals in Walla Walla, WA, Fort Bernard, NM, Rutland, MA and Prescott, AZ, Atlanta Terminal, Atlanta, GA, Hotel Rittenhouse, Philadelphia, PA, Hotel Charlestown, Charlestown, SC, Sing Sing Prison, NY, Campbell Soup, Camden, NJ, Bucknell University, and the Pine Valley Golf Club, Pine Valley, NJ.
Thanks to EBAY and other internet cites I have been able to purchase several pieces of Dougherty china. The restaurant china was actually made by Shenango China, New Castle, PA and is stamped "made for William F. Dougherty & Sons, Philadelphia, PA". I also have a brass stovepipe label with "W.F. Dougherty & Sons 1009 Arch Street Phila."
*PHOTO CREDIT
http://www.phillyhistory.org This link give you marvelous access to the Philadelphia Photo Archive: The Philadelphia Department of Records has over 2 million photographs dating back to the late nineteenth century. Among these photographs are stunning pictures of ships arriving at dock, horse-drawn carriages on cobble streets, and the Eastern State Penitentiary, America’s most historic prison. The PhillyHistory.org website is a GIS application that allows the public to search for historic photographs based on location. Users can locate photographs within a certain neighborhood, within a radius of an address, near a particular intersection, or by a place name like City Hall. In addition, users can search for photographs during certain years and they can search the descriptions of photographs by keyword. Also available on the PhillyHistory.org website is a weekly updated historical blog and digital access to the Department of Records’ Historic Streets Index and Historical Photo Database. Users can make scan requests and purchase photos.
33 comments:
hi, i think we are family?! my name is melissa, im sitting with my grandmother (94) & we were looking up her fathers business, which was william f dougherty & sons in phila on 1009 arch street! Well maybe you are related to us, or to my grandmother?? May I ask who posted this?
Thanks!
Melissa
Dear Melissa,
My grandmother was May (Mary Ann) Dougherty Gallen (1901-1966) and her father was Charles J. Dougherty (1878-1929), son of William F. Dougherty (1850-1920) so yes we are related.
I have some extensive research (done by a cousin) on the Dougherty family, but maybe your grandmother can fill in some blanks. Who is your grandmother?
My mother told stories of visiting her great-grandparents in West Philadelphia, but she was very young at the time. I have several pieces of W.F. Dougherty & Sons china and also a listing of some of their installations.
It was very nice to hear from you, please write again!
Hi!
I am so sorry that its taken so long for me to respond. I recently got married & things got very busy for us but I heard you responded & I just read what you wrote! What a small world! My grandmother, Margarette is now 95 years old & was the daughter of Joseph s Dougherty & Margarette Dougherty (Dosch). My grandmother was May's cousin (your grandmother who was one of 5 kids). May's mother moved in with my grandmother's family when she was ill with TB. Mimi's (my grandmother) father was born in 1885, he had bros - 5 & sisters- 2; do you have any idea what their grandmothers last name was, she knows her name was Mary, they called her Queen Mary. She was told that her last name was Fitzgerald, do you know if this is the right infomation on their grandmother?
She tells us stories about going to the business in Phila all the time when her & her mother would drop her father off & they would spend the days in Phila shopping while he was working. She would always see her Uncle Charlie on the 1st floor of the store where people would buy the retail items ;) You must be on my grandmother Uncle Charlie's family?
I know all this info is all over the place, but when Mimi hears one's name, she tells stories and the conversation then gets a bit off track, if you know what I'm talking about, lol. I am Mimi's granddaughter, my mother was Mimi's youngest child Sue, and I am 30 yo, I have two (2) younger sisters, and Mimi has over 50 grandchildren ranging from 50 years old & down to great great grandchildren now!;) I heard a lot about your grandmother today, she was a little bit older than mimi. I hope this gives a little light on our family, still not quite sure how we're realted, but hopefully we'll get there soon, & hope to hear back soon!
thanks again!
melissa
Dear Melissa - please contact me at dmorris918@gmail.com. I have the information that you need and would like to talk to you.
Denise
Melissa - Just realized that I gave you the wrong email. Correct email is denisemorris918@gmail.com. Would love to hear from you.
Denise
Hi,my name is Joseph E Keenan.My grandmother was Anna Mae Dougherty Keenan.My father was Edward Bernard Keenan.My father always talked about his grandfathers buisness as did he about his fathers buisness. Keenan Co. in phila.I have little info on both.It was great to see your site.You can contact me at josephkeenan913@yahoo.com Thanks.
Joe - great to hear from you! Hope to add more pictures soon - check back.
Hi, I am Joseph Dougherty's Great granddaughter. My grandmother is Margarette Connor, she just turned 96 years old. Ihave several peices of Dougherty china, I just found a box of platters and small plates. My grandmother gave them to me years ago. I cherish them but would share them with family, we all should have at least one peice of our family heritage. well, my email is cmharr1959@yahoo.com, if someone wants to contact me.
Thanks for the offer, I emailed you and hope to hear from you soon.
my grandmothers name is dorothy dougherty... her father was thomas dougherty ..mother was anna dougherty thomas was son of wiliam f dougherty and son of mary dougherty
my fathers name was albert j dougherty he passed in 2000 i always wanted to meet his father if ther is anything someone knows comment back please my name is bridget t dougherty
Bridget - great to hear from you. I have pictures of William F. and Mary and would be willing to send you the scans. We also have a picture of a wedding in 1913 that may have your grandfather in it. If you are interested, please email me at denisemorris918@gmail.com.
Denise
Bridget - great to hear from you. I have pictures of William F. and Mary and would be willing to send you the scans. We also have a picture of a wedding in 1913 that may have your grandfather in it. If you are interested, please email me at denisemorris918@gmail.com.
Denise
Our stone outdoor Barbeque has the metal doors embossed W.F. Doughterty and Sons- many years of use and they have rusted on the inside- any chance this business is still operating? Would love to replace but don't know where to begin.
Eileen Reynolds - I am sorry but William F. Dougherty & Sons is no longer in business. Would love to have a picture of the metal doors with the name if possible. Please email me at denisemorris918@gmail.com. Thanks!
I just obtained two double-handled cups (sugar bowls, maybe?) with the following stamp on the bottom:
Jackson China
Dougherty & Sons
Philadelphia
Anonymous from above again:
the double-handed cups are yours if you'd like them!
Anonymous - thanks for the offer. Email me at denisemorris918@gmail.com. I would love to have the cups, I have other pieces of the china! Thank you!
Hello Denise,
I am going through our house getting ready to move and packing and sorting items to sell. I happened onto your interesting blog as I was trying to find the worth of an antique hammered brass skillet with the words “DOUGHERTY 158 N 9 ST PHILA” stamped into the side of it.
J
Please let me know if you put it in an online auction, would love to bid on it! Denise
I certainly will. It’s quite unique and in great shape and if it was made in our family I would consider it a prize piece of family history. If I could paste a photo of it here I would.
I was guessing that it is brass but it could easily be copper and is defiantly hand hammered.
J
Hello Dougherty family!
I just purchased 5 blue willow grill plates at the thrift store. They have "Dougherty Phila" stamped on the back. I never heard of the name so I got on Google and I found your site.
Very interesting reading about your lineage and the business your ancestors had! It's great to know where my beautiful plates came from. They will get much loving use in my home!
Wishing you all the best!
Kim
Dear Kim, enjoy your plates! May I ask what area of the country you found the plates? Keeping track of the distribution area. Thanks, Denise
My father is William F. Dougherty, 85, siblings, Catherine and Charles both deceased, my father worked for the company after WWII his father was also WF Dougherty and was a salesman for the company, I would love to hear more about the family and to purchase a piece of china. So ironic that both my father and uncle both became sheet metal workers after Dougherty,s closed. His father left his mother and three children when they were young and had limited contact with them. I do know that one of the Dougherty brothers married one of my grandmothers sisters. from my dads stories they were left in poverty and my grandmother farmed out her children to relatives who lived and worked on the main line. My grandmother died at 48 but my grandfather lived well past, he wanted to see his grandchildren later in years but the family didnt want to disrespct my fathers mother, in his obituary his children were not even listed by his second wife mary. my email is jprettyman229@comcast.net
Hi my name is Jerry, sorry, I'm not related to anybody in your family.
I am co-owner of Two Sisters Antiques and Collectibles, in Melbourne Beach Florida. I was researching some restaurant china, (oval platters) from the former "Harbor City Hotel" in the Eau Galle section of Melbourne,Florida, and under the backstamp it reads "DOUGHERTY, PHILA". That's how I ended up here.
The platters were made by Iroquois China Co. and the date code shows that the plates were made around April, 1925. Many potters made china for restaurant supply company's like Dougherty.
I found it unusual for a company in Philadelphia, made china for a hotel so far south, generally they would get their china from a local or closer purveyor.The platters are white with green and black lines around the rim with oranges on their stems and, HARBOR CITY HOTEL, in the center on one side.
I enjoyed your blog, and am glad you hooked up with some new relatives and extended family.
Thanks,
Jerry
Jerry, very nice to hear from you. Actually, WF Dougherty & Sons had an extensive list of installations along the east coast of the US. The Florida hotels I have on the list are the Hotel Apopka, Apopka, FL and the Eau Gallie Hotel, Eau Gallie, FL. WF Dougherty & Sons offered a complete line of kitchen/dining room equipment to go along with their stainless steel stove and sink installations, hence the china. You would be offered the choice of design.
Let me know what you are asking for the china. Thanks, Denise
Denise,
I have just found a piece of equipment in a house. At first we thought it was a still, so I put in the name and address the label has and ended up on this blog. It's metal has ceramic canister, glass tubes that fit the outside spouts. The label is diamond shape with WF Dougherty and sons,1009 Arch st. Phila Any idea as to what it is. Dona
Dona - can you send me a picture of the item you found. Maybe I can match it with something in the 1932 catalog that I have.
denisemorris918@gmail.com
My mother in law has a butcher block table she wants to sell. It is in great shape, 24 x 24 and 34 inches high. It has a knife rack and a diamond shaped plate that says W.F. Dougherty and Sons.
1008 Arch St. Phila. Please let me know if you are interested before we put it on craigslist.
Very heavy, removable legs and one of the nicest I've seen.
Patsy
Anonymous - thanks for the offer but no room for a butcher block! Hope you get a good price for it.
Denise
Hi! I'm researching the age of a coffee cup I purchased in an antique store in Cape May, NJ, with a logo from the Hotel Dale in Cape May. The cup is marked "Jackson China Dougherty and Sons Philadelphia." I am in the process of donating the cup to the Harriet Tubman Museum being built in Cape May, for its exhibit on African-American history in the town - the Hotel Dale was built by an African-American gentleman and was one of the places where African-Americans could stay in town. Is there a chance that you could determine when the cup was produced? Thanks! --Harry
Harry, I emailed you. Did you get the email?
I just bought a 15 gallon copper stock pot. It's marked W.F. Dougherty 1009 Arch St Phila. in a diamond. No "& Sons" though. I was hoping to date it, and wondering if you knew when the "& Sons" was added to the trademark. Once I get a picture up on the internet I'll be happy to send along a link. The thing is a MONSTER. It weighs about 35 lbs, not including the lid, and has cast iron handles with 4 copper rivets per. I can't say for certain, but I'd be willing to bet it was for a hotel kitchen. Totally impractical for home use, but it's a beauty.
I just purchased a Dougherty pan on ebay. If you would like me to send pictures of the pan to you let me know... Edward
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