Lazaretto Building — Attraction in Tinicum Township

The Google marker says ‘museum’. Not sure that’s accurate, but maybe it partially will be soon. The building was abandoned for some time. I’m glad to his this richly historical, and architecturally beautiful building has not been forgotten to decay and demolition. It appears the Lazaretto Quarantine Station has been saved from the fate of becoming another parking lot because Tinicum Township is restoring her for use as their township building. Instead of me rambling on, here is an excerpt from Wikipedia of the history of this first ‘Ellis Island’:

The first quarantine station for the city of Philadelphia was erected in 1743 just southwest of where the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers meet on the modern Penrose Ferry Road. A building was erected for use by sick people arriving at the port of Philadelphia and was known as the Pest House or the Old Lazaretto. The building was sold in 1802, with the proceeds used to help pay for the newly built Lazaretto, located about six miles west.

Efforts to control disease epidemics in the City of Philadelphia did not begin in earnest until after the devastating Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793, which killed between 4,000 and 5,000 inhabitants—about one-tenth of the city's population at the time—and led the national government, which was then located there, to temporarily move out of the city. Following that epidemic, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1798 created a Board of Health, controlled by the city, with the power to levy taxes for public health measures. The following year, the city Board of Health erected the Lazaretto on a 10-acre (40,000 m2) site ten miles (16 km) south of the city on the banks of the Delaware in Tinicum Township.

In 1864, the municipal hospital of Philadelphia burned down and the board of health relocated it to the Lazaretto. Dr. J.L Forwood managed the hospital at the Lazaretto until the new building were completed.

The new quarantine station included a hospital, offices, and residences. All passenger and cargo vessels bound for the port of Philadelphia were required to dock at the Lazaretto for inspection. Passengers suspected of contagion were quarantined in the hospital, and all suspect cargo was stored in the public warehouse. The Board of Health of the City of Philadelphia operated the facility and enforced the local quarantine regulations until the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania assumed authority for enforcing quarantine regulations in 1893. After it was closed as a hospital, it was used as an...

A very successful renovation project has given this historic building a new life, so that Tinicum Township uses it as its main building! It has a commanding view of the Delaware river and it lies right across from the small Tinicum island which is a wildlife natural reserve! I think it would be true to say that the old Lazaretto building which, after its recent renovations, it now houses the administrative offices of Tinicum Twp of Delaware County, PA, may be the most beautiful location a twp building may have! Kudos to all those who had the inspiration and the wherewithal to pursue...

Really interesting place. I did not take this photo of the building it came up when I googled the Lazaretto while I was at site. It is getting a lot of hits and I need people to know it is not my photo - just found on internet. I am a newbie to posting on internet so please forgive. Despite my error THE LAZARETTO IS STILL A FASCINCAITNG PLACE - with an amazing (local) history. You should visit Recently refurbished and gradually adding historical context. New book by David Barnes describes its history. I did take the pic of the book....