Frank H. Stewart

“ On February 18, 1836, Francis Hopkinson, Clerk of the District and Circuit Courts of the United States of America for the eastern district of Pennsylvania, appeared before John Swift, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, and on his oath said he was acquainted with the signatures of both Jackson and Forsyth and was satisfied they were their own and proper signatures.
The neighborhood of the old mint is rich in traditions regarding it, and it may happen that when the buildings are torn down some of them will be substantiated. ”

“ The mint was to be situated at the seat of government, then Philadelphia, and the President, in addition to the authority given him under the Act of March 3, 1791, was authorized to cause to be provided and put in proper condition such buildings as appeared to him to be necessary for carrying on the business of the mint.
The Act of March 3, 1791, approved by President Washington, authorized the establishment of a mint under such regulations as should be directed by law. This Act authorized him to cause to be engaged artists and the procurement of the necessary apparatus. ”

“ If a few 1804 dollars, which now have a record price of thirty-six hundred dollars each, should be found in the buildings, their removal would be rendered easier, provided they were found before the destruction of the buildings, but this is highly improbable, although there will undoubtedly be a few coins discovered, as there were when the building was erected on the Filbert Street lot on the site of the old mint smelting house, which is contiguous to the Seventh Street lot. ”

“ On December 30, 1792, Jefferson, then Secretary of State, wrote Pinckney, our minister to England, about the difficulty of procuring copper, and suggested Sweden as a source of supply and enclosed draft on the treasury of the United States for $10,000.
The United States of America on January 12, 1836, by deed reciting Act of Congress under date of May 1, 1830, transferred the mint grounds and buildings to Michael Kates, bell hanger, for $8,100, he having been the highest bidder at public sale. In this deed the 14-foot alley was called Sugar Alley and the ground rent again noted. ”

“ Among other traditions is one that the bullion, planchets and coins were walled up and buried during this scare. The actions of the British at Washington showed their tendency towards destruction of government property.
An old lady living in West Philadelphia has the original appointment of her ancestor, Joseph Cloud, to his position in the mint, signed by Washington. ”

“ Shubart agreed to erect within four (4) years on one of the pieces of ground one good brick kitchen, or tenement, or other brick building at least 15 feet square.
This deed was witnessed by Robert Wilson, Jr., and John Clarkson; acknowledged by Wm. Peters, justice.
This transfer shows that the High Street lots, near Seventh Street, extended at one time back to what is now Filbert Street, and also that Richard Farmer’s land was taken in whole or in part for the purpose of what then was termed an alley, and later known as Sugar Alley, then Farmers Street, and now Filbert Street. ”

“ The operations at the mint were suspended at different times because of yellow fever epidemics, and this, in connection with the scarcity of metal, and a fire at the mint and the use of coins for purely commercial purposes by coppersmiths, silversmiths and other tradesmen, accounts for the scarcity of certain coins made at “Ye Olde Mint,” under great disadvantages, when men and horses did the work now done by electricity. ”

“ He reported the lots for the buildings were too small and that this hindered the operations; and, further, that the frequent breaking of dies, which were all made in the mint, caused numerous delays. Up to September, 1794, the lands purchased had cost $4,266.66; buildings, apparatus, machines, etc., $22,720.45; copper, $15,815.51; salaries, $15,591.99, a grand total of $58,394.61, which he considered a very great amount. He remarked that a great saving could be made if the machinery could be operated by water or steam instead of manual labor or that of horses. ”

“ James Ash, high sheriff, on May 27, 1790, conveyed to Frederick Hailer the land purchased by Shubart from Farmer, together with a tenement distill house and coppers, distills, worms, cisterns, tubs and other utensils belonging to said distillery. ”

“ REAR OF 37 AND 39 NORTH SEVENTH STREET
UNDOUBTEDLY THE FIRST BRICK BUILDING ERECTED BY ACT OF CONGRESS FOR PUBLIC USE
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Ye OLDE MINT
The first United States mint buildings are indeed historical in more ways than one, and while a number of suggestions have been made for their preservation it is highly probable they will eventually be located by the means of a bronze tablet on the front of the steel and concrete structure in contemplation for the use of the Frank H. Stewart Electric Company, who now occupy the buildings adjoining them on the south and east. ”