Metadata
Title
Edward A. Foggo statement on the sinking of the floor in the new parish building, 1873 April 17
Date
1873-04-17
Digital Identifier
ChristChurch.CorporationCorrespondence_4-2-0-63
Call Number
4.2.0.63; F551
Description
Statement by the Rev. Edward A. Foggo, rector of Christ Church, Philadelphia, addressed to William White Wiltbank, concerning the dangerous sinking of the floor in the new parish building during a magic lantern exhibition attended by Sunday school children and their parents. Foggo reports that the floor in the northeast section of the upper room had visibly depressed because the joists were too long and lacked proper support, and that the ceiling below had cracked.
Foggo writes that he urged the Rev. Mr. Hodge to close the event immediately and reflects that a serious disaster was narrowly averted. He compares the potential accident to recent disasters in England and Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and thanks God that the room was emptied before calamity occurred.
Foggo writes that he urged the Rev. Mr. Hodge to close the event immediately and reflects that a serious disaster was narrowly averted. He compares the potential accident to recent disasters in England and Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and thanks God that the room was emptied before calamity occurred.
Subject
Place
Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Congregation
Christ Church, Philadelphia, PA
Extent
1 document
Format (Digital)
tiff
Rights
http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/
Language
eng
Type
Text
Abstract
In this statement dated April 17, 1873, the Rector of Christ Church, Edward A. Foggo, describes an incident involving the sinking of the floor in the new parish building. In the fall of the previous year, the assistant minister held a magic lantern exhibition in the upper room used for the Sunday School, which was filled with children and their parents [p. 1r]. Toward the close of the exhibition, the sexton informed the rector that the floor in the northeast section of the room was sinking, and the depression was marked enough to be perceptible when walking on it [p. 1r].
Foggo hastened to the Rev. Mr. Hodge, urging him to close the event immediately, and the room was emptied within minutes. Upon examination, he found that the joists were too long and lacked proper support, causing the floor to yield in that corner and the ceiling in the room below to crack for some distance [p. 1v]. He reflected that a little more strain could have produced a disaster paralleling recent tragedies in England and in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Foggo expressed his relief and gratitude that the calamity was averted through providence, noting his fear of being held responsible by the parents had an accident occurred [p. 1v]. The statement was directed to William White Wiltbank.
Foggo hastened to the Rev. Mr. Hodge, urging him to close the event immediately, and the room was emptied within minutes. Upon examination, he found that the joists were too long and lacked proper support, causing the floor to yield in that corner and the ceiling in the room below to crack for some distance [p. 1v]. He reflected that a little more strain could have produced a disaster paralleling recent tragedies in England and in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Foggo expressed his relief and gratitude that the calamity was averted through providence, noting his fear of being held responsible by the parents had an accident occurred [p. 1v]. The statement was directed to William White Wiltbank.
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