Lazaretto Receives State Funds for Study

Drawing by Frank H. Taylor,1895. HABS, PA, 23-ESTO, 1-2

The historic 1799 Lazaretto – the first quarantine station for the city of Philadelphia, and believed to be the last surviving example of its type in the country – will be the subject of a feasibility study to determine the best, most viable means to protect, restore, and reuse the historic site which is situated on the Delaware River in Tinicum Township just south of Philadelphia International Airport. The Delaware County township is the recipient of $200,000 in state funds obtained through the efforts of state Rep. Ron Raymond (R.,Del. Co.), and state Sen. Bell (R., Del. Co.) and Sen. Erikson (R., Del. Co.) with the support of a wide array of preservationists including the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, the National Park Service, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Since being bought by private developers Island Marine Partners almost two years ago, the Lazaretto has been threatened with demolition and the site redeveloped as remote parking for the airport. (The township has no protective preservation ordinance in place.)

In reaction to that threat, Tinicum Township authorized the formation of a Lazaretto Feasibility Committee to explore strategies to save and restore the landmark. The committee reached the conclusion that major fundraising efforts to acquire and restore the property would be limited until a re-use feasibility study determined the course(s) of action that would have likelihood of success.

Fortunately, discussions with the current owners indicate that the historic property could be acquired by others sympathetic to the building’s restoration. In the meantime, the owners have not indicated that the Lazaretto will be demolished in the near future.

One possibility is that part of the state grant money might be used to obtain an option on the property, so that it is protected during the time that a feasibility study is conducted. It is presumed that a team of consultants experienced in historic-property development will be retained to conduct the study. The Preservation Alliance intends to continue to advocate for the Lazaretto, and advise the township during the study.

The Lazaretto site once had many buildings, and the main structure, built in 1799, still stands near the center of the 10-acre riverfront property. For nearly 100 years, the cargo, crews, and passengers on ships coming up the Delaware to Philadelphia were inspected at the Lazaretto for communicable diseases such as smallpox. If infections were found both cargo and passengers would be quarantined at the Lazaretto’s isolated location.

Thousands of quarantined passengers were once detained at the Lazaretto’s hospital in the 19th century, where they either recovered or died. Sadly, many diseased immigrants were returned to their native lands having set foot in the new world only at the Lazaretto.