Hog Island, Philadelphia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hog Island
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Workers reading The Hog Island News in 1918
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 Hog Island
Location in Philadelphia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Delaware |
| City | Tinicum Township |
| Area code(s) | 215, 267 and 445 |
Hog Island is the historic name for an area in Pennsylvania, United States. It is located along the Delaware River, near the mouth of the Schuylkill River. Today, the land that was once Hog Island is where the Philadelphia International Airport is located.
Contents
History
Early Days of Hog Island
Long ago, in 1680, European settlers bought Hog Island from the Lenape tribe. The Lenape were the native people of this area. The settlers slowly changed the island. They built walls of logs and earth, called dikes. These dikes helped protect the land from storms. They also turned the marshy areas into good fields for animals to graze. It is believed that Hog Island got its name because local residents let their pigs roam freely there. No fences were needed to keep them in!
Building Ships for War
In 1917, during World War I, the U.S. government needed many ships. They hired a company called American International Shipbuilding Corp. to build ships and a huge shipyard on Hog Island. At that time, Hog Island became the largest shipyard in the world! It had 50 slipways, which are special ramps where ships are built and launched into the water.
In 1918, a 4.5-mile (7.2 km) rail line was built. This line connected Hog Island to the city of Philadelphia. It was called the 60th Street Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
The first ship built there was named SS Quistconck. This name came from the Lenape name for the area. On August 5, 1918, the ship was officially named by Edith Bolling Wilson. She was the wife of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. The way ships were built at Hog Island was a new idea. They used a process called "standardized construction." This meant they built ships using the same parts and methods. The ships built here were known as "Hog Islanders." People thought they looked a bit plain, but they were very well-built.
In total, 122 Hog Islanders were built. Most of them were cargo ships, which carry goods. A few were troop transport ships, which carried soldiers. Shipbuilding continued until 1921. None of these ships were ready in time to fight in World War I. However, many of them were used later in World War II. Two large gantry cranes from the shipyard were sold. They are now in Trenton, New Jersey, and are known as the Hog Island Cranes. They are even listed on the National Register of Historic Places because they are so important to history.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers helped change Hog Island even more. They filled in the creek that separated Hog Island from the mainland. They used silt, which is like fine mud, from the shipping channels. This made Hog Island part of the mainland.
From Shipyard to Airport
Airplanes started using Hog Island in 1925. The Pennsylvania Air National Guard used a small part of it as a training field for their pilots. In 1927, the site was officially named the "Philadelphia Municipal Airport." Charles Lindbergh, a famous pilot, flew his plane, the Spirit of Saint Louis, to the dedication ceremony.
However, it took more than ten years for the airport to become the main airport for the area. The city of Philadelphia bought Hog Island from the government in 1930 for $3 million. But the Great Depression, a time of great economic hardship, slowed down the work. In the meantime, Camden Central Airport in New Jersey served as the city's main airport. Finally, the Philadelphia Municipal Airport officially opened on June 20, 1940.
Fun Fact: The Hoagie Sandwich
There is a fun story about how the hoagie sandwich got its name. Some people believe it started on Hog Island! A professor named Domenic Vitiello says that Italian workers at the old Navy Yard on Hog Island created the sandwich. They would put different meats, cheeses, and lettuce between two slices of bread. This tasty sandwich became known as the "Hog Island" sandwich. Over time, people started calling it a "hoagie."
