London Coffee House (Philadelphia) facts for kids
The London Coffee House, also known as the Old London Coffee House, was a very important building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the time of the Thirteen Colonies. It stood at the corner of Market Street (which was called High Street back then) and Front Street. This coffee house was a busy center for politics and business. It was also a place where many kinds of goods were traded, including enslaved people, which is a sad part of history from that time.
Contents
A Hub for Colonial Philadelphia
The London Coffee House first opened its doors in 1754. It was started by a man named William Bradford. More than 200 merchants from Philadelphia helped pay for the building. Because of this, it quickly became a popular meeting spot for them.
Business and Politics Meet Here
Merchants, ship captains, and other important people came here to talk about business. They would make deals, often just with a handshake. The governor of Pennsylvania and other government officials also visited the coffee house often. They even had their own private booths to hold meetings.
The Building's Past
The building itself was much older than the coffee house. It was built in 1702 by Charles Reed, who later became the mayor of Philadelphia. He bought the land from Letitia Penn, who was the daughter of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. William Bradford was the first person to use this building as a coffee house.
The London Coffee House was located on a very busy corner near the city's docks. This made it a perfect place for business. People would even offer to sell land over a cup of coffee.
Later Years and Demolition
The London Coffee House closed down in 1778 after the British took over Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War. It did not open again until 1783.
Challenges and Changes
The 1780s were a tough time for businesses in the city. The London Coffee House struggled with these economic problems. Because of this, it stopped being a coffee house in 1791. It was then changed into a home and a general store.
The historic London Coffee House building was eventually torn down in 1883.
Images for kids
-
Old London Coffee House building photographed in 1854
-
A 1908 drawing showing the London Coffee House when it was very popular
-
An engraving of the London Coffee House from 1845
