1027 Arch Street, Philadelphia PA 19107
© Helene Schenck & Michael
Parrington, Workshop of the World (Oliver Evans Press,
1990).
The Pitcairn Building is an
eight-story commercial building located at the northeast
corner of 12th and Arch Streets. The building was
designed by the Philadelphia architects, G.W. and W.D.
Hewitt, who also designed the Philadelphia Bourse and the
Bellevue-Stratford Hotel. The building is dated to 1901
by a datestone and was named for John Pitcairn
(1844-1916), president and co-founder of the Pittsburgh
Plate Glass Company. The company used the building as a
prestigious office and warehouse building until 1923 when
it was acquired by H. Daroff and Sons.
Daroff was a Jew from Russia who capitalized on the
opportunities for ready-to-wear clothing in the city.
From 1880 he was one of the major clothing manufacturers
in Philadelphia and by the 1920s his company was making
an important contribution to the 3.6 million suits
produced annually in the city.
Prior to its acquisition by Daroff the Pittsburgh Plate
Glass Company had leased portions of the Pitcairn
Building to clothing manufacturers. The two upper floors
had also been used as a bowling alley and skating rink.
The Daroff Company expanded its share of the market while
at the Pitcairn Building, and by 1945 it was a nationally
known company.
The Philadelphia clothing industry had its origins in
sweat shops located in different parts of the city. By
the 1880s the industry was becoming more mechanized, and
by the early twentieth century production had moved to
loft buildings in Center City like the Pitcairn Building.
Under these changed working conditions unions were formed
such as the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America
(ACWA), which successfully fought for better pay and
conditions. The Daroff Company was involved in one such
battle in 1929 when the ACWA struck the company.
Twenty-seven days later the company signed a contract
with the union, an example quickly followed by other
manufacturers. The Daroff Company moved to a nearby
location at 23rd and Walnut Streets in 1945. The Pitcairn
Building continues to be used for various office and
light industry purposes, and was recently rehabilitated
for office use.
Update May
2007 (by
Harry Kyriakodis):
Still standing. Following a
$22 million renovation, the Pitcairn Building has
recently become a loft condominium called "1027 Arch
Street Lofts."