American Baptist Publication Society

The American Baptist Publication Society (ABPS) was established in 1824. The APBS was headquartered at other locations in Philadelphia before moving to Chestnut Street. In 1844 their address was 304 N. Third Street, and by 1869 the location was 530 Arch Street (with satellite plants in New York City, Chicago, and St. Louis, Missouri).

A devastating fire broke out in the early morning hours of February 2nd 1896 and consumed over a million dollars worth of property. The fire started in the basement of the seven-story Hazeltine building at 1416-1418 Chestnut Street, made of brick and terra cotta. The fire completely destroyed the Hazeltine building and the APBS building at 1420 Chestnut Street. The dry goods store of Homer Leboutillier and Company (1412-1414 Chestnut) was badly damaged, as was the rear of the Hotel Lafayette, which faced Broad Street. The loss to the Baptist's building was estimated at $250,000 in stock and machinery and $150,000 on the building; insurance covered only $200,000 for the goods and machinery and $115,000 on the building. Another major loss was the library of the Baptist Historical Society and hundreds of historical documents. Publishing plates in a vault in the basement were worth another $300,000 and may have been salvageable. Tenants of the Baptist's building lost about $25,000.

Architect of the new building for the APBS was the firm Frank Miles Day and Brother. Construction was by George W. Payne and Brother. The main facade, facing Chestnut Street, is a three bay-wide arcade at the ground and mezzanine level. Above are eight floors clad in brick, topped by an elaborate cornice. Above are two more stories faced in terra cotta with extra-fancy windows in French Renaissance Revival style. The triple-arched base's surface was replaced in the mid-twentieth century with marble.

The latest publications of the ABPS for 1899 were advertised in the New York Times - Saturday Review. They included the "autobiography of a bird" - Dickey Downy, and a work of fiction titled A Wind Flower; the former cost 60 cents and the later sold for a dollar. By October 1899, the Publication Society's other branches had grown with the addition of Boston, Dallas, and Atlanta. Some within the Baptists' organizations wanted the million-dollar publishing plant in Philadelphia to move to Chicago, according to a 1914 newspaper article, but this seemed unlikely given the amount that had been invested in the Philadelphia facility.

The building's interior has been renovated and now includes wireless classrooms, science labs, and a technology center for the Philadelphia Electrical & Technology Charter High School. the school was founded in 2002 by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union 98, and offers college prep and career prep courses.

American Baptist Publication Society. "New Books, '99. Advertisement." New York Times - Saturday Review (New York, NY) October 7th 1899. 687-687.

Anonymous. "The Baptist Gathering. Opening of the Great Church Conventions in this City." Washington Star (Washington, DC) May 15th 1888. 1-1.

Anonymous. "A Great Baptist Disaster. Burning of the Publication Building in Philadelphia." Watchman and Southron (Sumter, SC) February 5th 1896. 6-6.

Anonymous. "Baptist Convention to Discuss Social Service." The Sunday Star (Washington, DC) June 14th 1914. Part 7, 5-5.

Blackell, C. R. Fourteen Picture Lessons on the Lord's Prayer. Philadelphia, PA. American Baptist Publishing Society, 1869.

Bromley, G. W. Philadelphia Atlas. 1910. Digitized and georectified by Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network.

Philadelphia Architects and Buildings. American Baptist Publication Society, Holding Information. January 1st 2020. Accessed December 11th 2020. https://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/ho_display.cfm/102841.

Phila. Electrical & Technology Charter HS. Our Location, About Us. January 1st 2020. Accessed December 11th 2020. http://www.petchs.org/about/our_location.

Phila. Electrical & Technology Charter HS. Background, About Us. January 1st 2020. Accessed December 11th 2020. http://www.petchs.org/about/background.

Phillips, Lucie Dayton . A Thread of Gold. Philadelphia, PA. American Baptist Publishing Company, 1893.

Thomas, George E. NRHP Nomination of American Baptist Publication Society, or the Crozer Building. Washington, DC. National Park Service, 1979.