55 E Wister St
Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA

Daniel F. Waters Germantown Dye Works, 37-55 East Wister St Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

The Daniel F. Waters Germantown Dye Works is representative of the historical development of the textile industry in Germantown, which was a nationally significant center of textile production in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Dye works were historically located in textile-production areas to facilitate transportation and use of their dyes for coloring fabrics. The major expansions of the Germantown Dye Works in the 1870s and first two decades of the twentieth century illustrate the company`s corporate success and response to market demand for high quality dyes and colored fabric. The Germantown Dye Works was one of Germantown`s most extensive dye works establishments by the 1880s. Evolving with the technological innovations of the dye and chemical industries, the Germantown Dye Works remained in operation until the plant finally closed in 1981.

Daniel F. Waters Germantown Dye Works, Building A, 37-55 East Wister St Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

This structure was originally constructed as the dwelling of William Mills, the founder of the Germantown Dye Works.

Daniel F. Waters Germantown Dye Works, Building B, 37-55 East Wister St Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Building B is significant because it served as the office of the Germantown Dye Works, and is one of the earlier structures on the site.

Daniel F. Waters Germantown Dye Works, Building C, 37-55 East Wister St Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Building C originally served as William Mills` dyehouse. Although Building C is not Mills` original dyehouse, its large scale represents the growth and prosperity of the dye works in the 1870s.

Daniel F. Waters Germantown Dye Works, Building D, 37-55 East Wister St Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Building D remains from William Mills` proprietorship of the Germantown Dye Works. Essentially an extension of Building C, Building D represents the continued growth and expansion of the dye works. It is also one of the few buildings at the dye works that presents a street facade.

Daniel F. Waters Germantown Dye Works, Building E, 37-55 East Wister St Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Building E is the last building William Mills erected. Along with Buildings C and D, Building E forms a nucleus of older industrial buildings associated with William Mills.

Daniel F. Waters Germantown Dye Works, Building F, 37-55 East Wister St Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Building F is a dye house built by Daniel F. Waters during this expansion of the Germantown Dye Works in the first decade of this century.

Daniel F. Waters Germantown Dye Works, Building G, 37-55 East Wister St Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

This c. 1907 dye house was part of Daniel F. Waters early expansion.

Daniel F. Waters Germantown Dye Works, Building H, 37-55 East Wister St Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

This c. 1900 storehouse was part of Daniel F. Waters` early expansion.

Daniel F. Waters Germantown Dye Works, Building I, 37-55 East Wister St Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

This 1862 structure, the original Mills` dyeing room, was remodeled in a later corporate expansion in 1877.