The Castings is a collection of industrial buildings dating from the 18th & 19th century that were converted to residential use in 1986.
Joseph Oat Corporation (originally Joseph Oat and Sons) is the oldest continuously operating industrial fabrication business in the United States. Started by Jesse Oat in 1788, the company sold copper works such as kettles and utensils, competing with other craftsmen including Paul Revere. Jesse’s son, Joseph continued in his father’s footsteps adding brass and sheet-iron work to the product offering. The business was renamed The Joseph Oat and Son Co. in 1829. Exquisite copper plates and lamps became the company’s forte. They also built stills, steam engine boilers, and pressure vessels for soda water bottlers.
Ownership of Joseph Oat and Sons remained in the Oat family until the late 1800’s, when the business was sold to their accountant. In 1966, the business was acquired by its current owners, and the name changed to Joseph Oat Corporation.
It was located at 232 - 34 Quarry St. from 1831 until 1970. The present owners won a very large contract that the Quarry St. site could not accommodate. In addition, the surrounding streets were too narrow to accommodate the trucks needed for the project. This prompted a move to its current complex in Camden, New Jersey.
The property was added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 1984.
1847 ad
1972, Quarry St
Comments