Building a New Society
In addition to meeting each other on job sites, The Carpenters’ Company’s early members served together on City Council, fought fires with bucket brigades and small hand drawn engines, created new civic and business opportunities. They worked to build Pennsylvania Hospital, and some, notably Samuel Rhoads and Joseph Fox, served as early directors of The Philadelphia Contributionship, the nation’s oldest property insurance company. They met each other at the Library Company, and worshipped together at the city’s meeting house and churches. Many were leaders of their 18th century town and like many small town residents pitched in to improve the quality of life for their fellow citizens. The following are only a few examples of the contributions made by these early members.