In the era before refrigeration and supermarkets, open –air markets provided vendors with a place to sell fresh food. The first public market in
Philadelphia was located on High Street ( now
Market Street). Then in 1745, a "new market” was started at 2nd and Pine for the convenience of the growing population in the neighborhoods of Society Hill and Southwark ( now
Queens
Village). Farmers would arrive the night before market days and park their wagons in the stalls along the shambles. If need be they could find food, drink & lodging at the Old Plough Tavern, known today as the Dark Horse Pub. In 1805 , the Head House building was erected at the end of the shambles to serve as the local firehouse with a second floor attached that acted as meeting rooms for the volunteer firefighters. Private citizens raised the funds for the clock and the alarm bell, which would ring to announce fires and also the opening opf market days. The shambles used to extend down to
South Street, which end in another Head House. Unfortunately , it was razed in 1860. Our side was saved from demolition and repaired in 1962. Today, it is recognized as a National Historic Landmark and maintained by the Head House Conservancy.
