History Of The Falls Housing Project

East Falls Housing Project


Before the City of Philadelphia built the East Falls housing project , the land was own and occupied by a 19th century chemical plant which provided houses for the workman and their families up on the hill behind the plant. This section of East Falls was known as Laboratory Hill.

The chemical plant made alcohol which caused the production of many obnoxious gases. During the Civil War, the plant made a lot of money because of the high cost of quinine that was used.

Laboratory Hill became Merck Chemical before it closed and the land bought by the City for low cost houses.

Today, the Falls Housing Project no longer exists. In its place is a new housing development complete with single family homes, senior citizen housing and stores in an effort to revitalize the area.