Diamond Street Scene

Caption on the back of the photograph reads, "Diamond Street (now Forbes Avenue) scene, looking west toward the Diamond Market House in the background." Note the trucks and other vehicles parked illegally despite the "No Parking" sign and the patrol policeman. The first market opened in this location in 1787 and by 1791, the Penn Family set the land aside for public use. It was commonly called the Diamond and was similar to the Philadelphia’s City Hall Square. The Diamond Market was at Market Square from 1915-1961. It was a massive masonry building encompassing 11,000 square feet including main arches that spanned Diamond Street, which is now Forbes Avenue.