Franklin Sugar Refinery

The Franklin Sugar Refinery, established in 1866 in Philadelphia, was a significant player in the sugar refining industry, processing up to two million pounds of sugar daily by 1892. Initially a local enterprise, it expanded rapidly and was sold to the American Sugar Refining Company in 1892, contributing to a monopoly in the industry. The refinery sourced raw sugar from Cuba and Louisiana, often tied to the labor of enslaved and marginalized workers. Despite a devastating fire in 1882, which caused a million-dollar loss, the refinery continued operations until its closure in 1925, when the site became part of the I-95 highway. Today, it stands as a historical reminder of the industrial and labor practices of its time.