William C. Goodridge - Entrepreneur
Image taken from Enterprising Images: The Goodridge Brothers, African American Photographers 1847-1922
by John Vincent Jezierski
Between 1824 and 1858 William Goodridge owned and operated impressive business holdings in the City of York. The first of these was a small barber shop in Center Square of which he was originally an employee. After working there less than a year he bought the shop from his employer and went into business for himself. He used this barber shop as a basis for his later businesses, quickly turning it into a variety store as well as a barber shop. This variety shop would have an ever expanding inventory of cosmetics, jewelry, toys and other items throughout its existence. Goodridge also sold his own baldness cure he that called "Oil of Celsus and Balm of Minerva" out of his shop and would eventually be sold in several local cities. In 1840 his shop briefly expanded to South Seventh Street in Philadelphia. Though this enterprise was not successful it does show that Goodridge had earned enough in York to expand and was bold enough to take the risk.
by John Vincent Jezierski
Between 1824 and 1858 William Goodridge owned and operated impressive business holdings in the City of York. The first of these was a small barber shop in Center Square of which he was originally an employee. After working there less than a year he bought the shop from his employer and went into business for himself. He used this barber shop as a basis for his later businesses, quickly turning it into a variety store as well as a barber shop. This variety shop would have an ever expanding inventory of cosmetics, jewelry, toys and other items throughout its existence. Goodridge also sold his own baldness cure he that called "Oil of Celsus and Balm of Minerva" out of his shop and would eventually be sold in several local cities. In 1840 his shop briefly expanded to South Seventh Street in Philadelphia. Though this enterprise was not successful it does show that Goodridge had earned enough in York to expand and was bold enough to take the risk.
Image taken from Enterprising Images: The Goodridge Brothers, African American Photographers 1847-1922
by John Vincent Jezierski
Goodridge was not above taking risks with his businesses and was always trying his hand at new enterprises. The above advertisement is for an employment agency Goodridge operated in 1840. One of the more creative business dealings Goodridge was involved with was in the winter of 1840 when he installed an unusually elaborate Christmas tree in his home on E. Philadelphia Street and charged people to see it (see ad below). This idea was encouraged by his wife and business partner Evalina. Not all of his enterprises were successful though. In 1832 Goodridge opened a public bath house in the back of his shop. See ad below. After the initial run of newspaper advertisements, mention of the bath house never appeared again. This implies that the venture was a failure.
by John Vincent Jezierski
Goodridge was not above taking risks with his businesses and was always trying his hand at new enterprises. The above advertisement is for an employment agency Goodridge operated in 1840. One of the more creative business dealings Goodridge was involved with was in the winter of 1840 when he installed an unusually elaborate Christmas tree in his home on E. Philadelphia Street and charged people to see it (see ad below). This idea was encouraged by his wife and business partner Evalina. Not all of his enterprises were successful though. In 1832 Goodridge opened a public bath house in the back of his shop. See ad below. After the initial run of newspaper advertisements, mention of the bath house never appeared again. This implies that the venture was a failure.
Images taken from Enterprising Images: The Goodridge Brothers, African American Photographers 1847-1922
by John Vincent Jezierski
by John Vincent Jezierski
Image taken from Enterprising Images: The Goodridge Brothers, African American Photographers 1847-1922
by John Vincent Jezierski
Probably the best known of Goodridge's enterprises was his railroad freight service. He owned several railroad cars and for a fee would ship goods along the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad to Philadelphia. Know as the "Reliance Line of Burthen Cars" Goodridge had wide varieties of goods hauled in these cars. He began operating this service in 1842, but it is not clear when the service ceased. Advertisements like the one above ran until 1851, but it is reported that the service may have operated as late as 1859. It is also reported that this service played an important role in Goodridge's Underground Railroad operations. It is said he used his cars to haul runaway slaves to Philadelphia. It has been reported that the runaways involved in the Christiana Riot of 1851 were transported there on Goodridge's cars. It is also believed that this was the route that John Brown's lieutenant Osborne Perry Anderson escaped to Philadelphia after their raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859.
by John Vincent Jezierski
Probably the best known of Goodridge's enterprises was his railroad freight service. He owned several railroad cars and for a fee would ship goods along the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad to Philadelphia. Know as the "Reliance Line of Burthen Cars" Goodridge had wide varieties of goods hauled in these cars. He began operating this service in 1842, but it is not clear when the service ceased. Advertisements like the one above ran until 1851, but it is reported that the service may have operated as late as 1859. It is also reported that this service played an important role in Goodridge's Underground Railroad operations. It is said he used his cars to haul runaway slaves to Philadelphia. It has been reported that the runaways involved in the Christiana Riot of 1851 were transported there on Goodridge's cars. It is also believed that this was the route that John Brown's lieutenant Osborne Perry Anderson escaped to Philadelphia after their raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859.
Image taken from Enterprising Images: The Goodridge Brothers, African American Photographers 1847-1922
by John Vincent Jezierski
William Goodridge was also more than just a business owner; he was also a real estate investor. Goodridge purchased the house on East Philadelphia Street in 1827. This was his first acquisition of real estate. He added to this with five rental properties between 1832 and 1835. In 1843 Goodridge purchased the building and lot on center square that housed his barber shop and variety store. In 1845 he purchased three more buildings on a lot on the southwest corner of center square, directly across from his barber shop. Two years later he sold this property for a profit and constructed a massive five story building on the lot occupied by his barber shop. This was refered to as Center Hall and was the tallest building in York when it was built in 1847. Goodridge had his barber and variety shop on the first floor and then rented the rest. The top floor was occupied by a photography studio operated by Goodridge's son, Glenalvin. He continued to speculate in real estate through the 1850s and according to John Vincent Jezierski, author of The Goodridge Brothers, by 1858 "he owned a major business block, a substantial townhouse, and at least eighteen other parcels of property." Goodridge also reportedly used some these properties for hiding runaway slaves. He is also said to have hidden runaways in a crawlspace under the kitchen floor in his East Philadelphia Street home. This crawlspace was discovered upon the homes renovation and will be included in the Goodridge Freedom House Museum.
It is important to note that Goodridge was not alone in acquiring these properties. His wife Evalina is also listed on these deeds and acted as Goodridge's business partner in all his ventures. Therefore, her death in 1852 left Goodridge not only a widower, but also without his business partner. After 1852 he began to speculate in riskier and riskier holdings, incurring more debt than he ever did when Evalina was alive. This caught up with him when the economy crashed after the Crimean War in 1857. All of Goodridge's holdings, including his home on East Philadelphia Street, were sold at a sheriff's sale a year later. Though he continued to occupy this home and operate his barber shop, it was on a rental basis. He never owned property in York again.
by John Vincent Jezierski
William Goodridge was also more than just a business owner; he was also a real estate investor. Goodridge purchased the house on East Philadelphia Street in 1827. This was his first acquisition of real estate. He added to this with five rental properties between 1832 and 1835. In 1843 Goodridge purchased the building and lot on center square that housed his barber shop and variety store. In 1845 he purchased three more buildings on a lot on the southwest corner of center square, directly across from his barber shop. Two years later he sold this property for a profit and constructed a massive five story building on the lot occupied by his barber shop. This was refered to as Center Hall and was the tallest building in York when it was built in 1847. Goodridge had his barber and variety shop on the first floor and then rented the rest. The top floor was occupied by a photography studio operated by Goodridge's son, Glenalvin. He continued to speculate in real estate through the 1850s and according to John Vincent Jezierski, author of The Goodridge Brothers, by 1858 "he owned a major business block, a substantial townhouse, and at least eighteen other parcels of property." Goodridge also reportedly used some these properties for hiding runaway slaves. He is also said to have hidden runaways in a crawlspace under the kitchen floor in his East Philadelphia Street home. This crawlspace was discovered upon the homes renovation and will be included in the Goodridge Freedom House Museum.
It is important to note that Goodridge was not alone in acquiring these properties. His wife Evalina is also listed on these deeds and acted as Goodridge's business partner in all his ventures. Therefore, her death in 1852 left Goodridge not only a widower, but also without his business partner. After 1852 he began to speculate in riskier and riskier holdings, incurring more debt than he ever did when Evalina was alive. This caught up with him when the economy crashed after the Crimean War in 1857. All of Goodridge's holdings, including his home on East Philadelphia Street, were sold at a sheriff's sale a year later. Though he continued to occupy this home and operate his barber shop, it was on a rental basis. He never owned property in York again.