Colorforms - Popeye - May 1958 - Tacony Street Philadelphia

Uncle Russ playing with my Popeye Colorforms Cartoon Kit - May 1958 - backyard Tacony Street house now under I-95 across from Frankford Arsenal. Arm in the air imitating Popeye's arm muscle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorforms

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Audsley / Saint Joan of Arc (Martyr's) Cross - Joan of Arc School Harrowgate Philadelphia

Audsley / Saint Joan of Arc Cross

Page 98...

"Day by day we awaited the arrival of the steam shovel. After what seemed an

endless delay it arrived on December 13 (1921). The cement footings were laid 

at once before the ground, which was of the firmest brick clay, had any chance

of falling in. Then came the frost and we had to wait once more. the winter

was very mild and it was possible for the stone masons to lay the heavy

foundations in the early part of January. They brought them up to ground

level.

The first plans provided that the auditorium should be about eighteen feet

below the ground level. The City Hall, however, raised an objection. If this

arrangement was to be followed it would be necessary to provide ramps

instead of stairways for the exits; and this in turn would mean the building of

a retaining wall that would have increased the price by many thousands of

dollars. Mr. Audsley met the difficulty by raising the whole building and

providing plans for a new front elevation to harmonize with the alteration. It

was a satisfactory change. The proximity of the neighboring houses really

made it desirable to place the school-rooms as high as possible. 

The basement auditorium was changed into a temporary Church. This is the

explanation of its character. We had previously intended to hold services

temporarily on the first school floor. It was well that this difficulty occurred,

for it was not many years before we needed more space for school rooms

than one floor would have provided.

On January 24 the steel began to arrive. The building was to be completely

fire-proof; even the floors were to be nailed to a new cement with the use of

sleepers. Practically no wood entered into the construction, or the

partitions were built later on from gypsum. 

Early in February the bricklayers strike was settled. Our building was the first to profit by it; indeed, it was by persuading Mr. Melody to withdraw from the Masters Builders Committee that we were able to bring this happy solution of a very serious situation.

Throughout the month of February the brickwork progressed like magic,

whilst the great steel columns and beams were being erected. I tried my had

at riveting and was able to put in a few bolts under close supervision. I learnt

then what heavy work it was to sit aloft and bear the constant vibration of the

compressed air riveter. The cement of the first floor was poured on March

16th. I remember the occasion very well. From our elevation we could see

the Delaware river and there was a fresh breeze flowing. My friend, the

building inspector, with whom I had once a controversy, was watching the

proceedings and he expressed his admiration for the strength of the

construction.

We left a portion of the wall at the south-western corner below level so that

the solemnity of the corner stone laying might take place in fair weather.

Bishop Crane officiated on Palm Sunday. Before the ceremony the

Bricklayers Union requested the pleasure of making him an honorary

member of their guild to record the settlement of the strike. Bishop Crane

was compelled to refuse this kind suggestion for reasons that are obvious.

Mr. Audsley appeared in his best and superintended the laying of the

beautiful stone that he had designed, a gift of the stone contractor. In it were

placed various articles destined to prove the date of the event....

By the end of May the brickwork was finished and in another month the roof

was on. The plastering began at once. On July 2 the first mass was said in

the new building on the middle floor. For one month the Sunday masses

were celebrated in this inconvenient place, the floor being of unfinished

cement. The plasters completed their work in the Auditorium by the end of

July. On August 6 mass was said here, the floor being still unfinished.

Everything was practically in order by October 8 [1922].

The motif of a cross within a circle that appeared on the school's corner

stone had been earlier used by Audsley on the family monument at Mount Hope

Cemetery in Yonkers, New York. It would serve as the marker of his final 

resting place upon his death on 21 June 1925."

http://wanamakerorgan.com/08/pdf/audsley.pdf

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