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Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Missing Pastorius Plague Marker in Queens Village





Librarian and Archivist Mr. Alexander Bartlett over at the Germantown Historical Society most graciously replied to an email inquiry by myself regarding the Pastorious marker in Queens Village - moved from its original site per I-95 construction. 

I think he will not mind if I share this:

"...However, in the vicinity of the tablet, demolition to make way for I-95 did not extend to the west side of Front Street. Also, Naudain Street has existed for well over 150 years, if not more. In the photograph of the dedication ceremony, the right of way of Naudain Street is visible at the left, particularly in the background shown as a gap between the buildings. The plaque was placed immediately to the north of the street. Unfortunately no one knows when the plaque disappeared, or where it wandered off to. Sadly, my guess is that the city either removed it at some point in the past, or it was stolen. Either way, it probably no longer exists..."



He then also suggested an article at the Southwark Historical Society by Jim Murphy.

https://southwarkhistory.org/gone-missing-the-bronze-historical-marker-of-francis-daniel-pastorius/

"...The location, though, is important. It’s the home of the man who founded Germantown. He drafted the first anti-slavery document in America in 1688. And the first 13 German settlers he represented drew straws here for their lots on October 25, 1683.
His “home” was actually a cave, 15 feet wide and 30 feet long,  “half under and half above ground.” It furnished shelter for some 20 people while their houses were being built in Germantown.
Over the door, Pastorius wrote an inscription that translates as: “A little house, but a friend to the good, keep away, ye profane!” When William Penn saw it, Pastorius says, he “burst into laughter, and encouraged me to keep on building.”
The now-missing 28-by-48-inch bronze plaque was placed on Pastorius’ house October 25, 1924. Like 25 others, it was designed by famous architect Paul Philippe Cret. Later, the Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Commission developed the blue and gold historical markers you see today.
William Penn agreed to let Pastorius purchase three lots in the city behind each other at Front, Second and Third Streets. The first two were “a hundred feet broad and four hundred long.” Lot #1 was carved out of William Penn Jr.’s land at the northwest corner of Front and Cedar Street (now South Street.) He was three years of age at the time. ..."

If anybody does run into a present whereabouts of this Pastorius Historical Marker please contact the Germantown Historical Society 

library@germantownhistory.org

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Seasons Greeting to the Troops Overseas - Public Ledger 15 Nov 1917





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Monday, November 27, 2017

Pleasant Hill Park and Beach - Linden Avenue at Delaware River - 1920




Bureau of City Property 1920:



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My dad used to use this beach as a kid. He would have been five at time of this photo. The beach was closed when we went there in the sixties for a half picnic of sorts after a Saturday ride to the hinterlands north along State Road. Back then there was an embankment about fifteen feet above the river level with a iron fence above a three foot or so brick wall. Also a closed and padlocked gate to the river where the beach used to be down a double staircase against the embankment wall. The bottom of these concrete stairs where missing and washed away about two thirds of the way down to the river.  In the sixties you could drive up on parkland and the park was under the canopy of old growth oak trees with lots of shade. A say half picnic, sandwiches in the car and sodas from a cooler. No barbequing allowed. My father's primary reason for a journey to this old park over the river was the shade of these big trees. Perfect place to Turtle Wax the old DeSoto.

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Thursday, November 23, 2017

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Womrath Bronze Marker - Womrath Park - Frankford and Kensington Aves. - 1962




Marker on a boulder in a park commemorating the first mortgage in the area in 1831.  I don't have a transcription of the tablet. 

Dec. 8, 2020 (inscription courtesy of J. Rowe)

On January 3,1891 a group of citizens of the borough of Frankford Pennsylvania assembled at the Thomas Sidebothm's Inn, then situated about 200 feet due east of this spot, to organize the first co operative, home financing institution in the United States of America. On that date Issac Shallcross, Issac Whitlock, Dr Henry Taylor, Jeremiah Horrocks Samuel Filling, Jessi Y Castor, and others of the Frankford Townspeople drew up the articles of the Oxford Provident Building Association of Philadelphia County. / On the foundations laid for this institution has arisen the system of savings, building and loan associations which during its first century spread into the forty eight states and fostered the building of eight million American homes. /
To commemorate their conta????tion to the extension of home ownership and to the consequent strengthening of individual liberty on the basis of the family dwelling, the United States building and loan legacy erected this tablet.
August 1931
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Thursday, November 16, 2017

Midvale Steel - Ordinance Machine Shop No. 4 - Nicetown - 1916


Midvale Steel - Ordinance Machine Shop No. 4 - Nicetown - 1916









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Dedication of Commodore John Barry Statue - March 16, 1907

Dedication of Commodore John Barry Statue - March 16, 1907






Twelve year old great great grandniece of Commodore Barry who did the unveiling. 








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