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Historical Society April Program

Story and photos by John Hewitt

Tom Nickels, author of the book: Philadelphia Mansions, gave a talk at the Historical Society of Frankford on Tuesday April 9th, 2019. The talk was well received buy a packed house. Refreshments were served afterwards.

Richard Aregood on left, in blue (Pulitzer Prize winner) former editor of the Philadelphia Daily News, introduced Tom Nickels in black jacket, author of the book: Philadelphia Mansions 

Jim Young, President of the HSF, received a book of minutes and a gavel given to them by the Knights of Columbus by Tom McAvoy.  The Knights of Columbus that were housed at the Ruan House on Griscom Street Frankford for many years.  The Ruan House now houses the Grand Army of the Republic.

Tom McAvoy presents Knights of Columbus minutes book to Jim Young.

Also on this night Jim Young, Jerry Kolankiewicz, and Vanessa Couvreur won election to the board for 3 more years.

Coming up at the meeting on May 14th, Will Fenton, Ph.D., Director of Scholarly Innovation at The Library Company of Philadelphia will present: The Paxton Boys:

In December of 1763, in the aftermath of the French and Indian War and Pontiac’s Rebellion, a vigilante mob of ruthless frontiersmen of Scotch-Irish descent from Paxtang Township in central Pennsylvania, based on unfounded fear and unprovoked by any Indian hostility, massacred 20 Native Americans in Lancaster County. The “Paxton Boys” were responsible for this Conestoga Massacre.  The Paxton boys reportedly numbered as many as 1,500 members and wreaked havoc throughout the Province.