Sometime, things do work out.  What has been a long campaign waged by several neighborhood groups is showing some real results.  The groundbreaking for the reconstruction of the Greenwood Estate at Rush Farm was held on Friday, April 30th.  It was a beautiful day and a good crowd of the folks who made it all possible was on hand.

The house, located on property once owned by Founding Father Dr. Benjamin Rush, was recently named Greenwood Estate at Rush Farm. Speakers at the event include Cornel Williams, Manager, Philadelphia Healthcare Properties, Inc., Michelle Mardenborough, President, Greenwood Cemetery, Joanne Clare, Chief Director, Friends of Greenwood, and Barry Howell, President of Northwood Civic Association.

Participating elected officials included State Reps. Anthony Payton and John Taylor, along with City Councilman Daryl Clarke. They were joined by special guest 90-year-old Betty Ewart, who lived in the cemetery caretaker’s house as a young girl, and community leaders, the new cemetery owners and preservation team members. They all worked together in an unprecedented effort to save this beloved but neglected ₁₉th century residence from the wrecker’s ball.

Below you can see a short video of the ceremony and an exclusive look inside the first floor of the house.

If you have time on Friday, don’t forget the groundbreaking for the restoration of this old house.  As a result of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America involvement, the Knights of Pythias/Greenwood Cemetery is seeing some long overdue, monumental changes.  The ceremony will be on Friday April 30th at 10:00 AM.

• Frankford Garden Club Meeting
  When – Tue, April 27, 6:30pm – 7:30pm

  Where -  Wissinoming Recreation Facility (map)

  Description – we need to iron out Plant Sale plans and plan more trips! Bring your ideas and a bite to eat. Coffee and tea provided by Nancy.
• Groundbreaking of the restoration of the historic house at Greenwood Cemetery
  When – Fri, April 30, 10am – 11am

  Where – Greenwood Cemetery – Adams Avenue (map)
• Frankford Special Services District Board Meeting
  When – Mon, May 3, 8:30am – 9:30am

  Where – St. Mark’s Church, 4442 Frankford Ave, Griscom Street entrance. (map)

  Description – Open to the public.
• Rachael Ray Shines on Frankford High
  When – Mon, May 3, 10am – 11am

  Where – TV ABC (map)

  Description – Rachael Ray show comes to Frankford.
• PSA 1 meeting
  When – Tue, May 4, 7pm – 8pm

  Where – Aria Health, Frankford and Dyre Streets, second floor conference room (map)

  Description – Patrol Sector Area 1 – bring your crime issues directly to the 15th district captain.
• Frankford Civic Association Meeting
  When – Thu, May 6, 7pm – 8pm

  Where – Frankford Hospital – 2nd floor conference room (map)
• Frankford Garden Club Annual Day-Before-Mother’s Day Plant Sale
  When – Sat, May 8, 9am – 10am

  Where – In Front of the Frankford Library, corner of Frankford Ave and Overington St (map)

  Description – We will have “Growing from Seed” Workshop at the Sale and at the Park VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
• LOVE Your Park Day in Overington Park Planting, Mulching Flower Beds and “Growing From Seeds” Workshop
  When – Sat, May 8, 12pm – 3pm

  Where – Overington Park (map)

  Description – LOVE Your Park Day in Overington Park Planting, Mulching Flower Beds and “Growing From Seeds” Workshop
• Historical Society of Frankford program
  When – Tue, May 11, 7:30pm – 9:00pm

  Where1507 Orthodox St., Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)

  Description – FRANKFORD’s “SLOW FOOD” EFFORTS and LEGACY HSF Collections and Frankford Friends School Students HSF’s 2010 exhibit features aspects of food in Frankford and the Northeast. Frankford Friends School students have been researching food, urban farming (such as Kensington’s Greensgrow Farms — national leader in urban farming), and other aspects of slow food. View HSF’s display of historic food use, preparation, and storage items.
• Happy Birthday Frankford High Open House
  When – Sat, May 15, 10am – 3pm

  Where – Frankford High, Oxford Ave. & Wakeling St. Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)

  Description – Join us for a full day of fun, food and reminiscing!! FHS students, staff and alumni are invited Be a part of the fun! Tours of the Building Memorabilia rooms Gathering spaces for clubs, teams, and music groups Frankford Souvenirs Tickets will be on sale for the 100th Anniversary Banquet November 26th Current
• Italian Style Family Dinner
  When – Sat, May 15, 4:30pm – 8:00pm

  Where – St. Joachim’s Church, 1527 Church Street, Phila., PA 19124 (map)

  Description – MARK YOUR CALENDAR Every Third Wednesday from September thru May Italian Style Family Dinner The Dinners will be served from 4:30 PM to 8 PM in Fitzmaurice Hall Take-out will be available. COST: $8.00 for Adults, $4.00 for Children. Come Join us!
• ANTIQUE (and COLLECTIBLE) APPRAISAL FAIR
  When – Sun, May 16, 10am – 3pm

  Where – Historical Society of Frankford, 1507 Orthodox Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)

  Description – ANTIQUE (and COLLECTIBLE) APPRAISAL FAIR Annual fundraiser. Have your cherished items appraised by local appraiser/auctioneer Barry S Slosberg. Who knows — you may have a priceless treasure just waiting to be discovered! Cost: $8 per item; maximum 3 items per person.

A study commissioned by the owners of Greenwood Cemetery and the Philadelphia Historical Commission into the purported residence of Benjamin Rush has found the house was built between 1830 and 1850, precluding the possibility that the Signer of the Declaration of Independence could have spent any time inside it since he died in 1813.   It would have been a nice feather in the area’s cap if it had been Rush’s house since he was a player in the country’s founding and it would have led to more speculation as to what other founding fathers may have visited or even stayed in the house.

It’s still an old house though and the press release indicates that these findings clear the way for the structure’s restoration back into it’s correct historical context, i.e. a house from the middle 1800s.  It also coincides with the re internment of some 3000 graves currently being moved from the back of the cemetery to the front so that Cancer Centers Of America may build a parking lot and possibly buildings on land adjacent to their center.

The Inquirer today has an update of the process of relocating as many as 3,000 graves in Greenwood Cemetery.  Get the details here.