Joe Menkevich has one foot in the 18th century and the other one here with us in the 21st.  He brought back this news account of a crime in Frankford some 226 years ago on this date.  I transcribed it myself from the pdf which you can read here to see the original text.  It is a fascinating glimpse into the past.  It is amazing that we still have these documents preserved and even more amazing that they can be accessed by those who have an interest.

Headline: Philadelphia, July 26; Article Type: News/Opinion

Paper: Columbian Herald, published as The Columbian Herald or the Patriotic Courier of North-America; Date: 08-10-1785; Issue: 82; Page: [2]; Location: Charleston, South Carolina

 

 

Philadelphia, July 26

On Saturday last was executed agreeable to the sentence passed upon him by the court of Oyer and Terminer, for committing a rape on the body of a young girl of reputable parentage, and unblemished character, the unfortunate Francis Courtney.  He was a native of Ireland and had borne a good character until the day on which he committed the crime for which he paid his life as forfeiture.  About twelve months ago he landed on these shores and for the discharge of his passage money bound himself to Mr. William Morris of this city. With this gentleman he lived to the satisfaction of his master and the family until Sunday the 3^rd inst. When instigated by the devil, and by his own lustful passions, he robbed an innocent young woman of her chastity and happiness, the circumstances of which unhappy transaction are as follow:

The unfortunate sufferer in this affair was a hired servant; born and for many years a resident of this city.  On Saturday the 11^th of June, she removed to the house of a gentleman in the country, in which she lived until the time of her misfortune.  Having been three weeks absent from her former master and mistress, she felt desirous of returning to Philadelphia and paying them a visit.  Accordingly, upon request, she obtained liberty to go to the city, and for that purpose, was favoured with a horse.  She set off from the place of her residence on Sunday morning, took breakfast and dinner with the domestics of Mr. Morris’s family; of which Courtney was one and about 5 o’clock in the afternoon, she started from town with the view of returning home —- When she had proceeded as far as Poole’s bridge, she was overtaken by Courtney, who insisted on escorting her part of the way home, tho greatly against her inclinations.

It was the intention of the girl to turn off at Frankfort Mills but was dissuaded from her design by Courtney, who assured, that he could conduct her by a better way.  Accordingly they rode in company until they came to a narrow-land, about a mile below the Jolly Post.  Down this Courtney insisted on their turning as the nearest way home — She tho’t it was not the right way, however they turned down and rode for some time, till they came to a small piece of woods.  Here Courtney’s behavior first evinced the baseness of his intentions.  He made use of hard and menacing language, which so intimidated the poor girl, that she prepared for leaping off and for attempting her escape; but his alertness unhappily exceeded her’s.  Throwing himself on the ground, he seized her, drew her from her horse and dragged her across the road.  It was in vain that the unhappy girl screamed ‘murder’ as loudly as her feeble voice would permit; in vain was it that she strove to protect herself from violation, by her own exertions.  To suppress her shrieks, Courtney twice struck her with his fist on the neck and face; once attempting to thrust his handkerchief into her mouth, and once endevoured to tie it about her throat; however by thrusting her hand between her neck and the handkerchief, she preserved herself from being strangled.  But fruitless were her efforts for the preservation of her chastity!  No fortunate traveler was at hand who could fly to her assistance and minister a timely relief!  No friend or relative to drop the tear of compassion over her misfortune, or to pour the balm of consolation into her afflicted bosom!  No!  The die was cast.  Brutal strength prevailed over female imbecility.

Two women and a man were at a distance, hearing dismal shrieks, and supposing them to be some objects in distress, made towards the place from whence the sounds proceeded.   When they approached the unhappy young woman, they perceived that she was in a most pitiable situation.  Her hair was greatly disheveled, her neck and breast extremely bruised, her clothes tattered and muddy, and altogether, she resembled more a frantic person than one possessed of reason.  She ran with lifted hands toward Mr. Glen, who was the person that came with the women to her assistance.  He avoided her;  but pointing towards Courtney, who was endevouring to carry off the horse of the injured girl; but perceiving that he was in danger of being overtaken, he mounted his own horse and fled with the utmost speed.  At the Jolly Post he was overtaken, where his horse stopped, tho greatly to the surprise and confusion of his rider.  He then cried out for help, declared that his pursuer intended to rob him.  However his artifice availed him nothing.  He was apprehended and committed to prison.  The unfortunate girl in the meantime was, with much difficulty, brought to the Jolly Post, where after repeatedly fainting away, she was conveyed to bed.  The next day she was examined by a magistrate and it was requisite that she should identify the person who had abused her, Courtney was produced.  The moment she saw him she became violently convulsed, and it was a considerable time before she was sufficiently calm to declare that he was the very person.  Nor was she less agitated when at court she was desired to look at the prisoner at the bar and declare whether he was the identical  person by whom she had been violated.  She looked up, but the instant her eyes caught his, she fell into such a throng of convulsions, that it appeared a matter of difficulty to preserve her alive.  When she was somewhat recovered, she declared as before, that he was the very person.  The trial then went on.  Courtney was found guilty of the crime, sentenced to death and on Saturday last, as was mentioned above, made his exit from the stage of life.

It’s been a long winter hasn’t it.  Our thoughts turn to the garden and that brings to mind this from Joe Menkevich, whose interests are vast.

In Search of the “Real Jersey Tomato”!

by Joseph J. Menkevich

1606 Church Street

It stands out like a sore thumb if you are coming up Church Street but I think it was originally built with its face toward Frankford Avenue.  Debbie Klak from the Historical Society of Frankford says it dates from the neighborhood of 1726.

When I look at a very old building I really don’t know what I’m looking for except a massive chimney and I don’t see it on this one.  A building of that age would have had it more or less in the center of the structure.  Maybe we can get inside and do some detective work.

As a result of this discussion, Joe Menkevich sent me some material.  I had not seen this map before.  Picture Frankford in 1802 when the town was pretty much lined up along the Kings Highway.  Thomas Jefferson was the President.

Frankford 1802

The road at the bottom that says from Germantown is Hunting Park Avenue where the Walgreens is today.  Go north and find the 6M.  That is about where Paul Street crosses Frankford Avenue and Oxford Avenue begins.

You would look for the oldest houses where there was development on this map.  Along the main street and south rather then north.

It has been quite a week here at Gazette headquarters.  The question about the oldest house in Frankford set off a flurry of emails that got me a ton of leads.  It will take a while to sort it all out but Fisher’s Lane has to rank up there as one of the most intriguing places in Frankford.

4501 Fishers Lane

Joe Menkevich has a lot of research on the Lane and the history of the area.  He passed on this picture that he took of the former Rowland residence which dates to 1793 or so.

Below right is a picture of the cornerstone of the Fisher’s Lane bridge.  As you can see by the date, it is certainly old.  Joe believes that the original 1759 bridge was rebuilt and the cornerstone was then reset in the new bridge.

Cornerstone of Fishers Lane Bridge

Below is a beautiful picture of the bridge itself taken by Fred Moore in infrared.

Fishers Lane Bridge by Fred Moore

You can get some interesting views of the bridge in this series of  pictures by Fred Moore done in infrared.

Have a look at the Historic Buildings and Places in the Northeast Survey and Database compiled by Historical Society of Frankford Center for Northeast Philadelphia History here.  You will find the Rowland House and the Fishers Lane bridge.

Joe Menkevich

From Joe Menkevich

Northeast Catholic High School Crew Team & The Ghost

The older one becomes, the more things one will witness  – strange mysterious beautiful unexplainable wonderful things.

For many years I thought to take a few pictures of some of the facades & windows of buildings along Frankford Avenue. Today I have.

This is the second floor of what was once a dining room inside Horn & Hardart Restaurant. (near Margaret Street)

Old Horn and Hardart second floor window

The reflections upon the window glass brought back the memories of rattling dishes and the smell of the food – the pies and the coffee and the pies!   I remember taking the EL from North Catholic and waiting for my brother to finish his shift as a bus-boy.   A loud crash from the dropping of a whole load of dishes – and there was my brother standing there frozen like a statue with one dish left in his hand.

The old waitresses began gathering around scolding – trying to make him feel guilt & embarrassment. There he stood with that one last dish.

He shrugged his shoulders and threw it into the broken pile, took off his apron and said:  “Now all of you can clean it up – I quit! Are you happy now?”

Some say the Spirit of North Catholic will never die.

It was in building next to Roxy’s Army & Navy Store. [4500 block of Frankford Avenue: http://www.flickr.com/photos/frankfordgazette/2042191622/ ]   Memories of wet t-shirts, the smell of sweat, the working out, & the camaraderie inside while looking at the dyslexic writing on a window: WERC CN

As an alumni of Northeast Catholic High, I knew where the Crew Team used to work out in the late 1960′s. I know because I was there.

But after I took the photo, it appeared as if a strange face was looking back at me.   Is it the face of a young man?   I had to take a closer look.

Some say “the Spirit of North Catholic will never die.”

Take a look and decide – is it just a smudge or something more?

Perhaps it’s just an illusion – perhaps it’s something more.   The strange silhouette reflected on the glass serves to prove – ghosts, spirits & memories will never die as long as we keep them alive.

© 2011 – Joseph J. Menkevich all rights reserved.