Author: Gil

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Frankford 1901

I started this out by trying to find what the boundaries of Frankford really are. A news report this week identified the 2300 block of Orthodox Street as Frankford. When I grew up in Bridesburg in the 50s we considered that part of Bridesburg. So I started looking around and found that there are no official boundaries of Frankford because there is no official Frankford.

Frankford may be a zip code or a census tract or an idea in somebody’s mind but that is as close as we can get. Which brings us to this map. It is from the Gopsill’s 1901 map of Philadelphia. I like this map because it shows Frankford in the period before the development that changed the original town.

Most important thing to know is that the street lines that are shown as dashes are proposed. they were not built in 1901. Five points was what we now call Oxford Circle. Dark Run Lane is now Cheltenham Avenue. The intersection of Orthodox and Ditman (my great grandfather’s grocery) is there but Torresdale Avenue did not exist.

Click on the map to get a larger image. The Historical Society of Frankford has many others of much better quality. A new season of programs will begin in September.

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Mozaic tonight

The Victor North Trio will be performing tonight, August 25th., from 7PM – 11PM.

mozaic will be closed for vacation – 8/27 – 9/6

Happy Labor Day. Hail to the worker!

Come celebrate mozaic’s 1st. Anniversary on Saturday, September 8th.
The Butch Ballard Trio will be there from 7PM – 11PM. Mr. Ballard will be performing a very special drum solo to honor the recent passing of his dear friend Max Roach. It’s gonna be a blast.

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Illegal Signs

I found this on the Metro today. One of my pet peeves is those ugly and illegal signs. This lady suggests you do your civic duty and rip them down.

There are strict limitations on posting signs on public property. A $75 fine is supposed to be levied against any person or company for every illegal sign found by the city.

But a recent report by the city controller found that thousands of the illegal signs litter virtually every neighborhood in Philadelphia. Not only are the signs hard to manage, the Controller’s Office reported, but tracking owners of the signs is hard.

http://philly.metro.us/metro/local/article/Fighting_a_grand_fight/9742.html

Similar story in the Northeast Times this week: http://www.northeasttimes.com/2007/0823/signs.html