Category: history

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Coming Up at the Historical Society of Frankford

September’s HSF meeting was well attended to hear Jim Byers tell both the story of his grandfather, Donald Byers, and also how he came to write the book, “My American Odyssey“.  The audience had the opportunity to ask lots of questions, view some of the letters Donald sent home and also to purchase the book.  You can purchase a copy of the book at this link.

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Coming up at this month’s meeting on October 10th at 7:30 PM, John Whitenight will present the Natural World Under Glass.  John is a retired art teacher and an avid collector, author, and lecturer on Victorian Glass Domes which were a prominent fixture in the parlors of many 19th Century homes. Within the domes were arrangements of dried flowers and wax fruit, as well as constructions from nature which included taxidermied birds, wildlife, and even deceased pets. The Historical Society’s collection of Victorian Parlor Domes from homes in Frankford will be displayed.

 

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This Month at the Historical Society of Frankford

Frankford WWII Veteran’s Story to be told at Historical Society

At the first meeting of the season on September 12 at 730 PM, Jim Byers will tell the story of his grandfather, Donald Byers and his service during World War II.

The story of Donald Byers’ service during World War II began in Frankford. As Byers traveled across the United States, North Africa, and Italy, he wrote about his experiences but the people and places in his hometown never left his mind.The story of Donald Byers’ service during World War II began in Frankford.

As Byers traveled across the United States, North Africa, and Italy, he wrote about his experiences but the people and places in his hometown never left his mind.

Almost 60 years after his death, Don’s story was made into a book which will be featured during the presentation.

Byers’ handwritten and typed notes were transcribed and edited by his grandson, James Byers, to produce My American Odyssey, a book that follows the WW II veteran from his induction into the U.S. Army until the day he passed in 1958. Letters to family and friends as well as maps were included in the book to give readers more insight into the author and his route through North Africa and Italy as part of the 337th Infantry Regiment of the 85th Division of the 5th Army.

Donald Byers served as a wireman setting up the communication centers that relayed information between the Division and others. “Thousands of books have been written about World War II, but what makes My American Odyssey differ from most is that it’s from the point of view of a common soldier,” said the book’s editor James Byers of Wyoming, PA.

James spent years researching, editing, and designing the book. He even visited Frankford a few times to see where his grandfather grew up and why it meant so much to him.“I visited Frankford High School and his neighborhood on Wakeling Street,” James said. “I wanted to get a feel for the town…try to imagine what it looked and felt like in the 1940s.”

By the time he started working on the book, many of his Don’s family, friends, and comrades had passed. And then there’s the fact that he never met his grandfather who died from polio in 1958. So he relied on books, documents from government agencies, and interviews with people who knew Donald. But there were other obstacles that he could not work around like the destruction of photos and documents. In 1972, Hurricane Agnes ravaged northeastern Pennsylvania where Don had relocated in the 1950s. The tropical storm caused a flood that likely destroyed photos and documents kept at the Byers family home. The next year, thousands of veterans’ military files were damaged by a fire at the National Archives in St. Louis, MO, in 1973.

The story of Don Byer’s American Odyssey will be told during the presentation and the book is available for sale at 337thinfantry.com and amazon.com. It can also be downloaded on kindle.For more information about My American Odyssey, go to 337thinfantry.com or contact James Byers at jim@337thinfantry.com or 570.328.2941.

For more information about the presentation at the Frankford Historical Society contact Jim Young at 215-743-6030 or frankfordhistorical@gmail.com.

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Oldest House in Frankford to be Revived

1548 Adams Avenue, on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places since 2013, finally has a new owner.

1550 Adams Avenue last year

Andy Volodarski bought it and 1550 Adams Avenue this year and has begun renovating 1550 Adams Avenue for his business.  When you come up Kensington Avenue look for the Mattress sale signs.

1550 Adams Avenue under renovation

The business will take over 1550 and 1548 will eventually be restored to a habitable residence.  Right now his priority is to get the business up and running.

1550 Adams Avenue rear with entrance on Kensington Avenue

 

Andy was well aware of the challenges of taking on the property but thought it was worth the risk, in this up and coming area.  This is a plus for Frankford business that we hope will also help preserve a piece of our history.

Mattress Outlet’s other locations are at 815 E. Allegheny Avenue and 3826 Kensington Avenue.

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Joe Menkevich – Preserving the past

Northwood resident Joe Menkevich channels the past as if he can actually see it.

Joe Menkevich has a theory about why the best stories go untold.

“It’s because of people like you,” he says, jabbing his finger at me across the restaurant table.

Joe Menkevich and Torben Jenk

He’s referring to the “young generation,” or, more generally, people who don’t like reading other people’s handwriting. Over a beer, the former president of the Northwood Civic Association glows over how some of the history he’s read belongs in a Hollywood film studio.

Read the rest of the story, from the Northeast Times, at the link below.

Source: Preserving the past – Northeast Times

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Frankford Civil War Monument is 150 Years Old on July 4th

The Frankford Civil War Monument, officially the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, was dedicated on July 4, 1867 and will be 150 years old this year.  It commemorates those from the 23rd ward in Philadelphia who died in the war.  Frankford was the major population center of the 23rd ward and it residents played a significant part.

If you are looking for a non commercial way to spend some time, go up to Cedar Hill Cemetery and have a look.  Use the Cheltenham Avenue entrance and follow the roadway down toward Bridge Street.

 

Parts of it are now illegible due to weathering but read the report below, from the Philadelphia Ledger dated August of 1871, to see what it was all about.  It gives the complete list of the names on the monument.  You may find someone you know.

South Face

This column, erected by the joint contributions of Company D First California regiment, 71st Pennsylvania Volunteers and the citizens of the 23rd ward, to commemorate the services of the heroic dead who fought to crush treason and rebellion and gave their lives that their country might live. Dedicated July 4th, 1867.

“For there fell down many slain, because this war was of God.”  1st Chronicles, 5, 22.

121st Pennsylvania volunteers

Sergeant Charles F. Newman, hospital

Privates

William H. Wright, hospital

Daniel Miller, Gettysburg

William Spear, Gettysburg

Robert Ray, Gettysburg

R.H. Copeland, Gettysburg

John Thelle (Thiele), Gettysburg

Thomas Stone, Andersonville 1

Peter McAnally, Andersonville

James Hilton, Andersonville

John Taylor, Andersonville

James Peirce, Andersonville

Albert Clymer, Hospital

Dennis Hayes, Hospital

James W. A. Bishop, Fredericksburg

Edward Morin, Fredericksburg

Robert Kay, Fredericksburg

John Thorn, Fredericksburg

James Burk, Fredericksburg

James Bolton, Richmond

John Gilberson, Belle Plain

Thomas Kirkwood, Belle Plain

Alfred Wondorly, Belle Plain

Thomas Roan, Salisbury

Charles H. Cooper, Salisbury

Thomas Stott, Salisbury

Alfred Whitehead, Salisbury

James  McDowell, Frankford

Michael Schuster, Frankford

Joseph Johnson, Hospital

John W. Lees, Petersburg

Robert Lindsey, Petersburg

John Susby, Washington

Abner B. Miller, Philadelphia

William Allen, Belle Isle

Engagements

Hyattstown, Maryland

Antietam, Maryland

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Bristoe Station, Virginia

Bethesda Church, Virginia

Cold Harbor, Virginia

South Side Railroad, Virginia

Five Forks, Virginia

East Face

“But with us was the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” 2nd Chronicles 32, 8.

114th Regiment Pennsylvania volunteers

Sergeant David E. Edgar, Chancellorsville

Privates

James K.P. Ryan, Chancellorsville

Charles Mahan, Chancellorsville

Vanliere Bond, Chancellorsville

Joshua L. Wood, Gettysburg

John Galloway, Gettysburg

George Vanhart, Fredericksburg

David Hutchinson, Fredericksburg

Nathan Kelsey, Fredericksburg

Samuel Rodgers, Fredericksburg

Edward Simmons

160 Regiment Pennsylvania volunteers

William Martin, Spotsylvania

David Allen, Andersonville

George Barber, Savage Station

William Blackburn, Savage station

William McMullen, Hospital

George Rice, Petersburg

Louis Lester, Petersburg

A. Dungan, Hospital

Bendingo Howarth, Hospital

T. Donlon, Weehawken

John Johnson, Weehawken

James Ferry, Weehawken

John Hart, Harriet Lane (ship),

Frederick Putt, Fort Fisher

26th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers

Lt. D. Potts, 2nd Bull Run

Corporals

William Fairhurst, Chancellorsville

William M. Gordon, Gettysburg

Privates

William Reynolds, Andersonville

Michael Moras, Andersonville

95th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers

James Crocket, Gaines’ Hill

Samuel Deardon, Spottsylvania

William Castor, Spottsylvania

James Reese, Spottsylvania

John Reed, Cedar Creek

Wilbur R. Walton, Sail Creek

Theodore Crocker, Cold Harbor

List of Engagements

71st Pennsylvania Volunteers

Baltimore Riot, Maryland

Falls Church, Virginia

Balls Bluff, Virginia

Fair Oaks, Virginia

Peach Orchard, Virginia

Savage Station, Virginia

Malvern Hill, Virginia

Chantilly, Virginia

Fredericksburg, Virginia

Antietam, Virginia

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Mine Run, Virginia

Morton’s Run, Virginia

Wilderness, Virginia

P. O. Run, Virginia

North Face

In honor of our

Fallen Heroes.

Died for their Country.

California Regiment, 71st Pennsylvania Volunteers Company D

Colonel E. D. Baker, Bold Bluff

Captain Jacob T. Smallwood, Fort Fisher

Lieutenant Joseph Williams, Ball’s Bluff

Lieutenant B. Frank Hibbs, Spotsylvania

Lieutenant William Wilson, Antietam

Sergeant John Tease, Po River

Corporal Sewall Randall, Ball’s Bluff

Corporal Elijah Hunt, Harpers Ferry

Corporal Lewis Evans, Frankford

Privates

John Stott, Ball’s Bluff

John Castor, Balls Bluff

Robert Smith, Ball’s Bluff

David Chipman, Ball’s Bluff

William Wilkinson, Fair Oaks

Richard Hartley, Fair Oaks

John Williams, Fair Oaks

Thomas Pilling, Antietam

Wallace Shaw, Wilderness

Rudolph Price, Wilderness

Robert Lesher, Gettysburg

William Brown, Gettysburg

George Gregson, Frankford

Barney Williams, Andersonville

John Gibson, Frankford

William Batt, Richmond

Joseph Batt, Harpers Ferry

George Lever, Newport News

Anthony McArlain, Newport News

Richard Standing, Newport News

Adam Hefer, Newport News

Charles Layton, Newport News

Henry Castor, Newport News

John Fulton, Newport News

Thomas Parker, Newport News

Nicholas Carty, Newport News

James S. Hurling, Newport News

West Face

I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; Val has subdued under me those that moves up against me. Psalms 17, 87, 39.

28th regiment Pennsylvania volunteers

Privates

Charles Wonderly, Antietam

Ruport Carney, Dallas, Georgia

William Baxendine,, Hospital

James Armstead, Hospital

Albert Smith, Hospital

Isaac Hilt, Hospital

James Butcher, Gettysburg

James Donley, Philadelphia

Lieutenant George Bragg, 8th Pennsylvania cavalry

Sergeant H. Vandergrift, 3rd New Jersey

Corporal Lewis Hong, 3rd New Jersey

Privates

John W Somers, First New Jersey

William E. Hope, 112th Pennsylvania Volunteers

George Baxendine, 73rd Pennsylvania Volunteers

William H. Wordell, 15th Illinois

William Carnell, 20th Pennsylvania Volunteers

James Elliott, 6th Pennsylvania Volunteers

James Shaw, 5th New York

J. A. Duncan, 73rd Pennsylvania Volunteers

List of engagements 71st Pennsylvania volunteers

Siege of Yorktown Virginia,

Siege of Richmond Virginia, 1862

White Oak swamp, Virginia

Chancellorsville, Robertson’s Tavern

Spottsylvania

Siege of Richmond, 1865.

 

Thanks to Bob and Kate D’Imperio for this invaluable image.