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Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (W3R)

w3rlogo4webYou may have heard about the upcoming meeting at the Historical Society of Frankford this Tuesday at 7:30 PM.  (We have it listed on the community calendar.) Robert A. Selig, PhD, United States National Parks Service Historian will discuss  The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (W3R).  It is the newly-designated National Parks Service National Historic Trail, and the first in Northeastern United States.  It marks the 685 mile route the French and American troops took toward Yorktown and a decisive victory for independence.

Dr Selig is a professionally trained historian, scholar, lecturer, consultant, editor, and writer, whose area of expertise is German and German-American history, particularly the role of Germans in the American Revolutionary War. He is one of the few experts on this side of the Atlantic on the role of French troops under the comte de Rochambeau in the American Revolutionary War, and has served as a consultant to several states.   When the National Park Service established a steering committee to conduct a resource study of the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary, Dr Selig was named its historian (rselig@remc7.k12.mi.us).

This trail comes through Frankford of course and is of interest to us but it is also significant to the entire Philadelphia area.  Frankford sat astride the Kings Highway and as such had a unique vantage point to witness some historic events in our history.  Come and hear about it from the expert himself.

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Coming Up in Frankford

  • Grand Army of the Republic Museum Open HouseNext Week In Frankford
    When – Sun, November 8, 12pm – 5pm
    Where – 4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – Presentation at 1:30 PM: Civil War Santa Claus Kevin Rawlins
  • Historical Society of Frankford program
    When – Tue, November 10, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
    Where – 1507 Orthodox St., Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – FRANKFORD AVENUE The Nation’s Newest National Historic Trail “Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route W3R-PA” Robert Selig, PhD National Historian W3R-USA Tuesday, November 10, 2009 7:30 pm HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF FRANKFORD Frankford Avenue is a newly-designated NPS National Historic Trail, part of the 685 miles of French (Rochambeau) & American (Washington) campsites from Newport RI to Yorktown VA, where a decisive victory securing American Independence was forged. Dr Selig, Nat’l W3R-USA Historian, has researched those sites & activities along Frankford Ave, & will discuss his publication and the possibilities for marking our NE Phila/Frankford Ave route. Also, The Color Guards of the Philadelphia-Continental Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, will perform a flag processional in uniform FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact W3R-PA cameo99@netzero.net 215-365-5550 The Historical Society of Frankford 1507 Orthodox Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 215-743-6030 www.frankfordhistoricalsociety.org Light Refreshments Served
  • Transitional Home for Veterans in Philadelphia Receives Dramatic Makeover
    When – Wed, November 11, 8pm – 9pm
    Where – HGTV Comcast channel 77 (map)
    Description – American heroes, like Army veteran Hence Forland, have opened their homes to provide temporary shelters for homeless veterans. HGTV carpenter Carter Oosterhouse and designer Monica Pedersen team up with hundreds of volunteers in St. Louis and Philadelphia to transform these barely livable, historic residences into beacons of hope with two of the biggest and best remodeling projects in HGTV history.
  • Northwood Civic Association Meeting
    When – Tue, November 17, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – St. James Lutheran Church, at Castor Avenue and Pratt Street. (map)
  • Italian Style Family Dinner
    When – Wed, November 18, 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!
  • Solar Power Workshop
    When – Thu, November 19, 6pm – 8pm
    Where – Location TBD (map)
    Description – Rep. Payton is hosting a series of workshops on solar power to help you become a part of the solar revolution. Three solar professionals will present their services and general information about the benefits of solar energy. Rep. Payton’s staff will also present on solar rebates and tax incentives available on solar purchases. Presenters include: Rene Ermilio, Helio Power Systems Micah Gold-Markel, Solar States David Blumenfeld, Urban Eco Electric Jorge Santana, Office of State Rep. Tony Payton, Jr. For more information about any of these events, please contact Rep. Payton’s constituent service office at 215-544-7901.
  • Fall For Your Park at Overington Park
    When – Sat, November 21, 10am – 1pm
    Where – Overington Park, Leiper and Orthodox Streets (map)
    Description – Our next Friends of Overington Park event is on Saturday November 21, 2009, from 10am till 1pm. We will be planting a few trees, and racking up leaves, I hope some of your readers would like to attend. The event is called Fall For Your Park and will be going on around the city in over 60 parks. I hope to see you there.
  • Town hall meeting
    When – Tue, November 24, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – St. Joachim’s church hall, Church and Griscom streets.Phila. Pa 19124 (map)
    Description – Captain Bachmayer invites residents from the district to share their concerns at a town hall meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 7 p.m. at St. Joachim’s church hall, Church and Griscom streets.
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Historical Society Of Frankford Tells Us Who George Sale Was

george-t-sale-window

From our previous post about the huge castle for sale at the corner of Griscom and Dyre, we were emailed a photo that said “RES. OF MR GEORGE T SALE FRANKLIN AND DYRE STS. FRANKFORD PA”.  We’ve heard back from Debbie Klak at the Historical Society of Frankford as to who this man was:

George Sale was a Northeast Philly real estate developer.   He  built the apartment building at Griscom and Oxford Ave to be a doctor’s hospital (clinic) with all of the modern amenities.   He built a car barn(exactly where we’re still unsure) to house the B buses , the first buses to transport people up to Byberry farms for there were no means to get there.    In those days, transportation dropped people off 2 miles from Byberry Farms. The other interesting thing is that when George died, creditors came after his estate.  He owed people a lot of money,(to the tune of $750,000) tho they didn’t get much from his estate.

The pic above was taken from Temple’s picture database.  Obviously it’s from a real estate office but it says it’s from the Frankford section and the reflection looks like the Margaret/Orthodox El stop to me, but the address says 1532 Oxford Pike, which by today’s street numbers, put it up in Lawndale.  I’m also guessing he built the George T. Sale Building downtown that’s been turned into condos.

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Coming Up in Frankford

  • Frankford Civic Association MeetingNext Week In Frankford
    When – Thu, November 5, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – Frankford Hospital – 2nd floor conference room (map)
  • Grand Army of the Republic Museum Open House
    When – Sun, November 8, 12pm – 5pm
    Where – 4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – Presentation at 1:30 PM: Civil War Santa Claus Kevin Rawlins
  • Historical Society of Frankford program
    When – Tue, November 10, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
    Where – 1507 Orthodox St., Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – FRANKFORD AVENUE The Nation’s Newest National Historic Trail “Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route W3R-PA” Robert Selig, PhD National Historian W3R-USA Tuesday, November 10, 2009 7:30 pm HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF FRANKFORD Frankford Avenue is a newly-designated NPS National Historic Trail, part of the 685 miles of French (Rochambeau) & American (Washington) campsites from Newport RI to Yorktown VA, where a decisive victory securing American Independence was forged. Dr Selig, Nat’l W3R-USA Historian, has researched those sites & activities along Frankford Ave, & will discuss his publication and the possibilities for marking our NE Phila/Frankford Ave route. Also, The Color Guards of the Philadelphia-Continental Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, will perform a flag processional in uniform FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact W3R-PA cameo99@netzero.net 215-365-5550 The Historical Society of Frankford 1507 Orthodox Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 215-743-6030 www.frankfordhistoricalsociety.org Light Refreshments Served
  • Northwood Civic Association Meeting
    When – Tue, November 17, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – St. James Lutheran Church, at Castor Avenue and Pratt Street. (map)
  • Italian Style Family Dinner
    When – Wed, November 18, 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!
  • Fall For Your Park at Overington Park
    When – Sat, November 21, 10am – 1pm
    Where – Overington Park, Leiper and Orthodox Streets (map)
    Description – Our next Friends of Overington Park event is on Saturday November 21, 2009, from 10am till 1pm. We will be planting a few trees, and racking up leaves, I hope some of your readers would like to attend. The event is called Fall For Your Park and will be going on around the city in over 60 parks. I hope to see you there.