Tag: History

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West Jersey History Project

We try to stick to what is relevant to Frankford here so what does the West Jersey History Project have to do with us?  Joe Menkevich, the omniscient historian, tipped us to this site.

There are a group of 8 maps made during the Revolutionary war by the Hessians of South Jersey and the surrounding area.  The maps themselves are beautifully detailed.  The one that sticks out in my mind for showing the relationship between Philadelphia and Frankford is this one.  You can see the big city of Philadelphia to the south and the town of Frankford to the north on the highway.    Clearly it is the last stop on the stage coach line before getting to the big city.  Still out in the country but having some inns for lunch and a place to cool off before the heat and dirt of the city.  A place Jefferson might have fled to on a hot summer afternoon.

This is a link to the main page for the maps.  Thanks to Joe Menkevich for the tip, once again.

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Overington Park Update

Diane Kunze reports on the bulb planting  on Saturday November 13th:

We had some volunteers come and work like crazy, because they had seen our plea for help on your sight. We planted 1000 bulbs in the park! It should be wonderful come spring. Thanks to all our volunteers who came out, very last minute, and got the job done. Overington Park will look like a mini Longwood Gardens from Feb thru April. We planted bulbs in large groups around flower beds and a 50 foot run, between two beds, down Orthodox Street. The bulbs came to us from Longwood Garden, via PHS (Pennsylvania Horticultural Society). They were the biggest bulbs I’ve ever seen. The display should be spectacular! Keep an eye out this spring for the best daffodil show in Philadelphia right here in Frankford!

This is an email I got this week about the park from Sandi Gammon:

Hello, I was wondering if you could get me in touch with the “Friends of Overington Park” that are often mentioned on your website. My great-grandmother was Poppy Overington and she grew up on that property – they even had her wedding reception at the house there in 1924! My parents and grandparents took me out to the park about ten years ago and I remember being sad to see the shape it was in. I wanted to thank the people who help to keep it looking nice these days. Not only are they improving their community but they are unknowingly doing a great service to my family’s memory. I am so happy that people are enjoying the park and that it is cared for.

It’s nice to know others have seen the showplace this park is becoming.

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The Frankford El

I am a big fan of the Frankford El.  I have taken over 10,000 trips on it since 1963 when I first started commuting to work.  Warren Seale sent us these links to the reports from the Evening Public Ledger reporting on the grand opening.  Take a look, it is really interesting to see how important this was to Frankford in the day.

Vintage article about the grand opening of the Frankford EL part 1 and part 2

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Coming Up in Frankford

  • Frankford Parks Group
    When – Mon, November 22, 6pm – 7pm
    Where – Second Baptist Church – 1801 Meadow St. Phila. PA 19124 (map)
  • Northeast Philadelphia EPIC Stakeholders Group
    When – Thu, November 25, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
    Where – Aria Hospital’s Frankford Campus (4900 Frankford Avenue) in the 2nd floor meeting room Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – The ultimate goal is to create a process that enhances the community’s ability to solve issues surrounding truancy, domestic violence, child safety and substance abuse.
  • Longwood Gardens Trip
    When – Fri, November 26, 1:30pm – 9:00pm
    Where – Longwood Gardens (map)
    Description – The Frankford Garden Club is sponsoring a Trip to Longwood Gardens for the Holiday Experience – Sing-a-Longs, Gospel Choir, Lighted Trees, Fountains, and more Poinsettias than you have ever seen in a gorgeous display of Holiday themed gardens in the Fabulous Longwood Gardens Conservatories. Friday, November 26, 2010 We will be Leaving via Yellow School Bus from Frankford (at the Corner of Griscom and Orthodox Streets) at 1:30 pm, we will be back in Frankford by 9:00 pm Frankford Garden Club Members – $5 / person – includes both Admission and Bus Guests (non-members) – $12 / person – includes both Admission and Bus Please call or email ASAP to Reserve your seat! Janet Bernstein at 267-982-9620 or jamberstone@gmail.com or Johnnie Mae Parker, 215-537-0145
  • FRANKFORD HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES 100TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION BANQUET!!!
    When – Fri, November 26, 7pm – Sat, November 27, 12am
    Where – Colleen’s at the Savoy Caterers, 1444 Rt. 73 North, Pennsauken, NJ 08110 (map)
    Description – Calling all graduates! Come and enjoy an evening of fun and reminiscing with fellow grads of the Red, Blue and Gold on Friday, November 26th, 2010 at Colleen’s at the Savoy Caterers, 1444 Rt. 73 North, Pennsauken, NJ 08110, 856-317-1000. Enjoy dinner, dancing and live music featuring the “FM Band.” GROUPS OF 10+ ORDER TICKETS NOW!! DON’T WAIT!! The cost is $60.00/person. Price includes cost of history/program book. Open seating, Cash Bar. (When purchasing multiple tickets for a table of special friends, please attach their names & graduation year to the order form.) Visit our website at frankfordalumni.com to download an order form now. For more information: Terry Tobin Treasurer 215-331-3644
  • Frankford Civic Association Meeting
    When – Thu, December 2, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – 2nd floor conference room, Aria Health, 4900 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
  • Grand Army of the Republic Museum Open House
    When – Sun, December 5, 12pm – 5pm
    Where – 4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – Presentation at 1:30 PM: Victorian Christmas Customs Jane Peters-Estes
  • Endangered City
    When – Fri, December 10, 6pm – 10pm
    Where – Globe Dye Works (map)
    Description – A benefit for the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia http://gedoproject.blogspot.com/
  • Historical Society of Frankford program
    When – Tue, December 14, 7:30pm – 9:00pm

    Where – 1507 Orthodox St., Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)

  • Christmas Caroling
    When – Fri, December 17, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – Overington Park (map)