Tag: History

Posted on by

Coming Up in Frankford

  • Grand Army of the Republic Museum Open House
    When – Sun, November 7, 12pm – 5pm
    Where – 4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – Presentation at 1:30 PM:‘Meet Captain Percival Drayton, U.S. Navy’ – [Jack Lieberman, Captain USN (ret.) ] Drayton was South Carolina born from a wealthy Plantation family and a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He exemplifies the dilemma that Southern Unionists faced when he opposed his own brother Thomas, a Confederate General in battle at Port Royal Sound on November 7, 1861.
  • Frankford Special Services District Board Meeting
    When – Mon, November 8, 8:30am – 9:30am
    Where – St. Mark’s Church, 4442 Frankford Ave, Griscom Street entrance. (map)
    Description – Open to the public
  • Historical Society of Frankford program
    When – Tue, November 9, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
    Where – 1507 Orthodox St., Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – VETERAN GUARD, 3rd REGIMENT INFANTRY The Veteran Guard, Third Regiment Infantry, National Guard of PA, the Historical and Ceremonial Unit of the National Guard of PA, was established in 1747 by Benjamin Franklin, serving as the first organized military unit in PA and the beginning of both the State Militia and National Guard. This historic unit maintains its headquarters in NE Phila at the PA National Guard Armory. The members of its Color Guard, attired in authentic circa 1812 uniforms, will share its history and present its United States Flag-folding ceremony. Veterans and non-veterans alike are invited, as are all area VFW & American Legion Post members.
  • Turkey Bingo
    When – Sat, November 13, 5pm – 9pm
    Where – St. Joachim Church, 1527 Church St. Philadelphia (map)
    Description – Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court St. Francis De Sales #2617 is hosting a Turkey Bingo at St. Joachim Church, 1527 Church St. Philadelphia on Saturday November 13, 2010 from 5PM to 9PM. Cost of admission is $20.00 and includes bingo cards, hot dog, chip, drink, and cake, and door prize ticket. We will also have baskets to raffle, 50-50, and additional food for purchase. If you bring a non-perishable food item for our food cupboard, you get a free raffle ticket. For information call St. Joachim 215-535-0580
  • Northwood Civic Association Meeting
    When – Tue, November 16, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – St. James Lutheran Church, at Castor Avenue and Pratt Street. (map)
  • 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 – Edmunds School, 1197 Haworth St. 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.
  • 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)
Posted on by

Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame

Read about the ceremony honoring the new inductees into the Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame on Sunday at NEastPhilly.  Those honored were Benjamin Rush, Robert Purvis, Butch Ballard, Sister Mary Scullion and SPIN (Special People in the Northeast).

Posted on by

Reminiscence of Growing Up in Northwood

Every so often I get a nice email from somebody who reads the Gazette as a way of keeping in touch with the old neighborhood.  Bill McNamee sent me the email below:

Sorry I missed your recent survey regarding readers of the Gazette.  As a former Northwood resident now living in Swedesboro, NJ, I enjoy your updates on  Facebook.  Growing up in Northwood was the greatest; 11XX Fillmore St., playing sports at Simpson, the park, the lot, in the streets, we did it all.  We had some of the best corner stores, which provided youthful employment after the paper routes.  As a kid Frankford Stadium was like Notre Dame Stadium.  We would peer through the fence to watch #36,  Gary Hegh and legendary coach Al Angelo’s pioneers.  I can remember the parades down Wakeling Street after a win, of which there were many.

Unfortunately for the Pioneers, they had to face the mighty crusaders of Father Judge for the City Title in 1975.  Myself and Mike Mullane were the only two seniors from Judge, from our neighborhood, that year.  And Mike was the starting defensive end on that team.  You have no idea what it was like that cold December day as the Crusaders edged the Pioneers 9 – 6 for the city title.  Many and mean many of friends were not thriled with the outcome.  I myself could not contain pride and joy of beating the neighborhood’s revered team.

Sorry for going on so long about Northwood, but it was the beat of times.  Thanks again.    William Patrick McNamee.

We’ll include this on the history page for future generations.

Posted on by

Coming Up in Frankford

  • Northeast Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
    When – Sun, October 17, 1pm – 2pm
    Where – Holy Family University – 9801 Frankford Avenue (map)
    Description – NORTHEAST HALL of FAME Holy Family University – 9801 Frankford Avenue Inductees: Benjamin Rush, Robert Purvis, Butch Ballard, Sister Mary Scullion, Special People in the NE (SPIN) Tickets $25.00 available from Holy Family University.
  • Northwood Civic Association Meeting
    When – Tue, October 19, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – St. James Lutheran Church, at Castor Avenue and Pratt Street. (map)
  • Frankford Parks Group
    When – Mon, October 25, 6pm – 7pm
    Where – Second Baptist Church – 1801 Meadow St. Phila. PA 19124 (map)
  • Northeast Philadelphia EPIC Stakeholders Group
    When – Thu, October 28, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
    Where – Mastery Charter School, Smedley Campus, 1790 Bridge St. St. 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.
  • Winter clothes drive
    When – Fri, October 29, 3pm – 6pm
    Where – Overington Park 4600 Leiper St. and Wilmot Park 1800 Meadow St. (map)
    Description – We are having a winter clothes drive that will be held in two locations (Overington Park 4600 Leiper St. and Wilmot Park 1800 Meadow St.). If it rains we will move the locations to Cora’s Neumann Center 1000 Orthodox Street and to 2nd Baptist Church 1801 Meadow St. We will be giving away winter clothes and coats to needy families. The event will last from 3:00pm until 6:00pm. I have attached a flyer for the event. The partners that are responsible for this event are CORA’s EPIC Community Stakeholders and Young Professionals Group, The Frankford Recovery Coalition, The Frankford Boys and Girls Club, and Council Woman Maria Quinones` Sanchez’ office.
  • Overington Park Fall Festival
    When – Sat, October 30, 10am – 1pm
    Where – Overington Park – Orthodox and Leiper Sts, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – Costume parade, pumpkin patch, games, scavenger hunt and refreshments
  • Friends of Overington Park
    When – Tue, November 2, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – CORA Neuman Center at 1000 Orthodox Street (map)
    Description – Come out and discuss our park and what we an do to make it a safe and pleasant place for everyone.
  • PS1 15th district Police Meeting
    When – Wed, November 3, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – Aria Health – 4900 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA (map)
  • Frankford Civic Association Meeting
    When – Thu, November 4, 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, November 7, 12pm – 5pm
    Where – 4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – Presentation at 1:30 PM: ‘Meet Captain Percival Drayton, US Navy’ Jack Lieberman, Captain USN(Ret)
  • Frankford Special Services District Board Meeting
    When – Mon, November 8, 8:30am – 9:30am
    Where – St. Mark’s Church, 4442 Frankford Ave, Griscom Street entrance. (map)
    Description – Open to the public
  • Historical Society of Frankford program
    When – Tue, November 9, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
    Where – 1507 Orthodox St., Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map) – Veterans Guard 3rd Regiment Infantry
  • Frankford Community Garden Maintenance Meetup
    When – Thu, November 11, 6pm – 8pm
    Where – Corner of Oxford Ave. and Foulkrod St. (map)
    Description – Gather together with your friends and neighbors to maintain and improve this garden spot in Frankford.
Posted on by — 1 Comment

Frankford Oktoberfest

Since its time for Oktoberfest and beer, it is appropriate that the program last night at the Historical Society of Frankford was “Breweries of Frankford, Kensington and Bridesburg”.   Rich Wagner, Pennsylvania brewery historian, held the audience of 50 or so in rapt attention as his made he presentation.

I have no great interest in breweries but they played an important part in the history of the city and also Frankford.  So we found out that the Frankford breweries (John Fritsch and John Grauch) were down in the 4200 block of Penn Street.  The house at 4234 Penn Street was listed as the office for one of them.

Rich Wagner clearly has done his homework.  The presentation was illustrated with many then and now photographs showing the history of the breweries and then what those buildings look like today.  Many of them are still around serving other purposes.  It was interesting to me that the old Edgemont hotel at Ash and Edgemont Street in Bridesburg was in fact a brewery.  I grew up over there and never would have known.

Interesting member of the audience was Guy Hairston of the 4800 block of Hawthorne Street.  He was working in his yard a few weeks ago and uncovered an antique beer bottle dating from around 1890 made by Conrad Bock of 2108 Bridge Street. Rich Wagner offered his help in evaluating Guy’s find.

The evening was capped off by a beer tasting courtesy of Mike Scotese (Scoats) of the Grey Lodge.  The event was sponsored by 3rd Federal Bank.

Pictures below of the festive crowd.  Click on the image for a large sized view.

Next month, the HSF will feature Veterans Guard 3rd Regiment Infantry in uniform.  With luck we will get some interesting video.