- Pictures with Santa
When – Sat, December 19, 9am – 12pmWhere – Dream Girls, 4601 Frankford Avenue, 2nd floor. (map) - Grand Army of the Republic Museum Open House
When – Sun, January 3, 2010, 12pm – 5pmWhere – 4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)Description – Presentation at 1:30 PM:
- Frankford Civic Association Meeting
When – Thu, January 7, 2010, 7pm – 8pmWhere – Frankford Hospital – 2nd floor conference room (map)
Tag: History
Topographic Map of Washington’s Valley Forge Encampment
Amoung the tons of stuff at the Historical Society of Frankford, I snapped a quick shot of a topographic map of the grounds of Washington’s 1777 winter encampment at Valley Forge. I don’t know the date of the map although it is sporting some seriously old looking script.
The information in this post was compiled with the help of Debbie Klak, current member and former president of the Historical Society of Frankford. Sources include the archives of the historical society and her recollections.
HSF collects, preserves and presents the history of Northeast Philadelphia and the region. Recognizing the neighborhood of Frankford as the historic and geographic gateway to the region, HSF documents and interprets the history of the people, places, events and traditions of the greater Northeast Philadelphia area and serves as an advocate for the preservation of the region’s historic resources. Through its collections and programs HSF provides opportunities for its members, the surrounding community, and the general public to explore and appreciate the history of Northeast Philadelphia and its place in the world. Check out other posts in our series here.
BREAKING: STUDY REVEALS HISTORIC HOUSE ON RUSH ESTATE BUILT BTWN 1830-1850
A study commissioned by the owners of Greenwood Cemetery and the Philadelphia Historical Commission into the purported residence of Benjamin Rush has found the house was built between 1830 and 1850, precluding the possibility that the Signer of the Declaration of Independence could have spent any time inside it since he died in 1813. It would have been a nice feather in the area’s cap if it had been Rush’s house since he was a player in the country’s founding and it would have led to more speculation as to what other founding fathers may have visited or even stayed in the house.
It’s still an old house though and the press release indicates that these findings clear the way for the structure’s restoration back into it’s correct historical context, i.e. a house from the middle 1800s. It also coincides with the re internment of some 3000 graves currently being moved from the back of the cemetery to the front so that Cancer Centers Of America may build a parking lot and possibly buildings on land adjacent to their center.
Coming Up in Frankford
- Christmas Bazaar
When – Sat, December 5, 12pm – 4pmWhere – Second Baptist Church of Frankford, 1801 Meadow St, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map) - Grand Army of the Republic Museum Open House
When – Sun, December 6, 12pm – 5pmWhere – 4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)Description – Presentation at 1:30 PM: Civil War Era Music from the Front at Christmas Time Gleim’s Band 198th P.V
- DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? St. Joachim’s Christmas Event
When – Sun, December 6, 3:00pm – 4:30pmWhere – St. Joachims, 1507 Church St. Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)Description – St. Joachim’s is presenting the biggest Christmas event ever! It will be held in the Church on Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 3:00 PM. Join us for an afternoon of music, fun, drama and prayer. Free admission. 3 pm to 4:30 pm with refreshments following. Invite your friends and neighbors!
- Community Meeting on the SEPTA Margaret-Orthodox Station Rehabilitation Project
When – Tue, December 8, 5:30pm – 7:30pmWhere – Frankford Group Ministries, 4620 Griscom Street Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)Description – Get details about what’s happening to update the station We invite you to attend the meeting to get: * an overview and progress update about the project; * details about improvements; * possible impacts to businesses, residents, and riders; * an opportunity to have your questions answered firsthand. Tuesday, December 8 Frankford Group Ministries 4620 Griscom Street Philadelphia, PA 19124 5:30 pm Registration & Refreshments 6:00 Meeting Begins 7:30 Meeting Ends We look forward to seeing you. For more information contact Patricia Miller, Constituent Relations Coordinator, at 215-580-3609.
- Historical Society of Frankford program
When – Tue, December 8, 7:30pm – 9:00pmWhere – 1507 Orthodox St., Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)Description – MUSEUM and MEMBERS SHARE HOLIDAY TREASURES — Historical Society of Frankford Volunteers and Members. HSF’s Museum and Library has items in its collection that were likely holiday gifts or accessories for past Frankford families. You may have an item that your family has used or a special holiday gift that has been enjoyed over the years. Bring them to share with our members and volunteers as you get an insider’s view of some of HSF’s special items. Educational holiday crafts for the children will be offered, so bring your young people to this festive meeting. And feel free to bring a dessert as we gather to enjoy our traditional holiday sweets buffet.
- Zoning Board Hearing on 1522-24 Church Street
When – Wed, December 9, 4pm – 5pmWhere – 1515 ARCH STREET 18TH FLOOR (map)
- Philadelphia Energy Coordinating Agency co-host Weatherization Workshops
When – Wed, December 9, 6pm – 8pmWhere – Sankofa Charter School, 4256 Paul St. Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)Description – Rep. Payton and the Philadelphia Energy Coordinating Agency co-host Weatherization Workshops These free workshops are open to the public and will teach people how to save money through energy conservation. Trainers will present on how to install self-help energy saving material and provide these materials free of charge to qualifying attendees. Information will also be available on rebates, tax credits, and new energy programs. Referrals will also be provided to existing energy conservation and assistance programs. Sankofa Charter School 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9 4256 Paul St. Philadelphia For more information, call 215-288-2001 http://www.pahouse.com/Payton/CommunityCalendar.asp
- Frankford Garden Club trip to Longwood Gardens
When – Sat, December 12, 3pm – 9pmWhere – Bus departs Griscom and Orthodox Streets (map)Description – Trip to Longwood Gardens on Saturday December 12- $5 for Garden Club members, $12 for adult guests, $6 for children guests! The Bus will leave from Griscom and Orthodox Streets at 3:00 pm, arriving at Longwood around 4pm – we will return by 9pm
- Frankford Garden Club Holiday Party
When – Tue, December 15, 6:00pm – 8:30pmWhere – Wissinoming Park (map)Description – For Garden club members and their invited guests.
- Northwood Civic Association Meeting
When – Tue, December 15, 7pm – 8pmWhere – St. James Lutheran Church, at Castor Avenue and Pratt Street. (map)
- Italian Style Family Dinner
When – Wed, December 16, 4:30pm – 8:00pmWhere – 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!
- Free Pictures with Santa
When – Sat, December 19, 9am – 12pmWhere – Dream Girls, 4601 Frankford Avenue, 2nd floor. (map)
My Meanderings Through Frankford’s History; The Castors and Hormann
I’ve had too much coffee this morning. I’m way too caffeinated to be able to write a cohesive narrative about Frankford’s history this morning but I’ve learned a lot. So I’ve thought of an idea about splitting our history into two kinds of posts, one where I regurgitate the things I’ve learned and the paths of history and the internet to get that learning. And the other will be a book report.
So this is what’s floating around, I have some pics from my two hours at the Historical Society with Debbie Klak. One of those pics is of a model of a street car from one of the Castor family. I’ve got reader Warren who found out the original owner of Blumhaven was F. Hermann. I heard a nugget that the Greenwoods who built the Globe Dye Works were the original owners of the mansion next door and I’ve got a ghost story to go with it. You know Horrocks Street? I know what they called at least one of their houses and some history of the ones that still stand. Oh and I’ve got picks from the news archives of the first two Frankford hospitals and the family names of the philanthropists who got them started. You’ve heard of Benedict Arnold? I’ve got something his wife used to sneeze in. All of it good stuff.
But what the hell, let’s start with googling for the name of company name for the pic of carriage, Frankford and Southwark. And boy are people huge into trains so I now have info of Frankford’s place in early 20th century mass transit. Then I google the owner, Thomas Castor, and find out some good Castor family history. Now I follow the name Warren came up with and google “Hormann and Frankford” and the second link down leads me to pic from someone named castorbb on webshots. And just take a look at his albums. He’s gotta be a Castor decendent because he has a ton of family pics and he has more than a few narratives with his pics. His Hormann album has a building materials invoice for Blumhaven, plans for Horman’s glass works at Lehigh and Tilton, which I’m absolutely not googling right now cause this will never end. And why does castorbb, descendant of the Castors, care about F Hormann the original owner of Blumhaven? Cause Horman’s daughter married into the Castors, here’s the wedding invitation, held at 4651 Leiper Street. There’s a ton of the stuff in this guy’s ablums, surf through them and check out his descriptions, some of his Castor stuff is really detailed and he even has original pics of Thomas Ellwood Castor’s house on Penn Street.
And now I’m done, I’m throwing up any pics of mine, or ones found on the internet because this post isn’t meant to suplant a proper narrative, which I’ll get to sooner or later. There’s just a ton of history right there in a half our of googling. I just want to show where all this stuff comes from. castorbb’s webshots albums are a real find, check them out through the link below.\
