Since my last post, I’ve been partying in Philadelphia at my cousin’s wedding, which was fabulous. The ceremony itself was in what was a 1700s school house since converted to a chapel. The reception was the most sumptuous one I’ve ever been to, with luscious food, and wonderful company. My brother and I went together and enjoyed sitting and enjoying the occasion with family we haven’t seen for a very long time.
You are probably wondering about the first pictures on this post. It is a mural, done in stained glass by Tiffany, and originally designed and drawn by Maxfield Parrish. The glass was done in forty-two squares and then assembled in the lobby of the Curtis Publishing Building. Even though I’d lived in Philly during my early years, I saw this mosaic only once before and that was just a few years ago. It’s stunning!
Oops! Forgot to put a space between these two pictures, so you’re getting a totally eroneous idea of Elfreth’s Alley. It was begun in 1736. The first photo is of my favorite house, which is actually in a corner of a cul du sac. The second photo is of two houses just into the first row of houses on the Alley. At the right end is what was once a carriage house that we had considered buying in the early 1970’s for $45,000, a breathtaking price at the time. The wooden doors of the stable were in need of repair and the cobbled side yard, which was once visible from the street and had an iron, circular staircase to the second floor, is no longer open to public view. This particular property is now worth at least one million dollars.
As one of the oldest cities in the USA, of course horses played a very important part in city life. These troughs were placed around town by the Phila. Fountain Society in the 1850s for the purpose of giving horses a much need drink while working. Now, as you’ve noticed, they are planted with flowers. They should probably be refilled with water as the Phila. Police Department has a mounted division on duty once again. If you’ve never seen crime prevention done from horseback, it’s a treat to watch. Once, there was a bank robbery in progress in center city. The mounted officer just sat on his horse outside a revolving door leading from the bank to the street and, bingo!, the robber was apprehended.
Ugh! A sign you say?! Well, it’s a very informative one about this part of old city. Headhouse was rebuilt for Philly’s Bi-Centennial in 1976. Across the street, to the right of the sign, was Headhouse Tavern, where designers and signers of the Declaration met for discussion over a pint. Another of the tavern’s illustrious patrons was Dr. Benjamin Rush, mentor to Merriwether Lewis. To be in close proximity to these wonderful old sites gives one a real feeling for the history of the place.
These three photos are about our country’s birthplace. A mall was begun and the Liberty Bell installed into a separate building on it for our 1976 celebration. It was felt that millions of people going through Independence Hall to see and touch the bell (one can no longer touch it) would undermine the building. Carpenters’ Hall, on the right, was the meeting place of the First Continental Congress in 1774.
This tiny house, sandwiched between an updated colonial storefront and a CVS, seems very humble and is probably what the family,who had it built, could afford at the time. It’s one of my favorites.
Well, you’ve helped me relive my trip. Thanks for visiting and checking out my ‘blog. I would love to have any comments you’d care to make.
