Stop by! (before or after shopping the flea mkts)
Entrance btwn Coast Guard & Steelworker Bldg/Washington Ave & Columbus Blvd
More info on our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonAveGreen ]]> http://www.qvna.org/wordpress/event/family-ecofest-at-washington-ave-green-10-a-m-to-noon-free/feed/ 0 http://www.qvna.org/wordpress/event/qvna-zoning-committee-meeting-5/ http://www.qvna.org/wordpress/event/qvna-zoning-committee-meeting-5/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 16:16:01 +0000 Carla Puppin http://www.qvna.org/wordpress/?post_type=tribe_events&p=3794  

THERE WILL BE A QUEEN VILLAGE NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012, AT 7:30 PM AT THE WECCACOE PLAYGROUND BUILDING ON CATHERINE STREET BETWEEN 4^TH AND 5^TH STREETS TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING:

108 CHRISTIAN STREET   Application is for the legalization of construction of exterior stairs and landings at the first, second, third and roof (fourth story) level.  Legalize fourth story addition (deck at roof/fourth story exceeding 30” above roof surface) Proposed roof deck at the second floor rear level.  Replacement of basement window.  New window at the rear first floor.  New 36” high railing at the front stairs.

 539 WASHINGTON AVE.    Application is for the complete demolition of the existing structure and for the erection of a four (4) story attached structure (40’high) to include a cellar, a rooftop deck (with 42” high guardrails) for the utilities in the cellar.  A vacant commercial space as permitted in C-2 commercial district on the first floor, a single family dwelling on the second floor and a bi-level single family dwelling on the third thru fourth floors (total of two (2) dwelling units. Size and location as show in the application.

714 LEITHGOW STREET  Application is for the erection of a fourth story addition (roof deck access in excess of 48 sq ft) and roof deck; third floor addition with a bay window in the front

1007  REESE STREET  Application is for the erection of a four (4 story semi-detached structure with a partial roof deck (access from the 4^th floor) and cellar, for use as asingle family dwelling.  Size and location as shown on plans

1009 REESE STREET  Application is for the erection of a three (3) semi-detached structure with a roof deck, penthouse (for access to roff deck; heighbt not to exceed 10’; area not to exceed 48 sq ft) and cellar, for use as a single family dwelling.  Size and location as shown on plans.

All residents are welcome and urged to attend.  TENANT:  Please note – If landlords do not reside on property being circulated, please notify them so that they may have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

Weccacoe Playground building (400 block of Catharine St)

The June meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 5, 7 p.m.

 Registration deadline is May 10

Registration deadline is May 10

We invite all residents to come.

There will be plenty of toys, books, household goods, furniture, and more. Find a bargain and help beautify our neighborhood.

See you there!

It’s a great opportunity for neighbors to learn more about tai chi in a beautiful setting. This event is part of a weeklong series of events, programs and service opportunities called “Love Your Park Week.” There are many parks in your areas having service days or events. You can also find lots of fun information here: www.loveyourpark.org.

THERE WILL BE A QUEEN VILLAGE NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING, TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2012, AT 7:30 PM AT THE WECCACOE PLAYGROUND BUILDING ON CATHERINE STREET BETWEEN 4^TH AND 5^TH STREETS TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING: 

 115 SOUTH STREET

Application is for proposed retail sale and rental of scooters in an existing structure.

 322 BAINBRIDGE STREET

Application is for the creation of two (2) spaces from one space on the first floor, (Units A&B), each for use as one apartment for a total of two (2) apartments on the 1^st floor in the same building with 2 existing apartments on the second floor and four (4) bi-level apartments on the 3^rd and 4^th floors ( for a total of eight (8) apartments) Units all interconnected) for a patio at grade and for the legalization of a rear open elevated deck at the 2^nd floor level and a rear open elevated deck at the 3^rd story level, each deck with a 42” high railing, on the same lot with four existing accessory parking spaces previously approved (with access from the abutting lot on Monroe Street) and a 4’ high rear fence wall , size and location as shown in the application

 607 SOUTH HANCOCK STREET

Application is to create one open air off-street parking slot (size and location to be as shown in the application ) as part of a single family dwelling.

817-819 SOUTH FIFTH ST. THROUGH TO LAWRENCE STREET

  Application is for the demolition of existing structures, the relocation of lot lines to create one lot from two lots (817 &819 S. 5^th St) for the creation of an easement between the newly created property and 818 S. Lawrence.  For the erection of a three story attached structure not interconnected with a common corridor creating separate buildings per section 14-102 (119) not to exceed 35’ high with elevated deck at the second floor rear with an open trellis above at roof level and open roof deck on the 3^rd story roof. Setback min 8’ from front property line accessed  by an open stair from the third story to roof (both decks with a 42” high protective railing); also including a skylight and elevator, erection of a rear fence wall 12’ high with a see through rolling door height of 8’6” and existing 9’6” high fence walls at side property line enclosing rear yard and the three off-street parking spaces at rear; Size and location as shown in the application. 

All residents are welcome and urged to attend.  TENANT:  Please note – If landlords do not reside on property being circulated, please notify them so that they may have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

Philly’s First Settlement Turns 250! 

Philadelphia, PA, April 2012

The Queen Village Neighbors Association, in conjunction with the Southwark Historical Society, is honoring the 250th Anniversary of Philly’s First Settlement with a celebration at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’ Church) at the intersection of Columbus Blvd and Christian St. on Saturday, April 28^th from 12pm-4pm.

Southwark Historical Society members invite you and your family to learn more about this fascinating neighborhood that was here before the Revolutionary War and is home to America’s first Navy Yard, with an immigration site 2^nd in size only to Ellis Island! 

        12:00 – 1:00            Meet your neighbors and explore some of our displays including industries, example census’s that show who lived here in 1880, and more

1:00 – 2:00 Enjoy fascinating, short presentations by local historians, including “From Country Village to Early Industrial Center”, “Artisans and Scallywags in the Quaker City”, and “Southwark during the Civil War”.

     2:00-4:00 Enjoy the 3 bands, sample beer (Philadelphia Brewing Co., Mellody Brewing Co.) and snacks from local restaurants (Kennett and Southwark) and Poster Art by a local artist. 

Local Musicians     Food and Drink     Kid Friendly Activities    Historical Presentations  

The Queen Village Neighbors Association (QVNA) is a non-profit organization that strives to restore, preserve and improve the quality of life in this historical Philadelphia community.

 Southwark Event April 28th

THERE WILL BE A QUEEN VILLAGE NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING, TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012 AT 7:30 PM AT THE WECCACOE PLAYGROUND BUILDING ON CATHERINE STREET BETWEEN 4^TH AND 5^TH STREETS TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING:

 135 SOUTH ST UNIT B, Northeast corner of Second St.

Application is for the erection of one (1) accessory flat wall sign accessory to the take-out restaurant with seating.  Food served in disposable ware.  No dispensing window on 1^st floor with accessory storage exceeds 25% of gross floor area in basement in the same building with vacant 2^nd floor (size and location as shown in the application).

 1001 South Fourth St.

The application is for the erection of a concrete pedestal with a stone statue (17’2” above grade) accessory to an existing temple ( Size and location as shown in the application)

 All residents are welcome and urged to attend.  TENANT:  Please note – If landlords do not reside on property being circulated, please notify them so that they may have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

George Ord

George Ord is one of those odd gentlemen of a bygone era—a wealthy businessman who retired young and dedicated the balance of his long life to scholarship. Self-taught and without a trace of formal education, Ord was a member of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences, where he rose to many leadership positions, including president. He was also an elected member of the American Philosophical Society, the oldest and most prestigious of the nation’s scholarly organizations, where he also served at high levels. Ord became one of the leading natural scientists, ornithologists, and lexicographers of his time.

Family Life and Business

Ord was born and lived his entire life in a three-story brick house with a large garden at 784 South Front Street, between Catherine and Clymer Streets, in the Southwark district. His father, also named George (1711-1806), acquired the house soon after it was built. George senior was a successful sea captain who made his fortune when he partnered with Samuel Inglis (1745-1783) as a privateer.

Before he arrived in Philadelphia, Inglis was based in Virginia, where he was a friend of George Washington and represented the Philadelphia merchant company Willing & Morris. The company bought and sold tobacco, was a major trader in other goods from the West Indies, and invested in real estate. When the Revolutionary War broke out, Inglis’s Virginia estate was sacked by the British and he moved to Philadelphia to join Thomas Willing and Robert Morris, and the firm became Willing, Morris & Inglis.

From 1779 to 1781, Inglis and Ord bought or insured more than 10 privateer ships, several of which were co-owned by Willing, Morris, and other leading Philadelphia merchants. The fledgling American Navy was in no position to challenge the British naval forces, the most powerful in the world at the time. To supplement its small fleet, the Continental Congress authorized private ships along the East Coast to attack and seize British commercial vessels. Ord and Inglis became wealthy from the bounties earned on the ships and cargoes taken by their privateers.

In 1798, George used his fortune to establish a successful business as a rope maker and ship chandler—that is, a merchant who provides supplies necessary for ships, such as sails, tar, pitch, oils, tools, hooks, and brooms and mops. The business was based at the Willing & Francis wharf on the Delaware River. At age 19, Ord junior joined his father’s business in 1800, which became George Ord & Son, Ship Chandlers. After his father died in 1806, Ord continued the business with his mother, Rebecca Lindemayer, as George Ord & Company.

Ord married Margaret Biays (1783-1808), the daughter of a Baltimore rope maker and shipbuilder, in 1804. She died within four years, but the Ords had two children, a daughter who died in infancy and a son, Joseph Benjamin Biays Ord (1805-1865). Joseph became a respected still life and portrait painter. He left an estate worth more than $24,000 (about $338,000 in current value), which went to his father as executor.

Ord remarried in 1815, but little is known about his wife, not even her name. What is known is that she suffered from a severe mental affliction and was admitted to Pennsylvania Hospital, where she remained for many years. In gratitude for the kind care she received, Ord donated more than $20,000 to the hospital over his life, most of which was dedicated to the study and cure of mental disorders.

Gentleman and Scholar

In 1829 at age 48, Ord retired from the family business. He dedicated himself to his scholarly interests, which were already distinguished by their breadth and depth at this time.

As a teenager, Ord dedicated himself to reading English literature. He collected obsolete words that could not be found in dictionaries, and provided examples of their use. Noah Webster somehow discovered Ord’s compilation and used it to publish his first dictionary, A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language, in 1806, when Ord was 25 years old. It was compendious largely because of Ord’s contributions. But Webster didn’t credit Ord for his work. So he declined Webster’s invitation to contribute to the second edition of the dictionary published in 1841. Instead, he gave his enlarged manuscript to Robert Gordon Latham, who published a revision of Samuel Johnson’s famous Dictionary of the English Language in 1864. Latham credited Ord each time his contributions were used.

In 1804 or 1805, Ord became friends with Alexander Wilson (1766-1813), a Scottish poet, naturalist, and ornithologist who had lived in the Philadelphia area since 1794. Wilson lived down the street from John Bartram, the famous American naturalist, and was inspired in 1802 to begin work on a book illustrating the birds of North America. The result was a classic nine-volume series titled American Ornithology, published from 1808 to 1814. The volumes illustrated 268 species of birds, including 26 that had not been previously described. Ord joined Wilson on his birding expeditions in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He also became Wilson’s patron, providing both financial and editorial support of his work. After Wilson’s death, he completed the final two volumes of the series, and later revised and reprinted the entire series.

Ord also published widely in American and British natural science periodicals. He examined various specimens from the Lewis and Clark expedition and, for the first time, described and named several species of birds and mammals, such as the black-tailed prairie dog (Arctomys ludoviciana) and grizzly bear (Ursus horribilis). His essay in Guthrie’s Geography, published in 1815, is considered the first systematic work on the zoology of North America by an American.

At age 33 in 1815, self-taught and not formally educated, Ord was elected a member and curator of the Academy of Natural Sciences. He later became vice president (1816-1834) and president (1851-1858). In 1817, he was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious scholarly organization. He served the Society as secretary (1820-1827; 1829-1831), vice president (1832-1835), councilor (1839), and treasurer and librarian (1842-1847). For good measure, he also was a member of the Linnean Society of London, the world’s oldest biology society, in 1828.

Final Days

Isaac Minis Hayes (1847-1925), a fellow member of the American Philosophical Society who knew Ord, fondly recalled him as he appeared in his later years to Samuel Rhoads. Rhoads was a founder of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club and owned the Franklin Book Store at 920 Walnut Street. He also wrote the only substantive biography of George Ord, the primary source for this article.

Rhoads noted that Hayes described Ord as “a tall, rather spare and decidedly stoop-shouldered man, using a cane in his walks about town. An abundant shock of gray hair covered his head, even in old age. He talked deliberately but, once aroused upon a favorite theme, with much enthusiasm. His benign countenance comported well with a tenderhearted, kindly disposition.”

Ord’s health was never robust. Suffering from poor eyesight and often inflicted by the flu, he became a recluse later in life. He died at age 84 on January 24, 1866. Ord was buried in the Lindemeyer family plot at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) churchyard. Not far from his grave is a simple monument over the tomb of his friend, Alexander Wilson.

The Ord House

The history of the Ord house at 784 South Front Street and the properties adjoining it illustrates the ebb and flow of property development in Southwark—from residential to commercial and back to residential again. Front and Second Streets have always been a mix of residential dwellings with ground-floor businesses opening onto the pavement. Front Street was known for wholesale businesses and Second Street for retail establishments.

The Ord house originally belonged to William Fleming, who also owned the houses at 786 and 788. They were constructed in 1763—at least, 1763 was visible on the wall of 784 in 1907—and all survived for the next 150 years. A deed dated October 18, 1764 shows that Fleming commissioned a survey for his property.

By 1785, a resurvey conducted by Gunning Bedford for Captain George Ord indicates that the property was in his possession at the time. We know that his son George was born and lived there until his death in 1866. An 1860 Hexamer map indicates that the house was made of brick or stone, was three stories tall, and had a shingled roof and roof deck. Two artworks made in 1861, when George junior still lived there, are consistent with this description and show more detail.

The August 1861 pencil drawing by James E. Taylor (1839-1901), from the Winterthur Museum collection, shows the dwelling and a long wall to the north, with a door to the old St. Philip Neri Church girl’s parochial school (778 South Front Street). The addition at the rear shows two rather tall chimneys, indicating that the kitchen was housed there, with the hint of another addition hidden by the tree. In fact, a new kitchen was built in 1785 and the old kitchen was converted to a dining room. At 786 is a business, with an awning that advertises “James Watson Porter Ale Cider Mineral Water Establishment.” Winterthur notes state that the building was possibly demolished in the 1940s or 1950s.

The 1860s watercolor by David Johnston Kennedy (c. 1816-1898), from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) collection, shows a wider view of 784-790 South Front Street (minus the 786 building awning), the long wall to the north, and the tall chimneys at the rear additions. HSP notes: “Residence of Mr. George Ord, 784 South Front Street above Catharine. He was born in and died in this house on January 24, 1866, aged 84. At his decease, the family mansion was unchanged as he knew it in his boyhood: no change in the furniture or outside appearance… House built in 1763.”

A 1905 Hexamer map and a 1905 business directory show that 784 South Front was a Chinese laundry. The map also indicates that the building is in hazardous condition.

The deed trail runs cold until August 1922, when owners Hyman and Rosie Goldman sell the property to Charles R. Eggleston, a lawyer. A July 1929 deed indicates the owners as Charles F. and Mary L. Eggleston, presumably the heirs of Charles R. Eggleston. Either Charles senior or junior was an industrious real estate speculator, because Charles F. and Mary L. transfer a substantial parcel—now including 778, 780, 782, 784, and 786 South Front Street—to Elisabeth D. Eggleston.

In December 1942, Elisabeth sells all the properties to Joseph T. Scott. By July 1951, the properties were demolished to make room for J. Thomas Scott, Inc., an industrial supply business.

Sometime in 1960, a series of five condos were built on the site of Scott’s business. In December 1979, part or all of the property was sold to Whildins Way Developers, Inc.

SOURCES

American Philosophical Society. “George Ord Collection,” 2001. http://www.amphilsoc.org/mole/view?docId=ead/Mss.B.Or2-ead.xml

Stephens, Alexis and Dayton, Maria. “History of 784-6 South Front Street: Early Developments,” University of Pennsylvania, undated. http://www.brynmawr.edu/cities/archx/05-600/proj/p1/asmsd/New%20Site/web-content/784-6%20South%20Front.html

Rhoads, Samuel N. “George Ord,” Cassinia: Proceedings of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, number 12, pages 1-8, 1908.

The committee meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month, 7:30 p.m. at the Weccacoe Playground building (400 block of Catharine St–enter at the door that faces the tennis court)

Help beautify Queen Village – Support the creation of a major new artistic mural in our neighborhood. A large-scale mural, designed by Queen Village artist Conrad Booker, is proposed for the wall on the Fulton Street side wall of 770 South 4th Street. Conrad is well known for many public art installations including the recent butterfly installations at Headhouse Square as well as Fabric Row and other locations.For over a decade, the site where the new mural is to be installed has experienced a disproportionate amount of litter, dumping, graffiti, and public urination as well as multiple crimes including narcotics abuse and assault. In short, the site in question currently looks terrible and is a major problem for the nearby community.

Or, make your check payable to Queen Village Neighbors Association, with “Mural Project” in the memo. Mail to QVNA, P.O. Box 63763, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Queen Village Open House and Garden Tour

Saturday, May 19, noon to 4 p.m.

Visit beautiful  renovated 18th and 19th century rowhomes as well as contemporary post-modern dwellings.  Plus historic churches, small gardens, charming alleys, and community gardens. 

Here’s a peek at one house on this year’s tour: http://articles.philly.com/2012-02-19/news/31077313_1_apartment-building-apartment-house-third-floor

 Complimentary light refreshments

Self-guided walking tour  $25;  Wear comfortable walking shoes

Tour starts at noon at St. Philip Neri Church,  218 Queen Street

Tour takes place rain or shine.  All ticket sales are final

To purchase a ticket, call 215 339-0975, email info@qvna.org,

or buy online through Paypal:

Select # of Tickets

1 Ticket $25.00 USD 2 Tickets $50.00 USD 3 Tickets $75.00 USD 4 Tickets $100.00 USD 5 Tickets $125.00 USD 6 Tickets $150.00 USD 7 Tickets $175.00 USD 8 Tickets $200.00 USD 9 Tickets $225.00 USD 10 Tickets $250.00 USD

Tickets are also available the day of the tour at St. Philip’s (218 Queen Street) (cash or check only the day of the tour).

Portrait of James Forten by unknown artist

James Forten would be considered a remarkable man in any era, but especially so in Colonial Philadelphia. Born a free man, Forten became one of the most successful sail makers at a time when most African Americans were still slaves, was an astute real estate speculator, invested in stocks and other financial ventures, became a respected money lender and financial adviser who was admired for his fairness, and was an outspoken abolitionist and pioneering supporter women’s rights.

Forten was born in Philadelphia on September 2, 1766 to Thomas and Margaret Forten (1722-1806). His paternal grandfather lived and died as a slave in the Pennsylvania colony. Thomas managed to become a free man at some point, but Margaret might have been a slave during her early life. Under Pennsylvania law at the time, had Margaret had children while still in bondage, they would have been slaves, too. So Margaret waited until she was 41, when she was free, to give birth to her first child, Abigail, in 1763. She was 44 when James was born. The family lived on Third Street near Walnut Street in the Dock Ward.

Privateer and Prisoner
Thomas Forten was a master tradesman who worked as a sail maker for Robert Bridges. Bridges rented a loft on the top floor of a warehouse on Willing’s Wharf belonging to Thomas Willing and Company. Thomas taught his young son the basics of his trade at the Bridges sail loft. Thomas died in late 1773 or early 1774 when James was seven years old, and Margaret was left to support the family, probably as a domestic servant. Still, she managed to send James to a Quaker school for African Americans, which was run by abolitionist Anthony Benezet. But with just two years of schooling, James was forced at age nine to work full-time as a chimney sweep and later in a grocery.

In 1781, at the height of the Revolutionary War when James was 14 years old, he signed on as a powder-boy on the Royal Louis, a privateer captained by Stephen Decatur, Sr. (1752-1808). The ship had a crew of 200, 20 of whom were African Americans. The fledgling American Navy was in no position to challenge the British naval forces, the most powerful in the world at the time. To supplement its small fleet, the Continental Congress authorized private ships along the East Coast to attack and seize British commercial vessels. American privateers captured about 2,280 enemy ships, compared to fewer than 200 seized by the Continental Navy; they provided more than two million pounds of seized gunpowder to the Continental Army. A crewmember could earn as much as $1,000 from the ships and cargo seized and sold by privateers.

Forten’s first cruise on the Royal Louis was a success, but the second was a disaster. The British captured the Royal Louis and took its crew prisoner aboard the H.M.S. Amphion, captained by John Bazely. Impressed by Forten’s “honest and open countenance,” Bazely assigned Forten to look after his 12-year-old son Henry on the voyage to New York harbor, where the privateer crew would be transferred to a prison ship. The two boys quickly formed a close friendship, and Henry urged his father to spare Forten when they arrived in New York. Bazely asked Forten whether he would change allegiance, accompany Henry back to England, be educated with him, and pursue a trade in freedom. Forten declined, explaining that he could not betray his country.

Bazely made sure that Forten would be included on the list of prisoners of war to be exchanged for British citizens captured by the Americans. This spared Forten from being sold as a slave in the British West Indies, the typical fate of blacks taken by the British. On October 23, Forten became prisoner number 4102 aboard the H.M.S. Jersey, an infamous prison ship. After seven months, he was released and made his way back home to Philadelphia on foot.

Master Sail Maker and Business Owner
After the war ended, Forten’s sister’s husband, William Dunbar, a merchant seaman, persuaded him to join him on a voyage to England aboard the Commerce, which sailed in April 1784. When they arrived in London, Forten decided to stay on and find work as a sail maker in one of the many shipyards and sail lofts along the Thames. After a year of training and experience, Forten returned home and apprenticed himself to Robert Bridges, his father’s old employer, at age 19. Within a year, he was promoted to foreman. Not surprisingly, the white tradesmen in the sail loft bridled at the prospect of being bossed by a man of color. But Bridges used all his authority and the respect his workers had for him to accept Forten as their foreman.

In November 1792, Bridges loaned Forten 250 pounds on favorable terms to buy a two-story brick house and lot on the south side of Shippen (now Bainbridge) Street, close to George (now American) Street. Forten shared the home with his mother Margaret, sister Abigail (1763-1846) and her husband William (unknown-1805), and their children, Nicholas (1786-1852), Margaret (1785-1852), and William Jr. (1792-unknown). What motivated Bridges to make the generous loan? Certainly it indicated his respect for Forten’s skill as a master craftsman. Perhaps he was also grateful to Forten for the new type of sail hoist he invented, which enabled ships to rig sails more quickly while also improving maneuverability.

When Bridges retired in 1798, he sold the business to Forten. Although Bridges had children who might have inherited the firm, he had higher hopes for them. He encouraged his sons to become merchants or lawyers rather than craftsmen, which they did. And he intended his daughters to marry up, which they did. Forten had the experience, business acumen, and ambition to manage and expand the sail loft, and he did.

At age 32, Forten ran one of the most successful sail lofts in town, supervised more than 40 apprentice and master tradesmen, and had the respect—and contracts—of the leading merchants and ship owners along the waterfront. Within a decade, he added to his wealth by diversifying. He started by buying, selling, and renting real estate. He bought a lot in Southwark in 1803, built a house, and rented it out. In 1806, he bought a three-story brick house at 336 Lombard Street, which became the Forten family home. In 1809, he acquired a second house on Lombard, between 10th and 11th Streets. In 1812, he invested in a lot in Blockley Township on the west side of the Schuylkill River and another house in the city on 9th Street. From 1816 to 1820, he added to his real estate holdings in Southwark, Philadelphia, and the suburbs. He used the profits of his real estate sales and rents to buy bonds, mortgages, bank and railroad stocks, and shares in various companies. He also made loans to friends, neighbors, and business associates. Forten became one of the wealthiest men in Philadelphia, white or black.

Champion of Social Justice
Having established himself as a respected man of business, Forten turned his attention to raising a family. In 1803 he married Martha (Patty) Beatte in at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas at Fifth and Adelphi (now St. James) Streets, just south of Walnut Street. She died the following year. Forten married again in 1805, taking Charlotte Vandine (1785-1884) as his wife. Charlotte was a teacher and an outspoken abolitionist.

The Forten’s had nine children, several of whom were named in honor of Forten’s business associates and patrons and most of whom followed their parents’ lead in supporting abolitionist and suffragist causes: Margaretta Forten (1806-1875), Charlotte Forten (1808-1814), Harriet Davy Forten Purvis (1810-1875), James Forten, Jr. (1811- circa 1870), Robert Bridges Forten (1813-1864), Sarah Louisa Forten Purvis (1814-1884), Mary Theresa Forten (1815-1842), William Deas Forten (1823-1900), and Thomas Willing Francis Forten (1827-1897).

Mindful of the rare opportunities he enjoyed to master a trade and achieve success, Forten made a point of hiring black apprentices and journeymen in his sail loft. Black and whites were integrated into his business, worked side by side, and were paid equivalent wages. His business was described as an academy where, in the words of a commentator at the time, the “best class of colored youth of Philadelphia and surrounding States” were trained. Forten even allowed his employees to board at his house on Lombard Street. Census records showed that many more people than Forten’s immediate family occupied the home: 15 people in 1810, 18 in 1820, and 22 in 1830!

In 1813, when freed slaves moved north in search of work, Philadelphia politicians proposed a bill to require that all newly arrived blacks register with the state. Forten wrote and published a pamphlet, Letters from a Man of Color, to protest the plan, arguing that it would perpetuate the general opinion that blacks were not equal to whites and would violate the rights of all free people. The bill did not pass.

In 1817, Forten joined abolitionist leaders Reverend Richard Allen, founder of Mother Bethel African American Methodist Episcopal Church, and Absalom Jones in establishing the Convention of Color. The Convention’s 3,000 participants denounced the American Colonization Society and its plan to repatriate freed slaves to Africa, where they would presumably enjoy a better life and more opportunities for self-determination. Forten also argued against the Convention’s proposal to help ex-slaves find a better life in Canada. The Convention was a pivotal event that shaped black resistance to any plans to repatriate freed slaves anywhere outside the north.

Forten’s advocacy of black rights was an inspiration to a radical New England abolitionist, William Lloyd Garrison, who began publishing the Liberator, an influential anti-slavery newspaper, in 1831. Forten was an early supporter, helping the newspaper to stay afloat financially and contributing a series of letters under the name of “A Colored Philadelphian.”

Forten’s wife and children shared his passion for social justice for blacks. His wife Charlotte and daughters Margaretta, Sarah, and Harriet were founders of the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society, the first biracial organization of women’s abolitionists in the nation. Sarah also contributed articles and poems to the Liberator. The Fortens founded and financed at least six abolitionist organizations, bought freedom for slaves, and were active in the Underground Railroad.
At age 75, James Forten fell ill and died at nine o’clock in the morning of March 4, 1841. A “vast concourse of people, of all classes and complexions, numbering from three to five thousand” accompanied his coffin to its graveyard at Saint Thomas Protestant Episcopal Churchyard, which has since been removed to Lebanon Cemetery at 18th and Wolf Streets. He left an estate of $1.6 million in current valuation. Forten’s legacy is inestimable.

Sources
Vallar, Cindy. Pirates and Privateers: The History of Maritime Policy, 2007. http://www.cindyvallar.com/forten.html

Winch, Julie. “‘You Know I Am a Man of Business’: James Forten and the Factor of Race in Philadelphia’s Antebellum Business Community,” Business and Economic History, volume 26, number 1, pages 213-28, Fall 1997.

Winch, Julie. “‘A Person of Good Character and Considerable Property’: James Forten and the Issue of Race in Philadelphia’s Antebellum Business Community,” Business History Review, Volume 75, number 2, pages 261-96, Summer 2001.

 228-232 SOUTH STREET

Application is for the creation of additional two (2) dwelling units on the 2^nd floor in the same building with existing three (3) family dwelling on the 3^rd and 4th floors with existing restaurant with accessory meeting room for members only (no live entertainment or any activities as defined in section 14-1605 of Philadelphia Zoning Code) as previously approved on 1^st floor (size and location as shown in the application)

  306 CATHARINE STREET

Application is for the erection of a third story addition to an existing two story structure in the rear of the property.

513 WASHINGTON AVENUE.  (2^ND MEETING) Application is for the erection of a four (4) story with a cellar addition, a roof deck above the third story roof (front and rear) with 42” high rails, a bay at the second and third floors (front) and a balcony at the second and third floors (rear).  All as part of an existing three (3) story attached structure with a cellar, for use as a professional office on the first and cellar floors and a two (2) family dwelling above (size and location as shown in the application).

All residents are welcome and urged to attend.  TENANT:  Please note – If landlords do not reside on property being circulated, please notify them so that they may have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

Settlement Music School, located at 416 Queen Street, provides more than 15,000 children and adults in the Philadelphia region each year with the highest quality instruction in music, dance and the related arts. The School awards more than $2 million annually in financial aid and scholarships. In addition to its core program of instruction, Settlement reaches out to at-risk children in Philadelphia through its tuition-free and nationally recognized Kaleidoscope Preschool Program to better prepare them for academic excellence in the future. Visit www.smsmusic.org for more information.

This is where you come in. You can to add your voice to the chorus in support of Settlement Music School’s mission. Purchasing a Raffle Ticket is a wonderful way to support arts education and the youth of our community. The proceeds of the raffle will directly support Settlement’s financial aid program.

Click here to purchase tickets online, or visit http://www.smsmusic.org/contact/ticket_raffle.php?t=4.  2012_Gala_Raffle_Flyer_2-sided

Raffle #1 - $100 per chance – Only 500 tickets will be sold:

***A one week stay at a spectacular $12 million bay-front property in Avalon, NJ. The 10,000 square foot, nine-bedroom, 10-bath residence features 219 feet of bay frontage, a heated swimming pool, dock, two boat slips, three-car garage and decks on all three floors.

Raffle #2 - $20 per chance:

***A one week stay in The White House, a multi-million dollar ocean front home in Loveladies, NJ. The eight-bedroom, seven-bath residence is famed for its abundant views and unique design, and sits on nearly two acres, including 125 feet of ocean front, with a well-established beach and dune. It is one of the few remaining tracts available on Long Beach Island, and the largest of its kind.

***A Chef ’s Table dinner for six at SoleFood Restaurant at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel in Center City, and an overnight stay for two at

Loews, including brunch the next day. SoleFood serves uniquely local Philadelphia seafood dishes combined with an elegant, modern

atmosphere.

***A $1,000 gift certificate to Sophy Curson: Fine Clothing for Women. This small gem off of Rittenhouse Square is the chic shop around

the corner for Philadelphians and the place to visit for the out-of-town vacationer. Modest in approach and individualized to higher tastes,

Sophy Curson proud to have dressed many notable American and European women.

*Need not be present to win. Must be 18 or older. Some restrictions and blackout dates apply.

Help us ensure that this important work goes forward well into our second century!

The Master Plan for the Central Delaware is a 2012 recipient of the American Insititute of Architects (AIA) Honor award, the profession’s highest recognition of work that demonstrates excellence in architecture and urban design.

“Tiny Conspiracies: Cell-to-Cell Communication in Bacteria”
By Dr. Bonnie Bassler, Princeton University
Monday, March 12, 2012 at 6:00 PM
Science on Tap held at National Mechanics Bar, 22 S. Third St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
Sponsored by the Wagner Free Institute of Science

Science on Tap is a monthly Science Café in Philadelphia that features public discussion on engaging science topics. Held in a relaxed, bar setting on the second Monday of every month, Science on Tap features a brief, informal presentation by a scientist or other expert followed by lively conversation.

 Microbiologist Bonnie Bassler  made the ground-breaking discovery that bacteria can communicate with one another through a process called “Quorum Sensing.” Quorum sensing is the cell-to-cell communication that allows bacteria to coordinate and synchronize, acting as a multi-cellular organism. Dr. Bassler’s current research focuses on disease therapies that interfere with quorum sensing and prevent bacteria from carrying out a deadly attack. She will discuss her groundbreaking research and its profound implication for the fields of Biology and Medicine.

Left: Dr. Bonnie Bassler. Right: Glowing Bacteria in the Bassler Lab at Princeton University.

Dr. Bonnie Bassler is the Squibb Professor of Molecular Biology at Princeton University. Her research has earned her countless awards, including an honorary degree from Swarthmore College (2010) and a MacArthur fellowship (2002), the so-called “Genius Award.”  She was interviewed on the PBS show NOVA in 2007, was invited to give a TED talk in 2009 and has earned the title “Bacteria Whisperer.” She was recently nominated by President Obama to serve as a member of the National Science Board which oversees the National Science Foundation.

Science on Tap was started in 2009 and is sponsored by a consortium of five Philadelphia institutions: Academy of Natural Sciences, American Philosophical Society (APS) Museum, Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF), Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, and Wagner Free Institute of Science.

This program is FREE and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Wagner Free Institute of Science.

Founded in 1855, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is dedicated to providing free public education in science.  Its programs include free courses and lectures, field trips and lessons for children and museum tours for all ages. The evening science courses are in their 156^th year, making them the oldest program devoted to free adult education in the United States. The Institute also has a strong commitment to children’s science education and offers a range of programs for school groups and through partnerships with neighboring schools and community groups.

The Institute’s Museum houses more than 100,000 natural history specimens, a collection begun by founder William Wagner in the early nineteenth century and expanded by the pre-eminent scientist Joseph Leidy in the 1880s.  Completed in 1865, the Institute’s National Historic Landmark building is essentially unchanged since the late-nineteenth century and includes a Victorian Exhibition Hall filled with fossils, shells, minerals and mounted animal skeletons and skins displayed in original wood and glass cabinets. The Museum is open to visitors Tuesdays – Fridays, 9 AM to 4 PM, year-round. Evening and weekend programs are offered during the fall, winter and spring.

For more information please visit:  www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org or www.scienceontapphilly.com

###

The Friends of Weccacoe  Playground meet on the second Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Weccacoe Playground building (400 block of Catharine Street)

• Make our neighborhood easier to live in.
• Foster sustainable practices that support our lives by making the daily process of life more integrated and convenient.
• Encourage urban agriculture and social cooperation in a permanent, age integrated community for the purpose of a safer, healthier, more beautiful and economically stable urban environment.

Monthly Meetings
The committee meets every third Wednesday at 7:30 at Weccacoe Playground  building(400 block of Catharine Street).

 The Purpose of the committee is to advocate for a fair property tax system for our neighbors with safeguards for low income residents.  We welcome any residents who would like to help in this effort.

Weccacoe Playground building 400 block of Catharine St. (Enter at the door that faces the tennis court)

$1.25M grant from DCNR to Natural Lands Trust to acquire waterfront piers and riparian lands on behalf of DRWC

PHILADELPHIA (March 1, 2012) The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has awarded a $1.25 million grant to Natural Lands Trust on behalf of the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) to acquire a large waterfront site comprised of five acres of land and 11 acres of riparian lands at the end of Pier 70 Boulevard. Acquisition of this land was an essential first step to create the permanent multi-use recreational trail along the river and to create the southern anchor of a new ecological wetlands park, both of which are critical components of DRWC’s recently released Master Plan for the Central Delaware. 

”This award marks another step on our way to creating the best waterfront in the country; a green, sustainable gem along the river where people live, work and play,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “I would like to thank DRWC for collaborating with Natural Lands Trust on this important project. It is only through working with partners that we will continue to build on our successes at the Delaware River waterfront.”

In late 2010, DRWC and Natural Lands Trust began collaboration on a joint application to DCNR to acquire this land at the southern end of DRWC’s Master Plan project area. The DCNR grant to Natural Lands Trust represents a portion of the property value. The property owners, Delaware Associates, L.P., will contribute a matching amount in the form of a charitable donation.  The entire transaction is expected to be finalized in late spring 2012.

“This is the first of many creative partnerships and multi-partner negotiations using the innovative financing techniques necessary to acquire public spaces along the river, integral to implementation of the Master Plan for the Central Delaware,” said Alan Greenberger, deputy mayor for planning and economic development. 

“The acquisition of this major parcel of waterfront land is a very important step in the development of a cohesive waterfront trail,” said Tom Corcoran, president of DRWC. “We are very grateful to Governor Corbett and his administration for supporting this important element of the Master Plan and to the Natural Lands Trust for providing their unique expertise in acquiring private lands for public use.”

“We are thrilled to be partnering with DRWC on a project that will benefit both the environment and city residents,” said Natural Lands Trust president Molly Morrison. “Nearly 60 years ago, at the infancy of our organization, Natural Lands Trust worked to protect a different section of land along the Delaware River—now the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. This project represents a return to the city for us in our land protection work and, as such, has special meaning.”

In a separate award, DCNR granted DRWC $250,000 toward funding a portion of the design and construction costs for the on-pier improvements for Pier 53 at Washington Avenue Green, including ecological restoration which will serve as the northern boundary of this future wetlands park. These improvements include the construction of a self-supported boardwalk and kayak launch to increase public access to the Delaware River.

“The Central Delaware Advocacy Group is thrilled to hear of these two grant awards,” said Steve Weixler, chair of the Central Delaware Advocacy Group (CDAG).  “CDAG has been a constant advocate for increased public access along the Delaware River waterfront, and both of these grants contribute greatly to that goal.”

The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) is a nonprofit corporation organized exclusively for the benefit of the City of Philadelphia and its citizens. DRWC acts as the steward of the Delaware River waterfront to provide a benefit to all of the citizens and visitors of the City.

The fundamental purpose of DRWC is to design, develop and manage the central Delaware River waterfront in Philadelphia between Oregon and Allegheny Avenues. DRWC intends to transform the central Delaware River waterfront into a vibrant destination location for recreational, cultural, and commercial activities for the residents and visitors of Philadelphia. DRWC will serve as a catalyst for high quality investment in public parks, trails, maritime, residential, retail, hotel and other improvements that create a vibrant amenity, extending Philadelphia to the river’s edge.

Natural Lands Trust is the region’s largest land conservation organization and is dedicated to protecting the forests, fields, streams, and wetlands that are essential to the sustainability of life in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. Since its founding, Natural Lands Trust has preserved more than 100,000 acres, including 40 nature preserves totaling nearly 21,000 acres and 19,000 acres on which it holds conservation easements. For more information, visit www.natlands.org.
                                                                                                  

• Make our neighborhood easier to live in.
• Foster sustainable practices that support our lives by making the daily process of life more integrated and convenient.
• Encourage urban agriculture and social cooperation in a permanent, age integrated community for the purpose of a safer, healthier, more beautiful and economically stable urban environment.

Monthly Meetings
The committee meets every third Wednesday at 7:30 at the QVNA office at Weccacoe Playground (400 block of Catharine Street).

 942 SOUTH FIFTH STREET.  Application is for a takeout restaurant with one (1) accessory flat wall awning sign (3’ x 16’) on the first floor in the same building with an existing single family dwelling above.  Size and location as shown in the application.

1002 and 1004 SOUTH RANDOLPH STREET  Application is for the relocation of lot lines to create one lot rom two lots(1002 and 1004 S. Randolph St) and for the erection of a three story attached structure with full cellar, max. height. 35′ with accessory interior one -car garage, and a deck o the second story roof with  a 42″ high parapet wall serving as a protective railing,  For use as a two (2) family dwelling. Size and location as shown in the application.

All residents are welcome and urged to attend.  TENANT:  Please note – If landlords do not reside on property being circulated, please notify them so that they may have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

Principal Dr. Burnley and some Nebinger parents will speak about the school at a public school fair on Wednesday March 17, 5-7 pm, at Peirce College, 1420 Pine St.  

 Congratulations to Dr. Ralph Burnley who was awarded the Lindback Distinguished Principal Award funded by the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation of Philadelphia. The award recognizes school principals who have made significant leadership and humanitarian contributions to his/her students, staff and community. This award recognizes individuals:

• who have dedicated their time and efforts to public service to benefit the school and community
• who demonstrate compassion for other humans by their acts of kindness
• who demonstrate high expectations and develop people within their schools and communities
• who ensure that conditions and incentives fully support teaching and learning to ensure all students are well prepared to succeed in the 21st century.

The rare earths elements: La–Lu, Y and Sc are irreplaceable components of compact
uorescent light bulbs, wind turbines generators, and hybrid and electric vehicles.
For application, the rare earths must be separated into pure compoundsfrom their
composite ores. China currently produces ~97% of all rare earths materials, though its
geological holdings amount to ~37% of the estimated total global supply. The global
market for rare earth elements is currently in crisisdue to a reduction of export quotas
by the Chinese government. The talk will encompass the many applications of rare
earths in modern society, the current global supply chain and outlook for this critical
class of elements.w ww.lrsm.upenn.edu   

LRSM Science Cafe  This is a monthly series of talks for the general public in a convivial setting in which Penn faculty and others from academia and industry will discuss scientific topics in layman’s terms around the general theme of materials science.

Philly’s First Settlement Turns 250! 

Philadelphia, PA, April 2012

The Queen Village Neighbors Association, in conjunction with the Southwark Historical Society, is honoring the 250th Anniversary of Philly’s First Settlement with a celebration at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’ Church) at the intersection of Columbus Blvd and Christian St. on Saturday, April 28^th from 12pm-4pm.

Southwark Historical Society members invite you and your family to learn more about this fascinating neighborhood that was here before the Revolutionary War and is home to America’s first Navy Yard, with an immigration site 2^nd in size only to Ellis Island! 

        12:00 – 1:00            Meet your neighbors and explore some of our displays including industries, example census’s that show who lived here in 1880, and more

1:00 – 2:00 Enjoy fascinating, short presentations by local historians, including “From Country Village to Early Industrial Center”, “Artisans and Scallywags in the Quaker City”, and “Southwark during the Civil War”.

    2:00-4:00 Enjoy the 3 bands, sample beer (Philadelphia Brewing Co., Mellody Brewing Co.) and snacks from local restaurants (Kennett and Southwark) and Poster Art by a local artist. 

Local Musicians     Food and Drink     Kid Friendly Activities    Historical Presentations  

The Queen Village Neighbors Association (QVNA) is a non-profit organization that strives to restore, preserve and improve the quality of life in this historical Philadelphia community.

 Southwark Event April 28th

Saturday, May 19, noon to 4 p.m.

Visit a fascinating range of houses dating from the 18th century to the twentieth century, traditional to contemporary styles. Also featured on the tour are historic churches and community gardens.  A delightful way to explore Queen Village.
Self guided walking tour. Light refreshments provided.

Here’s a peek at one house on this year’s tour: http://articles.philly.com/2012-02-19/news/31077313_1_apartment-building-apartment-house-third-floor

Email info@qvna.org to receive a brochure.

Tickets are $25.  All sales are final.  Tour takes place, rain or shine.  Proceeds benefit projects sponsored by the Queen Village Neighbors Association.   Tickets can be purchased the day of the tour starting at noon at the tour start point, St. Philip Neri Church, 218 Queen St. (Cash or check only the day of the tour)   OR:

Buy tickets online now:

Select # of Tickets

1 Ticket $25.00 USD 2 Tickets $50.00 USD 3 Tickets $75.00 USD 4 Tickets $100.00 USD 5 Tickets $125.00 USD 6 Tickets $150.00 USD 7 Tickets $175.00 USD 8 Tickets $200.00 USD 9 Tickets $225.00 USD 10 Tickets $250.00 USD

• Saturday, February 18th

  9am-2pm | Details

  EForce, Whole Foods Market South Street’s ongoing partner for battery, CFL bulb, & handheld electronics recycling, is coming to all southeast PA Whole Foods Markets (Philadelphia – South Street, Philadelphia – Callowhill, Jenkintown, North Wales, Devon, Wynnewood, Plymouth Meeting) from 9am to 2pm on Saturday, February 18th for an electronics recycling event!

  Clean out those closets and dispose of your old electronics in an environmentally responsible way… for FREE!

  Allowable items for drop off include (full list ateforcecompliance.com/electronics.html):

  • Laptops, desktops, keyboards and mice
  • Mainframe computer systems
  • Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) and monitors
  • Modems and telephone boards
  • Hard drives, floppy drives, and CDROMs
  • Phones, fax machines, telecomm hardware
  • Printers
  • Televisions
  • Computer boards, CPUs, memory chips, circuit boards, wires and cables
    Whole Foods Market South Street (Philadelphia)
    929 South St,
    Philadelphia, PA 19147
    Carolyn Reinhardt Carolyn.Reinhardt@wholefoods.com
    Marketing Team Leader
    215.733.9788

    Whole Foods Market Callowhill (Philadelphia)
    2001 Pennsylvania Ave,
    Philadelphia, PA 19130
    Kerry Shepski Kerry.Shepski@wholefoods.com
    Marketing Team Leader
    215.557.0015

Meet at 9 a.m. at the Weccacoe Playground building–from there groups will  go off in different directions to plant the trees.  Wear clothes and shoes that can dirty.  Bring a pair of work gloves

627 S. Third St. (NE Corner of 3rd and Bainbridge Streets)  Ela Restaurant.  The meeting is for review of the owner’s request for sidewalk seating.

3 – 6 p.m

Benefit to Support Meredith Elementary School

Meet and Greet with State Senator Larry Farnese

Mike Hauptman, chair of the QVNA Zoning Committee, will give us a primer on what the new zoning code means and how it affects neighborhood development.

Food, music, entertainment, raffles, face painting and more. 

School of Rock Band at 11 a.m. and noon;   Capoeira, a unique Brazilian art form of dance, music, gymnastics, self-defense and the Portuguese language will give lessons;  inMovement will demonstrate movement classes;  Young Rembrandts with Lisa Zollinger will give art lessons;   Queen Village Art Center will host a Make-N-Take ARt Station

RAFFLE TICKETS FOR $1 each.  Gift Certificates from fabulous neighborhood restaurants and businesses

SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE will have greening project demonstrations including:

Worm box composting  11:30  a.m.-12:30 pm

Window box workshop (with raffle of finished window box) 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Photo of Caroline Earle White provided by the Women's Humane Society.

Caroline Earle White, an important early advocate for animals in America, in 1910 celebrated the installation of the water fountain in Queen Village, Philadelphia, located at the intersection of Bainbridge and 3rd Streets. She is pictured here in black, standing to the right of the fountain. The fountain reads “Drink Gentle Friends” across the top: it was established to quench the thirst of horses and people, too. Building these fountains was only one of many campaigns led by Ms. White after the Civil War.

Kindness towards animals was not an automatic human response. The movement towards kindness in America substantially began in the gilded age of the 19th century and was first directed towards livestock . . . pets came later. Horses, in fact, were a substantial part of anti-cruelty actions: 70% of all cruelty cases from 1870-1890 were horse related. ⁽⁵⁾

Caroline Earle White connected with and was inspired by others who were just starting to advocate for animals. In 1866 after vacationing in the Adirondacks she visited the biggest name in animal activism of the time, humanitarian Henry Bergh of New York City. Interested in animal advocacy, not necessarily in animal shelters, he founded the American Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals, the ASPCA, in the same year of her visit. Another important early animal activist was George Angell, who founded the Massachusetts SPCA in Boston in 1868. Historian Bernard Unti calls Bergh, White, and Angell the “founding triumvirate” of the 19th Century American animal-protection movement. ⁽⁵⁾

Ms. White returned to Philadelphia and partnered with Colonial and Ms. M. Richards Mucké, obtaining patronage of the city’s most prominent individuals and calling for the creation of a Philadelphia chapter of the SPCA. With the assistance of her attorney husband Richard White, the group’s charter and corresponding laws were drafted and on June 21, 1868 the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA) was founded. Per Diane Beers, “Although Caroline Earle White played a key role in the creation of the PSPCA in 1868, as a woman, she was not permitted to serve as one of its leaders or board members.” ⁽⁷⁾ Her husband served on the board of managers and most likely spoke for her. This organization continues as the PSPCA today in Philadelphia.

One year later in 1869 Caroline Earle White started the Women’s branch of the PSPCA where she would lead as president until her death in 1916 at the age of 83. The WSPCA is credited with the establishment of horse watering stations similar to the one in Queen Village throughout the City of Philadelphia. She quickly convinced the mayor to develop more humane methods to euthanize stray dogs and by the end of the first year she had a shelter in operation and had taken over the city’s pound, including animal collection and disposal processes. From this, she garnered control over the release of strays used in medical research. This was America’s first animal shelter.

The city contributed $2,500 toward the costs to operate the shelter. This constituted the “first attempt on the part of any society in the U.S. to handle the problem of surplus or unwanted animals, as far as it can be ascertained the first appropriation ever made by a municipality for humane work” ( Coleman, 1924, 181; see also Brestrup 1997).⁽⁴⁾

Photo of Caroline Earle White provided by the Women's Humane Society.

The Women’s Philadelphia SPCA developed a charter “To provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty throughout the state of Pennsylvania, and of the enforcement of laws heretofore or hereafter enacted for the protection of dumb animals; to erect and maintain fountains, tanks etc., for dumb creatures and to distribute tracts.” A shelter was established at 315 Chadwick Street where sick and injured horses and other small animals were treated free of charge, called the “Caroline Earle White Dispensary.” The WSPCA continues today as the Woman’s Humane Society, now located in Bensalem, PA after losing their Philadelphia headquarters. Animal advocacy was often supported by women in the 19th century, but not the leadership because of typical gender expectations. Ms. White was the exception.

The impact of her work was felt world-wide and by animals other than horses and pets. Ms. White traveled extensively and in 1880 attended the Brussels Congress of “Société Protectrice des Animaux”, established in 1849. There, she shared her efforts in Philadelphia to establish shelters. Her articles were translated into both German and French, impacting communities around the world. She also campaigned vigorously against the use of bird plumage in woman’s attire. Per medical historian Susan Lederer, “In 1907 she was instrumental in obtaining a congressional investigation of railroad animal transportation, which resulted in a federal law compelling companies to feed and water animals in their care at least once every 28 hours. She often characterized this law as the “crowning achievement” of her life.” ⁽²⁾

She also believed in early intervention to promote better treatment of animals. She worked with public, private and parochial schools, including Girard College and the House of Refuge, to educate children on kindness and consideration for animals through the “Bands of Mercy” program that was becoming  popular around the world.  By 1912 this movement reached “85,098 (organizations) into which have gathered something more than three million children.”⁽⁶⁾

Ms. White met British antivivisectionist and feminist Francis Power Cobb on a trip to England. In 1883 she was a driving force behind the establishment of the American Antivivisection Society. According to Susan Lederer, “although membership in the society remained small compared to the much larger animal protection organizations, it commanded attention through the publication of Journal of Zoophily, edited by White and published under the joint auspices of the PSPCA and the American Antivivisection Society. Perhaps more significant, Caroline White’s assistant editor, Mary Frances Lovell, also served as the superintendent for the Department of Mercy for the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, the largest women’s group in the United States, which effectively spread the gospel of antivivisection to women’s clubs throughout the nation.” ⁽¹⁾

The American Humane Association started in 1877, a federation of societies for united action to secure national legislation against cruelty to animals as well as children. At the first joint meeting in Ohio, Ms. White was there representing the Woman’s SPCA. By 1922 there were 539 societies registered with the organization.

We’ve come a long way in 150 years from the horrors once accepted as part of normal daily life. But kindness to animals continues to be a significant challenge today in modern society, particularly with the explosion of the pet population, driving euthanasia of far, far too many healthy, trusting animals for lack of available homes. Solutions continue to elude us. It’s estimated that across American each year literally millions of animals never leave the shelters in to which they enter. A more unified advocacy voice and initiation of organizations such as the “National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy” (1993) are more likely to lead to permanent and effective solutions to this complex problem. Henry Salt (1851-1939) said that “we must recognize the common bond of humanity that unites all living beings in one universal brotherhood.”⁽⁵⁾ That recognition, along with strong leaders like Caroline Earle White, will help us find the answer.

Note: The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is looking for contributors towards the processing and conservation of the WSPCA’s records; it has been partially “adopted” at this time but still needs $1,225 as of 2/2012.  Consider a gift today.  [Click here]

Timeline

1821 – Maine engages first anti-cruelty law; a dozen states have similarly followed by 1860.  But cruelty of domestic animals resulted in only small fines or a few days in jail.

1822 - England gets national anti-cruelty legislation and the SPCA – first in the world.  In 1840 name was changed to the Royal SPCA.

1866 - ASPCA starts in NYC and continues to serve animals today along with a strong national anti-cruelty mission.   The PSPCA follows in PA in 1867, then MASPCA in MA in 1868.

1869 - Women’s branch of PSPCA is started in Philadelphia, later separates from the PSPCA, called the Women’s PSPCA in 1897.  Today is known as the Woman’s Humane Society.

1874 - Morris Refuge for Homeless and Suffering Animals opens in Philadelphia in 1874, the first cat shelter in the U.S., by Elizabeth Morris with financial help by the Women’s branch of PSPCA.⁽⁶⁾  It continues to operate today at 1242 Lombard Street.

1870 - Controversy erupts when a prominent physician requests all strays from the new shelter in Philadelphia.  Congress passes the first national animal-protection law, protecting farm animals.

1877 - American Humane Association is founded to have one unified voice in the humane movement when 27 humane organizations from 10 states meet in Cleveland, Ohio.  A national federation of societies, the oldest organization dedicated to ending abuse and neglect for both children & animals.

1883 - The American Anti-Vivisection Society began in Philadelphia, the first of its kind in the United States.

1889 - Ryerss’s Infirmary opens in Philadelphia area as the nation’s first retirement and infirmary for workhorses.  It continues to exist today as Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines.

1907 – Women’s Philadelphia SPCA works to ensure compliance to new laws to treat cattle in transit.

1954 - Humane Society of the U.S. starts in Washington, D.C. and is America’s largest animal protection organization, working with legislation, industry reform, and more, it is a mainstream force against cruelty and supplements local efforts today.

Footnotes

(1) The scalpel and the butterfly: the Conflict between Animal Research and Animal Protection, 2000, pg 50, by Deborah Rudacille

(2) Subjected to Science: Human Experimentation in America before the Second World War, 1995, pg 33, by Susan E. Lederer

(3) Dr. Bernard Unti, a graduate of Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia, is an employee of the Humane Society of the United States.

(4) If You Tame Me: Understanding Our Connection with Animals, 2004, pg 52, by Leslie Irvine.

(5) The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them, 2011, by Wayne Pacelle, CEO Humane Society of the U.S.

(6) The Humane Idea, 1912, pg 51, by Francis Harold Rowley

(7) For the Prevention of Cruelty, 2006, pg 46, by Diane L. Beers

Monthly Meetings:
The Queen Village Historic Preservation Committee meets the second Thursday of each month from 7:00pm – 9:00 pm.  Our meetings are open to anyone who is interested in participating.

Meeting Location:
The meeting location rotates each month and meetings are often hosted in the homes of committee members.  If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to history@qvna.org.

  If you are interested but unable to attend the meeting email   qvnaschoolnews@gmail.com

IATSE Ballroom  2401 Swanson Street

Tickets are $35  Details to follow

June 10, 1 p.m.

Details to follow

THERE WILL BE A QUEEN VILLAGE NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2012, AT 7:30 PM AT THE WECCACOE PLAYGROUND BUILDING ON CATHERINE STREET BETWEEN 4^TH AND 5^TH STREETS TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING:

833-35 SOUTH FOURTH STREET

Application is for the erection of a one(1) story addition, a two (2) story addition and a three (3) story addition to match the height of the existing three (3) story semi-detached building (33’ high flat-roof) and to increase the number of dwelling units from two families to threes families with accessory storage utilities in the cellar (size and location as shown in the application).

529 WASHINGTON AVE.

Application is for the creation of a retail tobacco store with accessory customer rolled cigarettes their own use .1^st floor in the same building as one (1) residential dwelling unit 2^nd floor and one (1) residential dwelling unit 3^rd floor. No signs on this application.

531 Washington Ave (second meeting)  Application is for the legalization of the erection of a (1) one story “rear” addition to an existing (3) story structure, existing eat-in only restaurant 1st floor in the same building as an existing (2) family dwelling floors 2&3.  No signs on this application.  Size and location as shown in application.

524 S. Fifth St. 

Application is for the legalization of the erection one (1) accessory double faced projecting sign and one (1) accessory window sign accessory to the takeout restaurant with hookah smoke bar and retail sale of flavored tobaccos and smoking accessories (no items as defined in section 14-1605 of Philadelphia Zoning Code) in the same building with existing one (1) family dwelling in an existing structure creates a condition of multiple main uses on a lot

All residents are welcome and urged to attend.  TENANT:  Please note – If landlords do not reside on property being circulated, please notify them so that they may have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

LRSM Science Cafe

This is a monthly series of talks for the general public in a convivial setting in which Penn faculty and others from academia and industry will discuss scientific topics in layman’s terms around the general theme of materials science. The next talk will be by  Paulo Arratia,  Dept. Mechanical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, on““How to Fly, Swim, and Mix the Milk in Your Coffee without Turbulence” and will include interesting demonstrations.
Please visit us on our website http://www.lrsm.upenn.edu/events/sciencecafes/ or in facebook for a complete list of events.

February 6, 2012 Dark Horse Pub

Professor Arjun Yodh, James M. Skinner Professor of Science and the Director of  The Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM) at the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Physics & Astronomy “Imaging inside the human body with light” Fundamental questions about how light travels through milky media have generated surprising insights. These optics discoveries have found applications in human physiology, including clinical monitors of blood flow in injured brain tissue, and detection, characterization and monitoring of breast cancer.

Vermicomposting

The Science Cafés are science talks sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania for laymen about materials-related topic of current interest.

Professor Arjun Yodh, James M. Skinner Professor of Science and the Director of 
The Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM) at the
University of Pennsylvania, Department of Physics & Astronomy
“Imaging inside the human body with light”

Fundamental questions about how light travels through milky media have generated surprising insights. These optics discoveries have found applications in human physiology, including clinical monitors of blood flow in injured brain tissue, and detection, characterization and monitoring of breast cancer.

Dark Horse Pub, 421 S. Second Street, 8:00 p.m. FEb. 6

Please visit us on our website http://www.lrsm.upenn.edu/events/sciencecafes/ or in facebook for a complete list of events.

 412 MONROE STREET  Application is for a yoga studio with a sign as permitted in C1 commercial in an existing two (2)story structure on the same lot as an existing three (3) story structure with an existing three (3) family dwelling.

757 S. 5^TH STREET THROUGH TO FULTON STREET  Application is for the erection of a (1) story “rear” addition to an existing (2) story attached structure, max. height of 10’8”, for use as a single family dwelling; erect/extend an existing (30” high) fence wall “rear.”  Size and location as shown in the application.

  531 WASHINGTON AVENUE   Application is for the legalization of the erection of a (1) story “rear” addition to an existing (3) story structure, existing eat-in only restaurant 1^st floor in the same building as an existing (2) family dwelling floors 2 &3, No signs on this application.  Size and location as shown in application

All residents are welcome and urged to attend.  TENANT:  Please note – If landlords do not reside on property being circulated, please notify them so that they may have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

Many neighbors are getting involved and are hard at work on projects such as:  a celebration of Southwark’s 250^th Anniversary in late April, the QV House Tour in mid-May, a Weccacoe FUNdraiser and Sustainability Fair in early June, and a possible “QVNA night at the Phillies” in the summer.  Also in the works: a QV bike plan, the renovation of Weccacoe Playground and Recreation Center, a summit on the future of South Street, and a working group on Property Tax Reassessment. 

With so much going on, WE NEED YOU to attend this month’s General Meeting.  We have 2 very special guests: STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE O’BRIEN will be there to answer questions about what’s going on in Harrisburg.  And HARRY KYRIAKODIS, author of “Philadelphia’s Lost Waterfront,” will give a presentation on the history of the Delaware waterfront, especially apropos since we’ll be distributing copies of the latest draft of the Delaware River Waterfront Corp.’s Master Plan for the Central Delaware.   Also on the agenda: the new Schools and Youth Activities Committee will discuss how you can help to support our two neighborhoods schools.

  Harry Kyriakodis, noted historian and author of Philadelphia’s Lost Waterfrontpublished July 2011, will have  books  available for sale after the talk for $15.  See www.historypress.net for more information.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, Jan. 26th, 7:30 p.m.,  at the Weccacoe Playground building (400 block of Catharine St-enter at the door that faces the tennis court)

 The Department of Licenses and Inspections maintains a commercial handbill “Non Delivery” list identifying all properties whose owners request non-delivery.  If you do not wish to receive hand delivered advertising circulars or handbills,  go to the link below, download the form and fax or mail it to the address provided.  You’ll receive your decal shortly thereafter.

 http://www.phila.gov/li/UpdDocs/No_handbills.pdf

Saturday,  March 31st, 10 a.m.   (rain date April 1)
10:00 am
Bagels and Juice
Free Admission

At Shot Tower, Front and Carpenter Streets

All who are interested in any aspect of Sustainability are welcome!

7:30 p.m., St. Philip Neri Church  218 Queen Street

Join the Board in a meet-n-greet with our new councilman, Mark Squilla

Followed by a participatory planning exercise where you can help set priorities for the coming year

Mayor Michael A. Nutter, the Philadelphia Streets Department and the Carton Council announced today that food and beverage cartons are now recyclable as a part of the City’s residential curbside recycling program. With this new service, nearly all household containers used by residents are now recyclable. 

The City is bringing carton recycling to its residents in a public private partnership with the Carton Council, a group of carton manufacturers united to deliver long term collaborative solutions in order to divert valuable cartons from the landfill. Philadelphia’s recycling diversion rate, the amount of materials diverted from the waste stream, currently stands at nearly 20 percent, reaching rates of more than 25 percent in some neighborhoods of the city. 

“Philadelphia is committed to becoming the greenest city in America, and our recycling program is a leading component in this effort,” said Mayor Nutter. “We are proud to partner with the Carton Council to bring recycling innovation to our residents. This collaboration shows what can happen when government and companies work to create successful public-private partnerships. I am proud to be the mayor of a city with individuals and organizations that are dedicated to creating clean and green neighborhoods.” 

Beginning immediately, residential households can place all empty, clean and dry food and beverage cartons in their recycling bins. Commonly used carton containers include milk and juice cartons, along with soup and broth, soy milk, eggnog and wine cartons. 

The addition of cartons to the curbside recycling program will enable residents to earn more Philadelphia Recycling Rewards points and properly dispose of commonly used holiday materials. 

“Adding cartons to your recycling bin is a great way to earn more Recycling Rewards points, which can be redeemed during the holiday season to purchase gifts for your friends and family,” said Streets Commissioner Clarena I. W. Tolson. “Also during this time of year, people are increasingly using carton materials- such as eggnog, broth and wine cartons- for their festive recipes and gatherings. Now is the perfect time to introduce this to the city so we can allow residents to fully take advantage of all of the benefits that this program has.” 
The Carton Council’s collaboration with the City of Philadelphia serves as a model for how other cities can promote and implement carton recycling in their communities. The Carton Council acted as a facilitator to help the City achieve its goal to add carton recycling to its curbside programs. A key step was working with the City’s recycling processors to ensure cartons would be marketable as a recyclable commodity before they would be added to the City’s program. The Carton Council provided technical and financial support for equipment upgrades for processing the cartons. The Carton Council is also supporting City staff as they raise awareness and disseminate information on carton recycling to local residents that use the City’s recycling services. 

“Carton recycling is a win for Philadelphia’s residents and the environment,” said Derric Brown, Director of Sustainability for Evergreen Packaging, a Carton Council member. “We are committed to working with more cities to take the important step of expanding their recycling programs to keep cartons out of the landfills and into the recycling bin.”

For more information on the City of Philadelphia’s recycling programs, please visit the Streets Department’s website and social media pages at www.philadelphiastreets.com,www.facebook.com/PhilaStreets, www.facebook.com/UnLitterUs, www.twitter.com/PhilaStreets andwww.twitter.com/UnLitterUs. 

About the Carton Council
The Carton Council is a group of carton manufacturer united to deliver long term collaborative solutions in order to divert valuable cartons from the landfill. The members of the Carton Council are Elopak, Evergreen Packaging, SIG/SIG Combibloc and Tetra Pak. They are working with local government officials, recycling facilities, paper mills and communities across the United States to build a robust system to recycle liquid food and beverage carton packages.

William Spafford was born in the last years of the 17th century and died in 1768. He married Rebecca Ellis at the First Presbyterian Church in 1719. Tragically, their son William Jr. died seven years later, and their son Thomas died in 1730.

Early in life, Spafford became a sea captain, ship owner, and merchant. Newspaper ads of the time show that in 1720 he was master of the sloop William, which he sailed to Antigua. During the next few years, he captained the sloop Sarah, which he owned, also in the West Indies trade. In 1726, he registered the 30-ton sloop Keith. William Spafford continued his sea voyages throughout the next decade, sailing the Three Bachellors to Barbados in the early 1730s, the Charming Sally to Ireland in 1736, and the brig Mary to Lisbon in 1738.

Capt. Spafford sold a variety of imported products at his store, which was located on the ground floor of his dwelling house at the corner of Front and Market. Slaves were included among his merchandise. For example, in August 1731 he advertised the sale of “a very likely Negroe woman … fit for housework or plantation work,” along with a cargo of good green tea. In 1734, he was selling a “young Negro man” and a “very likely Negro boy.” In July 1741, he had a “Negro Man” and “Negro Girl,” along with a lot of West India rum and Moscovado sugar. And in Sept. 1743 he advertised a “Negro Woman who can Wash, Iron, Scour, etc. and Cooks very well.”

Around that time, Spafford was making the transition from sea captain to the business of providing ropes and other equipment to ships. Capt. Spafford’s ropewalk was located on the Passyunk Road, near the corner of Oak Street (now Bainbridge). He took on a young man, Timothy Scannel, as an assistant in the rope-making business. Scannel had just arrived in Philadelphia on a ship, and was assigned as an indentured servant to “William Spafford, mariner.” Unfortunately, in July 1748, Scannel ran away. Spafford offered a reward for his capture and described Scannel as “of a thick short stature, full face, wears his own short black hair, very talkative, and speaks very fast … by trade a rope maker.”

Spafford advertised that he sold “ship chandlery, with cables and cordage of all kinds” at a store on Samuel Powell’s wharf. In December 1755, he moved his store to another wharf further south, which was “late of Messieures [Emmanuel?] Josiah and Carpenter.” The economic risks of the chandlery trade became clear in November 1760, when Spafford and other chandlers, a sailmaker, and a ship builder placed a notice in the newspapers asking for the apprehension of one John White. They reported that White had ordered a brigantine, called the Ranger, built, fitted out, and filled with cargo. Then, together with his wife, he sailed away to an unknown port, without paying any of the people who had built and provisioned the ship.

Although Spafford sold people into bondage, he apparently saw no conflict between that endeavor and helping to support the church. Thus, in 1753, he was listed as a manager of the lottery to raise money to build a steeple onto the Second Presbyterian Church in Arch Street. Another lottery manager was George Spafford, also a sea captain and merchant; he and John Spafford (another sea captain) were probably William’s brothers. The completed steeple was almost has high as that of Christ Church, but George Spafford never got to see it since he died in 1754.

In 1755, it was mentioned in a newspaper ad that William Spafford was living in Society Hill. Ten years earlier, he had purchased a lot of ground nearby (“on the hill”) at the corner of Front and Shippen (now Bainbridge) Streets. According to an insurance report, Spafford’s elegant townhouse was constructed there by 1762.

Finally, a newspaper notice of June 2, 1768, indicated that the Passyunk Road property of William Spafford, deceased, was to be auctioned off by the sheriff. The property tax roles of 1769 list a Widow Spafford as living in Southwark, with one servant and one cow. Possibly Rebecca Spafford still resided in the grand townhouse at Front and Shippen Streets. Currently, the house — built with profits gained from the slave trade — lies abandoned and stripped of its finery. It is for sale to someone who will restore it.

Slideshow

William Spafford's home, then a tavern, in the 1960s.
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, HABS, Reproduction Number (HABS PA-1620)

An exterior photo of William Spafford's home from the 1960s.
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, HABS, Reproduction Number (HABS PA-1620)

The staircase likely extended to the first floor, and was probably removed by the 1960s.
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, HABS, Reproduction Number (HABS PA-1620)

The grand staircase built by William Spafford for his home at 626 S. Front Street.
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, HABS, Reproduction Number (HABS PA-1620)

The Community Design Collaborative volunteer design team is currently working on a cost estimate and final design, which they will present in February.

At the Electronics Collection Event

Saturday, January 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Under I-95 at Washington Avenue and Front Streets (right by Rizzo Rink)

“Anything with a plug”:  All household electronics, including computers, printers, microwaves, air-conditioners, metals, and small appliance.

The Electronics Recycling Event is conducted by e-Force Compliance , Philadelphia’s only R2 certified e-waste recycler and Queen Village Neighbors Association

We are having an open house for the Bright Futures Pre-K and Nebinger Kindergarten on Monday Dec 19, from 4-6pm. (Nebinger School is at 6th and Carpenter Streets)

 School tours are  at 4 & 5:30.  Meet up in Room 102 for refreshments.  

You are also invited to attend the Winter Concert at 5 pm, featuring Nebinger’s orchestra, band, and chorus students.
Questions or RSVP to nebingerfriends@gmail.com

Where:  929 South St, in front of the Whole Food Store

When:  Sat. Jan.7  10 a.m. to 4 pm.

 $5 donation requested

To make this effort even more accessible to the community, the QVNA Sustainability Committee will also collect trees from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Weccacoe Playground (400 block Catharine St) and transport them to Whole Foods.  As above, a $5 donation is requested to help defray costs.

If you’d like to have your tree picked up curb-side for recycling, the cost is $15.  Deadline to reserve for this service is Sun. Jan. 1  Email treecycling@greenlimbs.com to make a reservation.

The tree-cycling event is a joint effort of the Queen Village Neighbors Association Sustainability Committee, South Street Headhouse District, Whole Foods, the South Street Police Mini-Station, and greenlimbs.

We’re in the early planning stages of a Sustainability Fair—come get involved!

 200-10 LOMBARD STREET (SW CORNER 2^ND St. thru to 3^rd ST AND SOUTH ST) ABBOTT’S SQUARE

Application is for the creation of one (1) space from three (3) spaces (225, 227, 229 South Street) for uses as a restaurant/banquet hall for more than 50 patrons to include live entertainment and dancing by patrons (nightclub) as part of an existing structure with 182 dwellings and commercial uses as previously approved.

POSTPONED:  200-210 LOMBARD STREET (ABBOT’S SQUARE)  SW CORNER OF 2^ND St. through to 3^rd and South Streets.       We will notify the community when this is re-scheduled.    Application is for the creation of three (3) commercial tenant spaces for uses as permitted in the C-3 commercial district (spaces RC1-1, & RC2-1, use registration required prior to occupancy) for the creation of fifty (50) new dwelling units, and for a new total of `107 private parking spaces (including 22 compact spaces and 3 accessible spaces) and 128 public, non-accessory parking spaces (including 36 compact spaces and 4 accessible spaces) and for two (2) loading spaces (11’ x60’ and 10’x40’) all within an existing structure with a new total of 209 dwelling units and commercial uses as previously approved in the main structure on the same lot with twelve (12) existing single family dwellings (total dwellings on the lot is 221) and wireless services and signs as previously approved.  Size and location as shown in the application.

All residents are welcome and urged to attend.  TENANT:  Please note – If landlords do not reside on property being circulated, please notify them so that they may have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

Weccacoe Playground building

400 block of Catharine St.  Enter at the door that faces the tennis court

Weccacoe Playground building    400 block of Catharine St.

If you, your child, your grandchild, niece, or nephew enjoy the park, please come help plan for its future

In the beautiful historic Gloria Dei (Old Swede’s) Church hall

Thursday, Dec. 15, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Bring a side dish or dessert; We supply hoagies, wine, beer, sodas.

Parking is available on-site;  Christian and Swanson Streets

THERE WILL BE A QUEEN VILLAGE NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011 AT 7:30 PM AT THE WECCACOE PLAYGROUND BUILDING ON CATHERINE STREET BETWEEN 4^TH AND 5^TH STREETS TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING: 

 824-832 S. FOURTH ST. Application is for: relocation of lot lines to create two (2) lots from five deeded lots; For the demolition of two one-story portions at rear, for the erection of a one-story addition with roof deck above, for the erection of a two story addition, to an existing one –story portion; for the erection of a one-story addition to an existing three (3)portion ( max height NTE 44 ft); for the erection of a two(2) story addition to an existing  two (2 story) portion  . .  . for proposed use as eight (8) dwelling units (Size and location as shown on the application).

 829-31 S. FOURTH ST.  Application is for the legalization of a three (3)family dwelling within an existing three (3) story attached structure adnf for the legalization of the erection of decks at the second and third floor levels. Size and location as shown in the application

817-819 South Fifth Street:  The developers of this project do not require any variances, but they would like to present their design to the neighbors and answer any questions.

All residents are welcome and urged to attend.  TENANT:  Please note – If landlords do not reside on property being circulated, please notify them so that they may have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

2pm – 6pm. Today is the last market of the season

Beechwood Orchards:
apple varieties such as cortland, nittany, braeburn, smokehouse, red delicious, northern spy, jonagold, stayman, golden delicious, empire, gala, winesap, fuji, granny smith, jonamac, sun crisp and honeycrisp, pear varieties such as bartlett, red bartlett, seckel, magnus and asain, plums, grapes, garlic, shallots, peppers, butternut squash; canned goods like peaches, honey and apple butter; cider.

Liven Good:
Natural whole chickens, eggs, tomatoes, cauliflower, celeriac, fingerling potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, turnips, spinach, pumpkins, squash varieties such as, kabocha, butternut, spaghetti, baby blue hubbard and dumpling, parsnips, cabbage, carrots, beets, peppers, beans, kale, chestnuts, shallots, chard, lacinato kale, red russian kale, red leaf lettuce, leeks, broccoli

Taproot:
rainbow chard, spinach, escarole, cauliflower, curly kale, collards, braising greens, red leaf lettuce, rutabaga, hot peppers, parsley, broccoli, salad greens mix, spicy greens mix, chives, thyme, peppers, frisse, cabbage, celeriac, eggplant, beets, carrots, turnips, acorn and delicata squash, japanese and beauregard sweet potatoes

Big Sky Bakery:
A wide range of breads and other certified organic baked goods

This season for the first time the farmers can accept Pennsylvania ACCESS, VISA, and MASTERCARD

President:  Jeff Hornstein

Executive Vice President:  Amy Shelanski

Vice President :  Ted Warren

Treasurer:  Bill Landy

Board  Members:

Brent Chavis

Kim Maialetti

Rich Miller

Honey Pertnoy