Historic
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Salvation for Vintage Chestnut Hill Home Is So Last Minute, a Backhoe Was Onsite to Start Demolition
Teviot, a vintage Chestnut Hill home whose design dates to 1888, was almost lost forever. It’s been saved — temporarily. But efforts are advancing keep it preserved forever, as Alan Jafee noted in his story for Hidden City. Teviot, named for a Scottish river, was designed by Wilson Eyre, Jr., a noted, 17th century architect.…
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Refurbished 107-Year-Old Baldwin Locomotive Back on the Job
A 107-year-old steam engine locomotive built in 1916 by Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia and later Eddystone, is back in service now on the East Broad Top Railroad, writes Michael Tanenbaum for Philly Voice. The restored locomotive will be used to pull train tours at the East Broad Top Railroad in Rockhill Furnace starting in…
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One of the Oldest Buildings in Bucks County Has Just Gone Up for Sale
A historic inn in Bucks County, one of the area’s oldest buildings, has just gone up for sale, and its connection to American history is vast. James McGinnis wrote about the historic property for the Bucks County Courier Times. The General Greene Inn, located in Buckingham, has recently gone up for sale. The 260-year-old property,…
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Development/Demolition Plans for Elkins Park’s Lynnewood Hall Forever Put Aside
After three decades of sitting vacant and steadily deteriorating, Lynnewood Hall, the Gilded-Age mansion in Elkins Park, has found its new owners. Carla Robinson reported the good news in the Chestnut Hill Local. A group of young preservationists have reached an agreement to acquire the property and will start renovating the 110-room building and its…
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USA Today: Delaware Attic Leads to Weapons Pilfered from Valley Forge in 1968
A May 2017 search of the Newark, Delaware, home of Michael Kintner Corbett put in motion the recovery of firearms absent from Valley Forge since 1968. Matthew Korfhage chronicled their long-term hunt in USA Today. Over a course of years, Corbett had stolen historic guns from several museums, including the one at the Valley Forge…
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Pre-Revolutionary Tavern in Upper Bucks Hits the Market for $1.25M
A property in Bucks County, which predates a large portion of the nation’s history, has recently gone up for sale at a historic price. Jeff Ward wrote about the tavern for WFMZ-69 News. The Raven’s Nest, located at 625 Old Bethlehem Road in Quakertown, has operated as a tavern since 1750. As one of the…
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White House Expert Gives Neumann Talk on Building’s History
Stewart McLaurin will visit Neumann University in Aston March 23 to reveal little-known details about the history of the White House and share some untold stories about its past. This free presentation is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in the Meagher Theatre on campus. McLaurin is president of the White House Historical Association, founded by First…
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Chester County’s Oldest Cemetery Is Rich in Revolutionary History
Kennett Square is home to one of the oldest cemeteries in Chester County, belonging to the Old Kennett Meetinghouse. Although it has a strong Quaker history, the occupants of the graveyard represent a more diverse mix of Chester County residents, writes Lars Farmer for The Daily Local News. The cemetery traces its origins back…
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This High Profile Delco Republican Once Stomped through Springfield Routinely
Minnie the Elephant, a Delco Republican Party symbol, was retired in 2019 after 30 years of walking in the 4th of July parade in Delaware County, reported Erin McCarthy for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Springfield Republican Party chairman Michael Puppio said the decision was reached after discussion with scientific experts. Stephanie Curson was shocked to learn…
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Treasure Hunter Accuses FBI of Distorting Key Evidence in Pennsylvania Gold Case
Treasure hunter Dennis Parada is not satisfied with the documents the FBI released on its secretive search for Civil War-era gold in Dents Run and is now even more convinced of a coverup, writes Michael Rubinkam for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Parada forced the FBI in court to turn over records of its Pennsylvania excavation at…
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Exton Man Digs Up the Past at the Oldest Home Still Standing in Berks County
Exton resident Gene Delaplane, a former history teacher and the president of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology’s local chapter, is among a group of volunteers who have worked at the oldest house in Berks County to uncover remnants of everyday life in the 1700s, writes Susan Miers Smith for The Daily Local News. For the…
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WCU Welcomes Executive Director of Philadelphia’s Lest We Forget Museum of Slavery
On Monday, Feb. 13, at 3:30 PM, Gwen Ragsdale will present a free lecture in person and virtually in West Chester University’s Philips Autograph Library, located at the corner of High Street and University Avenue. Ragsdale is the founder and executive director of Philadelphia’s Lest We Forget Museum of Slavery, which is the only slavery museum in…
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Nation’s First Training Camp for Black Soldiers in Civil War Was Established in Cheltenham Township
The nation’s first training camp for soldiers of African descent in the Civil War, Camp William Penn, was established in 1863 at the La Mott area of Cheltenham Township. Joseph P. Blake looked back at this local milestone for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Before the war, the area was a major stop on the Underground Railroad.…
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Elkins Park Museum Platforms Info for Younger Generations Atop Intl. Holocaust Remembrance Day
Leaders at the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center in Elkins Park timed a compelling, historical call to action to a recent anniversary in world history. Hadas Kuznits covered the messaging for KYW Newsradio. The museum highlighted its “Don’t Forget” mission on Jan. 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The 2023 commemoration marked the 78th anniversary…
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After Being Disrespected by His Teacher, Norristown Native Passed on Pro Sports Career to Become Historian
As a child, Norristown native Charles Blockson was told by a teacher that his heritage had no history worth learning, writes Avi Wolfman-Arent for Billy Penn. “Negros were born to serve white people,” the teacher said. The horrific comment put young Blockson on a mission to chronicle and preserve anything related to Black history that…
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Joseph Zarelli’s Biological Parents Identified by The Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting it has identified the biological parents of Joseph Augustus Zarelli, a 4-year-old known for 65 years only as “The Boy in the Box”. Joseph’s body was found in a bassinet box in a Fox Chase lot in February, 1957, dead from blunt force trauma. Family interviews and investigation sources identify…
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Willow Grove Park Was Once Region’s Favorite Family Destination
After opening in the mid-1890s, Willow Grove Park and its roster of entertainment and amusements quickly drew hoards of visitors from Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs. Stacia Friedman covered the draw of this Montgomery County entertainment mecca for Hidden City Philadelphia. The Willow Grove Amusement Park was started by owners of local trolley companies who…
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Soon-to-Be Brides, Grooms: Wholly Unique Site Beckons from Bucks County for 2023 Weddings
One of Bucks County’s most popular museums and historic properties is allowing couples to marry on their well-known grounds. The properties of the Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle, both located in Doylestown, will be hosting open houses for couples who are interested in using the grounds for their special day. Partnering with Jeffrey A. Miller…
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