April 21, 2007
Welcome to Enrico's tour of Society Hill and Washington Square! Enrico's a bit shy but he provided us with a wonderful tour of some of the nicest streets you're likely to see. We begin our tour in Washington Square, and before we really get started, perhaps you'd be wise to acquaint yourselves with some of the rules.
We're going to start with a quick tour of the park itself. Washington Square was originally named Southeast Square by William Penn, but was renamed in favor of the general and founder of our country in the early 1800's. Here's a shot facing Southwest.
The seed for this tree went to the moon! It was then planted here in 1975. It's a sobering thought that this tree may still be around after all of the humans who've been to the moon have passed on.
Facing West. The littler building is where both Emily and Dave closed on their houses. Now, like so much of center city, it's in the process of being turned into condos.
Facing East. We really like that little house, and though it's not as old as it looks, it's still a shame that it's apparently slated for demolition. It is known as the \"Dilworth House\" and was built by then mayor Richardson Dilworth as a sign of civic renovation. Now plans are in the work to tear it down and build yet more hi-rise condos. Now we're big fans of people moving to the city, and they certainly need places to live, but need we remind anyone that our city is actually shrinking? Let's live in the whole city!
The inscription reads, \"Freedom is a light for which many men have died in darkness.\" In the monument lies an unknown soldier from the American Revolution, and in front there's an eternal flame. Since the square was a Potter's field during much of the 1700's, many poor soldiers are buried throughout the park as well.
Washington Square is a relatively quiet park compared to its sibling, Rittenhouse. Even on a beautiful Saturday morning, just a few visitors hanging out with their dogs. Here we're pointing Southwest toward a beautiful cluster of extra-fancy houses.
Here we are, back on Walnut St, looking up at Independence Hall from the south, through Independence Square. This was the seat of government when Philadelphia was a colony and more importantly (for its present name), it was the headquarters of the 2nd Continental Congress.
What an odd building! The front is olde-timey, which now serves simply as a facade and it's stapled to a modern glass building.
And here's the figurative staple holding it together!
This is known as Liberty Hall, and is part of the Independence National Historical Park.
The 2nd Bank of the United States, also part of the park.
This is the entrance to the rose garden. Alas, it's not exactly rose season yet. But there's still plenty to see!
For example, original cobblestone! This is surprising, actually, since I thought that all of 5th street between Walnut and Chestnut was original cobblestone (and very painful if you're on a bike), but I guess I was wrong.
Here's the part of the garden where the plants begin, and our first sighting of a ridiculously nice old-school house.
The roses aren't quite ready yet. Be patient.
Now begins the more residential part of our tour. Here we are on the 400 block of Locust street, looking west toward Washington Square. Locust is cool around here because it has a few disconnected blocks of pedestrian-only traffic.
Okay, so we're not entirely out of the historical park area. We go from the Rose Garden, brought to us by Jefferson, to the Magnolia Garden, brought to us by Washington.
A fountain. A beautiful spring morning. Magnolias in bloom. Can't you just feel the stresses of city life melting away?
More magnolias.
I'm tired. Time for a rest.
415 Locust St. Nice Door!
And look at this beautiful tulip garden!
Sometimes you have to stop and smell the tulips. Enrico really should have been in this one, but he's shy, so he served as cameraman instead.
Super-advanced fancy condos called \"The Willings.\"
Philadelphia Contributionship building, founded in 1752 and is the oldest fire insurance company in the country (and Mr. Franklin was involved, of course).
This is taken from inside the courtyard of St. Joseph's Church, the oldest Catholic Church in Philadelphia (founded 1733). What makes this so odd is that the building on the right is the church, while the left are the Willings condos mentioned above. Apparently, somebody shares a deck with the church.
When your tourguide is an Italian, you can be sure to see all of the churches in the area. Here's St. Mary's. It's not quite as old as St. Joseph's, but apparently forms a related sort of compound (with an Episcopal church thrown in between for good measure).
We here at photophilly are huge fans of shutters and window boxes.
The Society Hill Synagogue. Built in 1830, it was actually a Baptist church until 1835! By the way, the Hebrew lettering up top is actually Yiddish.
See? We don't just make this up.
What a nice walkway. My first thought upon entering it was,\"Holy crap! Someone actually lives in that giant house which is a decent fraction of the size of the synagogue (which is to the right of the field).\" This is actually known as Lawrence Court. As we look ahead, we see some sort of sculpture. What is it?
They're CyberRoos!
At the risk of sounding redundant... Holy Crap! Somebody actually lives there!
Physick House
321 S. 4th St.
This was the home of Dr. Physick (one of the better names in history), the \"father of American Surgery.\"
Oh Delancey! Is there anywhere along you which isn't totally awesome? According to Enrico, apparently Halloween is awesome here. There are treats for the kids (candy) and for adults (wine).
Don't be fooled by this gate. It is just a clever simulacrum. However, it is an accurate depiction of recent events in our own home.
What a nice garden! And off in the distance, the Society Hill Towers.
This is called \"3 Bears Park.\" Guess why?
Wheeeeee!
It's baby's first climbing wall!
We're on Delancey St. looking south down St. Peter's Way.
Emily loves doors. Here, she is pointing to one. Also, I'd like to point your attention to her notebook. We are, in fact, paying attention to our tour. Or she is, at any rate.
More door! This time, with a spiderweb!
Now called \"American St.\", a stone cornersign says that this used to be called \"Ashland St.\" We love spring flowers.
Society Hill Towers and 223 Spruce.
Facing south toward Headhouse Square.
Facing north toward the Society Hill Towers.
New Market/Head House. The latter is a 3 story firehouse built in 1805, while the covered market was built in 1745. On weekends, there are often crafts sold beneath! Lots of pubs with names like \"Ye Olde Pub and Publick House\" line the street. Well, I made that one up, but it not much of an exaggeration.
The New Market, where you can get your craft on.
And from the other side.
I-95 interrupts the idyll and cuts us off from the Delaware, artery of commerce!
The St. Peter's Church and School. Very fancy. Very very advanced education for wee ones (K-8). According to Enrico, 2 year olds take IQ tests to get in, and it costs as much as Harvard.
This is the Thaddeus Kosciuszko House, where he lived as a boarder of Ann Relf in 1797-8. Who was he? Though a Lithuanian National, he held the rank of Colonel (later promoted to General) under Washington during the revolution. Apparently he was an astounding engineer, whose fortifications helped the US gain our independence. How do we know all of this?
Here's how.
