Historic
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Titanic Survivor was Namesake of Widener College (Now University)
The sinking of the RMS Titanic 111 years ago on April 15, 1912, left its mark on the ultra-wealthy Widener family here in Philadelphia that still resonates today, writes Avi Wolfman-Arent for Billy Penn. Among the 1,500-plus Titanic dead were George Widener and his son Harry. His wife, Eleanor Elkins Widener, survived. George and Eleanor…
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Nostalgia Mixes with Future at St. Joe’s Parish School Tour
In mid-May, two historic Catholic elementary school buildings in Collingdale will turn into senior housing, but before that happens, alumni of St. Joseph Parish School got one last look around April 4, reports the staff for Catholic Philly. About 200 alumni and friends of the school came out to tour the building.. St. Joseph’s School,…
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Man of Deep Faith Moves From Guarding the U.S. Coast to Keeping St. Rita National Shrine Secure
A special ceremony Jan. 2 at the National Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia on South Broad Street marked the retirement of First Class Petty Officer Michael Anastasi from the U.S. Coast Guard, but kicked off his career as director of security for the Shrine, writes Lou Baldwin for catholicphilly.com. “I have given the first…
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Camden’s New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Once World’s Largest Shipbuilder: Here Is How It Got Its Name
New York Shipbuilding Corporation is one of the most confusingly named companies in the Philadelphia region, writes Avi Wolfman-Arent for the Post x News. The company was born in 1899. Its founder, Henry Morse, wanted to locate the New York Ship, as the company was often called, at a site in Staten Island. However, after…
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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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Washington Post: Is the Search for Union Gold Finally Over After 155 Years?
The search for two tons of gold carried by a Union Wagon that disappeared on its way to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia might finally be over after 155 years, writes Cleve R. Wootson Jr. for The Washington Post. The train with the wagon left Wheeling before the Battle of Gettysburg and was last spotted…
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Pre-Revolutionary Tavern in Upper Bucks County Hits the Market for $1.25M
A property in Bucks County, which predates a large portion of the country’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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Philadelphia Has a Unique Claim to ‘Rowhouse’, but Debate Rages Over Whether It’s 2 Words or 1
The word “rowhouse” (or row house) seems to be uniquely Philadelphian. Most other regions say “townhouse,” or “brownstone”, writes Ryan Briggs for PlanPhilly and WHYY. The origins of the word is mysterious and it is unclear whether the word is “rowhouse”, or “row house”. Early on, colonial buildings were rarely built in proper “rows”. Architectural…
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Bucks County is Home to Five Castles. Read to Learn Where They Are and How to Enjoy Your Visit
Bucks County is home to five castles, with a sixth one just outside of the county, and locals and visitors can now learn where they all are. Staff writers from Visit Bucks County wrote about the local castles. Fonthill Castle in Doylestown is Henry Chapman Mercer’s former home. It features 44 rooms, over 6,000 books,…
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Treasure Hunter Accuses FBI of Distorting Key Evidence in PA 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 Star-Advertiser. Parada forced the FBI in court to turn over records of its Pennsylvania excavation at the…
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Relic from Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-Point Game That Belonged to Springfield Man Was Up for Auction
A scoresheet from Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game that originally belonged to Toby DeLuca, the late Springfield resident and longtime statistician for Philadelphia-area television and radio broadcasters, was up for auction in 2019, writes Frank Fitzpatrick for the Philadelphia Inquirer. DeLuca kept the numbers for WCAU-AM’s Bill Campbell on March 2, 1962, when the Philadelphia Warriors…
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The SS Oregon: The Cursed Ship Built in Chester Shipyards
The SS Oregon, a steamer ship built and launched in 1878 from the Delaware River Iron Ship Building and Engine Works in Chester, was doomed as a cursed ship, writes historian David Reamer for the Anchorage Daily News. On Dec. 27, 1889, the Oregon collided with a British ship Clan McKenzie on a snowy night,…
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Pope Francis Named Carroll Grad the New Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of the Military
Father Joseph Coffey, a graduate of Archbishop Carroll High School was named a new auxiliary bishop by Pope Francis for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, writes Robert Moran for the Philadelphia Inquirer. His responsibilities include overseeing Catholic priests serving as chaplains around the world. Coffey was previously the assistant chief of staff for the…
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Bucks County Hotel, in Operation for Over 300 Years, Hits the Market
One of Bucks County’s most well-known hotels has hit the market, and sellers are asking a hefty price for the old estate. JD Mullane wrote about the estate for Yahoo! Sports. A 300-year-old hotel, The Langhorne Hotel, one of the oldest continuously operated inns in Bucks County, has hit the market for $2.5 million, This…
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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 Philadelphia…
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2018 Campaign Hoped to Save Nine-Decades-Old Anthony Wayne Theater
A campaign – Save the Anthony Wayne – is hoping to breathe new life into the nine-decades-old theater in Wayne, to save it from permanently closing its doors next year, writes Erin McCarthy for the Philadelphia Inquirer. The theater has lost some of its luster over the years. For a long time, it had a…
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Scrapple’s Popularity Extends Beyond the Delaware Valley
Residents of the Baltimore area, much like those in the Philadelphia region, share a love for scrapple, writes Kit Waskom Pollard for The Baltimore Sun. The food’s American roots can be traced to the 17th Century when it was made by German immigrants living in Pennsylvania. “When ancestors from the Rhineland came to America, they…
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