Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
History Quarterly Digital Archives

Source: April 1941 Volume 4 Number 2, Page 24

Old Philadelphia

Myrtle Wandless

Page 24

On March 16, the History Club made a tour of historic places in Philadelphia, In addition to the familiar Independence Hall, Christ Church, and Carpenter's Fall, many places of historic significance were visited. The group was interested to find so many of the original houses still standing and enjoyed the architecture and name plate, still legible, on the Morris Mansion at 225 South Eighth Street: the home of Joseph Bonaparte located at Ninth Street and Manning Court; also the famous Shippen Wistar home located at the southwest corner of Fourth and Locust Streets, built two hundred years ago and in a remarkable state of preservation. At 321 South Fourth Street is located another ferris home, that of Dr. Syng Physick, noted for its doorway and walled garden. It seemed fitting that Dolly Madison ice cream is sold in the house at Fourth and Walnut Streets, where Dolly Madison lived before her marriage. The houses mentioned are only a few of the many colonial homes still standing in old Philadelphia; in fact, Elfreth's Alley is a street of homes dating back two hundred years.

Many churches of historical value were visited and the size of the churches caused quite a bit of comment. The area at Third Street and from Chestnut to Walnut Street was the financial center, as evidenced from the many bank buildings.

It was pointed out that the Pennsylvania Hospital, located at Ninth and Pine Streets, was the first hospital in America, having been founded in 1751 by Dr. Bond and Benjamin Franklin. In the hospital buildings are many objects of historical value which may be seen, including the famous painting by Benjamin West, "Christ Healing the Sick", a large medical library, and on the lawn the leaden statue of Penn sent from London by Penn's grandson.

As the group made the tour, they were interested in the fire insurance emblems on the houses. The emblems seen most were those of the Philadelphia Contributionship, having the "Hand-in-Hand" as their symbol and founded 1752 by Franklin, also the Mutual Assurance Company, having the "Green Tree" emblem, established because the other company would not insure houses surrounded by trees. All felt the five mile hike was well worth the effort.