THE NECESSITY FOR RUINS


The Migration of Law, Prosperity, and Power (1880)
December 30, 2006, 1:21 am
Filed under: Law, Power, Prosperity, sculpture

Sculptor Daniel Chester French’s monumental sculpture Law, Prosperity, and Power depicting the allegorical figures of Law (woman, center), Prosperity (seated female), and Power, (seated male) once adorned (red arrow) the Federal Post Office pictured below at 9th and Chestnut Sts. The Federal Government deeded the art to the City in 1938 and it was placed in West Park. This imposing French Second Empire structure served Philadelphia until 1937 when it was demolished and replaced with the current Art Deco incarnation.

(more…)



Egyptian Revivalism and Moyamensing Prison (Debtors’ Apartment)
December 25, 2006, 5:11 am
Filed under: Egyptian Revivalism, Moyamensing Prison, prisons


Emancipation Proclamation for Schuylkill Banks
December 15, 2006, 10:08 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

CSX has agreed to allow the construction of two at-grade crossings at Race and Locust Sts. and to fund the construction of a pedestrian bridge connecting the two Schuylkill River parks below Locust St. On the olfactory front, the railroad company has agreed to divert its famous trash-trains to other lines. Keep on agreein’.

Read about the tentative agreement here.



Wanamaker’s: The Spectacle of Organization
December 14, 2006, 5:55 am
Filed under: Uncategorized

2nd Floor

Meet me at the Eagle.

(more…)



Remnants of the Locust St. Wharf
December 14, 2006, 5:48 am
Filed under: Uncategorized


Wharfs and all.


Originally uploaded by theanthracite.

This is reinforced concrete, tho the Locust St. Wharf has been around since the 1820s. Cheers to the fool who can find a picture of this part of the Skook in the late 19th century, when this mooring was built.



Powerplant in Callowhill
December 13, 2006, 2:19 am
Filed under: Uncategorized

Anyone know what the use of this plant was or when it went out of commission?


Originally uploaded by theanthracite.



With some help nature may reclaim East Park Reservoir
December 3, 2006, 7:35 pm
Filed under: Infrastructure, Philadelphia, Urban habitat