Tacony residents take a look
at the community’s history

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

It’s no secret Tacony residents love the history of their community.
They celebrate Tacony History Day each September.
The community proved its appreciation again last week, packing an event room at the Tacony branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia to see a slide show portraying life in Tacony during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
"I’m thrilled so many people came out. I’m honored to speak about our community that has endured intact for over 130 years," said Lou Iatarola Jr., Tacony Civic Association’s vice president.
Iatarola told the audience that he was always fascinated by Tacony’s physical element, be it an old wrought iron fence, unique sandstone buildings or the Tacony Baptist Church, known locally as the Grindstone Church.
As he flipped through the 130 images, he explained the significance of the Tacony Music Hall — the only property in Tacony on the National Register of Historic Places, and pointed out streets and places that still stand today.
Heads angled toward one another as people would recognize a spot in the neighborhood, point at the screen and whisper.
In addition to the places, such as Dodge Steel and St. Vincent’s Orphanage, Iatarola paid homage to Henry Disston, owner of the Disston Saw Works, who is credited with making Tacony such a livable community, in its planning and deed restrictions.
The restrictions included the sale or manufacture of beer or liquors; livery stables, slaughterhouses, or glue boiling. The restrictions are still in effect today.
Iatarola also told the story of Al Schmid, who worked at Dodge Steel before enlisting in the military after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The 21-year-old man was manning a machine-gun at Guadalcanal, and though blinded by a grenade explosion, he singlehandedly held his position and fought off aggressors for more than four hours.
Schmid’s story was made into a feature film, Pride of the Marines. Parts of the movie were filmed at Schmid’s Fillmore Street home and at Dodge Steel.
Another famous Tacony resident was scientist and inventor Frank Shuman, who developed the first solar engine and oversaw the construction of the world’s first solar energy plant in Meadi, Egypt.
A short film that featured the community was also shown — Bridging Yesterday with Tomorrow. It was part of the Precious Places Project that filmed Philadelphia neighborhoods all on the same day.
"It’s nice to see the cross-section of people interested in the history. The fact it draws these kinds of crowds keeps me enthused," said Oxford Circle resident Marc Segal.
Iatarola expects that even more people will get to know how special Tacony is with planned riverfront development and I-95 reconstruction. ••
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com