History is a big deal
in Northeast Philly

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Once you get historians started, there’s no stopping them.
That’s the whole idea behind the Historical Society of Frankford’s announcement two weeks ago that it will sponsor the Center for Northeast Philadelphia History, a consortium of organizations and individuals whose purpose is to preserve and promote the history of Northeast Philadelphia.
Its goals include sponsoring a Web site through which participating individuals and organizations can post materials, publicize events and communicate; providing a central repository where archival materials and information on Northeast Philadelphia history are preserved and made available to the public; sponsoring periodic meetings enabling participants to network and learn about one another’s activities; and sponsoring cooperative public programs that help to preserve and promote the area’s history.
Besides the Frankford group, historical organizations involved with the project include the Bridesburg Historical Society, Tacony Historical Society, Friends of Pennypack Creek, Advisory Council for Wissinoming Park, Trinity Church Oxford, African-Americans in Northeast Philadelphia, Fox Chase Library, Friends of Tacony Creek Park, and Glen Foerd.
Representatives met recently to discuss the project.
"This is just an initial group to get started," said local historian Harry Silcox.
In addition to areas of the Web site devoted to each geographic area, there will be subject areas as well, such as transportation, waterways, industry, African-American history and houses of worship, to name a few topics.
Jack McCarthy, archivist for the Historical Society of Frankford, thinks the project offers plenty of promise.
"We don’t have all the answers but we can refer them. It will be a one-stop centralized research resource," McCarthy said.
The group also will pull together lists of experts on certain local topics of interest, as well as copies of newsletters and brochures, when the group meets again in January.
The Historical Society of Frankford is spearheading the project for several reasons, McCarthy explained.
"We’re the only organization that can do it. We’re 102 years old, have a great building, a built-in research facility — a natural place to do it," he said. "Northeast history geographically begins in Frankford."
The society’s bylaws also state that it is the repository for the history of Frankford and Northeast Philadelphia.
"It’s fulfilling its mission," Silcox said.
As he sees it, there is no better example than the efforts of Lou Iatarola and his father to help make Tacony residents more aware of their neighborhood’s heritage. Events like Tacony History Day help emphasize that.
"They use it as a weapon to try to improve the area. They say, ‘Hey, you live in a place that’s historic,’" Silcox said.
The history of another Northeast neighborhood — Holmesburg — is the focus of a pictorial look back, The Holmesburg Book of Then and Now, compiled by local businessman Rudy DeFinis. The book, available at his DeFinis & Sons Window & Door Co., 8312 State Road, is a 281-page volume of both color and black-and-white photographs that trace the evolution of the area. The project was a labor of love for DeFinis and took him seven years to complete.
"Holmesburg is my baby," he said.
Though it cost him $67 to produce each copy of the hefty book, he is selling it for $50 to make the book more affordable for those who’d like to purchase copies for their own libraries or for gifts.
DeFinis’ other works include The Frankford-Philadelphia Scrapbook and Mayfair Philadelphia Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow. For more information, call 215-624-7118. ••
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com