Making history
in Northeast Philadelphia

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Local historians met last week at the Bridesburg Heritage Center, home to the neighborhood’s historical society, to discuss the organization of a Center for Northeast Philadelphia History.
Bridesburg Historical Society president Teresa Pyott told representatives of other historical societies and like-minded people at the session about some of the programs and projects her organization has presented in the past, including trolley tours and major exhibits during Bridesburg Pride Week.
The organization also presented a Greatest Generation Project, inviting servicemen and women — as well as anyone alive during World War II — to tell their stories and share their recollections.
One of the historical society’s prized possessions is a Civil War-era musket produced by the old Bridesburg Manufacturing Co. The industrial firm switched from processing cotton to building muskets in support of the Union Army.
Pyott said her organization’s historical inventory also includes Bridesburg census records that have been reproduced on CDs. The information is available to the public for genealogical research.
Another attendee at last week’s meeting, local historian Harry Silcox, a former principal of Abraham Lincoln High School, told the dozen or so people on hand that a byproduct of establishing a center to consolidate Northeast Philadelphia’s history is the ability of history-minded organizations to share information.
The center also would work to identify and preserve local historical materials such as photographs, manuscripts and artifacts. And participants would be allowed to share resources and sponsor cooperative programs that foster the study and appreciation of Northeast Philadelphia history.
Historical Society of Frankford archivist Jack McCarthy updated his colleagues on the center’s Web site. Though a domain name had yet to be registered, he shared sample pages that included photos, neighborhood information and links to more history, photos, maps and other references. A page will be created for each organization, as well as subject areas that encompass African-Americans, creeks and watersheds, houses of worship, parks, transportation and sports, among other topics.
McCarthy also has written a grant proposal to undertake a survey of archival material and create an inventory of what each organization has in its possession.
To date, the organization has a little money to get the project going, but it will have to raise additional funding to support the whole operation and its Web site.
The group will meet again in March at the Historical Society of Frankford, which is sponsoring the Center for Northeast Philadelphia History and coordinating its activities. ••
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com