Postcard History

During a living history project at a Philadelphia elementary school around 2015, a third grader was asked, “Who is the most famous person that ever lived in Philadelphia?” I suspect the question was asked to elicit a response like Benjamin Franklin or the name of an Eagles football or Philly baseball sports figure. However, the eight-year-old replied without hesitation, “Ukee Washington!”

[Editor’s note: If you live more than 200 miles from Philadelphia, you need to know that Mr. Washington is the local CBS affiliate (channel 3) news anchorman.]

Ukee refers to Philadelphia as the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. 

This City of Brotherly Love, twelve-postcard set in Tuck’s Raphotype collection was issued in 1906. It was well received and sold as a set of twelve in an envelope containing cards numbered 5104 to 5115 as follows:

5104    Fairmount Water Works                            5105    Washington Monument

5106    University of Pennsylvania                         5107    Broad Street from Locust

5108   Hotel Bellevue-Stratford                            5109    Sunken Garden in Fairmount

5110    River Drive                                                    5111     Memorial Hall

5112    Valley Green                                                 5113    Wissahickon Creek

5114    The Cathedral, 18^th & Race                         5115    Independence Hall

Samuel Howell Ashbridge was the mayor of Philadelphia when the Tuck photo team was in town to prepare the images included in the Raphotype set. Ashbridge was a true American politician, first elected mayor in 1899. The team was made aware that a “honorarium” was expected at the Mayor’s Office. Ashbridge was one of the mayors excoriated in Shame of the Cities, by Lincoln Steffens. (If you have forgotten, Lincoln Steffens was a muckraker who worked as an investigative journalist in the early twentieth century to expose corruption in municipal government.) After Steffen’s work became public a report filed by Philadelphia’s Municipal League referred to the Ashbridge administration as “a crew of municipal pirates.”

There is no known record of the honorarium being paid, but the cards were produced, and they are beautiful examples of architectural and landscape photography. We can draw our individual conclusions.

Try, as I have, to ascertain if there was a rhyme or reason for the sequencing of the cards, none was found. There is one church, two street scenes, two monuments, one school, three park scenes, and three public buildings, the most famous of which is Independence Hall seen from the street at the south end of the park.

I have selected my favorite five to tell you about. First the cathedral  . . .

The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, at 18th and Race Streets in Philadelphia, is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It is one of nine Catholic cathedrals in Pennsylvania; the others are in Allentown, Altoona, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Johnstown, Pittsburgh, and Scranton. It is the largest Catholic church in the state. Its construction began in 1850, spearheaded by architect Edward Durang, who designed it in the Romanesque Revival style. The cathedral was consecrated in 1864, although it wasn’t completed until 1907. Its striking façade, featuring a grand dome and intricate sculptures, reflects its significance as a spiritual hub for Catholics from southeastern Pennsylvania.

Throughout the years, the cathedral has hosted two papal masses and numerous important events, including the ordination of archbishops and funerals of Philadelphians.

Memorial Hall, located in Fairmount Park was originally built for the 1876 Centennial Exposition, the first world’s fair held in the United States. Herman Schwarzmann was the design architect who chose the Romanesque style featuring red brick and terra cotta. It was purpose built to exhibit fine arts during the exposition. Afterward, Memorial Hall was repurposed as a museum, becoming the home to the Free Museum of Science and Art, which later evolved into the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Over the years, Memorial Hall has undergone various renovations, yet it has preserved its historical significance while adapting to contemporary needs. It stands as a symbol of the city’s role in American history. Today, it services Philadelphians and visitors alike as the Please Touch Museum where children can ride the Blue Cross Carousel, play in a Lilly pond, or ride in a rocket ship.

The Hotel Bellevue-Stratford on Broad Street in Philadelphia is mentioned in every worthwhile history of the city. It is luxurious and an everyday place to see Philly socialites. Opened in 1904, it was initially a combination of two hotels: the Bellevue and the Stratford. The architect chose an elegant style with opulent interiors that soon made it a favorite among the affluent.

The hotel was known for its grand ballroom, which hosted countless high-profile events, including presidential inauguration celebrations and untold social galas.

Throughout the mid-20th century, the Bellevue-Stratford was the epitome of sophistication, attracting celebrities, politicians, and socialites, but its status as a leading hotel began to wane in the 1970s. And when the management could least afford to deal with a major crisis, in 1976 the hotel was the center of an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, which resulted in several fatalities.

Financial challenges and stiff competition from newer hotels forced significant renovations in the 1980s.

Today or as late as May 2024, the Bellevue-Stratford completed yet another renovation that made it possible for the building to serve as a mixed-use structure of residential apartments, business offices, and continue to serve the public with 222 hotel rooms.

The Valley Green Inn bills itself as Philadelphia’s last remaining roadhouse. It’s true!

Located in Philadelphia’s Wissahickon Valley Park, the Valley Green Inn was constructed in 1850 as a summer retreat for city dwellers – it is twelve miles from center city. At the end and after the Civil War, Wissahickon Valley Park merged with Fairmount Park and quickly became a popular destination for picnics and social gatherings. The inn is characterized by its picturesque location along the creek and its rustic charm. Over the years, it has undergone various renovations while preserving its historical integrity. In 1937, it was officially designated as a historic landmark. Today, Valley Green Inn continues to serve as a cherished restaurant and event space, attracting visitors with its scenic views and fabulous food.

It could be argued that Independence Hall is the most recognized building in America. It was there that the glorious experiment – the United States of America – began. Can it be imagined how many famous people have walked through the front door?

Independence Hall is America’s most enduring symbol of freedom and democracy.

Completed in 1753, it served as the meeting place for the Second Continental Congress and was the site where the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. Additionally, it hosted the Constitutional Convention in 1787, where the U.S. Constitution was debated and signed.

The building is designed in the Georgian architectural style, featuring an iconic bell tower and a prominent clock. Today, Independence Hall is part of Independence National Historical Park and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.