Walking the Eraserhood: 9th and Willow Streets

[fsg_gallery id=”14″]

“Walking the Eraserhood” represents an ongoing street-level exploration of the Callowhill district and surrounding environs, a sort of virtual walking tour of the neighborhood.

The majestic bulk of the 1927 Willow Street Steam Generation Plant dominates this corner. Originally built by Philadelphia Electric Company, Willow Steam was once part of the third largest steam heating system in the United States. This is another one of the sites that David Lynch appears to allude to in the first ten minutes of Eraserhead. From here, one can look west to see another view of the various ages and styles of architecture that compose Esslinger’s site.

Copyright © 2009-2013, Bob Bruhin. All rights reserved.


View Walking the Eraserhood in a larger map

Walking the Eraserhood: 905 Callowhill Street

[fsg_gallery id=”13″]

“Walking the Eraserhood” represents an ongoing street-level exploration of the Callowhill district and surrounding environs, a sort of virtual walking tour of the neighborhood.

On days when the gate is open here, behind George Esslinger’s brewery, one can still see what appear to be empty brew tanks lying on their sides in the yard.

Copyright © 2009-2013, Bob Bruhin. All rights reserved.

Walking the Eraserhood: 10th and Callowhill Streets

[fsg_gallery id=”12″]
“Walking the Eraserhood” represents an ongoing street-level exploration of the Callowhill district and surrounding environs, a sort of virtual walking tour of the neighborhood.

Looking northwest along Ridge Avenue provides an excellent view of the Viaduct as it switches back and forth between iron and stone supports. The now empty triangle to the north, between Ridge and 10th is traditionally held to be the spot where Benjamin Franklin engaged a blacksmith to affix an iron point on his kite, prior to his famous experiment, supposedly also performed on this site. (The kite, itself, is held to have been flying over a spot several blocks away, where Assumption Church was later built.) On the northeast corner, one can see the former bottling line of George Esslinger’s brewery, as well as the taller, older brew house behind it. Here is an excellent example of an industrial site evolving in a specific location over the years. You can look at the various structures piled together and, if you have the experience, estimate the age of each. On the southwest corner is the former site of the site of the Philadelphia Circus and Menagerie, later rebuilt in 1874 as the New National Theater. Supposedly, with some modifications, the building currently on the site is the same building that once housed the theater.

Copyright © 2009-2013, Bob Bruhin. All rights reserved.


View Walking the Eraserhood in a larger map

Neighborhood Meetings

UnionTransferVoltaMuralWall

  • October 2 6pm at Union Transfer.
    Hear a proposal for a mural by Ben Volta on the east wall of Union Transfer.(photo above)
  • October 14 7:30  Underground Arts.
    7:30-. A presentation on the Bike Share Program by the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities and the Greater Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition
    8:00 – Concept design for Ben Volta mural on Union Transfer

Callowhill Neighborhood Association

[email protected]
www.callowhill.org

 

Walking the Eraserhood: 10th and Hamilton Streets

[fsg_gallery id=”11″]

“Walking the Eraserhood” represents an ongoing street-level exploration of the Callowhill district and surrounding environs, a sort of virtual walking tour of the neighborhood.

This corner offers another clear view of the Viaduct, along with the Haverford Bicycle Company on the northwest corner. Looking back to the west provides another clear view of the Lasher.

Copyright © 2009-2013, Bob Bruhin. All rights reserved.


View Walking the Eraserhood in a larger map