Chofu Philadelphia (7/28/2021)

Thursday, July 28, 2021

A couple of Kent's fellow DOD Chofu High School alumni were in town, so we met them to spend the day in Philadelphia.

National Constitution Center (2000-2003)

There was a multi-media (including a live actor) presentation called Freedom Rising. If nothing else, the United States Constitution was the first of its kind.

The special exhibitions were Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality and The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote.

Pen and inkwell (c 1800s) used by Frederick Douglass

Pike (1857) purchased by John Brown before John Brown's Raid

Dress spurs worn by General George Meade

Kathy dances with Elbridge Gerry, a
Massachusetts delegate at the Constitutional
Convention of 1787, one of three dissenters
due to the lack of a Bill of Rights

Gerry later became the 5th vice president of the United States, but is better known for the political practice named after him, gerrymandering. In 1812 when he was governor of Massachusetts, he signed the legislation for electoral district boundaries created by the Republican controlled legislature. One such district was in the shape of a salamander, thus a "Gerry-mander."

Lorraine takes her turn with Gerry

Are these two delegates also dancing?

Kent joins the Pennsylvania delegation

There were 55 delegates at the Constitutional Convention, meaning we have 55 Founding Fathers. When someone professes that our Founding Fathers had a single thought in mind regarding any part of this document, that is impossible. A total of 39 delegates had their signatures on the final document, and three dissenters did not.

When someone states that the US Constitution is not a living document, despite amendments, he does not realize that wording within the document has been changed (albeit by amendment).

Rhode Island did not send any delegates to the Constitutional Convention, as they must have figured they fared better under the Articles of Confederation (1777).

Visitors toss pennies at Ben Franklin's grave for "good luck"
as a nod to his adage, "a penny saved is a penny earned"

Lunch of Campo's cheesesteak sandwiches,
at the favorite of Lorraine's grandson

Replica 18C rowhouses (1976) on either
side of the archway entry to Franklin Court,
the location of the Ben Franklin Museum

Although there is no admission fee for Independence Hall, the pandemic policy is to obtain an advance timed reservation for $1 per person.

Originally the Pennsylvania Supreme Court courtroom

Originally the Pennsylvania Assembly Hall, site of the 1776
Second Continental Congress resulting in the Declaration of
Independence, and of the 1787 Constitutional Convention

"Rising Sun" chair used by George Washington is original

In Congress Hall, the House of Representatives used by the
fledgling United States from 1790-1800; it was also the
site of the presidential inaugurations of Presidents
George Washington and John Adams, the latter being the
first peaceful transfer of power between a nation's leaders

Upstairs in Congress Hall, the temporary Senate

Rose Garden with 96 varieties of antique roses

We also visited the Magnolia Garden,
but noted the Quercus robur/English Oak

Dolley Todd House (1775) was the residence of Dolley
and John Todd from 1791 until his death in 1793; Dolley
then married James Madison in 1794 and became the
first First Lady to live in the White House

Dolley Todd House 18C Garden

Carpenters' Hall (1770-1774, by Robert Smith
in Georgian style) is the oldest craft
guild in the United States

Carpenters' Hall is also considered the birthplace of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where the Pennsylvania Constitution was written. It was the site of the First Continental Congress in 1774, where the colonies agreed to boycott trade with England until the Acts of Intolerance were repealed.

Carpenters' Hall interior

Carpenters' Hall tiled floor

The first truly successful fire-insurance company was Benjamin Franklin’s Philadelphia Contributionship, begun in 1751.

Buildings that were insured would place
this plaque on the façade

Mutual Assurance Company for Insuring
Houses from Loss by Fire plaque

Fire Association of Philadelphia plaque

Lantern outside the United States Custom House
(1932-1934, by Rotter & Shay in Art Deco style)

Corn Exchange National Bank (1903, by Newman & Harris)

Elfreth's Alley, the nation's oldest continuously
inhabited residential street of 1703-1836 houses

Elfreth's Alley

Elfreth's Alley

Another Ben Franklin adage

Off Elfreth's Alley is Bladens Court

Water pump on Bladens Court

The Delaware River at the I-676 Ben Franklin Bridge
and the Race Street Pier

Betsy Ross House (1740) where Betsy Ross
lived from 1776-1779 and was credited with
creating the first flag of the United States

Cat fountain at the Betsy Ross House

Declaration House (1776) where Thomas
Jefferson rented rooms during the
Second Continental Congress, and likely
penned the Declaration of Independence

We ended the day with dinner in Chinatown, near
the Friendship Gate (1984, by Sabrina Soong)