Terry Buckalew | photo: April Saul, for philly.com
- Terry Buckalew, a retired facilities manager foe Penn, is heading a one-man charge to have the city’s Historical Commission recognize the importance of the Mother Bethel Church cemetery, now beneath the Weccacoe Playground in Queen Village. While there is virtually no opposition to the designation, many have expressed some concern over the delays this might cause for renovations for the space as part of the Green 2015 initiative. The Historical Commission will discuss the matter at its meeting on May 29.
- The Pennsylvania Convention Center is apparently attracting a terrible reputation in the national conventions business, says Axis Philly, as the facility will annually net less revenue for the city in the next three years than it did prior to its recent expansion. “The Philadelphia facility is considered too costly, presents too many hassles and cannot deliver services at a reliable and predictable cost. Convention organizers tell tales of getting bills after the fact that far exceed their estimated costs — mostly due to unforeseen overtime costs”—that could potentially cripple an association’s operating budget.
- NewsWorks launches its retrospective series of articles preparing for the last month of the nearly-century-old Germantown High School with an interview with comedy legend Bill Cosby, who failed out of the school in the 10th grade. While he looks back fondly, Cosby admits that he was quicker in accepting the seemingly inevitable decision to close the school than most, and cites a lack of palpable enthusiasm for education from the bottom up as the source of the so much of the District’s woes. “What’s it going to take to galvanize you to realize you have to do something for yourselves,” he wonders.
- Plan Philly reports that PennDOT has finished preliminary design work on the rebuilding of one Philadelphia’s more integral, albeit hidden, transit elements: the bridge that brings North Broad Street across the Reading rail tracks, between Callowhill and Noble Streets. Although it is unclear exactly who owns the bridge, PennDOT will foot the $12 million bill for the 2-year construction project, set to begin in 2015 at the earliest.
About the author
Stephen Currall recently received his BA in history from Arcadia University. Before beginning doctoral studies, he is pursuing his interest in local history, specifically just how Philadelphians engage their vibrant past. Besides skimming through 18th century letters, Steve is also interested in music and travel.
