May 12, 1966

Hill must assume share of burden of city’s problems

“No society can shut out a whole segment of its citizens and not, in the end, suffer itself,” said William S. Rawls, president of the Chestnut Hill Community Association and a Philadelphia attorney, last week. Addressing the annual luncheon meeting of the United Council of Church Women at the Presbyterian Church, Rawls noted that while Chestnut Hill is a community blessed with so many amenities that its residents are fortunate indeed to live here, nevertheless it is a part of the city of Philadelphia and as such must share its “frightful” social problems. “The disparity is too great,” Rawls noted, “between the haves and the have nots, between the alienated and hostile people who have nothing,” and people like ourselves.

Green Beret soldier substitutes in play

A Green Beret of the U.S. Special Forces stepped into Saturday night’s production of “The Tenth Man” at Allens Lane Art Center and saved the day by filling in for an actor who could not make it. Pfc. Henry Cohen, of Mt. Airy, got home for the Mother’s Day weekend from Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, at 4 a.m. and at 8:30 that night he was walking on stage in a prayer shawl, taking a part usually played by Lee Sherby.

May 13, 1976

Library will be built, say Council members

Residents at Rep. Rose Toll’s town meeting on May 6 were primarily concerned with the building of the new Northwest Regional Library. They were wary of possible attempts to cut funding for the important project but were reassured by all of the councilpersons present that the library was a top priority item on the budget and would not be subject to cutbacks by City Council. Rep. Toll was joined by Councilpersons Ethel Allen, Joseph E. Coleman and Louis Johanson in receiving statements from local residents concerning pending tax increases. Bill Ewing, president of East Mt. Airy Neighbors, who spoke in favor of the library, had a number of ideas about where to strip the fat off city operations. He cited overstaffing, wasteful policies and the costly Center City Commuter Tunnel.

May 15, 1986

Write-in vote, new male/female listings

When voters in the Ninth Ward go to the polls at the primary election next Tuesday, they will find a short ballot with relatively few candidates and also some surprises. This time, voters here will find there are no Republican nominees for the 2nd Congressional District seat, U.S. Congress, state Senate or state House. Another surprise for local voters is the way members of the Republican State Committee and Democratic State Committee are listed. They will be described as male and female, and voters will be asked to vote for an equal number of men and women. “This has been done by the state groups to allow equal representation on state committees,” Marian Tasco, City Commissioner, told the Local.

May 16, 1996

Return of Hill trolley depends on community support

Operation of the Chestnut Hill trolley will be suspended as of June 15. The trolley has been running on Saturday and Sunday from Gorgas Lane in Mt. Airy to the trolley turnaround at Germantown Avenue and Bethlehem Pike for the past four years. Ridership has been low and the operation never came close to covering its expenses. “Someone is going to have to up the ante,” Kim Scott Heinle said in a recent telephone interview when he reviewed the future of the trolley operation. Heine, SEPTA’s assistant general manager for light rail and contract operations, said that he hopes communities in Northwest Philadelphia can come together and support a trolley operation.

May 11, 2006

Restoration of inn honored by preservation community

As advocates for the Black Horse Inn finally see an end to its restoration work, the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia has honored the community organizations that saved the Springfield Township landmark. On May 3, the alliance bestowed a Community Action Award on the Friends of Historic Bethlehem Pike, the Springfield Township Historical Society, and the township “for achievements by community organizations.” The exterior phase of the $1.5 million restoration project, including the roofs, painting and stucco work, chimneys, windows and gutters, is expected to be complete this year. The entire project is expected to be done in December 2007. The Flourtown inn was one of eight raised in Springfield Township along the Philadelphia-to-Bethlehem stagecoach line. Only four remain, including the Black Horse. It was the first stop out of Philadelphia a dozen miles from Independence Hall. Believed to date around 1744, George Washington’s army reputedly passed the Black Horse on its march to the Battle of Germantown.

May 12, 2016

Volunteers ready for annual toad migration across Roxborough Road

There’s plenty of activity at the intersection of Hagys Mill Road and Port Royal Avenue, but it isn’t the sort of traffic we are accustomed to seeing. In 2009, a once-local citizen named Lisa Levinson was driving on Hagys Mill when she noticed what looked like leaves moving across the street. She pulled over and realized that small objects were lively toads aiming to reach the Roxborough Reservoir Preserve. Levinson thought these hopping creatures served an important purpose to the ecosystem and couldn’t help but save them from getting squashed. She began organizing volunteers and eight years later, the Toad Detour has grown strong and is still growing, now led by the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education.