For Philadelphia history (and exercise) buffs and anyone looking forward to the 250th anniversary celebration of the United States next year, former Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Natalie Pompilio just debuted a fascinating book, “Philadelphia: A Walk Through History” (Reedy Press).
The book’s eight self-guided tours are focused on events that occurred before 1800. They all include the oldest part of the city close to the Delaware River in what is still called Old City. Pompilio will discuss her new book Thursday, Sept. 25, at Big Blue Marble Bookstore in Mt. Airy.
“I’ve lived in Philadelphia (Queen Village) for more than 20 years, and I walk almost everywhere,” Pompilio writes in the book’s introduction. “I live on an alley off another alley. ... If I decide to walk the six blocks to my sister’s home, I’ll pass Settlement Music School, a 125-plus-year-old community offering with alumni including Albert Einstein, and the Sparks Shot Tower, used to make ammunition during the Civil War. If I walk three blocks in the other direction, I can see a historic Italian American church and Mario Lanza’s birthplace before reaching the country’s longest continuously operated outdoor market, the Italian Market.”
The first walk in Pompilio’s book is, “The Fight for Freedom; The Declaration of Independence.” This chapter includes information about the unbearably hot weather in the summer of 1776, when Independence Hall was like an oven. “When the signers of the Declaration opened up the windows to allow in a breeze,” Pompilio told the Local, “they were attacked by vicious biting horseflies that left their white stockings stained by blood spots. They got so drunk they needed a couple days in bed before ratifying the Declaration. And they set each other up on dates.”
Pompilio has been writing articles and books about Philadelphia for two decades. “I love living in Philadelphia,” she told us. “I tell everyone. I love my neighbors, the city’s walkability, the attitude, the opportunities to enjoy music, theater, sports, and art. I wanted to do something for the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary.”
The city’s history can be a bit more colorful than some might expect. “I had a lot of fun creating the walks. It took me a few months,” she recalled. “There are 10 stops in each walk. I also had a ghost walk, which was my favorite, but the publisher did not want it. It had information about Benjamin Franklin pinching women’s butts, among other things.
“‘The Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793,’ is my next favorite walk. People don’t realize how much that epidemic shaped our history. We all know about the Founding Fathers, but they were just regular people.”
Pompilio, a native of central New Jersey, moved to Philadelphia in 2002. She has a B.A. in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University and an M.A. in journalism from the University of Maryland. Her husband, Jordan Barnett, is a Philadelphia public defender. Pompilio’s sister, Tricia, is a professional photographer and Queen Village resident who has collaborated with Pompilio on two books.
“The book was written for anyone with an interest in American history,” Pompilio said, “and who wants to understand that the people who took this action [declaring independence from England] did not know if they would win and that they could easily have been killed. Most Americans today have never thought about the loyalists. For example, Benedict Arnold is regarded as a traitor by most Americans, but in his mind, he was being true to his home country.”
Pompilio was laid off by The Inquirer in 2007 along with other editorial staff members. “I was heartbroken,” she said. “I loved working there and was very proud of the work I did there. … The Inquirer gave me opportunities to cover some of the biggest stories I’ve ever tackled, like the War in Iraq and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.”
Since leaving The Inquirer, she has written articles for the Associated Press, Newark Star-Ledger, the Sunday Inquirer’s former “Upside” section, Washington Post, Super Lawyers magazine and Brain & Life magazine (about neurology). She is also co-author of “More Philadelphia Murals and the Stories They Tell” and “Walking Philadelphia: 30 Walking Tours Exploring Art, Architecture, History, and Little-Known Gems.”
Pompilio is currently working on a book co-authored with Christopher W. Lane, who, she said, “was a map expert for Antiques Road Show.” The book is called “Mapping Philadelphia,” and tells the city’s history through maps, starting with the native Lenni Lenape and moving into the 21st century.
Natalie Pompilio will sign copies of her new book and discuss Philadelphia history, Thursday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m., at Big Blue Marble Bookstore, 551 Carpenter Lane in West Mt. Airy, 215-844-1870. For more information, visit nataliepompilio.com.
Len Lear can be reached at LenLear@chestnuthilllocal.com.
