Clara’s Post-War Trip

Week 24: #52 Ancestors – Last One Standing

By Eilene Lyon

Clara Bedford wrote a letter to her aunt, Abby (Bedford) Jenkins, on May 14, 1865 from Springboro, Ohio. Clara Jane Bedford is my 1^st cousin 4x removed. She was one of two children, both daughters, of William S. Bedford and Elizabeth Dearth.

Clara’s letter primarily relates a post-Civil War trip she took to Philadelphia when she was 20 years old. I thought it would be fun to revisit the places she went, though most either no longer exist or have been drastically changed. There is probably only one place left standing that remains essentially unchanged from well before Clara’s time to today.

There is a wonderful website called Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network that offers a menu of historic Philadelphia maps overlaid on a current map and all georeferenced. The map most contemporary to Clara’s visit is the 1862 Samuel L. Smedley map. The map images in this post are all courtesy of the website.

Many of the places she mentions are west of downtown, located in the Fairmount district of the city. She stayed with the family of her uncle, Isaac T. Bedford, who lived at 321 Noble St. (no longer exists, not even the street section).

This location is north of downtown, just a few blocks west of the Delaware River. The Delaware and Schuylkill Railroad was just a block away and had horse-drawn passenger cars. It would have easily taken Clara to the Fairmount district.

“We went through the waterworks The immense power of the machinery, working so quietly, almost terrified me, and I was not sorry to reach the open air once more. The grounds, I think are laid out beautifully. Nature helped, not spoiled and lost. The ascent of the hill is made, now, by a broad path with an iron fence on one side…”

I believe Clara refers to the Fairmount Basin, which was a large park overlooking the Schuylkill River, and where the Philadelphia Museum of Art is today. The waterworks are noted on the map by the river, and her uncle took her on a tour there.

“Aunt and I went to the Blind Asylum one day, and on our return stopped at the residence of Cousin Isaac’s family, we had only intended a call, but stayed to tea.”

Clara’s father had a cousin, Isaac Bedford, that she refers to here. He died in 1862 and Clara visited his widow and adult children. The Bedford home was at 1935 Callowhill (a parking lot now).

The asylum was formally the “Philadelphia Asylum for the Blind” or the “Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind,” at the corner of Race and 20^th Streets (previously Sassafras and Schuylkill Streets). I find it odd that people took in places like this as tourist attractions.

The Franklin Institute occupies that space now, which includes the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial. The Institute was founded in 1824, but the current building opened in 1934.

“I visited the Navy yard with Aunt Sarah’s nephew & wife. He is engineer on a gunboat, and we were permitted to go around more. We were on board a Monitor, and a large steamship. In returning we visited Independence Hall. I could have spent several hours there contentedly.”

The Navy Yard was along the Delaware River south of downtown. It no longer exists and is now a commercial district. Independence Hall, of course, is one of the iconic historic sites of the American Revolution.

“We visited the Academy of Natural Science (The old Museum is not in Existence) of Music, and Fine Arts. West’s two paintings there attracted my attention, almost altogether. Christ Rejected, and Death on the Pale Horse.”

Each of the three academies were in different places around the city. The only one still in the same location is the Academy of Music, at the corner of Locust and South Broad Streets. It is a registered National Historic Landmark.

Benjamin West was American born, but spent much of his life in England. He founded the Royal Academy there and worked for King George III (though he remained loyal to his birth country). West is known for his historical subject matter.

“We went to Girard College. The President, now only allow people to visit the main building … [Jane Hamilton] showed us the washhouse an ironing room, the Laves and the kitchen. The main building look like the pictures I have seen … The whole building aexecp the last flight of steps that head up to the roof is solid marble.”

Clara didn’t offer any details about how she traveled from Springboro to Philadelphia and back, but it would have most likely been by train. She accompanied her younger sister, Florence, and someone name Kelia, whom I have not been able to identify.

What are your favorite historic sites in Philadelphia?

Feature image: Postcard of Independence Hall around 1900. (Wikimedia Commons)