Archaeologists excavating the site of the nation’s first presidential mansion have found a trove of 19th-century clay pipe fragments, including one bowl depicting a stereotyped African head [NOT pictured]. The pipe fragments, uncovered earlier this week, probably date from the mid-19th century and are therefore not connected directly with the President’s House, located at Sixth and Market Streets, the archaeologists said. But the find is of particular interest, they said, because the focus of the excavation is on the house occupied by George Washington, his family and at least nine slaves during the 1790s. John Adams, Washington’s successor, also lived […]

INQUIRER: The idea for another bridge to cross the Delaware River came to light almost as soon as the Ben Franklin Bridge was completed in 1926. (It was called the Delaware River Bridge then.) Initially, there were plans to dig a tunnel under the river to connect South Philadelphia and Gloucester City. Over time, a bridge became a more viable option. Construction began in 1953. Four years later, 10,000 tons of steel and 4,000 feet of cable had come together to create what would be named the “Most Beautiful Structure of Steel of 1957” by the American Institute of Steel […]

[Photo by JONATHAN VALANIA] BY JEFF DEENEY The best news Ed Bisch ever read was splashed across the front pages of newspapers everywhere last week: “In Guilty Plea, OxyContin Maker to Pay $600 Million.” You see, Purdue Pharma, OxyContin’s manufacturer, is Ed Bisch’s white whale. Some say he’s obsessed. He can explain why. Six years ago Ed discovered his son, Eddie Jr., dead in his Fishtown bed. After finding Eddie’s body, Ed set out to confront his son’s friends and find out what had happened. He found them congregated on the same Cumberland Street stoop where they always gathered, even […]