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 […]

ED KASUBA REPORTS: Those close to the negotiations have said the agreement being announced involves Pennsylvania paying for the entire project as well as disposing of all the dredge spoils. Sources also have said a new environmental impact study will be conducted. The Port Authority Board did not meet for the past year and a half because of the dredging stalemate. The Board also commissioned a study to consider the possibility of light rail service along Delaware Avenue, ending up at the South Philadelphia sports complex. KYW: Hey Jersey, This One’s On Us, Jerk-Ass! PREVIOUSLY: “With the congestion at West […]

MISS FIDGET REPORTS: It was Lombardis Breadstore, on 9th off of Montrose, 935 S Ninth. One woman was found dead in the second floor front room. Some guys from, I think, Canulli’s tried to save her but the flames were too intense. Very sad. I took the photos from 2:34 to approx 3:15 pm today. UPDATE: An intense fire in South Philadelphia’s Italian Market yesterday claimed the life of a 51-year-old woman, fire officials said. Firefighters entered the property and found the dead woman, identified by a family member as Domenica Lombardo. Known around the neighborhood as “Sunday” (the English […]

BY TOM AVRIL INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Today, University of Pennsylvania dermatologists report they have indeed performed this feat of biological renewal, regrowing a “mini-organ” that is a sore subject for millions of older men: hair. The researchers, whose findings appear in tomorrow’s issue of the journal Nature, said they cut out small pieces of skin in mice, thereby triggering a genetic pathway that normally goes dormant after embryonic development. New hairs grew on bare patches where follicles had been completely removed, and the process worked especially well when researchers artificially boosted levels of a special signaling protein. So far, the research […]