The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia invites the public to discover the history of Byberry at a free neighborhood celebration on Saturday, June 28, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Byberry Friends Meeting, 3001 Byberry Road.
“There is so much to learn about the extraordinary history of Byberry and the compelling stories of the people who lived along the Poquessing Creek over the centuries,” said Jack McCarthy, Project Director. “People will be really surprised how amazingly rich in history this area is.”
The celebration will feature:
• Information tables by area history and heritage groups
• Displays of historic maps and photos
• Tours of Byberry Meetinghouse and Byberry Library
• Opportunities to share your favorite local history stories
• Free refreshments and parking
Located in the Far Northeast along Poquessing Creek, Byberry was home to the Lenape, the original indigenous inhabitants who lived in the area for thousands of years before English Quakers began settling there in the 1680s. Byberry was the birthplace of founding father and signer of the Declaration of Independence Benjamin Rush and the home of abolitionists Robert and Harriet Purvis, who made their residence a stop on the Underground Railroad. Byberry Hall, which Purvis and others built in 1847 as a place to discuss anti-slavery and other issues of the day, still stands on Byberry Meeting property.
Participating cultural groups include Friends of Northeast Philadelphia History; Byberry Friends Meeting; Society to Preserve Philadelphia African American Assets; Friends of Poquessing Watershed; Delaware Tribe of Indians; state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of State Parks; Philadelphia Parks & Recreation; and Pennsbury Manor, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
The Poquessing Trail of History is an initiative of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia supported by grants from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage and the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial.
More information on the Poquessing Trail of History can be found at https://preservationalliance.com/explore-historic-philadelphia/poquessing/ ••
