Use Water Wisely!
May 3, 2024
These posters from 1942 promote a timeless message.
Old News: Two unusual underground rescues
April 29, 2024
It wasn’t raining cats and dogs, but somehow a cat and a dog got stuck in the sewer. On National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, I offer these stories of their respective rescues.
Map Lovers’ Monday: New Jersey 1869
April 8, 2024
Marshland and more from the state across the river.
Map Lovers’ Monday: As the Crow Flies
April 1, 2024
Missing a plane, the old-fashioned way: by human error.
Map Lovers’ Monday: More is not necessarily better.
March 25, 2024
When it comes to mapmaking, more is not necessarily better (but sometimes it is).
Map Lovers’ Monday: On the Waterfront
March 18, 2024
The Philadelphia and South Jersey waterfront on the eve of World War II.
Map Lovers’ Monday: Topography of Philadelphia from 1863
March 11, 2024
TITLE BLOCK Map of a reconnaissance of the approaches to Philadelphia showing the positions and lines of defence on the north front of the city. Made under the direction of A.D. Bache, Supt. U.S. Coast Survey, Engineer in Charge of the Defences ; general field reconnaissance by George Davidson, Assistant U.S. Coast Survey ; details […]
Map Lover’s Monday: Looking for Cleaner Water
March 4, 2024
These maps document four years spent looking for an alternative drinking water sources for Philadelphia in the mid-1880s. After all that work, the supply stayed the same – the dirty Delaware and smelly Schuylkill.
Map Lovers’ Monday: Schuylkill River from Wissahickon Creek to Norristown, 1913
February 26, 2024
The Schuykill River near the peak of its industrial might, in 1913.
Annual reports and other documents relating to Philadelphia’s water supply system, 1796-1992
February 21, 2024
My ultimate goal is to eventually post a comprehensive list of all reports relating to Philadelphia’s water supply, from the late 18th century to the present, with links to PDFs of each. It may be a while before I complete that task, but in the meantime I want to share what I have either found […]
Map Lovers’ Monday: Philadelphia front and center
February 19, 2024
From the city to the shore to the mountains, this fun, colorful map has it all.
Map Lover’s Monday: Fairmount Park, 1869
February 12, 2024
Three maps from the1870 Annual Report of the Commissioners of Fairmount Park In 1868, Fairmount Park was enlarged to more than 2000 acres with the purchase of land on both banks of the Schuylkill River. One goal of this purchase, and a later purchase of land along Wissahickon Creek, was to protect water quality in […]