Category: Chapter News and Events

the Blacksmith of Trenton Sunday, March 24, 2024, 11am to 2pm We will be visiting an extremely historic forge in Trenton NJ called the Blacksmith of Trenton. The building has sheltered smiths since 1823. Daniel Lepidow trained in this shop and now is assistant to the owner blacksmith and does his own work in the…

The first Subway in the World (London England) An illustrated presentation by Joel SpivakWednesday, March 13, 2024, 6 pm Joel Spivak, Oliver Evans Chapter President, created a PowerPoint to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first subway in the world (London England). He first presented the talk on the date of the subway opening, January…

The History of the Fairmount Water Works An illustrated presentation by A. Leonard PundtWednesday, February 14, 2024, 6 pm Free and Open to Everyone The meeting room will open at 5:30, talk will begin at 6:00 Location: Parkway Central Free Library, 1901 Vine StreetEnter the Heim Center classroom at the back of the library on…

The History of the Fairmount Water Works An illustrated presentation by A. Leonard Pundt Wednesday, February 14, 2024, 6 pm The Fairmount Water Works was once the most visited place in America after Niagara Falls. Many famous people stopped there and left a record of their impressions. When and why was this famous Philadelphia landmark…

Wednesday, February 14Wednesday, March 13Wednesday, April 10Wednesday, May 8 Our meetings are set on the second Wednesday of each month, February through May. We meet in the Heim Center Room of the Parkway Central main Philadelphia Free Library at 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia. Enter the Heim Center classroom at the back of the library on…

An informal history of Philadelphia’s changing landscape A presentation by Adam LevineWednesday, December 13, 2023, 6 pm As we walk around the city of Philadelphia, few of us think about the hidden world of streams that once meandered across the city. Adam Levine will present a fascinating illustrated lecture that will uncover part of the…

The November meeting of the Oliver Evans Chapter of the Society for Industrial Archeology, Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 6pm A presentation by Pierre Lacombe In the 1830s, the Philadelphia & Columbia Railroad (P&CRR) and the Philadelphia & Germantown Railroad (P&GRR)  were constructed with stone sleepers. Stone sleepers are blocks of stone used to support rails…

A presentation by Pierre Lacombe The November meeting of the Oliver Evans Chapter of the Society for Industrial Archeology Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 6pm In the 1830s, the Philadelphia & Columbia Railroad (P&CRR) and the Philadelphia & Germantown Railroad (P&GRR)  were constructed with stone sleepers. Stone sleepers are blocks of stone used to support rails…

 Philadelphia’s First Trackless Trolley at Broad and Oregon October 1923 Society for Industrial Archeology Oliver Evans Chapter presents 100th Anniversary of the Trackless Trolley in Philadelphia 1923-2023 DATE: Wednesday, October 11, 2023   TIME: 6PMLOCATION: Parkway Central Free Library 20th and Vine, (enter on Wood Street) Transit Historians Mitch Libby and Joel Spivak will present the history…

Wednesday, September 13, 2023 6:00Parkway Central Library of Philadelphia Please join us to reconnect with chapter members Edward W. Duffy will be speaking on research for his book, Philadelphia Celebrates: Three Great Anniversaries – 1876 – 1926 – 1976 published in 2017. Ed was actively involved in the 1976 celebration as an employee of the…