West Philadelphia Community History Center

Garofalo 1

Mantua: A History of a West Philadelphia Neighborhood By Michael Garofalo

The modern boundaries of the West Philadelphia neighborhood of Mantua are generally described as Hamilton Street and Lancaster Avenue to the south, Mantua Avenue to the north, 31st Street to the east, and 40th Street to the west (see Figure 1 in Appendix). As Mantua was never officially its own political entity, but rather simply a neighborhood in Blockley Township and later the City of Philadelphia, the extent of Mantuas recognized area has changed over time. Originally, the Mantua land development was planned to extend north all the way to Girard Avenue, north of the Philadelphia Zoo, which now sits just north of Mantuas current boundaries. Over the course of the first half of the 19th century, Mantua expanded to the south, so that by the time of Philadelphias Consolidation Act in 1854, the neighborhood reached south all the way to just north of the Permanent Bridge at Market Street. At that time, the western boundary extended along Lancaster Avenue to where Lancaster intersects with Westminster Avenue near 45th Street.1 Though Mantuas current size does not nearly match its former extent, it remains a landmark neighborhood in West Philadelphia. Judge Richard Peters (1743-1828) played an integral role in the founding of Mantua. Peters is an interesting figure in West Philadelphia history. Born in the family country estate of Belmont in what is now Fairmont Park, Peters became a prominent Philadelphia lawyer like his famous father, William. During the American Revolution, Peters served as secretary of the Continental Board of War and later was a representative at the
1

Leon S. Rosenthal, A HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA'S UNIVERSITY CITY, http://www.uchs.net/Rosenthal/mantua.html

Garofalo 2 Continental Congress. Later, Judge Peters would become Speaker of the Pennsylvania Senate and a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania.2 Peters inherited the sprawling Belmont estate from his father, and in 1809 he decided to divide and sell a portion of his land as a new real estate development. According to Leon S. Rosenthal, he chose to name his new development after the Italian city of Mantua, where Virgil, one of the Judges favorite authors, lived in antiquity. Peters began offering his land in large plots, but found little success selling property in the still sparsely populated Blockley Township. During the revolution, Judge Peters was involved in the construction of the original pontoon bridge crossing the Schuylkill. Later he was an active promoter of the construction of that bridges successor, the 1805 Permanent Bridge at Market Street. Judge Peters efforts to improve Blockley Townships accessibility to Philadelphia proper increased the appeal of his Mantua settlement, but sales did not take off in earnest until 1812, when the Spring Garden Street Bridge opened, providing a direct thoroughfare to Philadelphia from Mantua. The early residents of Mantua began building homes of considerable size, and by 1850, when West Philadelphias total population had reached 13,2653, the Mantua community was sizeable enough to house a Sunday School (1837) and the First Presbyterian Church of Mantua (1846). 4 The large suburban dwellings of the first half of the 19th century persisted into the 1860s and 1870s when the advent of West Philadelphia as a so-called streetcar suburb again changed Mantua drastically.

2 3 4

http://www.archives.upenn.edu/people/1700s/peters_rich_hon.html http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/wphila/stats/census_lloyd.html

Leon S. Rosenthal, A HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA'S UNIVERSITY CITY, http://www.uchs.net/Rosenthal/mantua.html

Garofalo 3 Trolley lines first extended into West Philadelphia in 1858, with the Market Street line, and in 1866 at Chestnut Street.5 The rapid transportation afforded by the trolleys helped change West Philadelphia into a true suburb, as residents now could travel to and from their jobs in Center City with ease. West Philadelphias population grew from 13,265 in 1850 to 69,404 in 1880, a tremendous period of growth largely attributable to advancements in transportation.6 In Mantua, the era of suburban houses came to an end during this period. The large lots dating back to Judge Richard Peters day were subdivided, making way for the row houses that came to characterize the area. The former property of Adam Everly provides an excellent example of Mantuas transformation. Everly made his fortune in real estate in 19th century Philadelphia, and in 1831, he bought twenty-four acres of land to build his country estate in what today is Mantua. Everlys estate was known as Emlenton after the Emlen family that previously owned the land. Everlys manor is believed to have been situated near what is today Haverford Road and 33rd Street (see Figure 2). Everly died in 1865, and in his will he specified that his estate should not be sold until at least fifteen years after his wifes death. Mrs. Everly died in 1870, and in 1885, the Emlenton estate was sold to a speculator. Emlentons twenty-four acres soon housed over 140 row houses. The situation visible at Emlenton is representative of what occurred in the rest of Mantua during this period. Indeed, by 1916 nearly every block in Mantua was covered in row houses (Figure 4 shows a few blocks of Mantua completely developed in 1910).7

http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/wphila/history/history2.html http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/wphila/stats/census_lloyd.html http://www.brynmawr.edu/cities/archx/05-600/proj/p1/jcac/emlentonpre1863.html

Garofalo 4 Mantuas development into a decidedly urban neighborhood was in stark contrast to nearby Powelton Village and Hamilton Village, which maintained more suburban characteristics. The 1900 U.S. Census shows that Mantua was an ethnically diverse neighborhood, shared by Germans, Irish, Jews, and Italians.8 Mantuas period of urban growth brought with it the establishment of a number of community institutions. The Mantua Primary School was founded in 1872 at the corner of 38th and Mt. Vernon Streets to serve the children of Mantua. Also in the area was the Friends Home for Children, an orphanage at Aspen and Preston Streets. Near 35th Street and Fairmount Avenue sat the House of the Good Shepherd, which sought to aid unwed mothers. The McMichael School was located directly across Fairmount Avenue. The West Philadelphia Hospital for Women, located in the 4000 block of Parrish Street, was founded in 1889 as a hospital where women could seek treatment from other women. It merged with the Womans Hospital of Philadelphia in 1929.8 9 In the 1920s Mantua experienced an influx of African American residents, reflecting a trend visible across all of West Philadelphia. In the 1910 U.S. Census, the 24th Ward, in which Mantua was located, was home to 3,958 African Americans accounting for 13.5% of the wards population. By 1940, there were 18,343 African Americans living in the 24th Ward, comprising 34.1% of the wards total population.10 The Black population of Mantua was working class, and generally employed in

http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/wphila/history/history2.html#n3 http://archives.drexelmed.edu/collect/acc/1-20.php http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/wphila/stats/census_lloyd.html

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Garofalo 5 manufacturing jobs.11 By 1940, real estate development in Mantua had become stagnantthe neighborhoods land was completely developed. 1950 marks a turning point in the demographic history of the 24th Ward. In that year, the U.S. Census shows that the 24th Ward reached its highest population to date, with 63,391 residents. Since 1950, the 24th Wards population (along with the total population of all of West Philadelphia) has steadily declined in each successive decade. 1950 also marked the first time that African Americans outnumbered whites in the 24th district.12 In the 1950s Mantua began losing many of its more prosperous residents of all races, who chose to move to other West Philadelphia neighborhoods (see Figure 3). Exacerbating the flight was the deteriorating housing of Mantua, much of which dated to the original period of urban development around the turn of the 20th century. To combat housing problems, urban renewal programs created public housing projects, such as Mantua Hall, an eighteen-story high-rise, which stood on the same block of Fairmont Avenue where the House of the Good Shepherd once did (see Figures 4 and 5). Built in 1960, Mantua Hall was reflective of contemporary urban renewal policies. When the complex opened, the Philadelphia Tribune hailed Mantua Hall as ready to provide modern living in an attractive setting.13 In practice, however, projects like Mantua Hall had small living spaces and were notoriously difficult to maintain. Community ties deteriorated and crime rates increased in the high-rises. A change in philosophy regarding public housing has led the Philadelphia Housing Authority to shift away from high-rise

11

Mantua Neighborhood Plan, Philadelphia City Planning Commission. http://www.philaplanning.org/cpdiv/Neighborhood_Plans/Mantua.html http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/wphila/stats/census_lloyd.html $2 Million Mantua Hall Apartment Building Set To Open Philadelphia Tribune, June 21, 1960

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Garofalo 6 projects. Since 1995, the PHA has demolished more than twenty public housing highrises, including Mantua Hall on March 30, 2008. Mantua Hall will be replaced by modern low-rise style public housing, with which the PHA has had success in increasing property values and decreasing crime. 14 15 In the 1960s and 1970s gang violence arose as a major concern for the citizens of Mantua. In 1964, 16% of Mantuas population, ages seven to seventeen, was under police custody, nine times the city-wide rate. For adults living in Mantua, the crime rate was two times higher than the citys rate as a whole.16 The deteriorating conditions in Mantua inspired many of its citizens to actively fight against crime, violence, and poverty, beginning a long and proud history of community unity and activism in Mantua. One of these leaders who stood up for Mantua was Herman Wrice. His longtime friend and fellow crusader C.B. Kimmins said of him, You cant have any history of Mantua without Herman Wrice. Wrice was motivated to dedicate his life to bettering his community as a young man, when he witnessed the 1958 murder of a Korean exchange student at the University of Pennsylvania, In Ho Oh.17 Wrice formed the Young Great Society, a community group with the mission of steering the young people of Mantua away from drugs and violence. Richard Purdie, one of the youths mentored by Wrice, and today a Mantua community leader in his own right, attributes Wrices success to his gentle approach to guiding young people. He showed us which way to go, said Purdie,

14

http://www.pha.phila.gov/web_files/Redefining.pdf http://www.pha.phila.gov/beta/press/index.asp?id=145 Midgley, Gerald. Community Operational Research. http://www.poweltonvillage.org/profiles/herman_wrice.html

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Garofalo 7 He sent kids to college, sent kids to work. Whatever you wanted to do he found for you. He didnt force you to do anything. You had to make your own mind up and do what you wanted to do.18 In 1970, with the help of other Mantua activists and representatives from the University of Pennsylvania, Wrice established the Urban Leadership Training Program. Wrice assembled twenty-one leaders from different Mantua gangs that had been at war with one another, and gathered them at Penn where they were taught by volunteer members of Penns faculty in fields that would help them one day become community leaders. One reason why community groups like the Young Great Society were so vital to the people of Mantua was the ineffectiveness of city and federal urban renewal programs. Citizens felt that for real change to occur, it would have to come from within the community, not from outside. This stance is reflected in the motto of the Mantua Community Planners: Plan or be planned for. 19 In the 1980s Mantua, like many other urban centers across the nation, was hit hard by the crack-cocaine epidemic. The problems of violence and addiction further deteriorated the community. Community organizations have been vital in fighting the drug problem. Mantua Against Drugs, established in 1988 by Herman Wrice, is one such successful organization. In 1988, Wrice created Mantua Against Drugs, a grassroots community organization aiming to rid the neighborhoods streets of drugs using peaceful strategies. Mantua Against Drugs gained the support of the city government, and donned in a white hard hat given to him by then-mayor Wilson Goode, Wrice held marches and vigils outside known drug houses and put up Wanted posters alerting the community of
18 19

Purdie, Richard. Personal Interview. Midgley, Gerald. Community Operational Research.

Garofalo 8 known drug dealers. Herman Wrices strategy of fearlessly standing up to drug dealers set an example for other neighborhood residents, and with the help of his neighbors and the blessing of the city, Wrice and Mantua Against Drugs boarded up and demolished numerous drug houses. One of Wrices greatest accomplishments was enabling Mantua Against Drugs to work in concert with the Philadelphia Police. Drug dealers had benefited from the often adversarial relationship between the people of Mantua and the police, but Wrice recognized the importance of cooperation and mutual respect in finding and getting rid of drug dealers. Herman Wrice passed away in 2000, but Mantua Against Drugs continues his work under the leadership of C.B. Kimmins. Today, a mural of Wrice watches over 34th and Spring Garden Streets in the community he dedicated his life to (see Figure 6).20 In the years since 1960, Mantua has continued its population decline. The neighborhood that boasted 19,394 residents in 1950 had shrunk to 12,044 residents in 1980, and 6,826 residents in 2000.21 As of 1999, there were 365 vacant residential structures in Mantua and more than 700 vacant lots (see Figure 7). Drug activity is often concentrated around these areas. Mantuas poverty rate, at 44%, is significantly higher than Philadelphias as a whole, which is 18.4%. Contributing to the poverty problem is the lack of available jobs in Mantua. Almost no industry exists in Mantua, and the only significant commercial center is located at the far southwestern reaches of the neighborhood where Lancaster Avenue meets 40th Street (see Figure 8). This location is problematic for many Mantua residents, as two out of three Mantua families do not own a

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https://www.southphillydaily.com/view_article.php?id=3544 http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/wphila/stats/kang/img31.html

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Garofalo 9 vehicle. 22 Several corner stores dot the streets of Mantua, but the majority are operated by Hispanic and Asian proprietors from outside of Mantua. In understanding Mantuas, and indeed any part of West Philadelphias history, it is necessary to examine the role that the University of Pennsylvania has played in the area. There is a long history of distrust and poor relations between Penn and its surrounding community, much of it stretching back to Penns period of expansion in the 1950s and 1960s, when Penns practice of acquiring land via eminent domain displaced many longtime residents. African American residents were often tenants rather than proprietors in buildings owned by landlords from outside of the black community. Thus, when their landlords sold their residences to Penn, the community had little course of action with which to fight to keep their homes. Other sources of strained relations between Penn and its neighbors are steps Penn took to attempt to curb the growing crime problem on its campus in the 1960s and 1970s. A series of rapes and other violent crimes perpetrated by young black males led to tension and fear among university students and staff. It is difficult to accurately quantify the crime problem at the time because of Penns confidentiality policy of often not reporting crimes publicly so as not to tarnish the schools image. The university would often not publicize the occurrence and location to its own students and faculty, who would only hear of the crimes once they had been reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer or the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. Penns seeming reluctance to address crime issues directly only intensified the

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Mantua Neighborhood Plan, Philadelphia City Planning Commission. http://www.philaplanning.org/cpdiv/Neighborhood_Plans/Mantua.html

Garofalo 10 fearfulness on campus, as students wondered how many violent crimes had gone completely unreported by Penn. 23 Much of the Penn communitys fear and distrust was directed at the African American community of West Philadelphia, as blacks were perceived as the perpetrators of many of the crimes. Black males were continually targeted by Penns campus police force regardless of reasonable suspicion, and a number of wrongful arrests and profiling harassments incited even more disdain and resentment towards the university. Penns crime policy was polarizing even within the universitys own student body, evidenced by a statement by an African American student group claiming blacks have been constantly and systematically harassed by both University security and Philadelphia Police. 22 A series of violent crimes, including a number of rapes in Penn dorms in the late 1960s, led Penn to make moves towards professionalizing its police force. The establishment of the University of Pennsylvania Police Department, a private police force funded by the university, resulted in an increased security presence on campus, but not necessarily an immediate reduction in crime. One of the initiatives undertaken by Penns overhauled Division of Public Safety was to secure campus buildings by requiring Penn ID cards for entrance.22 With this policy, Penn effectively turned its back on those not affiliated with the university. The African American communitys resentment of the university was further intensified by the perceived segregation of the university grounds. Though desegregation had been federally mandated for over a decade, its clear that segregation still persisted in varied forms long after Brown v. Board.
Sudow, Elyse. Displacement Demonized?: Towards an Alternate Explanation for Penns Poor Relationship with West Philadelphia.
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Garofalo 11 Many of West Philadelphias older residents still harbor bitterness towards Penn because of the schools exclusionary policies. Lynne Williams, a lifelong resident of West Philadelphia and Program Manager of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, spoke of feeling unwelcome if she ventured just a few blocks from her home into Penns campus as a young girl. You knew if you were African American, dont bother. Because you werent welcome there, said Williams in an interview. There was an invisible line. You knew your place and you didnt cross it. Penn did nothing to help the community. Im still kind of skittish about Penn.24 In more recent years, the establishment of the University City District has caused friction between Penn and its surrounding neighborhoods, particularly Mantua. In 1997, the University City District (UCD) was established with the stated goal of improving the quality of life in the 2.2 square mile area of West Philadelphia known as University City. According to UCD, the organization builds effective partnerships to maintain a clean and safe environment and to promote, plan and advocate for University Citys diverse, urban community. The services provided by UCD include the cleaning of public spaces, graffiti removal, park maintenance, neighborhood security services in cooperation with city and university police forces, and business attraction and retention services. University City Districts largest contributor is the University of Pennsylvania, followed by Drexel University. Other funding comes exclusively from voluntary contributions

24

Williams, Lynne. Personal Interview.

Garofalo 12 from University City businesses, institutions, individuals, grants, sponsorships, and feefor-service projects.25 The neighborhood of Mantua is not served by UCD other than along Spring Garden and Hamilton Streets, only a sliver of the community. In 2002, largely as a result of Mantua falling outside of UCDs service area and missing out on the benefits of UCDs programs, an organization was established to serve Mantua in a similar capacity. The Mantua Community Improvement Committee (MCIC), founded by lifelong resident Rick Young, provides many services to the Mantua neighborhood similar to the ones provided by UCD in their territory. MCIC workers and volunteers work to make Mantua clean and safe by organizing efforts to clear trash from streets and vacant lots, as well as creating a neighborhood patrol to establish a presence against crime. MCIC does this not only to help the community from within, but also to promote Mantua as an attractive residential area in the future. Mantua has begun to experience an influx of college students from Drexel University in recent years. Accompanying the Drexel students moving into Mantua have been falling crime rates and rising property values, but some longtime residents of Mantua have taken issue with the sometimes inconsiderate actions of their new neighbors. MCIC hopes to bridge the gap between college students and longtime Mantua residents, as this influx is likely just the beginning of a trend that will continue in the future.2627

University City District Statement of Community Benefit, http://www.ucityphila.org/about/ucd-statement-ofcommunity-benefit

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http://media.www.thetriangle.org/media/storage/paper689/news/2008/05/30/News/Students.Swarm.To.Mantua.For.O ffCampus.Housing-3377164.shtml http://www.mcic1.org/

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Garofalo 13 In 2005, MCIC filed a $10 million lawsuit against UCD, claiming that UCD does not provide its services to Mantua because of the neighborhoods predominantly African American population. One of the main reasons that Young and MCIC think that UCD should include Mantua in its jurisdiction is that, as mentioned above, Mantua has been playing host to an increasing number of college students from University City, mostly from Drexel. MCIC compared UCDs exclusion of Mantua in its service area to modern day Jim Crow laws, and leveled claims of degradation at Penn and Drexel officials. MCIC said they would drop the suit only if UCD agreed to discuss community relations with Mantua, including possible community developments and monetary support. MCIC pledges to be welcoming to students moving into Mantua, and claims only to have a problem with university and UCD administration.28 The still contentious stance of some community groups like MCIC reveals that the wounds of years past are still not yet healed. Lingering resentment in the African American community will be an ongoing issue as Penn and Drexel continue to expand. The bedrock of Mantuas community has long been its strong collective of community organizations, which work to better the neighborhood in various ways. Richard Purdie, who as a youth was mentored by Herman Wrice, today operates the Mantua Haverford Community Center, which provides a number of services to the neighborhood, including day care, after school programs, summer camp, and other educational initiatives. Founded by the Lutheran Social Mission Society of Philadelphia in 1936, the community center became inactive for a period in the 1990s, until Purdie and his organization, Concerned Citizens of Mantua, revived it in 1997. Purdies
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http://www.thetriangle.org/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=e0c78745-cfda-4cb180be-af479f348d26

Garofalo 14 strategies in serving the young people of Mantua are influenced by those of Herman Wrice. Most of these kids dont want anything but someone to sit down and listen to them, said Purdie, You feed them, you hug them, you talk to them, and that solves ninety percent of their problems.29 Organizations like the Mantua Haverford Community Center, Mantua Against Drugs, Mantua Community Improvement Committee, and numerous others provide the community with important services that the city does not. The continued presence and growth of these community advocates is vital to the future of Mantua. Mantuas residents have endured through incredibly difficult times, and despite the numerous challenges still facing the community, there is still reason for optimism. Mantuas proximity to Center City and University City give it the potential to become an appealing residential neighborhood as it was at the end of the 19th century, and its strong community organizations are working every day to revitalize their neighborhood. New housing strategies that have succeeded elsewhere for the Philadelphia Housing Authority are now on their way to Mantua, and the Philadelphia City Planning Commission is at work to make productive use of vacant land. After decades of instability and decay, the future finally holds opportunity and hope for Mantua.

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Purdie, Richard. Personal Interview.

Garofalo 15

Bibliography

$2 Million Mantua Hall Apartment Building Set To Open." Philadelphia Tribune 21 June 1960: Page 9. Print. Casper, Amanda. "Adam Everly's "Emlenton": From Country Retreat to Suburban Plan". Bryn Mawr College. 22 February 2009 <http://www.brynmawr.edu/cities/archx/05600/proj/p1/jcac/emlentonpre1863.htm l>. "Collection Descriptions, Accessions #1-20". Archives and Special Collections, Drexel University College of Medicine. 22 February 2009 <http://archives.drexelmed.edu/collect/acc/1-20.php>. Gaither, Bill. "Herman Wrice: 1939-2000". Powelton Village Civic Association. 22 February 2009 <http://www.poweltonvillage.org/profiles/herman_wrice.html>. Gennaro, Lorraine. "Standing up to dealers". South Philly Review. 22 February 2009 <https://www.southphillydaily.com/view_article.php?id=3544>. Gomes. Jason. "UCD, Drexel face racial discrimination charge," The Triangle. 29 April 2005. Drexel University. Web. 27 Apr 2009 <http://www.thetriangle.org/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly &uStory_id=e0c78745-cfda-4cb1-80be-af479f348d26>. Greene, Carl R.. "Redefining Public Housing". Philadelphia Housing Authority. 22 February 2009 <http://www.pha.phila.gov/web_files/Redefining.pdf>.

Garofalo 16 Kang, Linda Xiao. "West Philadelphia Statistics, 1940-2000". West Philadelphia Community History Center. 22 February 2009 <http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/wphila/stats/kang/img31.html>. Lloyd, Mark Frazier. "Notes on the historical development of population in West Philadelphia". West Philadelphia Community History Center. 22 February 2009 <http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/wphila/stats/census_lloyd.html>. "Mantua Neighborhood Plan". Philadelphia City Planning Commission. 22 February 2009 <http://www.philaplanning.org/cpdiv/Neighborhood_Plans/Mantua.html>. Midgley, Gerald, and Alejandro E. Ochoa-Arias. Community Operational Research. New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2004. "Penn in the 18th Century: Richard Peters (1743-1828)". University Archives and Records Center, University of Pennsylvania. 22 February 2009 <http://www.archives.upenn.edu/people/1700s/peters_rich_hon.html>. "PHA's Mantua Hall high-rise reduced to rubble". Philadelphia Housing Authority. 22 February 2009 <http://www.pha.phila.gov/beta/press/index.asp?id=145>. Purdie, Richard. Personal interview. 23 February 2009. Interview. Rosenthal, Leon S.. "A History of Philadelphia's University City". The West Philadelphia Corporation. 22 February 2009 <http://www.uchs.net/Rosenthal/rosenthaltofc.html>. Stumpo, Michael. "Students swarm to Mantua for pff-campus housing". The Triangle. 22 February 2009 <http://media.www.thetriangle.org/media/storage/paper689/news/2008/05/30/Ne ws/Students.Swarm.To.Mantua.For.OffCampus.Housing-3377164.shtml>.

Garofalo 17 Sudow, Elyse. "Displacement Demonized?: Towards an Alternate Explanation for Penns Poor Relationship with West Philadelphia." 9 April 1999. University Archives and Records Center, University of Pennsylvania. 27 Apr 2009 "UCD Statement of Community Benefit." University City District. 27 Apr 2009 <http://www.ucityphila.org/about/ucd-statement-of-community-benefit>. Williams, Lynne. Personal interview. 21 March 2009. Interview.