Don’t miss this year’s chance to experience “Before and Below I-95 – Archeological and Historical Discoveries 2011” next Tuesday, November 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Due to overwhelming response, this interactive exhibition will be held at the NEW Kensington High School for the Performing Arts at 1901 N. Front Street. Celebrate fascinating riverfront findings. A free public event, perfect for the entire family.

Last fall, hundreds of people crowded into St. Michael’s Lutheran Church on Trenton Avenue to learn about amazing histories uncovered in Port Richmond, Fishtown and Kensington, which were excavated as part of the federally mandated component of PennDOT’s I-95 Girard Avenue Interchange Improvement Project. (Visit www.95sustain.com for details).

This year, event sponsors- CDAG (Central Delaware Advocacy Group), New Kensington CDC, PennDOT and the URS Corporation – wanted a bigger space to expand the exhibition for a big turnout. What better place than the new Kensington CAPA, the first LEED Platinum high school in the nation, just blocks from the actual dig area? Principal Debora Carrera and her staff and students are partnering to bring this public event into their state of the art facility. It is easy for everyone: parking lots are next to the school entrance, which is across from the Market-Frankford station at Front and Berks Sts. Or take SEPTA buses 3, 5, 25, 57 or 89.

Doug Mooney, URS Senior Archeologist noted, “We will be bringing back many artifacts and stories from the 2010 show, but we are really excited to share the newest discoveries!” The format is similar: a widescreen presentation at 7:00 p.m. followed by the exhibition itself: interpretative tables and posters displaying artifacts for attendees to view and discuss with the remarkable URS archeology team. This year there will be 3-D imaging, the oldest spectacles found in the United States, and even recipes for 18th century meals of sturgeon and snapping turtle.

Sharing Riverward History

“Many neighbors told us great family stories about living and working in neighborhoods along the Delaware River,” remembered Mooney. Sharing riverward history is what this event is all about. So, if you know anyone who worked at Cramps Shipyard, the railroad yards or ports back in their heyday- bring them on down – we want them!

This year, Drexel University Digital Media students, led by Professor Glen Muschio, will record residents’ memories of life along the Delaware River. The recordings will be used to start a digital audio archive of life along the Delaware River, similar to NPR’s Story Corps model. These stories will be preserved for future interpretive projects. As one of the coordinators (and resident of the St. Anne’s/Port Richmond area), I am proud about this event because it celebrates the astounding history of the Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond neighborhoods. This growing exhibit deserves a permanent home near to home, (like the PECO building near to Penn Treaty Park?) so all our children can learn about their legacies. Our central Delaware riverfront is in fact, a national treasure. Where else can one find Native American settlements from 6000 BC, Colonial era households and Industrial Age artifacts from when we were the Workshop of the World? Come experience it.

Thanks to the event supporters and information tables who have signed up so far: Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, Hinge Café, Stock’s Bakery, ShopRite on Aramingo, authors Ken Milano and Harry Kyriakodis, the West Ship Yard Preservation Trust and all the civic and nonprofit groups along the riverfront who are participating.

If you’d like to be involved, please contact us below. We still need volunteers for greeting, a kids’ activity and refreshments. Information and vending tables are available for a small donation to support the event.

For more info: Contact Laura Lanza, 215-990-3196 or lanza.cdag@gmail.com; or Tom Potts at NKCDC 215-427-0350, x119 or tpotts@nkcdc.org.

“Before and Below I-95 – Archeological and Historical Discoveries 2011”

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Kensington High School for the Performing Arts

1901 N. Front Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Parking lot next to entrance across from Berks Station