Q: Where can you find some of the United States of America’s oldest relics and richest history?
A: In the Roxborough-Manayunk-Wissahickon section of Philadelphia.
Swedish settlements started in Philadelphia as early as 1639. Gradually, they moved west of the Delaware River to the surrounding suburbs. Philadelphia’s oldest house is on the West River Drive and was built by Swedes in 1660. Outside the house, a sign reads; “Boelsen Cottage 1684.” It was surveyed by Thomas Holme in 1684, but built in 1660, as a sign closer to the house reads.
PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society will feature guest speaker Nicholas Stamps “Video Documentary of the History of Roxborough, Philadelphia”. The event is free and open to the public.
April 26th
To be held at:
Journey’s Way
403 Rector Street
Philadelphia, PA 19128
@ 7 PM
Guest Speaker — Mr. Nicholas Stamps – Local Roxborough Historian and Videographer
“Video Documentary of the History of Roxborough, Philadelphia”
PHILADELPHIA — The first U.S. flag to feature stars on a blue field is known as “the Betsy Ross Flag” and “the Stars and Stripes”. There is little factual evidence to the story that Betsy Ross sewed the flag. It is believed that “in June 1776, when a small committee – including George Washington, Robert Morris and relative George Ross – visited Betsy and discussed the need for a new American flag. Betsy accepted the job to manufacture the flag, altering the committee’s design by replacing the six-pointed stars with five-pointed stars.”
Thirteen stars represent the original colonies: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Stars were added to the flag as states were added to the country.
The thirteen stripes also represent the thirteen British colonies that declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain and became the first states in the United States. Legend attributes the red on white as symbolism for blood on white bandages.
The Betsy Ross house is located at 239 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106. The exterior of the house can be viewed for free. There is a small charge for a ticket to tour the interior.
