Scenes from Girard Ave. (Past and Present)

The photograph above shows a felled tree in front of the Girard Trolley caused by Hurricane Hazel in 1954. The picture ran in the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. Below is the same trolley (minus the tree) more than 50 years later. The trolley is identical.

Above is a photograph taken in 1916 and was printed in the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. It shows a westward view of Girard Avenue taken from 11th St. Below is the same view more than 90 years later. This area in particular has not seen growth in those 90 years. What was once an area of booming industry with factories has grown delapadated and many of the factories have since been torn down. Below is an example of how things have changed.

Above is an image depicting a man bidding farewell to his business July 16, 1946 (my birthday, 39 years earlier) at 4004 Girard Avenue. It was printed in the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. Below is the same address more than 60 years later. As you can see, the business itself is gone too replaced by a lounge serving cold beer. The block as a whole is in disaray.

The image above is of Girard College at Girard and Corintian avenues and was taken by Philip Betancourt between 1833-1847. Below is the same structure some 160 years later. The structure itself is the same, but significant foliage and trees are missing in the contemporary shot as well as the addition of a statue in the foreground.

Above is an image from October 1936 and published in the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin showing a new bypass opening back of the Zoo. Below is the same scene, but not a lot has changed in more than 70 years. Other than the tree growth and a new median (as well as a lot more traffic) the landscape remains quite similar.

Above is an image was taken sometime before 1916 and published in the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. It shows East River Drive looking north from Girard Ave. Bridge. The picture below shows the same scene, now called Kelly Drive and as you can see, not much has changed other than a few re-pavings of the road.

The above image was shot March 15, 1927 and ran in the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. It shows a 'Dangerous grade crossing' at the corner of 9th and Girard. Below is a picture of the same corner 80 years later. Obviously, many things have changed. The road is much wider, there was an addition of a bridge and the large building to the right is gone.

The image above was taken May 11, 1932 and was printed in the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin of a new traffic light near the Zoo entrance at 34th and Girard. As shown below, the building in the background is essentially the same, however the traffic light has since been taken down. Significant tree growth has also occured snce '32.

The Characters of S. 9th St. and the Italian Market

Anthony D'Angelo - Owner and head butcher of D'Angelo's Butcher Shop
Has lived in South Philly his whole life.
D'Angelo's grandfather established the shop in 1920s and has been passed down the generations from him to his father and then to his brothers, Santo and Mario. Sadly, this is probably the last generation of D'Angelos that will run the butcher as all his sons have other careers and are not interested in being butchers. However, D'Angelo vowed that he'd keep things going strong, "until they carry me out the front door."
"Dealing with the people is my favorite part of this job. And just all the different food in general."
"My least favorite- the hours."

Antonio Pina- worker in Mexican general store
This is his first year working in the Italian Market
Resides in South Philly.
"I love it here because I stay with my people. I used to work in Center City, but I feel comfortable working with my Mexican people- we've formed a little community here."
"I guess the least favorite is the trash and the homeless people around. And sometimes there is stealing here."
Hermano Corona- Produce Street Vendor
Has worked in the Italian Market for four years
Resides in South Philly
"Me gusta casi todo aqui. Las personas y la historia de esta calle." (I like almost everything here. The people and the history of this street.)
"Pero ahora hace frio." (But now it's cold)
Vince Vitolo- 'Sausage Man' D. Cappuccio's Butcher Shop
Has been working at the shop for 30 years and hails from Willingborough, New Jersey. ("I make that hike everyday!"
"The best part is the people- I'm pretty personable."
"My least favorite is the people too."

Frankie Trevino- Shopper
Resides in South Philly
"I came here today for some produce and cheese. The prices down here especially from the stands can't be beat."
"I guess the only thing I don't like is that parking can be hard to find once and a while."

Jose Ceramos- Produce vendor
Mexican native, but hails from North Philly
Has been working in the Italian Market for about one year.
"I love meeting new people, that's my favorite part of being down here."
"My least favorite part of this job is the fact that a lot of the shops aren't open enough during the week."

Dominick Crimi- Gen. Manager D. Cappuccio's Butcher Shop
Has been living in South Philly his entire life and has worked at Cappuccio's Butcher Shop for 45 years.
"The best part of this job would have to be seeing the diversity of the people."
"The worst part is the hours- we are open seven days a week!"

Mark Dabny- Odds n' Ends street vendor
Hails from South Philly
Has been working in the Italian Market for six years.
"My favorite part of this job is seeing all different types of people."
"The cold weather is the worst, though."

James Stewart Jr. - Asst. Butcher at D. Cappuccio Butcher Shop
Born and raised in South Philly, but resides in West Philly
Has worked in the Italian Market for 21 years
"My favorite part of this job...watching the girls wak by"
"But sometimes the customers get on your nerves."