Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Content: Dirt and Rocks

Continental Army Encampment Memorial
1895
* In memory of an encampment by George Washington
* rock, cannon barrels
* inscription:
The main Continental Army commanded by Gen. George Washington encamped on this and adjacent ground from Aug. 1 to Aug. 8 and from Sep. 12 to Sep. 14, 1777. Before and immediately after the Battle of the Brandywine.
Erected in 1895 by the Penna. Society of Sons of the Revolution to perpetuate the memory of the encampment.
 * South corner, Fox and Queen.
* 40.018450,-75.183115 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Battle of Brandywine page
+wikipedia.org's George Washington page



Washington Square Prisoners of War Memorial
1900
* rock
* inscription:
In memory of the many American soldiers, who, during the War for Independence, died prisoners of war in the jails of Philadlelphia, and were buried in this ground during the years 1777 and 1778. Erected by Quaker City Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, October 1900
 * East side of Washington Square. Southwest of 6th and Walnut.
* 39.947400,-75.151550 [map] [nearby]
* On the Washington Square tour
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Washington Square page
+nps.gov's Cultural Landscape Report for Washington Square (449 page pdf)



George McKensie Poinsett Memorial
1915
* In memory of George McKensie Poinsett
* rock
* There used to be a circular relief portrait, which is now missing
* inscription:
IN MEMORY OF
GEORGE McKENSIE POINSETT,
BORN OCTOBER 10, 1894
KILLED IN ACTION AT
VERA CRUZ, MEXICO
APRIL 21, 1914
ERECTED BY
THE LOGAN
IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE
MXMXV
 * North end of Clarkson Park, West side of Old York, South of Albert Einstein Drive, Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital. Old York Road between Somerville and Tabor, just East of Broad.
* 40.036700,-75.144950 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Missing, War
* See also:
+navsource.org's picture of the unveiling of this piece, with the portrait
+newspapers.com 1995 Inquirer article about Clarkson Park and this piece
+findagrave.com's George McKenzie Poinsett page (which also says George D. Poinsett)
+jeffersonhealth.org's Jefferson Einstein Hospital page



Satterlee General Hospital Marker
1915
* References to Isaac Israel Hayes and Richard Sherwood Satterlee
* rock
* The plaque references Richard Smith Satterlee. But the correct name appears to be Richard Sherwood Satterlee.
* inscription: This stone from the battle-field of Gettysburg is placed by citizens of the neighborhood in the year 1915 to mark the nearby site of the West Philadelphia General Hostpital of the United States Army-later designated the Satterlee General Hospital in honor of Brigadier-General Richard Smith Satterlee, U.S.A. A noted surgeon - and also to commemorate the services of the patriotic men and women who as volunteer physicians, nurses and co-workers under General Isaac I. Hayes, Surgeon in Chief, here ministered from June 9, 1862 to August 3, 1865 to more than twenty thousand sick and wounded soldiers of the Civil War.
 * North side of Clark Park. South side of Baltimore Avenue, West of 43rd.
* 39.949300,-75.210330 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Satterlee General Hospital page
+wikipedia.org's Isaac Israel Hayes page
+wikipedia.org Clark Park page



Rock Form (Porthcurno)
Barbara Hepworth, 1964
* abstract rock
* Was on the East side of 5th, South of Race. Put in storage some time before May, 2011. Installed in the current location November 26, 2012. The last picture is from the original location.
* Northeast corner, 17th and the Parkway.
* 39.955800,-75.167400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* Exhibits: Moved
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Barbara Hepworth page



Buckley Park Vietnam Memorial
1973
* Memorial to Charles J. Buckley
* rock
* inscription:
In Memory of
PFC Charles J. Buckley USMC
1949-1968
And of other Americans
who gave their lives in
the Republic of Vietnam
 * Buckley Park. Northeast corner, Germantown and Hartwell.
* 40.073400,-75.202650 [map] [nearby]
* On the Germantown Avenue tour
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+pvvm.org's Charles J. Buckley page



Elemental Intervals
Bill Freeland, 1986
* abstract rocks
* On the wall. North side of South Street between 10th and 11th.
* 39.942960,-75.159500 [map] [nearby]
* On the Lombard-South tour
* See also:
+inquirer.com Bill Freeland obituary



Franklin Town Park Connections
Athena Tacha, 1992
* big abstract rocks
* Matthias Baldwin Park. Between 18th and 19th, South of Spring Garden.
* 39.961600,-75.168900 [map] [nearby]
* On the Franklin Town tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Athena Tacha page
+baldwinparkphilly.org



Top of the Hill Plaza Fountain
Jonathan Alderson, 2002
* rocks, fountain
* Plaza. North corner, Germantown and Rex.
* 40.077500,-75.209000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Germantown Avenue tour
* See also:
+jonathanalderson.com



Port Richmond Firefighters Memorial
2005
* Memorial to Richard F. Devine, William J. Robinson, Rey Rubio, John Taylor and Thomas Vaughan
* black polished etched stone in the shape of the Fire Department emblem, two people kneeling, one winged, one wearing a helmet
* inscription:
Philadelphia Fire Department
Engine Company #28
To honor our firefighters who have lost their lives while protecting and serving the great community of Port Richmond
When I am called to duty, God, wherever flames may rage,
give me strength to save some life whatever be its age.
Help me embrace a little child before it is too late
or save an older person from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout
and quickly and efficiently to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me,
to guard my every neighbor and protect his property.
And if ascending to my fate I am to lose my life
please bless with your protecting hand my children and my wife.
FF Thomas Vaughan
March 13, 1904
FF William J. Robinson
January 15, 1905
FF Richard F. Devine
July 29, 1999
Capt. John Taylor
August 20, 2004
FF Rey Rubio
August 20, 2004
Dedicated August 20, 2005
 * In front of Engine Company 28. Southwest side of Ontario between Belgrade and Miller.
* 39.988925,-75.099950 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* Exhibits: Police and Fire Fighters, Religious
* See also:
+Richard Devine memorial page on angelfire.com
+firemanshallmuseum.org's Engine 28 page



Turkish Catapult Stones
1400 - 1499
* Artifacts taken by Samuel Livingston Breese
* weapons (rocks)
* The inscription actually says 18-8, but the Congress was Commodore Breese's flagship until 1858
* inscription: These two stone cannon balls were hurled from catapults by the Turks in their engagements with the Christians in the XVth century. Transported in 1858 from the island of Rhodes by the U.S. Frigate "Congress" under command of Commodore Samuel Livingston Breese, USN
 * Gate posts. Lovett Memorial Library. East side of Germantown, South of Sedgwick.
* 40.056600,-75.187800 [map] [nearby]
* On the Germantown Avenue tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's history of Rhodes
+wikipedia.org's USS Congress page
+wikipedia.org's Samuel Livingston Breese page
+freelibrary.org's Lovett Memorial Library page



Giant Frog
Cornelia Van Auken Chapin, 1941
* big frog on a rock
* Between the Northeast entrance and the center of Rittenhouse Square. Southwest from 18th and Walnut.
* 39.949600,-75.171675 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Cornelia Van Auken Chapin page
+wikipedia.org's Rittenhouse Square page
+friendsofrittenhouse.org



Otters
Henry Mitchell, 1979
* In memory of William W. Bodine, Jr.
* small otters, rocks, fountain
* Moved from the West end of the building to the East end, probably in 2007. The first picture is from the original location, the rest are from after the move, and with a much lower water level in the pool.
* inscription: With Gratitude to William W. Bodine Jr. Leader, builder and friend of Thomas Jefferson University.
 * South side of Walnut between 10th and 11th behind the building which faces Walnut..
* 39.947965,-75.157975 [map] [nearby]
* On the Jefferson Center City Campus tour
* Exhibits: Favorites, Moved
* See also:
+cantonartcollection.com's Henry Mitchell bio
+nytimes.com's William W. Bodine, Jr. obituary



Water Works Fountain
2006 (repurposed 2018)
* fountain, rocks
* Reconfigured as the base of Water Nymph and Bittern
* In the garden of the Water Works. Schuylkill Banks near the Spring Garden Bridge.
* 39.965415,-75.183220 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Missing
* See also:
+fairmountwaterworks.org



Ram Country
James Marsico, 2007
* ram, rocks
* inscription: Gift of the Classes of 2006 & 2007
 * East side of Henry Avenue, North of School House Lane.
* 40.022950,-75.194125 [map] [nearby]
* On the Jefferson East Falls Campus tour
* See also:
+mountainvalleyartistry.com



River of Life
Masayuki Nagase, 2014
* big and small water, rocks, furniture, birds, fish, insects, plants, turtle
* inscription:
plaque: Hand carved granite benches, sculptural boulders, and engraved tile pavers and medallions depicting images of local flora, fauna, and water patterns. An original artwork commissioned by The City of Philadelphia Percent for Art Program and The Philadelphia Water Department
rock: Venice Island is the legacy of 19th century urbanization. In 1819 a three mile sliver of schist was sliced away from Manayunk by a narrow canal that supplied the textile mills on the Island. Today, this site location led the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) to install a subsurface Combined Sewer Overflow Tank. This tank holds nearly 1 million gallons of a mixture of sewage and storm water during rain events, preventing untreated wastewater from flowing into the Schuylkill River.
To enable the use of the island for this essential river protection project, PWD committed to a full scale reconstruction of the Venice Island's recreation facilities. PWD worked with its sister city agencies and the neighborhood in the master planning process. This site uses the best in sustainable storm water management, ecological design and restoration to provide a much needed public place in the heart of Manayunk that addresses multiple needs - recreation, environmental protection, commerce and open space.
The revitalized space reflects the Island's industrial heritage, local building techniques and the vibrant natural history along the Schuylkill River, all the while meeting the rigorous challenges of creating a safe city park in the floodway. This park resides at the intersection of nature and city, striving to bring both closer.
 * Multi-level plaza. Venice Island. Across the canal off Main and Cotton.
* 40.023810,-75.222675 [map] [nearby]
* On the Manayunk tour
* See also:
+mnagase.com
+veniceisland.org



Ed Snider
Chad Fisher, 2017
* statue of Ed Snider
* standing person, rock
* Northwest corner of the Wells Fargo Center. East side of Broad, South of Pattison.
* 39.902050,-75.172695 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Broad tour
* See also:
+fishersculpture.com
+wikipedia.org's Ed Snider page
+wikipedia.org's Wells Fargo Center page



Penn Presbyterian Park
2022
* trees, stones, seating
* I cannot find any official listing for this work with either a title or artist.
* Plaza. East side of Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. West side of 38th, North of Medical Drive.
* 39.958250,-75.197900 [map] [nearby]
* On the Powelton tour
* Exhibits: Unidentified
* See also:
+pennmedicine.org's Penn Presbyterian Medical Center page



Mary
* statue of Mary
* small standing person, head covered, rocks
* Visible through the gate
* Cemetery, Old St. Mary's. East side of 5th, South of Locust.
* 39.945800,-75.149665 [map] [nearby]
* On the Society Hill tour
* Exhibits: Religious, Unidentified
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Mary, mother of Jesus page
+oldstmary.com
+wikipedia.org's St. Mary's page



Mary
* statue of Mary
* small standing person, head covered, rock
* In front of the parish house, Our Lady of Hope Catholic Parish. West side of Broad, North of Duncannon.
* 40.032445,-75.146460 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious, Unidentified
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Mary, mother of Jesus page
+olhcatholic.org



Water Nymph and Bittern
William Rush, 1809 (restored and reinstalled 2018)
* standing persoh, bird, fountain, actual rocks
* Incorporated into and replaced the Water Works Fountain
* In the garden of the Water Works. Schuylkill Banks near the Spring Garden Bridge.
* 39.965415,-75.183220 [map] [nearby]
* On the Art Museum Grounds tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's William Rush page
+fairmountwaterworks.org



Catholic Total Abstinence Union Fountain
Isaac H. Hobbs and Son (Architects), Herman Kirn, Thomas McElwee, 1876
* Five statues, six carved portraits and quotes of and from John Barry, Charles Carroll, John Carroll, Lewis Cass, Henry Clay, Comte de Grasse, Stephen A. Douglas, Sam Houston, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Marquis de Lafayette, Theobald Mathew, George Gordon Meade, Moses, Orono, Casimir Pulaski, William H. Seward and Robert Walsh
* big and small standing people, heads, tablet, rocks lion heads
* Kirn carved the statues and McElwee carved the relief portraits. There is a blank portrait oval labeled Moylan on the West side.
* inscription:
John Barry
First Commodore of the United States Navy
Born in 1745 in Wexford Co. Ireland
Died September 13, 1803 at Philadelphia
During the Revolutionary War he distinguished himself greatly. He filled the various commands entrusted to him with skill and gallantry. When unable to fight on the ocean he obtained command of a company of volunteers and fought against the enemy on land. Among his exploits was the capture upon May 28, 1781 of two English vessels, the Atalanta and Trespasa, after a hotly contested action with his own ship the Alliance. In January 1776 he commanded the brig Lexington, the first regular cruiser that got to sea under the authority of the Continental Congress and the vessel that first carried the American flag upon the ocean.
Charles Carroll
of Carrollton
Signer of the Declaration Independence
Born September 20, 1737 at Annapolis, Maryland
Died November 14, 1832 at Baltimore, Maryland
To obtain religious as well as civil liberty I entered zealously into the revolution. God grant that this religious liberty may be preserved in these states to the end of time.
-Charles Carroll
Your soldiers will be masters of the spot only on which they encamp. They will find naught but enemies before and around them. If we are beaten on the plains, we will retreat to our mountains. and defy them.
We have made up our minds to abide the issue of the approaching struggle and though much blood may be spilt we have no doubt of our ultimate success.
-Charles Carroll
Rev. John Carroll
A commissioner of the Continental Congress
Born Jan. 8, 1735 at Upper Marlboro, Md.
Died Dec. 3 1815 at Baltimore, Md
The Archbishop's patriotism was as decided as his piety. He loved Republicanism. He had joined with heart and judgement in the Revolution and retained without abatement of confidence or favor the cardinal sympathies upon which he then acted.
-Address of Robert Walsh
May these United States flourish in pure and undefiled religion, in morality, peace, union, and liberty, and the enjoyment of their excellent Constitution, so long as respect, honor and veneration shall gather around the name of Washington. That is whilst there shall be any surviving record of human events.
-John Carroll
Father Mathew
The Apostle of Temperance
Born Oct. 10, 1790 in Tipperary Co. Ireland
Died Dec. 8, 1856 in Cork Co. Ireland
How Congress Honored Him
Upon December 19th 1849
Rev. Theobald Matthew was by a special resolution invited to a privileged seat upon the floor of the House of Representatives.
Upon December 20th 1849
The Senate Accorded to him a similar privilege - an honor which previous to that time had been conferred on Lafayette only.
That resolution is an homage to humanity, to philanthropy, to virtue
-Henry Clay
This illustrious benefactor of the human race and our own country
-Wm. H. Seward
He comes among us on a mission of benevolence - it is a noble mission and well he is fulfilling it.
-Lewis Cass
He comes here upon a great mission which commands the admiration and sympathy of all men.
-Stephen A. Douglas
There is love, purity and fidelity inscribed upon the banner that he bears.
-Sam Houston
* Avenue of the Republic and States Street.
* 39.982400,-75.219650 [map] [nearby]
* On the West Park tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+Pictures of this piece from the Philadelphia Archdiocese Historical Research Center
+wikipedia.org's page for this piece
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Isaac H. Hobbs and Son page
+ushistory.org's Commodore Barry page
+wikipedia.org's Charles Carroll page
+wikipedia.org's John Carroll page
+wikipedia.org's Lewis Cass page
+wikipedia.org's Henry Clay page
+wikipedia.org's Comte de Grasse page
+wikipedia.org's Stephen A. Douglas page
+wikipedia.org's Sam Houston page
+wikipedia.org's Tadeusz Kosciuszko page
+wikipedia.org's Marquis de Lafayette page
+wikipedia.org's Father Mathew page
+wikipedia.org's George Meade page
+wikipedia.org's Moses page
+history of the Penobscot Indians
+wikipedia.org's Casimir Pulaski page
+wikipedia.org's William H. Seward page
+wikipedia.org's Robert Walsh page



Charles Allen Smith
Francis P. Moitz, 1917
* Statue of Charles Allen Smith
* standing person wearing a hat, eagle, rock
* inscription:
Erected by the Allied Monument Committee of Phila.
To Charles Allen Smith
April 21, 1917
Killed at Vera Cruz
April 22, 1914
 * Southeast corner of McPherson Square Park. Northwest of Kensington and Indiana.
* 39.994600,-75.118425 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* Exhibits: War
* See also:
+Philadelphia Stories by Bob Mcnulty on facebook.com: Charles Allen Smith



Community Garden Gate
Greg Leavitt, 1988
* plants, birds, turtle, rocks, frog face
* Gate. Schuylkill River Park. West side of 25th at Spruce.
* 39.949450,-75.181300 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fitler Square tour
* See also:
+gregleavitt.com
+wikipedia.org's Schuylkill River Park page



Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk Signs
2014
* small bird, plants, turtle, rocks, signs
* Both ends of the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk. East side of the Schuylkill River between South and Locust.
* 39.948100,-75.184675 [map] [nearby]
* On the Fitler Square tour
* See also:
+schuylkillbanks.org's Boardwalk page



Coinciding Currents
Beth Clevenstine, 2016
* water, fish, plants, turtles, earth
* Wall. Schuylkill River Trail, Southeast of Leverington. Due South of Main and Leverington.
* 40.028805,-75.230250 [map] [nearby]
* On the Manayunk tour
* Exhibits: Mosaic
* See also:
+bethclevenstine.com



The Gates of Hell
Auguste Rodin, 1880 - 1917
* groups of people, partial, standing, sitting, kneeling, crouching, and horizontal, furniture, rocks
* Entrance. Rodin Museum. North side of the Parkway between 21st and 22nd.
* 39.961850,-75.174050 [map] [nearby]
* On the Parkway and Pennsylvania tour
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+bronze-gallery.com's Auguste Rodin page
+rodinmuseum.org