Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net
Tour: Fitler Square
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The Fitler Square tour is so named because 4 of the pieces are in Fitler Square. The plaque for the square, which is located at 23rd and Pine says "Edwin H. Fitler, 1825-1896. Mayor of Philadelphia 1887-1891. A respected Businessman and tireless civic leader, Fitler Square was named in his honor, October 13, 1896." The tour actually starts on the Southwest corner of 15th and Fitzwater and from there runs
- West on the South side of Fitzwater across 17th
- half a block South on the West side of 17th
- back to Fitzwater
- West on the South side of Fitzwater across 19th to Martin
- back across 19th
- North on the East side of 19th across Bainbridge
- East on the North side of Bainbridge about 1/3 of a block
- back to 19th
- North on the East side of 19th across Lombard
- across 19th and back South to South
- West on the North side of South to 22nd
- South on the East side of 22nd across Bainbridge
- West on Bainbridge to Grays Ferry
- Northeast on Grays Ferry to 23rd and South
- North on 23rd across Pine
- Through Fitler Square to 24th
- North on 24th to Delancey
- West on Delancey to 22nd, doglegging at 23rd
- North along the West side of 22nd to Spruce
- West along the South side of Spruce to 25th
- North on 25th past Manning, looking for the Community Garden Gate
- across 25th
- South and West through Schuylkill River Park to just North of Delancey
- West and South through the park to just North of Pine and Taney
- Up the ramp across the tracks and North to the circle at Locust
- Back South along the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk to the South Street Bridge
Scottish Rite Emblems
1927 (date of building. Metal emblem may be later)
* Scottish Rite emblems,
double-headed eagles,
crowns
* inscription:
emblems:
Deus Meumque Jus
plaque:
Supreme Council
AASR Nor Jur.
Prince Hall Affiliation
* Front wall.
Scottish Rite Cathedral.
South side of Fitzwater West of 15th.
* 39.942050,-75.168410 [map] [nearby]
Gate
Greg Leavitt,
Lydia Leavitt,
1982
* plant forms
* This is listed elsewhere simply as "Gate," though it doesn't appear to currently function as one.
* Either side of the entrance.
Marian Anderson Recreation Center.
West side of 17th, South of Fitzwater.
* 39.941825,-75.171050 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+gregleavitt.com
Awakening
Ron T. Pierce,
1971
* small
standing
angel,
horn
* Visible through the fence
* Side yard, Historic Union Baptist Church of South Philadelphia.
Southwest corner, 19th and Fitzwater.
* 39.942700,-75.174050 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious
Union Baptist Church Gargoyles
1832 (cornerstone)
* Symbols of Jesus,
Saint John,
Saint Mark
and
Saint Matthew
* small
kneeling
and partial
angels,
torches,
winged bulls,
winged lions,
crosses,
crowns,
birds,
musical instruments,
books
* Walls.
Historic Union Baptist Church of South Philadelphia.
South side of Fitzwater, West of 19th.
* 39.942775,-75.174475 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious,
Gargoyles
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+wikipedia.org's John the Evangelist page
+wikipedia.org's Mark the Evangelist page
+wikipedia.org's Matthew the Apostle page
Mary and Jesus
1897 (date of building)
* statue of Jesus
and
Mary
* people,
one standing,
one sitting,
crown,
scepter
* Up on the wall.
Saint Mary's Episcopal Church.
North side of Bainbridge, West of 18th.
* 39.943750,-75.173075 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
+wikipedia.org's Mary, mother of Jesus page
Philadelphia School of Occupational Therapy Reliefs
1930 (philadelphiabuildings,org says 1935)
* small
people
sitting and kneeling,
tools
* There are 4 identical reliefs, two on each side of the main entrance. The one closest to the corner is pictured.
* Wall.
Northeast corner, 19th and Lombard.
* 39.945735,-75.173175 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Medical,
Labor
Tension/Compression
Christopher T. Ray,
1983
* abstract forms
* Wall.
North side of South between 19th and 20th near both corners.
* 39.944800,-75.174260 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+chrisray.com
Handshake
Magaziner & Eberhard (Architects),
1934
* big
hands
* Former headquarters of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America
* Over the entrance.
North side of South, East of 22nd.
* 39.945250,-75.177775 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Labor
* See also:
+ Reference to the building from library.temple.edu
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's Magaziner & Eberhard page
Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith
1959 (year of building)
* Symbols and name of Jesus
* crosses and other symbols
* North and West sides.
Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith.
Southeast corner, 22nd and Bainbridge.
* 39.944100,-75.178710 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Jesus page
Catharine Thorn Fountain
1890 (late 1800s)
* In memory of Catharine Thorn
* fountain
* inscription:
Erected with the legacy of Catharine Thorn by The WPSPCA
* Southeast corner, 23rd and South.
* 39.945280,-75.179620 [map] [nearby]
Fitler Square Ram
Gerd Hesness,
1982
* small
ram
* East end of Fitler Square.
23rd and Pine.
* 39.947550,-75.179500 [map] [nearby]
Fitler Square Fountain
1976 (installed)
* Dedicated in honor of Marie F. Wilson
* birds,
fountain
* Described in all online accounts found so far as a "Victorian era" fountain purchased by the Fitler Square Improvement Association.
* inscription:
for her outstanding contributions
to the beautification of
Fitler Square
* Center of Fitler Square.
23rd and Pine.
* 39.947600,-75.179800 [map] [nearby]
Grizzly Bear
Eric Berg,
1983
* small
bear
* West end of Fitler Square.
23rd and Pine.
* 39.947600,-75.180050 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+bergbronze.com's page for this piece
+bergbronze.com
Family of Turtles
Eric Berg,
1989
* small
tortoises
* Per bergbronze.com these are tortoises, not turtles, despite the title.
* West end of Fitler Square.
23rd and Pine.
* 39.947550,-75.180050 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+bergbronze.com's page for this piece
+bergbronze.com
Trinity Memorial Gargoyles
James Peacock Sims,
1875
* small
heads,
headgear
* Walls.
Trinity at 22nd.
Southwest corner, 22nd and Spruce.
* 39.948550,-75.177975 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Religious,
Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org's page for the building
+philadelphiabuildings.org's James Peacock Sims page
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]
* See also:
+gregleavitt.com
Figuresphere II
Eric Berg,
2002
* In loving memory of Claudia Diane Goodman
* small
abstract
curled
people
* The memorial plaque was added after the first pictures were taken in 2004
* Schuylkill River Park.
North of Delancey between 25th and 26th.
* 39.948500,-75.182000 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+bergbronze.com's page for this piece
+bergbronze.com
Monster Capital Fountain
Peter Rockwell,
1980
* snake,
group of people
(heads)
* Also listed as "Gargoyles"
* Schuylkill River Park.
North side of Pine at Taney.
* 39.948100,-75.183300 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Gargoyles
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Peter Rockwell page
+hiddencityphila.org article about Peter Rockwell's Philadelphia pieces
Partly Sunny
Carin Mincemoyer,
2014
* small
cloud,
sun
* Bike rack.
Schuylkill Banks at Locust. East side of the circle.
* 39.950310,-75.181810 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+carinmincemoyer.com
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]
Possible trip extension:Art Museum Grounds (North along the Schuylkill Banks path and around the front of the Art Museum to 25th and Kelly Drive)
Possible trip extension:Penn Campus (across the South Street Bridge)
See Also
+tcljc.com
+fitlersquare.org
+tclf.org's Fitler Square page
+facebook.com page for The Historic Union Baptist Church of South Philadelphia
+schuylkillbanks.org's Boardwalk page
+wikipedia.org's Schuylkill River Park page
+uscnjpha.org
+trinityat22nd.org