Welcome to Elfreth's Alley
by Susan Rissi Tregoning
Title
Welcome to Elfreth's Alley
Artist
Susan Rissi Tregoning
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
A candle greets visitors to Elfreth's Alley in the window of the first home.
Colonial families frequently placed a candle in their window on well-traveled routes to indicate that travelers were invited to stop in for a meal, conversation, or, in the case of boarding houses, an overnight stay. A candle in the window also acted as a beacon for traveling family members to safely return home, especially during inclement weather, and as a reminder that they were loved and missed.
From historic homes to cobblestone streets, this is truly is like a blast from the past! Located in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Elfreth's Alley has thirty-two houses built between 1720 and 1830.
As the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the United States, Elfreth’s Alley is recognized as a Historic District and National Historic Landmark District and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Copyright 2023 Susan Rissi Tregoning
Uploaded
June 19th, 2023
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