The Main Branch of The Library

DUKES FANS: In October of 1918, The Fairmount Parkway was officially opened in Philadelphia. Based on Paris’ Champs- Elysees, the diagonal roadway was one of the crowning achievements of Philadelphia’s attempts in the early 20th century to beautify and clean up polluted and overcrowded sections of the city. Its purpose was to connect the center of the city with parts of Fairmount Park. In 1937 its name was changed to The Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and over time new buildings, statues, and garden designs were added to the road. Ninety-nine years ago this month my favorite addition to that boulevard was unveiled. The Central Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library was opened on June 2, 1927, and I consider that place one of the most wonderful and important buildings in the entire city. The Parkway is one of my favorite things in Philly design and architecture. It is a glorious diagonal that starts at City Hall and cuts its way down to the Art Museum. When I was a kid, I used to love when my parents would drive on it. Looking from side to side out the car window and seeing the hotels, the Free Library, The Franklin Institute, and the statues was exciting to me. And when I went to Masterman Jr High School at 17th and Spring Garden Streets, I came to regularly experience that road. I especially spent a lot of time inside the Central Branch of the Free Library just off the Parkway at 19th. That place became one of my all-time sacred places. I love the design of the building; it is grand with high ceilings, huge windows, stately stairways, and terrazzo floors. It was built to look like a mythic temple, and to me it is a temple, one dedicated to learning, information, questioning, and thinking. I spent hours in just about every section of that building; hours in the Music Room listening to all 7 of the Southern Folk Heritage field recordings, The Best of Muddy Waters, James Brown Live at the Apollo, and hundreds of other recordings. Hours doing historical research in the Social Science and History Department, The Map Room, the Literature Department, and of course, the Main Lending Room where I borrowed books by and read authors ranging from Raymond Chandler, Toni Morrison, and literally hundreds of others. In fact, I have two books now that I need to return by the end of next week. That place is still an important part of my life. Next year I am looking forward to a celebration of the Centennial of that building. I hope it is a grand and big one. But if is not, I won’t mind too much. June 2nd, 1927 is, to me, one of the most important dates in Philadelphia history, And even if no one else celebrates that date, I will honor it. For I am incredibly grateful that that branch of the library was opened and is still available to me. Wonderful! If you are interested in the City Beautiful Movement which led to the creation of The Parkway; here is a link to an article about it: https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/city-beautiful-movement/#essay Here is a link to an article about the opening day of the Central Branch of the library: https://www.inquirer.com/history/philadelphia-free-library-parkway-opening 20260605.html?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=edit_social_share_email_traffic&utm_medium=email&utm_content=&utm_term=&int_promo= Dukes of Destiny: Philly's longest lived and best loved blues band http://www.dukesofdestiny.com Private Gigs: The Dukes have a number of private gigs coming up these next couple of months, and I want to remind folks that we can and do a variety private affairs. Birthday parties, retirement parties, graduations, and more. If you are interested in having a danceable blues event, please get in touch. Brother John; Johnny Never and John Colgan-Davis: acoustic blues duohttp://johnnynever.com/schedule 1) Friday, June 12, Triple Sun Distillery;126 South State St; Newtown, PA 18940; 8-11PM (215) 944 3057 2) Saturday, June 13 Letty’s Tavern; 201 State Street; Kennett Square PA 19348 7-10PM https://www.lettystavern.com Friday and Saturday find us at two of our regular monthly gigs that we love. Triple Sun is a great spot with some home distilled beverages, a variety of beers, good food, and friendly folk. Newtown is a lovely town, and nighttime there is gorgeous. It is a beautiful SMALL town with no high- rise buildings, so the sky is present; it is THERE. It is almost always very blue with a clearly visible moon. It is a lovely spot. Letty’s is in Chester County’s Kennett Square, and it is a funky restaurant with a great menu, wonderful waitstaff and bartenders, and a great vibe. Kennett Square is a wonderful, walkable place with great shops and buildings. We love playing this town. Come on out and experience it. Black Crow video: Brother John:: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0mawSh5BFY&list=RD-0mawSh5BFY&start_radio=1 The Sunday Blues Jam at Jamey’s House of Music; 32 S. Lansdowne Ave; Lansdowne, PA; jamey@jameyshouseofmusic.com Blues lovers and players have made Jamey's Sunday Blues Jam the place for some great blues jamming, inexpensive and tasty eats, craft brews on tap, fresh brewed coffee, a great waitstaff, and friendly people who love the blues.  Each Sunday features an hour long set led by a different house band, and then there is an open jam until 3PM.The second Sunday of most months features The Roger Girke-John Colgan-Davis Project as the house band, and we will be there on June 14th. Play an instrument? Sing? Just want to listen to some exciting blues and have some good food? Come on out and take part in this great blues jam with great food and liquid refreshments. $5 minimum to be spent Don’t Want to receive any more of these newsletters? 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