Just in time for Halloween, this installment of “Historic Tax Credits @ Work” puts the spotlight on a project that creates office space in a former chocolate factory. The Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Factory in northeast Philadelphia made some of the country’s iconic sweets that were trick or treating staples in the early 20th century.
Month: October 2025
In the 1990s, a federal construction project for a new detention center in Philadelphia resulted in the identification of an urban archaeological site in the area of North 7th and Arch Streets.
On large stained and moss-covered stone masonry abutments over a single line of tracks in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County rested a dinosaur, a wrought iron relic of the past originally constructed to support the industry of a developing nation. Its appearance was worn and weathered from over 140 years of service.
Random holes and a mixed bag of fastener types and sizes littered the visible faces. The original railroad floor system was long gone and replaced with a timber vehicular deck. Its live load carrying capacity was a mere fraction of what it once was. However, under all of this rust was a diamond, a rare and complete example of a wrought iron pin-connected warren pony truss with built-up corrugated diagonal tension members, the last of its kind.
This is the story of relocation and reuse, adaptive reuse, of the last known remaining pin-connected wrought iron Warren pony truss in Pennsylvania – The Howellville Truss (2004RE01890).
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) recently approved 47 new historical markers, one of the largest groups in the program’s history. This year, the nomination process was simplified, making it easier for individuals and organizations to apply. Marker staff offered support earlier in the process, helping more submissions move forward.
October is Pennsylvania Archaeology Month! Every October, events and programs are held across Pennsylvania to celebrate the Commonwealth’s deep past.
PA SHPO partner agencies and organizations including the the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology (SPA) and their local chapters, the Pennsylvania Archaeological Council (PAC), as well as local historical societies and universities, offer public archaeology programs for all ages to highlight their region’s archaeological and historical significance. We have a lot of announcements this year so here we go!
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