Hidden History of Kensington & Fishtown

Stories Of Philadelphia's Kensington And Fishtown

The Super Bowl triumph yesterday of Philadelphia's beloved Eagles enhanced my reading of Kenneth Milano's "Hidden History of Kensington and Fishtown", a book of historical vignettes about two Philadelphia working class neighborhoods. Milano, a lifelong resident of Kensington, writes history columns for a local paper. My interest in this book stemmed not from the Super Bowl but from my own experience with Philadelphia. I lived in the city for three years while attending law school. Philadelphia has remained alive to me through the noir novels of David Goodis which are set in areas along the Philadelphia Riverfront similar to some of the areas described in this book.

Kensington and Fishtown are located just north of Philadelphia's Center City along the Delaware River. The communities are historically blue collar and working class and have seen hard times with the demise of industry in the area and with crime and drugs. The communities have recently undergone gentrification. In addition, the SugarHouse Casino is located in the heart of the area. But the neighborhoods retain much of their historic character.

Milano's book is not a narrative but rather offers a "hidden history" through stories and events from Kensington's and Fishtown's past. The book begins with events from Colonial times and describes the community's role in the Revolutionary War including some of the political activism that has continued to characterize the area. In the early days, Benjamin Franklin constructed a building, Batchelor's Hall, in the area which became a meeting point for learned individuals interested in science. The SugarHouse Casino now occupies the site of Franklin's Batchelor's Hall.

But Kensington and Fishtown are known less for their colonial past than for their grit. Milano describes elements from the industrial and labor history of the communities during the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Century. Among other things, the area was home to Bromley & Sons, a large concern which manufactured carpets. It was also home to a large company which was one of the few engaged in the manufacture of fruit jars. Kensington was the site of the founding of the Knights of Labor. It was also the site of many labor strikes, including the violent strike at the Cramp Shipyards on the waterfront during 1920-21, an event .Milano describes in detail.

The Riverfront has always had its share of crime, and Milano describes gangs, robberies, speakeasy wars, and riverfront violence dating back to the 19th Century. Milano describes as well the many efforts at civic improvement over the years, including the founding of hospitals, temperance organizations, soup kitchens for the poor, and public baths which served the area during the years in which most homes in the area lacked indoor plumbing. Both the stories of crime and violence and of community effort are well-told and cast light upon the nature of these historic communities. A final section of the book describes some Kensington and Fishtown residents of accomplishment, including the baseball players Eddy Stanky and Billy Sharsig, and Alexander Adaire, a businessman and politician who made great efforts to secure educational opportunities for the community's workers.

This book helped me think about the resilience and toughness of communities that I have read about in the novels of a favorite author in a city in which I have lived. I enjoyed getting to know them better through this book. Arcadia Publishers-- The History Press kindly provided me with a copy of this book for review.

Robin Friedman