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Re: (rshsdepot) 30th Street Station (Philadelphia, PA)
- Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) 30th Street Station (Philadelphia, PA)
- From: Firehair3_@_aol.com
- Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 21:19:22 EDT
This one I remember, back in the mid 50s---when I would take the trian
into grand Central, go over to Penn Station, and then go on down to 30th St
Station to be picked up in Phillie by my grandparents (my father's Mother, her
husband)
I especially remember New Year's 19 54 when I was dating a cadet from the
academy, he took me out ---what a great---and safe---time.
Hugs Your fave redhead
In a message dated 5/15/2008 7:45:03 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com writes:
From the Philadelphia Weekly Press.
Bernie Wagenblast
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pardon me, boy, is this the 30th Street Station?
By Georgina Gozum
Special to the Press/Review
Train stations have always conjured up something romantic in us: brief
encounters, strangers on a train, smoke, tearful good-byes and the odd song
or two
about a shoeshine boy and Track 29, so it is with little wonder that the
30th Street Station, a stately landmark on the National Register of Historic
Places, built in 1934, and the largest existing railway station in America,
is
also a likely venue for charity balls, special events and weddings!:
"It is one of the most unique spaces in Philadelphia architecturally and
historically. When an event is held at 30th Street Station, people don’t
forget
it, they mention it the following year when searching for another event
space
…’Remember when we had that event at the Station?’ or ‘I attended a great
event there several years ago.’ I hear this all the time. This 8,400 square
foot
space is flexible for setting up a cocktail area and a seated dinner space.
It’s one of the few event spaces that will seat 500 guests for dinner as
well
as accommodate any caterer," says Sheryl Haynes, Marketing and Events
Manager for the 30th Street Station.
Dramatic, set on two blocks with the Schuylkill River providing a bit of
Paris-by-the-Seine glinting by day or moonlight, with interior features such
as
the newly-restored "Spirit of Transportation" bas-relief created by Karl
Bitter, originally installed in the Broad Street Station and later moved to
its
present home in the North Waiting Room, which flanks the Main Concourse on
one
side, Walter Hancock’s bronze Pennsylvania War Memorial, "The Angel of
Resurrection" cast in bronze, dominating the eastern end of the Main
Concourse ‘
honoring the Pennsylvania Railroad employees who gave their lives while
serving
their country during WWII’, offering visitors something to stop and look
at,
to colonnaded porticoes, a beautifully decorated, coffered ceiling rising
95
feet above a Tennessee marble floor and on the South Arcade, a vista of a
tree-lined avenue, with exteriors faced with Alabama limestone, it is
rather
romantic.
When it’s not in use for such glamorous and life-altering events, it is
also
the 2nd most active railway station in the country, where one can choose to
switch destinations on a whim via the high-speed Acela train or a choice of
ice cream flavors to scoop on from say, Ben & Jerry’s.
"Besides the opportunity to grab breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a drink
from our diverse food court, a commuter will experience helpful Amtrak
ticket
ushers and police officers to ensure the commuter doesn’t miss their train.
If
they have an extended wait, the dramatic marble main course is flanked by
comfortable antique benches from the 1930s and the pleasant food court
setting.
While at 30th Street Station, you can feast your eyes on the many delicacies
that our food court has to offer -- with 17 restaurants to choose from --
all
trans-fat free. There are 6 retail shops as well as 4 rental car companies,"
adds Haynes.
And a feast it is for sight and senses. While at Bridgewater’s Pub, the
friendly watering hole for tired travelers, I am surprised to report, it is,
surprisingly a gastronomic pub as well. Chris Dalbey, its affable bartender
let
me know right off what’s featured in their menu: ‘Gator Bites,’ a culinary
delight of bite-sized portions of alligator meat with coconut marinade and a
roulade salad, (No, it does not taste like chicken!) and Amish Chicken
livers
with onion chutney (yes, it does taste like chicken…only better!) The pub
caters to commuters and counts among its regulars: "students, adjunct
professors
of Drexel, some type of alumni," says Dalbey, as well as daytrippers who
are
there to take in a tipple or two, and the news on one of their many state
of
the art flat screen tvs.
When you’re done feasting on what could have been your Auntie Babe’s (as in
Paley) shoes or luggage, stop and smell the roses at Fleuradelphia, where
you
can get a bouquet of tulips from Holland, Easter lilies in pots or roses
from South America for about $10, or take a few more bites at Saladworks’
new
panini sandwiches of "Turkey Reuben, or Chicken Mozzarella with Capri sauce
and
vegetables", recommendations from their jolly sandwich-salad guy William
Catallena. For surprising soul food, Philadelphia’s standby Delilah’s has
been
the last word in delicious jerk chicken, jambalayas and sweet potatoes,
which
opened its branch in the Station as an interesting counterpoint to the
original one on the Reading Terminal, itself an old railroad station.
For the kids or the kid in us, there is always Boardwalk Fries, for a touch
of the Shore in the middle of a wintry Spring, pretzels dipped in cheese at
Auntie Anne’s or groovy drinks and smoothies at Surf City Squeeze.
If new looks straight off the runways of Milan or Paris are your thing, or
if you’d like to know more about obscure cartoons online without leaving the
station, I would head off to Fabre Coe, the well-stocked
newsstand/bookseller
for their stacks of magazines, cool books and even a last-minute present of
an
artsy tie or adorable trinket for any It Girl or Cousin It on your list.
A few steps away right on the Main Concourse is 30th Street Greetings "It’s
a very pleasant atmosphere," concedes Charlie Hefron, owner of the card
store.
Most of the clientele are obviously in transit but the high-ticket
items--fancy greeting cards, gifts and writing accessories--get snapped up
by
travelers from Washington and New York.
"Philadelphians are a little bit more conservative in their spending
habits," remarks Hefron. With the Post Office right in the Station, there’s
no
excuse for e-card abuse even for perennial procrastinators like myself.
The beauty of modern life is one needn’t wait interminably, as in waiting
terminals of yore. Indeed, the Station does boast of providing direct
assistance
to travelers through Travelers Aid, a social service agency via booths
conveniently located in the center of the west side of the Station’s Main
Concourse. From helping visitors find a nearby hotel, to solving any travel
dilemma
such as a lost wallet, ticket to those temporarily marooned or in serious
need of aid, to some, Travelers Aid is something of a lifesaver: "Our
mission is
to assist individuals and families who are in transition or crisis and are
disconnected from their support. Travelers Aid offer shelter, transitional
and
permanent housing, to children and youth services to homeless families and
individuals, stranded travelers and newcomers to Philadelphia" reads their
Mission Statement.
"While we hope everyone can avoid mishaps while traveling, we want
travelers
to know that they can come to us whether their problem is big or small. Our
unique service puts travelers in contact with people, not a computer or
automated telephone service. This transportation hub, 30th Street Station,
hosts
an average of 25,000 commuters per day, and we’re pleased to be able to
offer
a personal touch through our dedicated volunteers," Ted Weerts, Travelers
Aid’
s executive director explains.
Historically, this seems apt, as the Pennsylvania Railroad built it’s
station at 30th and Market Streets ‘in response to an ever-increasing demand
for
service and efficiency.’ Designed in a radically different approach from
that of
the Broad Street Station, it had its tracks passing under the station, made
possible by the advent of the electric locomotive permitting the routing of
trains in a through pattern without the need to reconfigure the engine and
cars. However, when the commuter section of the station opened in 1933,
passengers had to walk through a wooden tunnel past the construction to get
to the
commuter facilities!
The 30th Street Station has come a long way since its early days, but the
romance of train travel remains, and it’s the perfect place to fall in love
in
or with, or to meet a perfect stranger. Now if only it had a bridal or
tuxedo
shop, because ya never know.
**************Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with
Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.
(http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4&?NCID=aolfod00030000000002)
=================================
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End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #1734
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=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org