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FOLLOW US ON Vol. 66 NO. 31 ■ August 1, 2013
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FIRE REPORT
■ The City continues to investigate what caused an explosion and three buildings to collapse in Whitman Monday. See page 7.
NO RESERVATIONS
■ Chef Maria di Marco of Mamma Maria Ristorante offers her Gourmet Chicken as a variation of her late-husband’s creation. See page 26.
Instead of recreational pursuits, Weccacoe Playground last week hosted an excavation project set to give insight into local African-American history.
SPORTS
S ta f f P h o t o b y K at h r y n P o o l e
An archaeological excavation led a City-hired company to find remnants of a two-century-old cemetery beneath a Queen Village playground.
■ By Alison Vayne Review Intern
H ■ A Whitman lacrosse star is hoping to situate her high school squad among the city’s elite.
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istorian Terry Buckalew discovered a 19thcentury African American cemetery under Weccacoe Playground, 405-25 Queen St., six years ago. He was doing research for a lm project and stumbled upon the name of a person who was buried at the unknown Queen Village graveyard. The Friends of Weccacoe Playground and Queen Village Neighbors Association have been in the
process of revamping the site, with plans to contribute new playspaces, flower beds, trees, seating, maintenance and stormwater mitigation by next year. “We had a group in our neighborhood planning the renovations for five years,” Jeff Hornstein, the civic’s president, said. When the City became aware of the playground’s historical significance, it limited the future renovations to avoid damaging any of the remains and then closed the recreational spot from July 22 to 26 for an archaeological excavation to confirm the
presence of the remains and preserve the burial ground. The goals of the excavation were to find out how extended the cemetery was and how deep the graves were to ensure that the renovation of the playground would not damage the graves or any other remains, Buckalew said. The City hired URS Corp., a San-Franciscobased company with a Center City location, to complete the work. See WECCACOE PLAYGROUND page 10
Jolly journeys A Bella Vista organization uses runs to prepares pooches for placement in forever homes. 8