Penn's Greene Countrie Towne

by MARK LUTZ, '26

THROUGH Judge Edwin Owen Lewis, '96, the University of Richmond has made a priceless contribution to the renaissance of "America's most historic mile," that area of old Philadelphia which contains such treasures as Independence Hall with the Liberty Bell and Carpenters and Congress Halls.

Philadelphia had once been capital of the new nation, its largest city and most important port. Laid out in 1682, its original streets had echoed to the footfalls of Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison, Monroe, Marshall and other Founding Fathers. Through the years, however, the priceless historic structures of Penn's "greene Countrie Towne" had become crowded and overshadowed by buildings of no particular architectural significance and its once quiet streets clogged with heavy traffic. Then by 1939 the historic heart of the city was rapidly falling into that decay which affects most downtown sections of large cities as business and residential areas move away.

It was at this juncture that Richmondborn Judge Lewis, for forty years prominent in Philadelphia public life, formed a committee to take steps to protect the city's historic buildings from bomb damage in case of a second World War. The work of this committee evolved, under Judge Lewis' direction, into the organization known as Independence Hall Association, which was chartered to protect the historic shrines and to improve their environment. Judge Lewis was chosen president of this Association, which comprised representatives of fifty-two civic organizations .

Upon taking the presidency of the Association, Judge Lewis interested the Governor and Legislature of Pennsylvania, the Mayor and City Council of Philadelphia, and the United States Congress in a plan to create two parks in the deteriorating neighborhood of Independence Hall. Their construction would inevitably eliminate the great fire hazard of overcrowded streets lined with many outmoded buildings and bring about the visual re-creation of the Colonial period.

The parks are now known as Independence State Mall, which runs northward for several blocks from Independence Square, and Independence National Historic Park to the East. The creation of these parks necessitated the destruction of approximately 220 buildings, most of them undated but with a few massive Victorian structures modernized

Judge Lewis with Mrs. Peter Borie, Secretary of the Independence Mall Association. Independence Hall is in the background.

The Area of Independence Mall before Restoration .

The Restored Area, looking North from Independence Hall.

and in use by financial institutions.

The total cost to the Federal government for the National Park exceeds $18,000,000 and Independence State Mall involves more than $15,000,000. All the land for both projects has been acquired. All the buildings have been demolished. The parks are now realized, although all landscaping has not been fulJy completed. The "historic square mile" of Old Philadelphia has been transformed to much of its original eighteenth century serene beauty.

Tourists come to Philadelphia by millions annually to tour the historic area of Independence Mall. Congress Hall has been beautifully restored to look as it did in 1795. Independ ence Hall is being strengthened with steel columns and restored to its original appearance, as is the United States Supreme Court building. Carpenters Hall has always retained its original aspect, being the meeting place of the Carpenters Company, a guild of builders, but where it was once obscured by other buildings it is now surrounded by landscaped gardens. Within walking distance of the Mall are the First and Second Banks of the United States, the First Stock Exchange Building in the country; Christ and St. Peters Episcopal Churches.

By-products of the Independence Mall movement are the removal of the sprawling old wholesale produce markets to a new and ultra-modern setting some miles away; a proposed park-like waterfront along the Delaware, and the already burgeoning restoration of the adjacent Society Hill area to its early residential tranquility. Society Hill, on a slight rise of ground overlooking the Delaware, was developed to house the citizens of the Colonial city. However, it too had fallen into neglect, with its buildings battered and its yards cluttered. To date 250 homes have been or are being restored with an estimated investment of $3,000,000 in private funds. There is a steady trek of suburban dwellers back to the city and into this renewal of a once gracious residential area.

Judge Lewis is generally acknowledged to be, more than any other man, responsible for what is known as the Independence Mall Area Improvements. With so much accomplished, small wonder Judge Lewis is considered one of this century's great Philadelphians. In recognition of this he was made recipient of the Philadelphia Award for the year 1962. The Award carried with it a medal and $10,000 in testimonial of his contribution to the city. (8]

After leaving Richmond College Judge Lewis enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania where, in 1902, he received the LLB. degree. He was that year admitted to the Pennsylvania bar and practiced in Philadelphia until 1923 when he was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Judge Lewis retired from the bench in 1958, at which time he was president judge of Common Pleas Court No. 2. After retirement he joined, as "of counsel," the law firm of Hart, Childs, Hepburn, Ross and Putnam. He _ has the distinction of being an uncle of U. S. Senator Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania who was born in Fredericksburg and educated · in Virginia.

Judge Lewis served for 29 years as president of the School of Design for Women and of the Moore Institute of Art; as director and president of the Atheneum Library, director of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; and as vice president of the Pennsylvania Historical Society. He is honorary governor general of the Society of Colonial Wars and honorary general president for life of the General Society of the Sons of the Revolution and of the Pennsylvania Society. Somewhere Judge Lewis has also found time to play an active role in the political and social life of the city.

May L. Keller: a noble woman

by MARY GRACE SCHERER TAYLOR, '42

May L. Keller was too busy to keep a diary. But the story of her life is recorded in the many possessions found after her death in attic trunks and desk pigeonholes.

Friends, colleagues, students, alumni, and alumnae who joined in paying her tribute at a memorial service held at 4 o'clock, September 27, in Cannon Chapel, stayed to browse through an exhibit of the late dean's memorabilia.

President George M. Modlin, presiding at the service, characterized her as "a noble woman and a distinguished educator who, in the long history of the University, stands among those who contributed most to its growth."

Mrs. May Thompson Evans, '21, of Washington, a past president of the Westhampton Alumnae Association, in an eloquent tribute to the "little dean," spoke of Miss Keller's "courage, forthrightness, and keen sense of humor" . . . a woman "who stood up for her rights'' and around whom there was "always an eddy of excitement." She was described as a "well-integrated human being, with vivacity of manner."

But most of all she was "a mental and moral disciplinarian, who knew the ideals and principles that have made and kept mankind humane. She lived by them, was able to transmit their values to others. She attained what philosophers tell us is life's most difficult goal: to know one's self. What is more, she led college students to know themselves."

Miss Eleanor Bradshaw, '65 president of Mortar Board, holds a silver candlestick given to Mortar Board by Mrs. May Thompson Evans, '21, to honor the memory of Dean Keller.

Dr. Robert F. Smart, now dean of Richmond College, a friend and colleague of Miss Keller for many years, spoke of her contributions to the civic, religiou s, educational and cultural life of the community, and Mrs. Alice Weber Mansfield of St. Louis, national president of Phi Beta Phi told of Miss Keller's ten years of leadership of that social fraternity for women.

The Keller exhibit gave rare insight into the life which spanned 77 years and inspired countless individuals. Selected and arranged from deanery treasures, the souvenirs, ranging from dolls to dissertations, traced the little dean from her forbears to her death, June 28.

Keller family keepsakes include mementoes from her chemist father and gifts from a 19th century jet-set uncle whose journeys

Miss Brenda Matlock, '65, models one of Miss Keller's gowns . possibly whetted the youngster's appetite for adventure. In fact, many, who in later years stood agape at her unique combination of feminine dignity and intrepid daring, were not surprised to learn that she was descended on her mother's side from Maine sea captains, and on her father's from conservative Maryland stock.

A monthly report card from the small Baltimore school she attended under the tutelage of a relative of General Lee shows a perfect score of 10 on all subjects, including one general category of "Common Things and Poetry."

A large trunk reveals that her life as a little girl was not all "ethics and etymology." Dolls with wax faces and kid hands boast an abundant supply of handmade clothes. One model, an early relative of today's Chatty Cathy, still plays-although somewhat mournfully -"O Happy Land." Accompanying the doll family is a handsome

(Continued on page 19)