Pennsport, Philadelphia

{{About|the Philadelphia neighborhood|the string band|Pennsport (string band)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox settlement | background_color=    |image_skyline=USS Philly 1799-250px.jpg |imagesize= |image_caption=Drawing of the {{USS|Philadelphia|1799|6}}, built in Joshua Humphreys' shipyard in Pennsport, 1799. |image_flag= |name=Pennsport |settlement_type = [[List of Philadelphia neighborhoods|Neighborhood of Philadelphia]]   |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{USA}} |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = [[Pennsylvania]] |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = [[Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]] |subdivision_type3 = City |subdivision_name3 = [[Philadelphia]]   | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Philadelphia | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize = | coordinates = {{coord|39|55|39|N|75|09|02|W|region:US-PA_type:landmark|display=title}}   |postal_code_type= ZIP Code |postal_code= 19147, 19148 |area_codes=[[Area codes 215, 267, and 445]] }}

'''Pennsport''' is a [[neighbourhood|neighborhood]] in the [[South Philadelphia]] section of [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States.

Pennsport is home to a large working-class [[Irish American]] population, many of them descendants of immigrants from the mid to late 19th century. They maintain social organizations (also called "clubs"), which are located along 2nd Street (known locally as "Two Street").<ref name="strut">{{cite video | people = [[Max Raab|Max L. Raab]] | title = Strut! The Movie | medium = DVD | publisher = Max L. Raab Productions | location = Philadelphia | URL = http://www.strutthemovie.com/synopsis.php | date = 2001 | access-date = 2017-02-19 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071009130211/http://www.strutthemovie.com/synopsis.php | archive-date = 2007-10-09 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Each year the clubs spend months preparing costumes, music and performances for Philadelphia's annual [[Mummers Parade]] on Broad Street on New Year's Day.

At one time, Pennsport was proposed as a location for development of casinos along the Philadelphia waterfront.<ref>[http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080324_State_Senate_candidates_differ_on_casino_proposals.html Philly.com article on casino proposals]</ref><ref>[http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=16434 ''Philadelphia Weekly'' article on resident response to the casinos]</ref> Many residents opposed this, as they wanted development that would provide better jobs. The state and city had conducted some negotiations with the [[Mashantucket Pequot Tribe|Mashantucket Pequot]], whose reservation is based in [[Connecticut]], to establish [[Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia]] in this neighborhood, but the proposal never gained approval.

==Location== Pennsport is bounded by the [[Delaware River]] to the east, the [[Queen Village, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Queen Village]] neighborhood to the north, [[Whitman, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Whitman]] to the south, and [[Dickinson Square West, Philadelphia|Dickinson Square West]] to the west. The Pennsport Redevelopment Area Plan of 1968 listed the border streets as Washington Avenue on the north, Snyder Avenue on the south, and Fourth Street on the west.<ref>[http://sceti.library.upenn.edu/pages/index.cfm?so_id=5934 Pennsport Redevelopment Area Plan] (Nov. 1968), Philadelphia Neighborhoods Project, University of Pennsylvania Libraries.</ref>

==Demographics== The 2000 census listed Pennsport's population as 26,300, but this figure includes the populations of [[Southwark, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Southwark]], [[Queen Village]], and [[Whitman, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Whitman]] neighborhoods.<ref name=review>''[[South Philly Review]]'', October 7, 2004, "[http://www.southphillyreview.com/view_article.php?id=2566 The Place Where You Live: Pennsport]".</ref>

Pennsport's population identifies as 70% [[White people|white]], 17% [[African American]], 8% [[Asian American]], and 5% [[Hispanic and Latino American]], of any race. Roughly 40% of the population is under 18.<ref name=review/>

==History== [[File:Preparation for War to defend Commerce Birch's Views Plate 29.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"The building of the Frigate ''Philadelphia''", Plate 29 of ''[[Birch's Views of Philadelphia]]'' (1800). The man standing in the foreground may be a portrait of Humphreys]]

According to the ''Genealogy of Philadelphia County Subdivisions'', Pennsport was originally part of [[Moyamensing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Moyamensing Township]]. Most of the area north of present-day Mifflin Street was included in the [[Southwark, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Southwark District]] from 1794 until the [[Act of Consolidation, 1854|consolidation of Philadelphia]] in 1854. At that point, it was mostly contained in the First Ward. The First and Second wards ran east of Passyunk Avenue and were divided by Wharton Street (First to the south, Second to the north). The southern boundary of the First Ward initially spanned south to the river, but it was stopped at Mifflin Street in 1898.<ref name="Subdivisions">{{cite book|last=Weinberg|first=Allen|author2=John Daly|title=Genealogy of Philadelphia County Subdivisions|publisher=City of Philadelphia Department of Records|location=Philadelphia|date=1966|url=http://www.philageohistory.org/rdic-images/index.cfm?wt=6&w=mapping%2Dpenn}}</ref>

The [[Washington Avenue Immigration Station]] was an immigrant processing facility located at the end of Washington Avenue at Pier 53 on the [[Delaware River]]. It operated from 1873 to 1915.

During [[King George's War]] in 1748, a young [[Benjamin Franklin]] erected the "Association Battery" or "Grand Battery" here along the river. These were earthwork defenses fitted with artillery.<ref>[[Harbor Defenses of the Delaware]]</ref>

The first United States naval yard started in the 1770s as a private commercial yard located in what is now Pennsport at Federal Street on the Delaware River.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ruins.wordpress.com/2006/10/14/the-federal-road-arsenal-to-navy-yard/|title = The Federal Road: Arsenal to Navy Yard|date = 14 October 2006}}</ref> It was owned and operated by noted shipbuilder [[Joshua Humphreys]]. He designed the [[original six frigates of the United States Navy]]. In addition, the frigate {{USS|Philadelphia|1799|6}}, not one of those six, was also built at what became the official navy yard.

The naval yard was designated for the US Navy in 1801 and was active until 1875. That year it was relocated to new facilities built on League Island. The shipyard expanded to support production and repair of ships. During World War II, some 40,000 people worked here in shifts that operated 24 hours a day.

The shipyard was closed in 1991, as a result of a decision by the [[Base Realignment and Closure]] Commission. Nearly 1000 acres was transferred to the City of Philadelphia for redevelopment. What is known as The Navy Yard has been developed for businesses and manufacturing. A part of the site is still devoted to shipbuilding.<ref>"[http://www.philaplace.org/resources/South%20Philadelphia%20Timeline.pdf Timeline: From Weccacoe to South Philadelphia]," in PhilaPlace. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, retrieved online May 10, 2023.</ref><ref>"[https://navyyard.org/who-we-are About The Navy Yard]." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Navy Yard, retrieved online May 10, 2023.</ref>

The neighborhood has other buildings and structures of historic interest. [[Furness High School]] and the former [[Abigail Vare School]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref> The Historic rowhouse synagogue, [[Congregation Shivtei Yeshuron-Ezras Israel]], was featured in the Hidden City Philadelphia 2013 Festival.<ref>{{cite news |last=Myers |first=Joseph|date=May 23, 2013 |title=Hidden City showcases Shivtei Yeshuron: A local synagogue will participate in a celebration of often-overlooked spaces. |url=http://www.southphillyreview.com/news/cover-story/Hidden-City-showcases-Shivtei-Yeshuron-208644661.html |newspaper=[[South Philly Review]]|access-date=2014-01-12 }}</ref>

==Education== [[File:Vare-Washington Elementary School Philadelphia (DSC 2053).jpg|thumb|200px|The [[Vare-Washington School]], in the former [[George Washington School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)|Washington School]] in [[Dickinson Square West, Philadelphia|Dickinson Square West]], serves Pennsport.]] [[File:Phila FLP Whitman.jpg|thumb|200px|Whitman Branch of the [[Free Library of Philadelphia]]]] The [[School District of Philadelphia]] operates public schools serving Pennsport.

[[Vare-Washington School]] serves grades K-8.<ref>"[https://webapps.philasd.org/school_finder/ School Finder]." [[School District of Philadelphia]]. Retrieved on November 30, 2015.</ref> The school was previously named Abigail Vare School and had occupied a building in Pennsport.<ref>[https://webapps.philasd.org/sp_files/boundary_maps/2720.pdf Former Abigail Vare attendance boundary] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120507081017/https://webapps.philasd.org/sp_files/boundary_maps/2720.pdf Archive]). [[School District of Philadelphia]]. Retrieved on November 30, 2015.</ref><ref name=Jenningsrevamp>Jennings, James. "[http://www.phillymag.com/property/2015/06/10/mt-sinai-developer-plans-apartments-townhomes-at-shuttered-pennsport-school/ Mt. Sinai Developer Plans Apartments, Townhomes at Shuttered Pennsport School]." ''[[Philadelphia (magazine)|Philadelphia]]''. June 10, 2015. Retrieved on November 30, 2015.</ref> In October 2013 the Philadelphia School Reform Commission (SRC) voted to close [[George Washington School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)|Washington School]] in [[Dickinson Square West, Philadelphia|Dickinson Square West]]. Abigail Vare School moved from its previous building to the former Washington building at 1198 South 5th Street.<ref>Graham, Kristen. "[http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/school_files/Live-tweeting-SRC-meets-on-school-closings.html SRC votes to spare four schools]." ''[[Philadelphia Inquirer]]''. Thursday, October 17, 2013. Retrieved on November 30, 2015. "CLOSING:[...]George Washington Elementary School, 1198 S. 5th Street Abigail Vare Elementary School, 1621 E. Moyamensing Avenue (building only, moves into George Washington Elementary)"</ref>

[[Furness High School]] also serves area residents.<ref name=Furnessmap>"[https://webapps.philasd.org/sp_files/boundary_maps/2160.pdf Horace Furness High School Geographic Boundaries]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120328083726/https://webapps.philasd.org/sp_files/boundary_maps/2160.pdf Archive]). [[School District of Philadelphia]]. Retrieved on October 4, 2011.</ref>

===Public libraries=== The [[Free Library of Philadelphia]] Whitman Branch in [[Whitman, Philadelphia|Whitman]] serves Pennsport.<ref>"[http://libwww.freelibrary.org/branches/branch.cfm?loc=WHT Whitman Branch]." [[Free Library of Philadelphia]]. Retrieved on October 19, 2012.</ref>

==Notable people== *[[Rob McElhenney]] – actor, creator of ''[[It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]]'' *[[Edward Heffron|Edward "Babe" Heffron]] - A paratrooper in Company E, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Heffron took part in the [[Battle of the Bulge]] in Belgium and helped liberate the [[Kaufering concentration camp complex|Kaufering concentration camp]] in Landsberg, Germany. He received a [[Bronze Star]] and [[Purple Heart]]. *[[William Guarnere|William "Wild Bill" Guarnere]] (April 28, 1923 – March 8, 2014) - a United States Army soldier who fought in World War II as an NCO with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division. [[HBO]] produced a miniseries ''Band of Brothers'' (2001), based on Guarnere and his unit; Guarnere was portrayed by [[Frank John Hughes]]. Guarnere later wrote and published his own account: '' Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends: Two WWII Paratroopers from the Original Band of Brothers Tell Their Story'' (2007). Long-time friend Edward "Babe" Heffron and journalist Robyn Post were co-authors.

Bronze statues of William “Wild Bill” Guarnere and Edward “Babe” Heffron have been installed at a park on [https://southphillyreview.com/2019/11/12/sculpture-of-veteran-william-wild-bill-guarnere-unveiled-on-2nd-street/ 2nd and Reed Streets]. It portrays the pair as young men, as they looked just before leaving Pennsport to fight in Europe during World War II.

==Gallery== <gallery> File:The Grand Battery Historical Marker S Columbus Blvd at US Coast Guard Station Philadelphia PA (DSC 2949).jpg|Grand Battery Historical Marker, U.S. Coast Guard Station, Philadelphia File:Washington Avenue Immigration Station Historical Marker 1 Washington Ave Philadelphia PA (DSC 2703).jpg|Washington Avenue Immigration Station Historical Marker, 1 Washington Avenue, Philadelphia </gallery>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|Pennsport, Philadelphia}} *[http://www.secondstreetirishsociety.org/ Second Street Irish Society] *[http://www.pennsportcivic.org/ Pennsport Civic Association] *[http://jeffersonsquarepark.org Friends of Jefferson Square Park] *[http://www.dickinsonsquare.org/ Friends of Dickinson Square Park] *[http://washingtonavenuegreen.com/ Washington Avenue Green] *[http://rizzorink.com/ Rizzo Rink] *[http://www.pennsportschoolofdance.com/ Pennsport School of Dance]

[[Category:Neighborhoods in Philadelphia]] [[Category:Irish-American neighborhoods]] [[Category:Irish-American history]] [[Category:Irish-American culture in Philadelphia]] [[Category:South Philadelphia]]