Historian's Corner

A Flag, A Declaration, and an Anthem The months of June and July, 1776 were an exciting time for American Patriots.  A Quaker lady from the city of Philadelphia, named Elizabeth Claypoole Ross, or Betsy Ross as we know her, would … [Read more...] about Historian’s Corner

The Rev. Ernest Bodenweber This week we continue our series honoring First Church’s 300th Anniversary; the following was written 10 years ago:  Something always seemed to guide the teenaged Ernest Bodenweber toward his life’s … [Read more...] about Historian’s corner

Father  The Boy raced into father’s hospital room with the Brown-Eyed Girl close behind; “Dad, hang on!  There’s a unit of blood right outside the door—I’ll get a nurse—just hang on!”  Father looked him in the eye, and in … [Read more...] about Historian’s Corner

First Church’s Earliest Ministers Part I  First Church was established in 1719, and is celebrating its 300th birthday this year.  Eighteenth-century America was a deeply religious culture that lived self-consciously under the … [Read more...] about Historian’s corner

The Brown-Eyed Girl (For Mothers Day)  May, 1969 Kiss me each morning for a million years,Hold me each evening by your side,Tell me you'll love me for a million years,Then if it don't work out,Then if it don't work out,Then you can … [Read more...] about Historian’s corner

Long Wharf  We speak of it, we hear of it, but what do we actually know about it?  Today when we drive along the I-95 corridor, we see signs referring to a place called Long Wharf, but we see no such structure projecting out into New … [Read more...] about Historian’s corner