Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-04
AGED man DEF|ES
BRIDGE BUILDERS
Sam Mckee Declares He Won't
Give Up Home to Make
Way for Span
IN FAMILY SINCE 172t

IL was born here and am so'n' to
stay till my life's ended
Sam Mckee, seventy five years old,
and rugged despite his years. uttered
this defiance as he stood in the doorway
of his home. 22S North Front street.
Within earshot tons Of bricks were
gathering and the sound Of falling tim
bers could be heard as workmen blazed
the path for the Delaware River bridge.
The Mckee home is directly on the line
Of the proposed big structure. but Sam,
who lives in the Front street house
with his brother, Tom. declared that
no bricks or timbers would fall from
the House of Mckee.
The Mckee home. of Colonial type, Is
built like little Rock Of Gibraltar, as
far as dependability Is concerned. Its
sturdy walls are of brick. laid in Eng
lish bond fashion, and have withstood
the ravagcs Of time. The house was
built several years before the stalwarts
at Independence Hall pcnned their little
message to King George.
House In Family Since 1929
Sam Mckee has papers to show that
the house has belonged to the Mckee
family as far back as 1I26. when Phila-
delphia was II country town and lighted
itself to bed with the tallow dip.
II is little "ondcr. then, that Mckee
doesn't want to think about a moving
day--even though it has been decreed
by the law Of the land that no hand
can stay the march of progress.
Some years ago the Mckee brothers
were candy makers. Their goods. neigh {.
bors said were just as reliable as their
house and they finally made enough to
retire and take things easy. The spot
where their home stands will Just clear
the anchorage, but it will be necessary
to erect supports for the bridge APP
preach. and the house. according tc
bridge engineers. eventually will have to
go.
When this was suggested to San
Mckee he gave vent to his defiance.
Workmen who are gradually reluc
ing the neighborhood of the bridge site
to bricks and dust say they will not
bother Mckee just yet. but after he
receives notice to go-well. that will bt
different.
Find Ledger So Years Old
, Nv VI aACs anu
! is going merrily on. Yesterday on,
/ strenuous pick unearthcd copy of tn,
| PyBLIC LEDGER of December 10. 1910
| Despite it's eighty two years it still haC
good complexion and much of it wa'
! readable.
/ 1t is twenty four by twenty. tive
| inches, four pages. and tells OF inter
esting dOings Of those times. Severa
English coins dated 1916 also were
found. These were turned over b!
! Charles ID. lIeavoy. the contractor. tt
! the Bridge Commission.
Every once in while some work
! mans pick digs up a clutter of ole
bones. They might have been those o
! Revolutionary soldiers or Of RevOlu
tionary cows. But as there are N
paleontolOgists among these men o
Drawn tney don't pause to examine
and, furthermore. tney have no time.
1t is with great reluctance that som
of these old buildings give way 20 tn
pick and hammer. While the men wer
working at 225 North Front street to
day. an old Colonial door stood like
sentinel. and sharing the sentiment
Sam Mckee. voiced its defiance L
those who would stamp 1t ont of exist
ence. Bricks and stone clattered abou
the brave doorway. but II refused t
fall. Above the door was an old
fashioned fanligh Of glass. Not a pan
was broken. Finally the workmc
caught this spirit of defiance an
shared il. They took the door dow
trnderly a though 1t were of flesh an
blood and laid it aside carefully.
One sees strange sights around tn
neighborhood.
On window at 2O2 North Watc
street. it is announced that 'Loui
Back. the broom handle painter an
pol; sher, is absent" Other lettering
which evidently explained that he wa
! doing business elsewhere. had wor7
away.
In nm old ccllarway on Water stree
there is n partially obliterated sign tell
ing those who pass that Going Gu
White Washing Is Done by Georg
Washington. II was learned that tn
George in this case had nothing to d
with the citys early history and was
in fact. of entirely different complexio
aside on his way across the Delaware
Although the workmen are soin
along at a good gait they are freQuentl
bothered by the interrogatory rcli
hunters Among them are long, thi
men with little fat green bags. eccentric
looking persons with oblong satchel.
and be, spcctacIed. long. haired mer
armed with long poles. These attentu
utpd anriuuari-S of antiquarian ambi
tions are often antiquately at,lreC
Many Of them are daring Som
wouldn't hesitate to hang head down
ward from the roof Of a building
they thought they could get their finger
on an old penny Of 1875.
' These BRAY" hunters are IL banr
the workln-n who often have 10 slo
suddenly when all set to drop II tioc
Of bricks in order to save the lives
the relic hunters.
Today the men will start 10 tei
I down on Delaware avenue. bcginnir
at the Aver 4 Mckinney butter cs
/ tablishmrnt, 222 North Delaware ave
nue.,
498 Deaths Here Ourinu Week