Full Walking TOur
Intro
Hello and welcome to this guided walking tour in Glenside, Let Us Show You Around! Today we will take a stroll through parts of Glenside, visit some famous buildings and hidden gems, listen to stories from the past and our present, and get a glimpse into our community. This walk has 9 checkpoints and is about 2 miles long, with one busy intersection towards the end. The entire journey will take approximately 45 minutes to complete. If our words are faster than your steps, please feel free to pause the audio and resume when you are ready. If it is the other way around, slow down, or stop until the audio catches up! We believe that stopping, or pausing is an essential part of walking. Meanwhile, you can access the audio for individual checkpoints separately by scanning the QR code on the stickers throughout the tour. A hand drawn map with numbered checkpoint locations can be found on our website. For your safety and best experience, please stay on the sidewalk, be aware of your surroundings, and smile or even say “hi” to people you see.
Our first stop is the Glenside SEPTA station. Let’s get started!
Section # 1 Glenside SEPTA Station & Elcy’s Cafe & Mural & Farmers Market
Hello! My name is Tess and I am a senior at Arcadia, studying math with a minor in accounting. I’ll be leading you through our very first stop -- the train station, cafe, farmers market and mural.
People say “no train station, no Glenside.” While at this transportation hotspot, look down the streets and think about what parts were built when Glenside started to become what it is today. The station has been in service for rail passengers since 1873, although there was no underpass below the station until 1912. Now, not only do trains come and go almost every 30 minutes everyday, but vehicles are constantly traversing below the train tracks. The busy traffic, the pumping heart of Glenside, is the literal motor of the town.
One landmark in this part of the neighborhood is Elcy’s Cafe, which is owned by the lovely Amy. She opened this cafe with her husband in 2011 after purchasing the property from Lisa C. Amy kept the name Elcy’s to honor its previous owner, whose initials were L.C. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Elcy’s Cafe stayed strong through the support of the Glenside community. Amy feels grateful when she sees her local customers passing through the cafe on a regular weekday.
Saturdays were when Elcy’s Cafe really became involved with the community. Amy would help out at the farmers market, and she loved when musical acts would visit and perform in town. Elcy’s Cafe also showcased artwork from Arcadia University’s students from their trip to Ireland. In a way, it brought the students’ work a bit deeper into the community. If you feel a little hungry, we highly recommend their oatmeal raisin cookie. It’s so thick, it almost looks like a scone. So satisfying to bite into!
Now, when you are ready, walk back to the sign where we started, and you will see the stairs on the left. Walk down; watch your steps! Under the bridge, you will see the mural created by our previous public art class, titled Bits and Pieces. The project was born from a Glenside business meeting in 2014 discussing community impact solutions to beautify this dark walkway. The public art project created partnerships between Arcadia University and Cheltenham Township, the Downtown Business Partnership, and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA. Students played a huge role in the project, working alongside mural artist David Guinn. From conceptual planning and community organization, to budgeting, fundraising, painting the mural and installing lights...our first public art class accomplished this seventy-foot-long mural at the Glenside Train Station. Listen now to Molly, a student who worked on the project, describe the Bits and Pieces.
“Bits and Pieces of Glenside will reveal themselves to you if you take the time to pause. The rooftop signs and storefronts on Easton Road, Arcadia University’s castle to the Keswick Theatre. The sidewalks under the tracks used to feel cold and dark, alone. But now, the neon lights illuminate our way home.”
When you are ready, walk up to the intersection. No need to cross the street, just turn right, and walk on West Glenside Avenue. On your left, facing the train station parking lot, you will see many residential and commercial buildings. This area was originally known as the Heist Farm, and it was the beginning of development in Glenside. In 1850, a developer named Martin Luther Kohler built Harrison Avenue and Lismore Avenue through this farmland and laid the foundation for Glenside’s future growth. These two roads are on your left. Kohler named this town Glen-side to tempt city folk from Philadelphia to move here for a piece of quiet and pleasant suburban life. With the railroad reaching Glenside in 1855, people were now able to commute by train. Seeing all the businesses and houses here, try to picture that, many years ago, it was all farmland! Let your mind travel back in time: you might see cornfields, or groups of dairy cows chewing grass while flicking their tails back and forth. After the Civil War, you would have seen market-gardens, which are small-scale businesses that sell fruits, vegetables, and flowers as cash crops, often directly to consumers and restaurants in Philadelphia.
Now, instead of those market-gardens, we have the Glenside Farmers market that sets up shop in the parking lot of the Glenside Train station every year, from May to November. Plan to bring some grocery baskets next time when you are here. You can also find them on Facebook for weekly updates. In addition to the stalls you expect to see, such as fruits, vegetables, and baked goods, there are a bunch of unique vendors as well. From fresh pressed olive oil to an apothecary, there’s a lot to check out that you don’t want to miss!
Section # 2 Glenside Fire Company & Montier
This is Rey’Na, I hope you’re enjoying this tour so far. I’m a Studio Art major and I’m excited to share some information I discovered here.
Once you pass Lismore Avenue, you will see a red-brick building with big garage doors. This is the Glenside Fire Company. The fire station was founded in the year of 1900 and is over a hundred years old. It is completely composed of volunteer firefighters who are certified in multiple fields and trained with specific skills, such as identifying hazardous chemicals in the air, helping citizens trapped in vehicles, and assisting the local police and EMS workers. In 1938, it officially became recognized as the first organized fire school in the community for volunteers. Amber is one of those volunteers; we were pleasantly surprised to discover that she is an Arcadia University alumna!
Amber jokes that she joined the firefighters on a whim. However, ever since she was young, she knew that she wanted to help the community and ensure their safety. In addition to serving at this fire station, she also volunteers at Edgehill and Abington fire stations. Because there are not many female firefighters, Amber believes that she is setting the bar with her performance. Just recently, she became the first female firefighter at the company who qualified to drive a fire truck and she has become a mentor to other female firefighters. Although the firefighting field is heavily male-dominated, Amber said that her colleagues have been very supportive. More importantly, when she gears up, she is just one of the many firefighters, ready to protect people from dangerous circumstances. Amber has been a volunteer firefighter since 2019. In the past 3 years, she has put out around a hundred fires. Although she's never rescued cats out of a tree, she did save squealing pigs from a burning house.
Now, pass the Glenside Fire Co, keep walking west, and take a left onto Lynwood Avenue. In about 400 ft, you will see Montier Road on your right. It is named after the Montier family, who founded the Free Black Settlement. The Montier family are descendants of Humphrey Morrey, the first mayor of Philadelphia. They became one of the very first black families in history of the U.S. to own land. It was unprecedented for an african american family to have that level of independence in the 1700s. The Montiers and their descendents continued to work towards empowering the black community and some of the family’s more well known members include Cyrus Bustill, one of the founders of the Free African Society, and the political activist and musician Paul Robeson.
Passing Montier Rd, stay on the left side of Lynwood Avenue, and as the sidewalk disappears you will find yourself walking into a piece of meadow. Compared to the concrete, the grass absorbs more impact from your body, making each step much softer, and quieter. Let’s slow down a little bit, and be mindful of our steps. If you want your steps to reach farther, you need to bend your knees before you can stretch your legs. Plant one heel first, from back to front, and when your body moves forward, gradually shift your weight to the sole and then to the big toe. Using your big toe as an anchor, push off the earth, then lift another foot. One leg at a time, step by step. Maybe you feel like a little pony, excited to tap the ground, and create your own rhythm, wandering around this green-colored land. You might see a bird, somewhere on a tree, with a red crest on its beak. When the wind blows, the bird spreads its wings, and flaunts its bright yellow feathers underneath.
Section # 3 Deb’s house & crosswalk over Easton Rd.
Hi my name is Tamara. I’m an illustration major and this is my third year at Arcadia University. For this part of the tour, let’s check out Deb and Steve’s house! Before we start, I want to kindly remind you to not disturb them and to be respectful.
At the intersection of Lynwood Avenue and Waverly Road, you will find a beautiful white little house on the corner with delightful red doors. This is the home of Deb and Steve. They moved here in 1989 and since then, researching the history of this house has become one of their ongoing projects. The initial date of when this house was built is still unclear. Deb told us that this historical house started as a one-room building, which is the main structure we see here. Look up, on the second floor: can you see the two peaked windows? This simple yet unique decoration is part of the Gothic Revival Movement. This architectural style reflects the public's taste for buildings inspired by medieval design. It was popular in American cottage residences from the mid to late 1800s. Turn left on the corner and you are now on West Waverly Road. Maybe you can hear the songs of the wind chimes hanging from the porch. There is the front door. In the 1920s, the owner at that time extended the house by adding a kitchen, 2 bedrooms, and a stairwell. There’s the middle of the house behind the flower beds.
Before retirement, Deb was a science teacher. She now spends a lot of her time in the garden, planting, weeding, and picking up spiky balls that fall from the Sweet Gum tree in front of her house, where you might be standing right now. While taking walks, she pays attention to interesting-looking rocks, and slowly adds them to her collection. Do you see any unique rocks near the flower beds? They are all over the garden. In 2010, Deb and Steve added their own contributions to their home: a garage and a garden room, which you can see on the right side of the house. Deb calls the garden room “the mudroom,” where she can comfortably walk in without worrying about taking off her muddy garden shoes. Alongside the little creek next to the house, there was a well on the side of the garage. Because of environmental concerns, it still says on the deed that they cannot run a tannery on this property. Thankfully Deb and Steve never thought about starting a business which turns animal skins into leather!
Heading east, let’s walk down West Waverly road.
Look at the trees on both sides of the street. They are so tall, so big. Do you know what kind of trees they are? For many of us, they remain anonymous and almost unnoticeable. Have you ever thought that houses are pretty much like those trees? They are strong, durable, lively, slowly growing and evolving with their residents. Maybe those birds or squirrels are also curious about the previous residents of their tree, and have figured out their own way to research the history of it. Maybe their nests were inspired by their predecessors.
After passing three blocks, you will need to cross Easton Road to E. Waverly Road. Remember to push the crosswalk button. Be patient, you need to wait for the traffic lights to change. Examine the mesmerizing crosswalk pattern underneath your feet. Imagine a set of steps, and when the crosswalk alarm chirps, use it as beats. It’s your time to start this intersection square dance walk. One, two, three; two, two, three. Don’t forget to smile, and turn your head gracefully when looking out at your audience in traffic.
Keep on walking, or if you would rather, you can continue practicing your dance steps when moving along East Waverly Road. Continue until you see a sign for the Free library.
Section # 4 Kelly’s Piece & Playground & Route 6 Trolley
Maybe after the dance, you want to sit down on one of the benches that’s behind the Glenside Free Library Signage, and relax your legs a bit. Massage your calves and make yourself comfortable.
This is Pamela and I’m a Junior majoring in Scientific Illustration with a Pre-Med emphasis. Let me tell you about this nice resting area.
This circle of waving benches is a public art piece created by the 2020 Arcadia Public Art Project, Artist in Residence, Kelly Cave and her cohort of students. When Covid-19 hit, she couldn’t meet with her students in person, and had to work on the production by herself. However, this spring during the install, many of us from this walking tour project helped in this exciting process. We shoveled dirt, drilled in screws, laid gravel, and even saved baby beetles we found while helping. It’s amazing to see how a piece of public art all came to life with many people’s hands!
Kelly tells us, “It’s very important that people know it’s a community based project and without the help of the Arcadia and Glenside community, not only have I had their help, but their support… without it wouldn’t exist. I did a lot of the groundwork and fabrication of it, but having something as simple like the Arcadia maintenance come dig out the holes, was so incredibly supportive. And having a library and letting us use their bathroom, water and electricity….and having a community to support a project like this makes all the difference in the world... you know it’s just- THANK YOU! It’s great!”
Let’s walk up and visit the playground. When was the last time you visited a playground? Do you know how to play on the swings? Lula is a 4-year-old Glenside resident. As a frequent visitor at this playground, she is happy to teach you the right way to swing. Please bear with the windy background; she really has some valuable instructions for you: “So you use some handles to hold on to it...and someone needs to push me very fast....and I put my legs out and in, out and in, out and in, out and in…” If you think you can handle that, and want to be fancy, Lula suggested that you try “Superhero Style.” She puts her belly on the swing, and keeps her arms and legs as straight as possible. When her dad pushes the swing, she goes: “woooooo, woooooooo ”. Just like a powerful superhero in action.
Head back on Waverly Road. Starting in 1907, the Route # 6 Trolley ran through this area for almost 80 years. The trolley, also called a streetcar, connected Glenside with Philadelphia. It helped trigger rapid urban growth and with it, the suburbs.
While listening to a recording of the Route # 6 Trolley, turn left on Bickley road.
Section # 5 Tookany Creek & Halloween Parade
Hello! My name is Tim, I am a sophomore biology major. To me, a place’s history is one of the most fascinating things to learn. So here’s a little history lesson.
Can you hear the water running? Do you notice the creek underneath us? It’s Tookany Creek. The whole creek is 11.1 miles long, which means if you were to walk from its source to the mouth, it would take nearly 3.5 hours to complete. That’s so much longer than our walking tour! The creek flows down from another local creek called Frankford Creek, before flowing into the Delaware River. The creek’s water flow varies. Depending on the day, the water can be calm and soft or rapid and overflowing. During the rainy season, waters can become dangerously high and turbulent, so be careful when it rains!
This creek has been flowing here for many many years, long before Glenside was born. The Lenni Lenape tribe lived in its watershed. A watershed is land that hosts a group of streams and rivers all draining into a single larger body of water. The native name of this watershed means “Eel Skin River”. In addition, it is believed that the name Tookany was another native word, sometimes spelled T-A-C-O-N-Y, derived from a Lenni Lenape word meaning "forest" or "wilderness".
This area (including eastern Pennsylvania and part of New Jersey) originally belonged to the Lenni Lenape Tribe. They were pushed out of their homeland by European colonists. As you walk around the stream and further into the walking tour, it’s important to think about what this land once was and who it belonged to. Imagine the lives of those people before it was taken away by colonizers. The Lenni Lenape tribe lived in small towns around this stream, hunted and fished within this watershed, and with the creek’s nurturing the soil, they farmed maize, beans, and squash.
Julie Sky is the 9th great granddaughter of Chief Tamanend, a famous Lenni Lenape leader who signed the Peace Treaty with Willian Penn. We had a great conversation with her over Zoom, where Julie told us about life here pre-colonization, and how Native people used the land to survive.
“One of the things that I think is really cool about the culture is when the Chiefs would make decisions they would involve all of the elders of the tribe. And those decisions were always made for what was going to be best for all of the people, and all of the land around them. So even when it came to where they're choosing the fish or hunt they did it in different sections and different areas that they could keep those populations, continuing to grow, for the animals and making sure that the nature and the world that we live in, within harmony and synchronicity. So it's all kind of moving together.…”
Julie also shared the concept of energy in Lenni Lenape culture with us. “...when you put your hands in the water, and your have your hands going through and you see all the ripples that are going back and forth as you're going through the water and what if You could do that with the air and you could see the ripples that are going in and out with the air. And you could see how we all kind of affect each other, because if we move one way, it could affect something over here, or if we move this way expect another area, so this is how you create conflict and also how you create harmony is through the energy that you use and how you've learned from nature, and you can harmonize with it. And one of the things that I really enjoy doing, like all my lunches is i'll sit there and i'll kind of watch the birds, you know and they're out there, flying around. And something I've noticed is that when they're up there in the air and they're flying around there ebbing and flowing together and they have this synchronicity and they're going back and forth, just like the ripples in the water. And when you're looking at the birds flock. You kind of have to ask yourself some questions. You know why are they doing that and part of it is they're protecting each other than making themselves look like bigger than they really are so bigger birds don't come and take them out. And when you synchronize with nature and you watch and you observe these things that you see doesn't matter if it's birds or ripples in the water or whatever. And you ask questions, you can find ways to harmonize the nature yourself, and you can also find way to create a synchronicity within each other, and that is how the native Americans lived and what they were. You know, experiencing upon the land...”
Are you inspired by the practice that Julie just introduced? Take a moment and walk among nature. Listen to the creek’s local birds like the spotted great blue heron. If you are enjoying this experience, there are plenty of ways to get involved. You can volunteer to help out as a stream keeper, a Tacony Park keeper, a donator, or an intern at Tookany Frankford Watershed Partnership.
Sometimes people decide to celebrate together through a collective walking activity. We call that a “parade.” Did you know that along with the famous Fourth of July parades, there were also magnificent Halloween parades in Glenside? Not only did Glenside residents join, but hundreds of people from other communities would come to experience the huge evening parades. The town would be jam-packed with groups of walking people laughing in excitement and joy.
Each year, there were three to four hundred people dressed up in costumes. Mrs. Rice won Best Adult Comic Costume in 1924. She lived on Bickley Road, where we are walking right now. With her talented mind and skilled hands, she “startled the onlookers by appearing in a unique dress which made it seem she was walking on her hands with her feet waving in the air,” according to a local newsclip. Her Husband’s costume was especially original as well. “The upper part of his body was concealed by a large model of the ZR-3 airship…” It seems that creativity, plus some quirkiness, has always been in the blood of Glensiders.
When you are ready, we are going to check out the next spot on Royal Avenue. When you see it, turn right into it. I will leave you to Lexie, your next guide.
Section # 6 The Office of International Programs
Hello my name is Lexie and I am a senior at Arcadia University with a Pre-Art Therapy major and a Gender and Sexuality Studies minor.
Before you reach busy Easton Road, you will come upon a two story house on your left. It is the Arcadia University’s Office of International Programs, also known as OIP.
Arcadia University houses multiple international programs. About 76 percent of Arcadia students will use their passports at least once during their time at the university. Some first-year students are able to study abroad in London, and as they advance through college, students become eligible for other international programs.
OIP also hosts the English Language Institute which helps students and non-degree community members enhance their English skills. OIP also assists students with acquiring their visa prior to beginning classes, and when students are enrolled at the university it offers additional advising and academic support, along with fun social and multicultural events. "Preview", which is a short-term study abroad program, is a course offered to freshmen and new transfer students. Classes meet weekly during the Spring semester, and culminate with a study abroad trip over the week of spring break. The program was created in 1994 and takes students all over the world. Some recent destinations include China, Oman, United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Costa Rica. For upperclassmen and graduate students, OIP also offers Global Field Study courses. These courses have a global focus with a 1-4 week travel component; previous destinations have included Ireland, Dominica, Fiji, Peru, and Ethiopia. Later, when you see all the flags on Arcadia campus, you will see how far our students have traveled across the world!
The OIP building was built as a family residence in the 1920s. Some of the original architectural elements of the home are still intact, such as the marble entryway and staircase, the built-in bookshelves and period woodwork throughout the building, and a sunroom on the left side of the building featuring a water fountain. One fun fact is that the home's original claw foot bathtub is still located on the 3rd floor, but nobody uses it at OIP of course!
Head back to Bickley Road and keep walking south through the peaceful residential landscape. In about 3 minutes, you will see the first fork on your right: Forsythe Avenue. Take it, then merge onto Easton Road. Once you are on Easton Road, just keep walking and soon Michael’s, our next stop, will be in front of you. Since you will be walking into a busy intersection, please pause this audio guide for now and pay attention to the traffic. We will resume at the diner; see you soon!
Section # 7 Michael's Family Restaurant & Diner
Hello everyone. My name is Olivia, my pronouns are she/her, and I am graduating this summer with a degree in Art History and Business. On this part of the walk, we are going to examine Michael’s Diner.
Family diners are an iconic piece of American culture. Almost every town has its beloved diner, where people from all walks of life can stop and be comforted with food away from home. With home-made food, affordable prices, and late night hours, Michael’s is a hangout for local families, seniors, little children, late night workers, and tired travelers just passing through.
Located just across from the college campus, Michael’s is also an integral part of the college experience for many Arcadia students. Whether they’re going there late at night on the weekends with friends, or early in the morning after their 6 a.m. sports practice, there’s at least one group of students grabbing a bite at any given time. They have a huge menu. Yes, we are talking about over 200 items. Every student has their favorite food and specific instructions. Following her best friend’s example, Tess always asks for her hashbrowns to be well done. This way, they come out darker and crisper, making everything even more delicious!
Like a lot of diners, Michael’s isn’t particularly known for its stellar decor, smiling staff, and spotless floors. But to me, that’s what gives it character and personality. There’s something homey and comfortable created by the familiar smell of burnt toast and fries, the one host who is always there to settle your tab, and the empty salad bar after midnight.
Lots of Arcadians eat at Michael’s for the first time on visits to the campus or during orientation, so by the end of four years, scooting into a booth at Michael’s at 2am is like coming home after a long day. When I think about Michael’s, dozens of happy memories come to mind: deciding what to order on my first visit when my mom dropped me off at college, writing my first research paper in a booth by the window, waiting an hour in the snow with my roommate for a table on a Sunday during the church rush, crying in the corner about a rejection letter from a dream job. But mostly, when I think about Michaels, I see my friends' faces. I think about the first group photo we have of the six of us, curled up in a booth and snapped by a Michaels’ waitress after a concert. I think about all of the hot chocolate, and fries, and secrets we shared here. One of us was up for Michaels’ at any given time, and the others would, without fail, put on their shoes and their jackets and follow along.
Once you are finished fantasizing about those wonderfully greasy late night snacks, let’s keep walking south on Easton Road for about 2 minutes. A crosswalk should appear ahead of you, next to the number 22 bus stop. Cross over; be careful with the traffic. We will meet you on the campus.
Section # 8 The Oldest Chestnut Tree
Hello my name is Jess and I am a junior at Arcadia University. I am currently majoring in Art History and minoring in Arts Entrepreneurship and Curatorial Studies and Photography.
Once you have crossed over the street and are standing in front of Arcadia University’s old archway, we are going to walk straight through, into campus itself. After you walk through, you are going to continue walking on the bricked path, which we call the walk of pride, and that is going to lead you straight to the Grey Towers Castle. During this walk to the castle I am going to tell you about the oldest american chestnut tree found on campus.
We have a special tree on Arcadia’s campus, but we have decided not to point it out on this tour. Why? We will explain in a little bit. In 1904, a fungus was brought in by mistake, when introducing the cultivation of Japanese chestnut trees into the United States for commercial purposes. It spread so quickly that it ended up killing four billion trees in the first half of the 20th Century. Because of that blight, the American Chestnut was near extinction for decades. Luckly, we have a healthy American Chestnut tree on campus. This rare tree survived the blight, along with others in Chestnut Hill. And that’s how Chestnut Hill got its name, after the abundant chestnut trees located there.
This particular leafy survivor was discovered accidentally. An arborist came to the school and pointed it out to the campus facilities manager Tom. Since then Tom and his team have taken loving care of the tree. Meanwhile, Tom has been trying to keep this preservation project at a low profile. We want to respect this work in protecting the tree, so we won’t lead you to it. Instead, trust us when we tell you that this American Chestnut tree is healthy and happy. It still blooms in the springtime every year, with white fuzzy flowers. After flowering, it produces spiny balls. Look around, and maybe you will find them scattered around on the ground. But shh… let’s keep this a secret between us.
Section # 9 The Grey Towers Castle
Welcome to the last checkpoint of our walking tour. This is Pan, and I am the lead artist for this project. Let’s step back, and look at the Grey Towers Castle.
Even though it was built in 1893, the castle was designed to be a collage of great European architectural periods, from the Renaissance to Rococo. The castle is also rumored to have been built entirely without the use of nails. The grand hall features hundreds of balusters which were carved by one person for consistency. It took that skilled artisan seven years to complete. On the exterior, there is even a gargoyle made to look like the initial owner of the building, William Harrison. Because of its astonishing architecture, Grey Towers Castle was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1985.
This monumental building is made up of a metal foundation, stone walls, and glass panels; it is also composed of many complex flavours and narratives. The story started with the taste of sweetness, sweetness from sugar. William Harrison ran the Franklin Sugar Refinery. While he acquired wealth from this highly profitable business, sugar has a bitter and painful taste for many. Beginning in the 16th century, millions of enslaved Africans and their descendants were forced to plant, harvest, chop, boil, then crystallize a heavy and unwieldy crop--cane--to make sugar. From the early days of slavery, the sugar industry shaped global systems of labor and capital distribution and still heavily impacts our society even now.
In 1929, Arcadia University, formally known as Beaver College, purchased Grey Towers Castle. Harrison’s private 40-room-home became classrooms and other educational facilities. Yet education, one of the most crucial pathways to opportunity, still possesses great racial inequality. Walking alongside the castle’s beautiful chiseled structure, reflect on its history rooted in the sugar trade. Think about your own backgrounds, review the history of your family's wealth, and ask yourself: Who made the castle possible? Who makes your life possible? What is your responsibility?
Today, Grey Towers Castle is a vital part of campus life. Some freshmen even live in the suite-style dorms on the third floor, experiencing the building as the Harrisons once did. Downstairs, the Rose and Mirror Rooms frequently host lectures, book reading, panel discussions, and Senior Capstone Presentations. In addition to this, it also serves as a space for annual events like the Community and Civic Engagement's Empty Bowl Dinner.
Kat is the president of the student organization, Society for Castle Restoration. She tells us that the beauty of the castle is not only in its architecture, but also in its accessibility. It is a community space, a host for events, a home for students, and a beloved landmark that serves many. With its history of oppression, the castle is a fortress, it dominates but also protects. More importantly, it has the great potential to atone as a place of comfort and unifying the community.
Ending
This concludes our walking tour. Thank you for listening to us, and walking with us! This project was created in 2021 by a cohort of student apprentices at Arcadia University: Olivia Armacost, Tamara Grace Davis, Timothy Elder, Pamela Ojopi, Lexie Puls, Rey’Na Riggans, Jessica Smith, Tess Weber and directing artist Yixuan Pan. Tamara Grace Davis composed the music. This project is sponsored by the Arcadia Public Art project, a program of Arcadia University, and made possible with support from Cheltenham Township and the Old York Road Historical Society, as well as many residents and friends of our Glenside community. Please walk around or find a comfortable bench to enjoy the rest of your day in Glenside!
