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The Devolution of St. Edward the Confessor in Philadelphia

August 5, 2025

Located at 8th and York Streets, the Church of St. Edward the Confessor has long stood as a defining feature of North Philadelphia’s religious and architectural landscape. Though the site originally held an Episcopal church, it was acquired by the Catholic Archdiocese in the late 19th century to meet the spiritual needs of a growing […]

Macy’s Herald Square: A Cultural Icon of Manhattan’s Retail History

August 5, 2025

At the heart of Manhattan, Macy’s Herald Square stands as a towering symbol of American retail history. Opening in 1902, this sprawling department store became the new home of Macy’s flagship operations after relocating from 14th Street. Though the move pushed the store further north than most competitors at the time, its prime location at […]

Emerald Square Mall: Can Massachusetts’ Retail Icon Make a Comeback?

August 5, 2025

Opened in 1989, Emerald Square Mall was envisioned as a premier shopping destination for southern Massachusetts and nearby Rhode Island communities. Built near the intersection of Route 1 and I-295, the three-story enclosed mall offered over half a million square feet of retail space and drew heavy foot traffic during its early years. The mall’s […]

From Retail Hub to Industrial Powerhouse: Crystal Mall’s New Chapter in CT

August 5, 2025

Located in Waterford, Connecticut, just off Route 85, Crystal Mall once played a key role in the region’s retail economy. Spanning over 780,000 square feet, it was one of the state’s largest shopping centers and housed more than 100 stores at its peak. For decades, the mall served the surrounding communities of Groton, New London, […]

Tracing America’s Roots: A Journey Through Early Capitals Along Route 1

August 5, 2025

Before Washington, D.C. became the permanent capital of the United States, the federal government moved frequently—sometimes out of necessity, sometimes by design. Between 1774 and 1800, Congress met in eight different cities. Today, many of those former capitals sit along or near Route 1, forming a historic trail that traces the early growing pains of […]

Explore the Legacy of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. at His Beverly Farms Home

August 4, 2025

Located in Beverly Farms, the Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. House was built in the 1880s and purchased by Holmes in 1909. A former Union Army officer, Harvard Law professor, and eventual Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Holmes used the home as his summer residence for nearly three decades. Though modest in scale, the […]

Explore the Historic Hospital Point Light Station in Beverly, MA

August 4, 2025

Hospital Point Light Station sits at the end of Bayview Avenue in Beverly, MA. Built in 1872, the 45-foot white brick tower was constructed to guide ships safely into Salem and Beverly harbors. The name “Hospital Point” dates back to the Revolutionary War, when a smallpox hospital operated on the site. The point also served […]

Elevenses Café & Bakery – Brunswick, Maine

August 4, 2025

Elevenses opened in early 2025 at 50 Maine Street in Brunswick, Maine, in the former Kings & Queens Barbershop. The café takes its name from the mid-morning meal in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and leans into that theme with both menu and atmosphere. Owners Nicole and Chris Juntura—English majors and longtime Tolkien fans—designed the space […]

Richmond, VA’s Tobacco Legacy: The ‘Big Ciggy’ Landmark on I-95

August 3, 2025

You can see the totem as you drive north on I-95, with the skyline of Richmond , VA visible in the distance.  Richmond’s economy was built on tobacco, and “Big Ciggy” at 3601 Commerce Road has marked the epicenter of the industry since  it was erected in 1973.  Designed by Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings […]

Islamorada’s Iconic – Toilet Seat Cut

August 2, 2025

While kayak fishing off the coast of Islamorada, near Tavernier creek just inside of Cowpens Cut,  I came across one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen in the Florida Keys. Paddling up a channel I started to see a bunch of toilet seats mounted on posts on both sides and found out later the […]

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