Treaty Elm event at Penn Treaty Park Thursday, artifacts on display

The anniversary of the falling of the Great Elm beneath which William Penn signed a peace treaty with the Lenape Indians will be marked with stories and music Thursday night.

The enormous tree fell March 8, 1810, during a storm. Using old records, local historian Ken Milano has marked the location of that tree, at what is now Penn Treaty Park. He’ll tell stories at the site during the half-hour commemoration, which begins at 7 p.m. and will end with Amazing Grace.

The event, organized by John Connors, founder of the online Penn Treaty Museum, serves as a prelude for events that will mark the 200th Anniversary of the falling of the tree next year.

Penn Treaty Park is located at the intersection of Delaware Avenue and Beach Street in Fishtown.

Following the ceremony and also this weekend, Bob Murphy, owner of Fishtown Fairways, will host an exhibit of treaty tree art and artifacts from Connor’s collection.

The display will include a box made from the tree and paintings and prints of it.

Fairways will be open from 2 to 6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

In April, a larger portion of Connor’s collection will comprise an “almost museum quality show” at the space, which Murphy describes as a “multi-media creative center” – because it will at various times function like a gallery or a museum, and host book signings, films and lectures.

Fairways is located at 200 East Girard Ave, at Shackamaxon Street. 

–Posted by Kellie Patrick Gates