Philly Reflections

A home on Antique Row - Pine Street Philideliphia, PA

On Friday before heading out to the airport for our flight back to St. Louis we took a whirlwind tour of Philly just to get a good overview of the city. It's a good thing to do when you first arrive or when you don't have a lot of time, then you can get an idea of what you would like to go back and see or spend more time with. So as we bumped along over cobblestone streets, and uneven pavement I took my little Kodak and shot scene after scene through the double-decker bus windows. Most of the time you don't really know what you are getting until you get home and download to the computer.

This photo took on an eeriness when I caught the face of this woman looking back at me through the green shuttered window. I think she is just a face on a painting but I'm not sure if the painting is covering the window or just propped up behind it. Or maybe, just maybe a ghostly aberration?

The Union League of Philadelphia

This is The Union League of Philadelphia building. What is funny here is the reflection of the yellow ladder in the window of the tour bus, which makes it look like the ladder was placed against the building to perhaps help hang the wreaths in the window.

We drove past this building on our arrival and the cab driver mentioned to us it was The Union League building. We gave it an eagle eye later as we walked by trying to figure out what went on there. It seemed like a gentleman's club as we only saw well dressed men going in and out. When I got home I gave it a Google.

We weren't far off, it was founded in 1862 as a Patriotic Society to support the policies of Abraham Lincoln. Very exclusive, very expensive and very conservative. And up until twenty-five years ago very male. Turns out we were there on a very historic occasion, Joan Carter became the first female president of this venerable club on December 15, 2010 though women only represent about 500 of its 3,200 members.

Ms. Carter is co-founder and president of UM Holdings Ltd. a private investment firm active in healthcare and pharmaceutical businesses. She also was a former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Oh and in case you might be interested in a membership, it's $6,500 to join and the monthly fee is $345. I am sure there might be a few other requirements other than "patriotism", which Ms. Carter was quick to mention "if you don't share that, then you are probably not comfortable here". The club's motto is "Love of Country Leads."