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Ceremony Honoring Bacon and Charles E. Peterson

Society Hill Civic Association Honors Edmund N. Bacon and Charles E. Peterson With Commemorative Marker

Photographed with the commemorative marker, from left: Libby Brown, Stanhope Brown, Penny Batchelor, Bernice Hamel, Edmund Bacon, Darlene Cavalier, Gregory Heller. (Credit: Richard Lush)

On Thursday, May 26, 2005 the Society Hill Civic Association held an unveiling ceremony for an interpretive marker, honoring the achievements of Edmund N. Bacon and preservationist Charles E. Peterson in the revival of Society Hill in the 1950s and 60s. The marker was the culmination of a project several years in the making to commemorate the impact of Society Hill's "Founding Fathers."

The ceremony took place on the north side of Spruce Street in front of St. Joseph's Way—one of the greenways Mr. Bacon designed for Society Hill. Nearly 100 people assembled for the ceremony. Mr. Bacon, who is currently 95 years old was joined by his daughter, Hilda Bacon. Mr. Peterson, who passed away last year was represented by his secretary and long-time family friend, Hilda Sanchez.

In attendance were 1st District City Councilman Frank DiCicco, At-Large Councilman James F. Kenney, and State Representative Marie Lederer. Also present were Paul Levy, Executive Director of the Center City District and Wayne S. Spilove, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. The Ed Bacon Foundation was represented by Board Members Hilda Bacon, James L. Brown IV, Jackie Gusic, and Gregory Heller.

A number of prominent design professionals and long-time colleagues of Bacon and Peterson were in attendance, including John Bower, Gerald Cope, Walter DiLessio, John Andrew Gallery, Robert Geddes, James Kise, Theodore Newbold, and G. Craig Schelter.

The ceremony was presided over by Stanhope Brown, former head of the Penn's Landing Development Corporation. Mr. Brown spoke about the evolution of the project and thanked several people who played seminal roles in creating the marker, including Penny Batchelor, Libby Brown, Darlene Cavalier, Bernice Hamel, and Gregory Heller.

Mr. Brown's remarks were followed by speeches from Councilman DiCicco and Civic Association President Tania Rorke. Mr Bacon gave a moving speech recalling the events leading up to Society Hill's revival. He included a "Quaker moment of silence" for Mr. Peterson. Ms. Sanchez then read remarks from Mr. Peterson's daughter.

Following the speeches, the entire congregation shifted to the street edge, and, to great applause, Mr. Bacon pulled away a white sheet from the marker for its formal unveiling. The event was followed by a reception in St. Peter's House.