In 1822, construction began on a new structure outside of Philadelphia, on ten acres of elevated farmland known as Cherry Hill. Made of massive stone blocks, it would be, for a time, the largest and most expensive building in the United States. Architect John Haviland designed the building to resemble a gothic castle, saying he … Continue reading The Gothic Prison and Cries No Human Ear Can Hear

Over 150 years ago, every community in the United States set its clocks to noon based on when the sun reached its highest position in the sky; as a result, when it was noon in Washington, D.C., it was closer to 12:30 in New York, only 11 in Philadelphia. Before 1883, there were 144 local … Continue reading What TIME is it?!