October 26, 2006 Issue

Richard Wood Snowden
The ups and downs of a new age landlord

Because of substantial demand, the Local is republishing the three-part series on Richard Snowden which appeared in 2001. This is the entire series as it appeared in July and August of that year.
July 26, 2001

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October 23, 2006
Inquirer writes about latest bowman properties situation.

©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

St. Paul’s focuses on the future as it celebrates its past
The 150th anniversary of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill allowed the congregation to revitalize itself and welcome a new, promising rector
by KRISTIN PAZULSKI

The Rt. Rev. Frank T. Griswold III, former rector of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and current bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America, will be presiding over St. Paul’s 150th anniversary service on Nov. 5. (Photo courtesy of St. Paul’s church)

Although the yearlong celebration honoring the 150th anniversary of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill concludes on Sunday, parishioners will have a lasting remembrance through A Parish Journey: 1856-2006, a history of the parish written by local historian David R. Contosta.

In its glossy 266 pages, the book tells the story of a church that has survived dramatic social and economic changes since it was established in 1856. Ten chapters highlight not only the church’s history — as it develops from a summer chapel for Philadelphia’s affluent, to a church frequently expanding its walls around its growing congregation — but also society’s challenges and changes throughout the 150-year history.

St. Paul’s, at 22 E. Chestnut Hill Ave., was accepted as an official member of the Episcopal diocese in May 1856, although the first vestry, which had come together in 1855 to found the church, had hired the church’s first rector, Alexander Shiris on Nov. 5 of that year.

Coincidentally, Nov. 5 falls on a Sunday — All Saints’ Sunday — and the church purposefully scheduled its celebratory anniversary service for that day, exactly 151 years after the first rector was hired.

After Sunday’s 10:30 a.m. service, parish families present will receive a copy of A Parish Journey, provided by the private donors who underwrote the book. The book will not be available to the public until Nov. 7, and then it will be available only at Border’s Book Store in Chestnut Hill.

Arabella Pope, a former rector’s warden, and her husband have been parishioners and actively involved in the church since they moved to the city nearly 30 years ago.

Cafette: love stirred into every dish for 15 years
by LEN LEAR

Running a neighborhood restaurant in Chestnut Hill is as hard as herding cats, but Jan Wilson, who is to sweetness what yeast is to beer, has managed the feat for almost 15 years. It hasn’t hurt that her personality isas smooth as aged cognac.

Jan’s baby, Cafette, at 8136 Ardleigh St., is the only restaurant in the Chestnut Hill area that is not only on a non-major road but is the only business on a residential street that otherwise has only single-family homes.

“We’re in our 15th year, and I can honestly say it’s been a lot of fun,” said Wilson, 48, with a soufflé of pride. “The staff really gets along so well, and we stir love into the food.”

The executive chef in charge of the stirring is lifelong Mt. Airy resident John McLaughlin, 30, formerly a chef at Goat Hollow in Mt. Airy and Rembrandt’s in Fairmount. His cooking is as reliable as sunshine. “John is very sensitive to our mission,” said Jan, “which is creative homestyle cooking. I can remember seeing him around the neighborhood growing up (in Mt. Airy). He was very handsome and just a little older than my daughter, who now teaches at the University of Pittsburgh. I love John as a chef and as a person. It’s nice to get the whole package.”

Perri prevails, Mount places third at AACA Champs
by TOM UTESCHER

Mount St. Joseph Academy cross country coach Karen Orr (left) with the seven runners who competed in the AACA varsity race (l-R): Casey Lumpkin, League Champion Tori Perri, Meghan Cheek, Sarah Collier, Becky Tate, Emma Pacheco, Chelsea Clark. (Photo by Tom Utescher)

Unchallenged, as usual, a familiar, elfin figure approached the finish line approached the finish line last Wednesday at the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies Cross Country Championships.

Mount St. Joseph Academy ninth-grader Tori Perri covered the 3.1-mile course at Bucks County’s Tyler State Park in 19 minutes and 2.4 seconds to win the league meet, adding an exclamation point to her undefeated dual-meet season in the AACA. Following the freshman across the line were three other runners in the 19-minute bracket: sophomore Colleen Gilmore (19:30) and senior Kathleen Davies (19:32) of St. Basil Academy, and junior Kelly McEldrew (19:50) of Gwynedd Mercy.

The temperature for the race was unseasonably warm, in the 70’s, but Perri pointed out “I like the warm weather. I felt really good and I had a good race today.”

The pace might have been faster if not for the downpours that had saturated the area on Tuesday, causing the meet to be postponed one day and making for poor footing on parts of the course.