Conservancy lights the night with historic images

Posted 10/11/18

Passersby look at a display during the Chestnut Hill conservancy’s Night of Lights on Friday, Oct. 4. (Photo by Bradley Maule)[/caption] by Pete Mazzaccaro The Chestnut Hill Conservancy held its …

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Conservancy lights the night with historic images

Posted

Passersby look at a display during the Chestnut Hill conservancy’s Night of Lights on Friday, Oct. 4. (Photo by Bradley Maule)[/caption]

by Pete Mazzaccaro

The Chestnut Hill Conservancy held its second annual “Night of Lights” on Friday Oct. 4, which placed combined historic photos and videos from the conservancy’s archives, projected onto the walls and windows of buildings, with various lighting displays and lots of street music.

It was a pleasant evening on a crowded Germantown Avenue where the preponderance of the conservancy’s projected displays was located. At each location volunteers in black top hats discussed the images and sometimes told stories. The effect was to turn the Avenue into one large interactive museum of the neighborhood’s history.

In a kickoff of the event at the Water Tower park along Ardleigh Street, both executive director Lori Salganicoff and conservancy board president Eileen Javers thanked numerous volunteers and supporters for making the event possible.

“This is the Conservancy’s gift to the community and we can only do it with your support,” Salganicoff said.

Javers spoke about the success of last year’s Night of Lights and what convinced the conservancy that it needed to continue the event.

“We found that long-timers began to share their own stories with each other and people they had not known before,” she said. “New residents discovered more about their new neighborhood, and everyone learned stories of family businesses and local artisans that were only quietly known.”

After those remarks, State Representative Chris Rabb and City Councilwoman Cindy Bass flipped the ceremonial switches for the event, turning on lit displays and triggering the siren of a firetruck.

Pete Mazzaccaro can be reached at pete@chestnuthilllocal.com or 215- 248-8802.

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