TwistedPhilly

Episode 96 In the musical Hamilton, Angelica Schuyler may have called New York the greatest city in the world, but what Lin Manuel Miranda left out of the show is the scandal that rocked Alexander Hamilton’s career, nearly destroyed his marriage and was the basis of the Reynolds Pamphlet, happened in Philadelphia. Hamilton’s Philadelphia home near 3rd and Walnut Streets was just a few blocks from the the boarding house where 23-year-old Mariah Reynolds rented a room with her husband James. Reynolds was a young woman from New York whose husband used her to ensnare Alexander Hamilton in an extortion scheme through an affair that lasted for about year from the summer of 1791 through June 1792. Learn about the romantic scandal that rocked the career and marriage of one of our most notable founding fathers, a story from the city of brotherly love and sisterly affection. TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available wherever you listen to podcasts. Production assistance is provided by Jeremy Collins, creator and host of the Podcasts we listen to podcast and the Facebook community podcasts we listen to.  Special thanks to Jeremy Collins and Liv Searfass for the voice acting in this episode. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show, including the locations of Alexander Hamilton and Maria Reynold’s Philadelphia residences.  Research sources for this episode include: Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, 2004, Penguin Books The Notorious Affair of Mrs. Reynolds by Robert C Alberts, February 1972 (www.americanheritage.com) Maria Reynolds and the First U.S. Political Sex Scandal by Patti Wigington, October 2018 (www.thoughtco.com) America’s First “Hush Money” Scandal: Alexander Hamilton’s Torrid Affair with Maria Reynolds by Kyle Swenson, March 2018, The Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) Alexander Hamilton’s Complicated Relationship to Slavery  by Christoher Klien, July 2020 (www.history.com) A Guide to Alexander Hamilton’s Philadelphia by Visit Philadelphia, October 2024 (www.visitphilly.com) Where Eliza and Alexander Hamilton Lived in Philadelphia by Susan Holloway Scott Blog Post, July 2017 (www.susanholidayscott.com) Founders Online: The Reynolds Pamphlet by Alexander Hamilton, August 1797 (www.founders.archives.gov) Founders Online: Documents and correspondence to and/or from Alexander Hamilton, James Reynolds, Maria Reynolds, George Washington, Henry Seckel, Fredrick Muhelnberg The post Alexander Hamilton and Maria Reynolds in Philadelphia appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 95 Step Outside Show is a Philadelphia based artist collective showcasing the street art and graffiti scene. Their latest show featured works by 100 artists primarily from Philly but also a few from Baltimore and New York.  This was their third major show  – all of their events are interactive – visitors can tag and leave your own mark while you celebrate the diverse collection of street art and artists featured in the exhibits. Step Outside Show is creating a space where street artists can display and sell their work, giving the visitors an opportunity to experience the ephemeral nature of street art while also creating a little sense of permanence in something that is so fleeting – because we never know how long some pieces on our streets will last. Step Outside Show takes no cut for exhibitions, all monies from artwork sold go to the artists, which puts money back into our communities. I’m thrilled to be joined by Doomed Future, Robo Q 4 and Raw G Zero to talk about Step Outside Show. TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available wherever you listen to podcasts. Additional production assistance is provided by Jeremy Collins, creator and host of the podcasts we listen to podcast, and founder of the online community Podcasts We Listen to. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations, people and stories I discuss in the show.  The post Step Outside Show Artist Collective appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 93 In 1892, architect Willis G. Hale began construction on a lavish apartment building on Broad Street in north Philadelphia. What began as a turn of the century residential multi family structure evolved over the last 120 years into something so much more – the Divine Lorraine. This is the story of that evolution, lead by a man named Reverend Major Jealous Divine, better known as Father Divine. Father Divine purchased the Lorraine in the 1940s and turned it into Philadelphia’s first integrated hotel. He ran the Peace Mission Movement from this ornate behemoth of a building, and after his death his wife and followers fought off efforts by Jim Jones to take over the movement. Research sources for this episode include: The Radical Restaurants of Father Divine, Founder of Peace Mission (eater.com) by Vince Dixon Global Non-Violent Action Data Base Philly History Blog – The Divine Lorraine Hotel The Divine Inspiration of Jim Jones by Adam Morris The Guardian: An Apocalyptic Cult, 900 Dead: Remembering the Jonestown Massacre 40 Years On by J Oliver Conroy Philadelphiabuildings.org Divinelorrainehotel.com OFCRealty.com – Naked Philly; History Buff Willis G. Hale Pastor Jones meets Reverend M J Divine, better known as Father Divine by Jim Jones TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available wherever you listen to podcasts. The post The Divine Lorraine appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 92 Ona Maria Judge – better known as Oney – was born into slavery in 1774 at a familiar location in Virginia: Mount Vernon. Oney’s mother Betty was brought to Mount Vernon after George Washington married Martha in 1759. Betty, and her descendants, were considered the “property” of Martha Washington’s first husband, Daniel Custis, who’d died just a few years before Martha married George. At the age of 10, Oney Judge was Martha’s attendant, caring for Martha’s wardrobe and her personal needs. Then, George became the President. He and Martha chose a number of enslaved members of their household to relocate with them to New York, and soon thereafter Philadelphia. While in Philadelphia, Oney saw free Black men and women – building a community outside the bondage of slavery. After more than six years as an enslaved woman in the President’s house in Philadelphia, and a lifetime of slavery before that, Oney Judge made the courageous decision to flee the Washington’s household. She was considered a fugitive, one that George Washington refused let go. Research sources for this episode include: Never Caught: The Washington’s’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong DunbarThey Were Her Property – White women as Slave Owners in the American South, by  Stephane Jones-RogersPennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography The president’s house in Philadelphia – rediscovery of a lost landmark by Edward LawlerLives Bound Together: Slavery at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, an exhibition on view in the Donald W. Reynolds Museum & Education Center from 2016–2020ushistory.org – The President’s House in Pennsylvania; For Whom Will the Liberty Bell Toll? From Controversy to Collaboration by Gary B. NashEncyclopediaVirginia.orgNationalParkService.org: Excavating the President’s HouseMarthaWashington.us – Archive The post The Story of Oney Judge appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 91 – Originally released February 2020 Women in white, midnight Mary, lonely roads all over the US and other parts of the world have their own legends of a young woman in a pale dress, wandering in the middle of the night searching for someone to give them a ride. Sometimes they’re searching for their true love. They hitch a ride with an unsuspecting motorist, or they mysteriously appear in someone’s car. These forlorn ladies are doomed to roam the roadways for all eternity, until their beloveds return. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, a holiday usually considered a celebration of romantic love, lets throw a little horror into the mix. In this episode you’ll hear stories of romance that ended with at least one partner tethered to this mortal coil in the form of a woman in white, and the history behind these lovelorn hauntings. Research sources for this episode include: Big Book of Pennsylvania Ghost Stories by Mark Nesbitt and Patty WilsonGhosts of Southwestern Pennsylvania by Thomas Whiteyourbeavercounty.comPittsburgh Post Gazette Archives 1910 – 1980Altoona Tribune Archives 1920 – 1940Bristol Daily Courier Archives 1935Baltimore Evening Sun Archives 1935 TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show.  The post The Women in White appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 90 – Originally released January 2020 Content warning: this episode contains discussions about sexual assault and murder. Listener discretion is advised. Between the summer of 1997 and August 1999, six women in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood in Center City, Philadelphia, were raped by a man known only as the Center City Rapist. One woman, Shannon Schieber, was murdered in May 1998. All of these attacks occurred within about five blocks of one another. The first two attacks were little more than one block apart, yet it took years before these assaults were linked by the Philadelphia Police Department. In the spring of 2001, a series of assaults in Fort Collins, CO, almost mirrored the attacks in Philadelphia. The trail of the Center City Rapist went cold until police from different states worked together to identify the man who terrorized two cities thousands of miles apart over a span of five years. This is part two of a two-part episode about the victims and survivors of the Center City Rapist. If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual assault, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.   Research sources for this episode include: The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)The National Sexual Violence Resource CenterThe Philadelphia Inquirer Archives 1997 – 2004The Philadelphia Daily News Archives 1997 – 2004Inquirer Magazine Archives: A Baffling Case,  by Barbara Boyer, July 21, 2002,The Guardian: Investigating Rape in Philadelphia: How One City’s Crisis Stands to Help Others by Joanna WaltersThe Daily Pennsylvanian: The Story of Shannon Schieber by 34th Street, January 22, 2004The Marshall Project: Rape isn’t rape, is it? by Christian Miller and Bob MeagherThe Washington Post: Maryland Politics by John Wagner, February 13, 2013People Magazine Investigates: Terror in Philadelphia (available for purchase on YouTube)The Fort Collins Coloradoan Archives 2000 – 2004Catholic Mobilizing NetworkThe Catholic Review TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show.  The post The Center City Rapist: Part 2 appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

 Episode 89 – Originally released January 2020 Content warning: this episode contains discussions about sexual assault and murder. Listener discretion is advised. Between the summer of 1997 and August 1999, six women in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood in Center City, Philadelphia, were raped by a man known only as the Center City Rapist. One woman, Shannon Schieber, was murdered in May 1998. All of these attacks occurred within about five blocks of one another. The first two attacks were little more than one block apart, yet it took years before these assaults were linked by the Philadelphia Police Department. An investigation by the Philadelphia Inquirer in 1999 uncovered a period of more than a decade from the mid ’80s to the late ’90s when 30% of reported crimes were classified as non criminal emergencies. At least two of the assaults committed by the center city rapist fell into this classification. DNA went untested, and a 911 call made the morning Shannon Schieber was murdered was “unfounded.”  Today the Philadelphia Police Department is an example of how to effectively support sexual abuse survivors, how to respectfully care for them and bring their attackers to justice. Sadly, it wasn’t always this way and that culture of hiding violent crimes, in many cases sexually violent crimes against women, may have contributed to the rape of a dozen women across two states. This is part one of a two-part episode about the victims and survivors of the Center City Rapist. Research sources for this episode include: The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)The National Sexual Violence Resource CenterSerial Murder and the Psychology of Violent Crimes: Serial Killers and Serial Rapists Preliminary Comparison of Violence Typologies by Stacey Shipley & Bruce ArrigoThe American Criminal Law Review: Georgetown University Law Center – Tolling Time: How John Doe Law Indictments are Skirting Statutes of Limitations and Crippling the Criminal Justice System by Emily ClarkThe Philadelphia Inquirer Archives 1997 – 2004The Philadelphia Daily News Archives 1997 – 2004The Guardian: Investigating Rape in Philadelphia: How One City’s Crisis Stands to Help Others by Joanna WaltersThe Daily Pennsylvanian: The Story of Shannon Schieber by 34th Street, January 22, 2004 TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show.  The post The Center City Rapist: Part 1 appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 88 – Originally released December 2019 Last weekend I took the family to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a town about 90 minutes north of Philadelphia and known all over the country as Christmas Town (or Christmas City depending on with whom you speak!) Even Travel and Leisure magazine called Bethlehem the “most festive city in the entire country.” In this episode, I’ll take you for a walk down Main St. in Bethlehem. While we walk, we’ll learn about the founders of this town, the history of the Moravian Church and Moravian star, a college that dates back to the mid-1700s, haunted hotels and haunted dormitories, because in Bethlehem, even the Christmas stories have ghosts! Research sources include: The Lehigh Valley Press/Bethlehem PressPatch.com – Bethlehem, PAHistoric Hotel BethlehemThe Central Moravian Church of BethlehemThe Moravian ChurchMy Brilliant StarHistoric Bethlehem Museum & SitesMoravian College BlogsMonroe Historical – Moravian Star TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show.  The post Christmas Town: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 86 – Originally released November 2019 Content warning: this episode contains discussions about serial murder, family annihilators, and death of children.  Listener discretion is advised. Can we apply today’s true crime labels to centuries old murders?  Can a woman be considered a family annihilator?  Does murdering your family make you a serial killer?  How could what we know today about mental health disorders change the outcomes of jury verdicts and sentencing 100 years ago or more? In 1889 the city of Philadelphia hanged its first woman.  Sarah Jane Whiteling was found guilty of murder; she killed her husband and two young children.  People struggled to find a motive but there were none to be found other than greed.  Multiple medical examinations resulted in the same diagnosis: Sarah Whiteling was of sound mind when she made the decision to poison her family and calculating enough to spread out their deaths hoping to hide her crimes. Was Sara a monster?  Was she suffering a mental health disorder and therefore not accountable for her actions?  Did she just tire of her life in Victorian Philadelphia and long for something easier, something richer? Would this story be any different today, 130 years later? Research for this episode includes Death Penalty Information CenterThe Cambridge Journals of Medical History: Diagnosing Homicidal Mania; Forensic Psychiatry and the Purposeless MurderThe Old Bailey Papers (oldbaileyonline.org)Serial Killers and Sadistic Murderers: Up Close and Personal by Jack LevinPhiladelphia Inquirer 1888/89Philadelphia Times 1888Lancaster Semi Weekly New Era 1889 Pittsburgh Dispatch 1888/89Cincinnati Enquirer 1889New York Herald 1888 TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show.  The post Sarah Whiteling – the “Unnatural Mother” appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 85 – Originally released November 2019 In West Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park sit several historic homes, some dating back to the late 1700s. Long ago this section of the city was nothing but farmland and forests, an area where Philadelphians built country homes far from the noise and congestion of the city. These properties are rich with history, some are filled with hauntings, and all of them stand in what is known as the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood in Philadelphia, a community with it’s own history very different from the grand Fairmount charms that stand within the park. In this episode we’ll tour two of these historic homes and wander their stately rooms,. We’ll hear from a medium who believes the ghost of the original owner still resides in one of these properties and we’ll talk about how the residents of the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood are supporting their community, one with struggling schools and the second highest crime rate in Philadelphia. Research sources for this episode include: Historic Strawberry Mansion.orgThe Schuylkill Villas – the 2006 Loan ExhibitThe Charms of Fairmount Park – Park Charms.comUS History.org – Signers of the Declaration of IndependenceBiography of Robert Morris (http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/biographies/robert-morris/ )The Philadelphia Times: 1790-1870Haunted Philadelphia: Famous Phantoms, Sinister Sites and Lingering Legends by Darcy OordtCBS 3 Philadelphia TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show.  The post Fairmount Charms: Strawberry Mansion and Lemon Hill appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 84 – Originally Released October 2019 Pennsylvania is filled with folklore and ghost stories from all over the state: ghost stories, cryptids, haunted houses, and abandoned towns with misty forms wandering the forest.  These legends aren’t enough for me.  I always want to know the history behind the hauntings, what’s the real story that inspired the folk tales, and are these folk tales even based on truth? As we inch closer to Halloween, it’s time to gather ’round the fire for some scary tales from Philadelphia and other parts of the keystone state filled not only with strange sightings but the history behind these stories.  Were these ghosts real people, what was their story,  where and when did they live and why do we think they haunt the land of the living? Research for this episode includes: The Big Book of Pennsylvania Ghost Stories by Mark Nesbitt and Patty Wilson, available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and eBook on Google PlayTadeusz Walendowski, Polish American Historical Association, Polish American Studies Vol. LVII, No2 (Autumn 2011)Ghost Stories of Berks County by Charles Adams, Available on AmazonAn Autobiography of a Quack by Dr. Silas Wier Mitchell, published 1905Reading Eagle News, January, 2019The Lewisburg Chronicle 1905 – 1911The Belfonte Republican 1910-1911The Altoona Tribune 1910-1911The Altoona Mirror 1905-1906New York Academy of Medicine, Beyond the “Yellow Wallpaper” by Joanna GoldbergThe National Museum of Civil War Medicine TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show.  The post The History Behind the Hauntings appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 83 – Originally Released August 2019 Incorporated in 1855, Mount Moriah Cemetery sat high up on a hill next to Cobbs Creek at the edge of Southwest Philadelphia. Like Laurel Hill Cemetery in the 1830s, the location of Mount Moriah was chosen for it’s distance from the busy city, the pastoral setting and beautiful views. Originally 54 acres, the cemetery grew to over 200 acres before the turn of the century. For decades Mount Moriah was a beautiful, peaceful final resting place for many Philadelphians, but gradually the cemetery was allowed to decline. Vandalism, illegal dumping, mismanagement, and a lack of maintenance settled in at Mount Moriah Cemetery, which over time expanded to cross Cobbs Creak into Delaware County. Finally, in April 2011, without warning Mount Moriah Cemetery closed, even though they continued accepting burials up until the day they closed their gates. Enter the Friends of Mount Moriah, a group of dedicated a group of concerned, dedicated community members who didn’t sit around waiting for someone to fix it. They were the someones. For the past 8 years the Friends of Mount Moriah have cared for the cemetery, reclaiming half of the 140 acres that remains today. Today I’m joined by Ken Smith, Friends board member and long time volunteer. He’ll share the history of their organization, their work to preserve the cemetery and it’s history, and the support they provide to people all over the country who have friends and loved ones interred at Mount Moriah. Research sources for this episode include: FOMMCI – http://friendsofmountmoriahcemetery.org/Ken Smith, President of the Board, Friends of Mount Moriah CemeteryVanishing Philadelphia: Ruins of the Quaker City by JP WebsterWhat Happens When a Cemetery Dies, David Murrel for Philadelphia Magazine, 2016Philadelphia Inquirer Archives 1855 – 2011Hidden City Philadelphia TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show.  The post Mount Moriah Cemetery appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 82 – Originally Published August 2019 with special guest co-host Margo D., cohost of the Book vs. Movie podcast, Dorking Out and What a Creep podcasts Content warning: this episode includes discussions about addiction, assault, and death. Listener discretion is advised. Her faced graced the cover of vogue and cosmopolitan dozens of times.  She represented brands like Dior, Versace, Armani and Yves Saint Laurent.  She was photographed by some of the world’s greatest photographers including Francesco Scavullo and Richard Avedon.  She popularized the concept of a single name long before Madonna.  And she grew up in the great northeast – that’s northeast Philadelphia. Gia Marie Carangi moved to New York City in 1978 when she was barely 18 years old to pursue a career in modeling.  She’d been signed by the one of the biggest agencies in New York, Wilhelmina Models, Inc.   There was very little runway leading to success for Gia.  She landed and was almost instantly a superstar.  Within just three years her career was on the decline because of her struggle with drug addiction.  By 1983 she moved back to Philly permanently, hoping to overcome addiction and find a new path in life.  Sadly, Gia passed away in 1986 from AIDS related complications.  She was 26 years old.  This is the story of Gia Carangi, a woman whom many call America’s first supermodel.  There are other women who believe they hold that claim to fame,  but when you realize how quickly Gia rose to the level of the most desired model in the world, it’s hard to attach that phrase to anyone else.  Research sources for this episode include: Gia, HBO Docudrama, released January 31, 1998, directed by Michael Christofer, written by Michael Christofer and Jay McInerneyThing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia, written by former Philadelphia Magazine editor Stephen Fried, 1993Philadelphia Inquirer ArchivesPhiladelphia Daily LocalElle Magazine, April 2013 interview with Stephen FriedV Magazine, October 2014 interview with Sandy Linter20/20 January 6, 1983Sandy Linter and Harry King, 2012 interview  TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show.  The post The Story of Supermodel Gia Marie Carangi appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 81 – Originally Released July 2019 Content warning: this episode includes discussions about emotional and physical abuse of children, unlawful incarceration, and death because of suicide. Listener discretion is advised. NOTE: If you have not yet listened to part 1, pause this episode and listen to part 1 first. Judge Mark Ciavarella sent thousands of children from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, to juvenile detention centers for infractions that in many cases might have landed them in after school detention. But even the school districts preferred his heavy handed “zero tolerance” policies about juvenile crime. Instead of calling someone’s parents, schools often called the police, and contributed to the funnel that kept the state’s juvenile detention centers full, especially two centers: PA Child Care and Western PA Child Care. Over a period of years in the early to mid 2000s, judge Mark Ciavarella, and president judge Michael Conahan, accepted over $2.6 million in “finder’s fees” from the developers of two private detention centers. While they claimed this wasn’t a bribe, they entered into a placement agreement with these facilities, one that cost the state millions more and cost many children in Wilkes Barre, PA, their futures. In 2009 Ciavarella and Conahan, along with others whom we’ll discuss in this episode, were charged with racketeering and conspiracy. They had a plea agreement in place which would have landed them in jail for about 7 years, but Ciavarella refused to accept the idea he took money to detain kids. And that refusal cost both him and Mike Conahan their plea deal. In this episode we’ll talk about the indictments and trials, Ciavarella’s attempt earlier this year to garner a new trial, and you’ll hear more about children who were deeply affected by placement in juvenile detention at the hands of judge Mark Ciavarella. Research sources for this episode include:  Kids for Cash. 2012, by William Ecenbarger; available on Amazon in hardback, paperback or KindleKids for Cash documentary, 2014, by Robert May; available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video, rated PG-13The Wilkes Barre Times Leader: 1994 – 2019The Wilkes Barre Citizen’s Voice; 1994 – 2019The Scranton Times Tribune; 1994 – 2019The New York Times; 2009 – 2019CNN Online; 2009 – 2019The Associated Press; 2009 – 2019Philadelphia Juvenile Justice CenterThe Juvenile Law CenterThe Judicial Conduct Board of PennsylvaniaDemocracy Now Online News ProgramUnited States Census Bureau, City Data.comPA State Juvenile Judge’s Bench BookPA Courts.us – Juvenile Court Procedures TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show.  The post The Luzerne County “Kids for Cash” Scandal: Part 2 appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 80 – Originally Released July 2019 Content warning: this episode includes discussions about emotional and physical abuse of children, unlawful incarceration, and death because of suicide. Listener discretion is advised. In January 1996, attorney Mark Ciavarella was appointed a Luzerne County judge in Wilkes Barre, PA.  Less than a year later he was made a juvenile judge, a position which according to the Pennsylvania State Juvenile Judge’s Bench Book gave him responsibility for presiding over juvenile cases and overseeing the entire juvenile delinquency program and operations in Luzerne County.   In 1999 the Juvenile Justice Center of Philadelphia was contacted by the parent of a child in Wilkes Barre whom was sent to a juvenile detention center by Judge Ciavarella without legal representation.  The justice center escalated to the state supreme court and Ciavarella told the state he’d made a mistake, one he’d never make again. It wasn’t a mistake, it was the M. O. of Ciavarella’s courtroom where between late 1996 and 2008 thousands of kid were sent to juvenile detention centers at a rate twice as high as any other county in Pennsylvania, and usually without legal counsel.   In part one of this two part episode we’ll take about Mark Ciavarella, the children of Wilkes Barre who entered courtroom, only to be ushered out within minutes wearing handcuffs and shackles.  Ciavarella didn’t do this alone – he had help in the form of a fellow judge, a local developer and a wealthy financier who paid Mark Ciavarella kickbacks to keep the bunks full at private juvenile detention facilities. Research sources for this episode include: Kids for Cash. 2012, by William Ecenbarger; available on Amazon in hardback, paperback or KindleKids for Cash documentary, 2014, by Robert May; available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video, rated PG-13The Wilkes Barre Times Leader: 1994 – 2019The Wilkes Barre Citizen’s Voice; 1994 – 2019The Scranton Times Tribune; 1994 – 2019The New York Times; 2009 – 2019CNN Online; 2009 – 2019The Associated Press; 2009 – 2019Philadelphia Juvenile Justice CenterThe Juvenile Law CenterThe Judicial Conduct Board of PennsylvaniaDemocracy Now Online News ProgramUnited States Census Bureau, City Data.comPA State Juvenile Judge’s Bench BookPA Courts.us – Juvenile Court Procedures TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show.  The post The Luzerne County “Kids for Cash” Scandal: Part 1 appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 79 – Originally Released June 2019 On Sunday, June 9, 2019, the city of Philadelphia celebrated pride month with our annual Pride Parade and Festival hosted by Philly Pride Presents. If you follow me on social media, you’ve seen some of the photos of that amazing event. This annual celebration takes considerable effort on the part of so many people in the city, the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. The theme of this year’s parade was Stonewall 50, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riot in New York in 1969 which was the start lasting changes in the rights of LGBTQ+ persons in America. Years before Stonewall, men and women in Philadelphia held peaceful protests at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell as reminders of the rights not afforded to gay and lesbian Americans. This is the story of Philadelphia pride, from the Annual Reminder Days to this year’s incredible pride parade. We’ll talk about the history of the fight for gay rights in Philadelphia and a horrible crime in 2014 which served as the catalyst for changes in Philadelphia’s hate crime laws. Join me on this journey through time as we celebrate pride in the city of brotherly love. Research sources for this episode include: Philadelphia Inquirer Archives and Daily News ArchivesPhiladelphia Gay NewsLGBT50.orgWHYY and PBSThe Encyclopedia of Greater PhiladelphiaThe City of Philadelphia: phila.govPhilly Pride PresentsCBS 3 and NBC 10Philadelphia Magazine NOTE: The statue of former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo, which stood outside a city municipal building, was removed, and placed in storage in July 2020. TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show.  The post PRIDE in the City of Brotherly Love appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 78 – Originally Released May 2019 The Germantown section of Philadelphia is filled with historic homes, many dating back to the 1700s, and the homestead of one is even older.  If you wander a little further along Germantown Avenue, past Grumblethorpe, you’ll come to rather imposing Georgian home called Cliveden Mansion, built by Pennsylvania Chief Justice Benjamin Chew in the 1760s. Chew and his descendants lived at Cliveden for over 200 years. Like Grumblethorpe, Cliveden was occupied by the British during the battle of Germantown. Colonel Thomas Musgrave and his tropps used Cliveden as a stronghold. Marksmen from the  40th regiment stood post at second floor windows like snipers, shooting from above.  Washington’s army was told to “reduce” Cliveden – as in reduce it to rubble but neither cannon shots nor fire could bring down the house.  Cliveden Mansion has a long history in Philadelphia, predating the Revolutionary War, and it’s history is filled with ghost stories. In part 2 of the Ghosts of Germantown you’ll hear the history and hauntings from Cliveden, as well as a few other haunted locations including West Allen’s Lane and Loudoun Mansion. Research sources for this episode include: Cliveden of the National TrustJohnsonhouse.orgThe Ancient and Modern Germantown, Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill by S. F. Hotchkin (1889; available online via the Hathi Trust)Philadelphia Inquirer and Inquirer ArchivesPhilly.comUSHistory.orgVisitPhilly.comHidden City Philadelphia TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and history I discuss in the show. The post Cliveden: Germantown Haunted History Part 2 appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 77 – Originally Released May 2019 Germantown is a section of Philadelphia bordering the northwest suburbs of the city. Within Germantown is tiny little area called Wister.  That’s a name you’ll hear quite a bit as we spend our time together today because of a very famous old house along Germantown Avenue, built by German immigrant John Wister in 1744. This 275-year-old home has ties to the revolutionary war, science and horticulture.  It’s much more than a house with a funny name; it was occupied by British Brigadier General James Agnew during the Battle of Germantown in 1777.  It’s also the house where he died, leaving blood stains on the parlor floor which are still visible today and the cause of legends about the ghost of General Agnew haunting Grumblethorpe mansion. This is part one of the Ghosts of Germantown: John Wister’s Big House, or Grumblethorpe, a 275 year old piece of Philadelphia history filled with ghost stories! Research sources for this episode include: Sally Wister’s Journal: A True Narrative Being A Quaker Maiden’s Account Of Her Experiences With Officers Of The Continental Army, 1777-1778 (click this link to order her journal on Amazon)The Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of LandmarksThe Surprise of Germantown by Thomas McGuirePhiladelphia Inquirer and Inquirer ArchivesPhilly.comUSHistory.orgThe Pennsylvania Packet of 1778Philadelphia Sun Times 1902 TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I share on the show. The post Grumblethorpe: Germantown Haunted History Part 1 appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 76 – Originally Released April 2019 Content warning: This episode contains adult subject matter including the brutal beating and subsequent death of a child. Listener discretion is advised. On Friday night, November 11, 1994, 16 year old Eddie Polec and his younger brother Billy planned on spending a typical evening with their friends in the Fox Chase neighborhood in Philadelphia; hanging out at a local park, hopping between the nearby McDonald’s and Pizza hut, and getting home in time for their 11:30 curfew. Eddie never made it home that night.  Earlier that month a young woman from the nearby community of Abington, Pennsylvania, had a run in with a few Fox Chase teens, and what began as a soda tossed into her car somehow grew into a horrible rumor she’d been assaulted. At least two dozen teenagers from Abington drove into Fox Chase on November 11 seeking revenge for an event that never happened.  By the end of the night, Eddie Polec paid for their misplaced vengeance with his life. This is the story of Eddie’s life and his death, it’s the story of his remarkable family, his parents John and Kathy, his siblings, the strength and grace they demonstrated in the face of the most horrific tragedy anyone could experience.  It’s the story of John Polec’s fight against the city of Philadelphia to fix what at the time was an ineffective 911 system that failed his son, the eventual changes implemented by the city that benefit Philadelphia residents even to this day. Research sources for this episode include: Philadelphia Inquirer Archives and Daily News ArchivesIn Eddie’s Name: One Family’s Triumph Over Tragedy by Bryn Freedman and William Knoedelseder – https://www.amazon.com/Eddies-Name-Familys-Triumph-Tragedy/dp/0571199240Associated Press.orgNPR.orgPennsylvania Superior Court RecordsThe New York TimesThe Washington Post The post The Story of Eddie Polec appeared first on TwistedPhilly.

Episode 75 – Originally Released April 2019 On April 13, 2019, I had the opportunity to visit Pennhurst State School and Hospital to interview the Operations Manager, Jim. Jim and I walked the grounds for a time before sitting down to record together. During our tour Jim shared his thoughts with me about Pennhurst’s history, details about a few of the buildings we passed and his thoughts about the treatment of persons with intellectual, developmental or physical disabilities throughout our country’s history. As you’ll hear in this episode, there is much more happening at Pennhurst than the annual Halloween attraction, Pennhurst Asylum. I appreciated the opportunity to sit down with Jim and learn about what he and the team at Pennhurst do to preserve the campus and promote education. Please join me in welcoming Jim to TwistedPhilly. TwistedPhilly is researched, hosted, and produced by me, Deana Marie, and available biweekly wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram at twistedphilly to see many of the locations and histories I discuss in the show.  The post Preservation at Pennhurst – Interview with Pennhurst Operations Manager: Part 3 appeared first on TwistedPhilly.