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American Morning

A Look at the Nation's Oldest Street

Aired July 04, 2002 - 09:20   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: July 17, 1776. Philadelphia. The weather was warm and sticky, a lot like today, as history was being made. CNN's Michael Okwu is in the cradle of liberty this morning with a look at the neighborhood that gave birth to the nation. Hello, Michael.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Leon. The cradle of liberty. I like that. That's exactly what it is. All morning, we've been bringing you pictures from Independence Mall, which is, of course, many people refer to as the birthplace of our nation. And in fact, there is so much to see here. Betsy Ross' home, the Liberty Bell, and of course, Independence Hall, which is where, of course, the Declaration of Independence was signed back in 1776. But what you may not have heard about is Elfreths Alley. It's a beautiful cobblestone street and the oldest street in the country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OKWU: So, this is the longest continually-occupied street in the country?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the country, in the United States. We're an national historic landmark. Our first houses were built in the 1720s and they're still lived in today.

OKWU: Now, Elfreths Alley, where does it get its name?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a tough name to say. It's after the largest property owner in the 18th century, Jeremiah Elfreths. He owned the most property, had several houses built that he rented out and then sold.

OKWU: What did he do for a living? He was like a blacksmith or a silversmith?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Exactly. He was a blacksmith. This was an artisan neighborhood of blacksmiths, Windsor chair makers. We had several women living and working here as dressmakers. They ran boarding houses.

OKWU: Betsy Ross didn't live here, though.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. No one famous.

OKWU: Now, these houses were built back in, again, what, the early 1700s?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right, through to the early 1800s.

OKWU: And this house also?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This house is from the 1790s.

OKWU: I want to take a look.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Great.

OKWU: I'll tell you what I love is this door. Can you explain why it's split like this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a Dutch door, and it was very functional, because your garbage man was actually a pig, running around --0 pigs and chickens and dogs were running loose -- so you were able to get a flow of air through the top and keep out any unwanted guests.

OKWU: While the garbage man was doing his business?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right.

OKWU: Now, what about the rest of the house? It is so small, and yet at that time, there were families living with, what, 10 15 people in them, right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right. You could have a number of children, you could have apprentices, because many of these folks that lived in these homes also used the front room for their shop. They were the artisans that we spoke about. And they hired very small and today it's quite vertical living for the families that live on this street.

OKWU: The thing that strikes me about this alley is that the entire street, I think, is a national historic landmark, right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is. The entire street is. And then each home is individually protected by our historic commission here in Philadelphia. So the residents today follow guidelines as to how to repair their home.

OKWU: So it's a museum here, but there are people living here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right. It's a different neighborhood, but each of the homes here is lived in. So it's a living museum, where it's not just about the 18th century.

It's about the history of families from the 1870s to today. And as tourist walk up and down the streets, they will see children playing and dogs and cats on the street. It's a really special place.

OKWU: Well, thanks for taking the walk down memory lane with me.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come back anytime. (END VIDEOTAPE)

OKWU: Leon, organizers here expecting more than a million to take a walk down memory lane all across Philadelphia today.

HARRIS: That should be a very special time. And we hope that those folks get out there and enjoy it safely. Michael Okwu in Philadelphia, have a good one. Happy holiday to you, buddy.

OKWU: You too, man.

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