Sitting on the steps of his home on a frigid afternoon, Richard Cole talks about the neighborhood in which he has lived his entire life. The residential parts; which comprise nearly all of Port Richmond are lined with small buildings with a vast range of upkeep. "Nobody really stays here," says Cole. "I guess they all just go to Northern Liberties because it's right there where all the bars and stuff are. A lot of immigrants live here."
What Cole describes is an ongoing occurrence in the community. Once a booming coal terminal and shipyard in the early 20th century, modern Port Richmond has slowly been reduced to a settlement area for immigrants, primarily of Polish descent. With its' narrow streets that were once occupied by horse carriages, Port Richmond is now a modest neighborhood of small businesses, cultural centers, and rowhouses. Finding car parking is difficult, but finding unique ethnic food and drink is easy.
The people who used to walk to and from their manufacturing or labor jobs every morning now take SEPTA to work in Center City. Some may think Port Richmond has surpassed it's peak. But still, it remains one of the most historical and rich neighborhoods of Philadelphia.
Doanh Nghiem & Jermar Perry, Group # 7, Port Richmond
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