Renaming Allens Lane (Ep20)

EPISODE 20: RENAMING ALLENS LANE. What does Black Lives Matter have to do with rededicating a street in Northwest Philadelphia? In February, 2022, community leaders in Philadelphia celebrated the recognition of an important historical figure, the Reverend Richard Allen, when City Council named a street in his honor. Allen was one of the City’s first Black preachers and founder of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, of which he ultimately became bishop. He was also co-founder of the Free African Society, a mutual aid organization for free Blacks. But City Council’s action was a sleight of hand, because Allens Lane was always Allens Lane. It was originally named for William Allen, a former Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Colony’s Supreme Court, a colonial-era Mayor of Philadelphia, founder of the City of Allentown -- and no relation to Richard. So, City Council simply swapped one Allen for another – the street was effectively renamed without being renamed. This episode explores why this change was made; why, in the name of history, we sometimes change the names of streets; and how this particular “renaming” of Allens Lane compares to others in recent years throughout the Commonwealth.

The Allen Lane train station of the SEPTA Regional Rail line as seen in 1967,
now the Richard Allen Lane stop.

Timestamps for major events/discussions

[03:31] – Reintroducing William Allen, whom we met in “Occupied Philadelphia” (Ep10)

[07:19] – Reintroducing Richard Allen, whom we met in “Death in Yellow” (Eps18-19)

[09:56] – Racially motivated attacks nationally, and Black Lives Matter

[13:32] – Philadelphia City Council votes to rename Allens Lane

[17:06] – Examining City Council’s characterization of William Allen

[23:16] – Renaming Taney Street

[32:10] – Examples of street name changes elsewhere in the Commonwealth

[39:48] – Was City Council right to rename Allens Lane?

[47:08] – Places to visit.

Places to visit Places to visit mentioned in this episode

• Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, Delaware County, where you can visit the graves of Caroline LeCount, Octavius Catto, Marian Anderson, and other prominent African-Americans. Click here to visit the Cemetery’s website.
• Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum in Allentown, operated by the Lehigh County Historical Society. Next door is Trout Hall, built by William Allen’s son, James, a colonial museum and home operated by the Society. Click here to visit the Historical Society’s website.
• Walk along Allens Lane in the Mt. Airy neighborhood of northwest Philadelphia' from the former site of William Allen’s Mount Airy Estate, now the United Lutheran Seminary, to the charming Richard Allen Lane train station designed in the 1880s by legendary local architect Frank Furness, then on to the Wissahickon Gorge. Click here for more information about visiting Mt. Airy.

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