Day 3 - Philadelphia PA

In case you need reminding, Converses are not waterproof. Actually, they're the opposite. Sponges. Soppy, heavy bogs of freezing Philadelphia rain water. Let me back up. 

Day three of our trip began with our arrival at the Independence Hall complex. No more tickets were available for the day, so we decided to stroll along the historic district and enjoy the buildings that were open. First we came to Benjamin Franklin's printing press. 

Built in to one side of his shop is his grandson's shop. He published the newspaper Aurora, which criticized the Adams administration, and tested the limits of free speech in our new nation. 

We traveled down Fifth Street and stopped to visit Carpenters' Hall. Right as we got there, the clouds dropped a volley of hard rain, drenching the city. We stayed in the hall for thirty minutes to an hour, waiting for a break. Finally we decided to visit the Todd house in a corner of the same block. 

The Todd house belonged to a member of the Carpenters' guild who was allowed to build on the plot. Mr. Todd didn't live long. His wife, Dolly Todd was remarried later to James Madison the future president. 

We drudged through the downpour across the block, just to find out the house was closed and locked. 

Instead of walking back to the hall, we took Chestnut to Seventh, and north on Seventh to Declaration House, the house where Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration. It too was closed. 

By this time, drowned rat would be a mild description of our appearances. Bedraggled, dripping, and miserable, we found an awning on the corner of Seventh and Market, and stayed there until Dad could pick us up. 

He was on his way to the rehearsal for graduation the next day, but dropped by and took us with him. Afterward we dried off in the hotel room and spent a quiet evening there. Tomorrow would be the graduation.