Did you know that the city of Philadelphia is bringing back a piece of history right in the heart of Center City? The long-awaited project to repave a block of Camac Street with a wooden surface has finally begun this week, reminiscent of the 1800s when horse-drawn carriages ruled the streets.
The 200 block of South Camac Street, located between Walnut and Locust streets, was once the last remaining example of the city’s wood-block paving method until it was replaced with asphalt in 2015 in preparation for Pope Francis’ visit for the World Meeting of Families.
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Thanks to the efforts of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, the city has decided to restore the historic wood pavement on Camac Street. This restoration is part of an official historic district created in 1999 to protect and preserve important pieces of Philadelphia’s history.
Paul Steinke, the executive director of the Preservation Alliance, explained, “That block of Camac, and maybe other blocks of Camac nearby, were historically paved with wood blocks. It was thought to be quieter than Belgian block or granite block, which were pretty noisy with the clatter of carriage wheels.”
Although wood-block streets fell out of use with the rise of automobiles due to their impracticality for heavy traffic and ability to absorb odors, the city received a $1.2 million state grant in 2019 to repave several historic streets, including Camac Street, with their original materials.
The current project on Camac Street will utilize black locust wood for its strength and rot-resistant properties. The city is also working on restoring historic paving on other streets like East Mermaid Lane, Winston Road, and Waverly Street to preserve Philadelphia’s diverse history of historic materials.
This revival of wood-block paving is expected to be completed by the end of this year, allowing cars to pass through the street once again. With careful planning and modern engineering techniques, the city aims to ensure the longevity of this historic road surface for future generations to enjoy.