August 1992 - Elfreth's Alley dates to the early 18th century. Twenty years after William Penn founded Pennsylvania and established Philadelphia as its capital, the town had grown into a thriving, prosperous mercantile center. Philadelphians had abandoned Penn’s plan for a "greene countrie towne" and instead created a cityscape similar to what they remembered in England. Wharves welcomed ships from around the world and shops, taverns, and homes crowded the area along the Delaware River…
