Have I mentioned that I have the best volunteers ever! This past week, Gail, who has been volunteering since the summer, brought it a very cool ebay find: an Ortleib’s beer can featuring a quaint image of Elfreth’s Alley to celebrate America’s bicentennial in 1976. Renderings of Elfreth’s Alley are found in many varied places and on many varied objects – see photos below. According to “Workshop of the world: A Selective Guide to the Industrial Archeology of Philadelphia,” the brewery was founded in the 1860s, but did not come under the control of Henry Ortlieb until 1893. The Christian Schmidt Brewing Company bought the brand in 1981 and relocated brewing to Maryland. The old Ortlieb brewery was located in the Northern Liberties section of the city, not far from Old City and Elfreth’s Alley. The beer can speaks to the renown of the Alley, and the small street’s role as a symbol of colonial Philadelphia.  |
| Gail with the beer can. |
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| Grill at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA |
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| Philadelphia Steaks & Hoagies Restaurant in Harrisburg, PA |
