Tom Paine Passed By Here

Thomas Paine passed this way in September 1777, on his way to York, PA when he was the most wanted man in North America. Because Philadelphia is historically retarded, you needed me to tell you that. If Paine were honored in proportion with his work and his importance to this country's founding, we might at least change the name of Baltimore Ave to Paine Avenue. But for over 200 years, religious bigots have caused a suppression of the great hero's memory because he openly denied Christianity. If you want to see anything relating to Tom Paine's legacy in Philly, there is almost nothing and you must know where to look.

This is disgusting.

I used this particular block because in the middle of the image is the corner of Farragut Street, where the Cherry Tree Tavern stood in the early 19th Century, and it might have been there in 1777. In the 1943 novel Citizen Tom Paine by Howard Fast, TP stops along the Baltimore Pike and thinks as he faintly hears the drums of the British troops who were marching into Philly, a few miles away.

Thus in a whimsical way, it is possible that Paine stopped right here for a beer and some gossip, during his ride to York. In any event there was no other route he would have taken to get there.

New Jersey has two impressive monuments to Paine. Here is Ceridwen paying homage in Bordentown.

From some quick research, I can say that there are exactly three elementary schools in the United States, but no middle or high schools, named after Thomas Paine. I won't even guess how many public schools are named after Ben Franklin or George Washington, but there must be several thousands for each, aside from all the roads, bridges, hospitals, and what not. That's disgusting too.