I believe I haven’t had the pleasure of making your acquaintance until now, so allow me to introduce myself. My name is Edward Perkins, and I have long been a member of the Pennsylvania Preservation Society. I’ve been invited to join the board of that outstanding institution many times, but I’m reluctant to take on administrative responsibilities at this stage of my life, although I’m pleased that my great-niece Alice has been an intern there for several months now and speaks well of it. Since I was never lucky enough to marry, Alice has become like a grand-daughter to me, and she has excellent judgment.
I have deep roots in the Philadelphia area, as does Martha Terwilliger (whom you’ve met before), who I count among my friends, even though she’s a generation younger than I. Nell Pratt, President of the Society, Martha and I have long been concerned about how best to serve the mission of the Society, which has been described as “to preserve and protect” our country’s and our region’s rich history.
Sad to say, it is no longer enough to merely preserve the evidence of the past. I’ve seen the city change around me for many years now, and not always for the better. Now that I’m in my so-called sunset years (and still in possession of my faculties) I’ve been casting about for a way to address some of the problems that the city faces, and I think I’ve come up with an interesting solution. Or rather, two intertwined solutions. I must say I’m feeling rather proud of my proposed resolution of some thorny issues. I won’t go into details until the plans have been finalized, but I think many people will be happy with the outcome. I feel that’s my legacy to a city that I love.
I hope you will agree.
GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment (with your contact information) and you will be entered to win a copy of Dead End Street (as soon as I lay hands on one!). Edward has also asked that I include another prize: a small model of the well-known Liberty Bell (the original is on display in its own enclosure in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Don’t worry—the model is only 2” high!).
Dead End Street, the seventh Museum Mystery, will be released on June 7th, and you can pre-order it now at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
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Well, I want to hear what those two solutions are. I spent one short day in Philadelphia and it was fascinating. Would like to read a series featuring it. Thanks for the giveaway.
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You'll have to go back! One day is not enough. I feel lucky to have been able to spend a lot of time in the city, getting to know it.
DeleteI look forward to learning more about the problems and possible solutions. I have always wanted to see the Liberty Bell. Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletemyrifraf (at) gmail (dot) com
I remember when I was on a field trip in grade school, we drove by Independence Hall when the Liberty Bell was kind of parked on the green in front of it. The teacher in charge sort of waved vaguely at it, but we didn't stop. Took me decades before I actually saw it up close.
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