The Academy of Music, 1876

Over the last few days I've been assembling images for a talk I'll be giving this coming Valentine's Day—a small event that has turned quite not so small, thanks to the very fine people of St. John's Presbyterian Church.  In any case, I've had reason to return to that Centennial year in Philadelphia.  To revisit old research files.  To imagine, again, the cacophony of horses and flame-throwing lamps, music in the winter chill.  This is the Academy of Music in 1876, as an artist drew it that year.  That building still stands, still gathers unto itself anticipation and performance.