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Articles by Alex Bartlett
nf-core/rnasplice: nf-core/rnasplice 2.0.0 - Fenix Reborn
Published October 20, 2026 | Version 2.0.0 v2.0.0 - Fenix Reborn - [2026-10-20] The first release since 1.0.4 in April 2024 brings the pipeline up to the nf-core template 4.1.0, Nextflow 26.04 and nf-schema.
Taking note of the trails of the Wissahickon - The Chestnut Hill Local
With the arrival of National Trails Day on June 1, it is fitting to reflect on the rich history of the Wissahickon Valley's trails. Traversing the Wissahickon Valley, many of its trails echo a history dating back over 200 years. These paths served as vital arteries, providing access to the numerous mills that once lined the banks of the Wissahickon Creek and its tributaries, connecting them with farms, businesses, and residences. The Lenni Lenape may have even established some of these paths.
On the rails: Our local trains - The Chestnut Hill Local
If the current threat to the Chestnut Hill West regional rail line turns out to be the death knell that residents and businesses fear, it would mean much more than just the end of the local transit service. It would also write a final chapter in a pivotal part of Chestnut Hill history. The Chestnut Hill West and the Chestnut Hill East rail lines, reaching Chestnut Hill in 1884 and 1854, respectively, were a force that forever changed the landscape of Philadelphia’s Northwest neighborhoods.
On the rails: Our local trains - The Chestnut Hill Local
If the current threat to the Chestnut Hill West regional rail line turns out to be the death knell that residents and businesses fear, it would mean much more than just the end of the local transit service. It would also write a final chapter in a pivotal part of Chestnut Hill history. The Chestnut Hill West and the Chestnut Hill East rail lines, reaching Chestnut Hill in 1884 and 1854, respectively, were a force that forever changed the landscape of Philadelphia’s Northwest neighborhoods.
Tuomi's Time Machine: Eyes on the Avenue
A brief history of Shopping While Black in Germantown. These days, being able to shop when and where you choose is often taken for granted. But for many Black Germantown residents in the years before World War II, shopping could be a source of tension because of racial profiling, especially in the shops and department stores in the Chelten and Germantown business district.
Tuomi's Time Machine: Wintertide Glide
Historic hot spots for neighborhood ice skating With winter upon us and the holiday leftovers long since consumed, it’s a great time to examine a sport that was a city-wide seasonal fad in the mid- to late-19th century — ice skating, which surged in popularity during a long string of really cold winters in the Northern Hemisphere.
A Place at the Table
Plate offers clues about pioneering Black entrepreneur Every so often, the Museum of the Germantown Historical Society (GHS) receives an object which has the power to convey history on "another level," by providing information about the date of the object, as well as less tangible qualities, such as the owner's estimation of the object's value.
Throwback Thanksgiving
Celebrating the Holiday in southwest Germantown Almost ten years ago, the Germantown Historical Society received a donation of diaries spanning the years 1917-1952, written by a local resident, Frederich Herman Schlimm (1869-1959), known to most as Herman. For much of his adult life, Herman lived in Germantown — earlier at 251 Zeralda Street and then later at 225 Apsley Street (where he had moved by the mid-1920s).
The NW Local Paper
HomeContributorsOff the Grid You can learn a lot from what’s not on the map In celebration of the arrival of fall, this October’s “Tuomi’s Time Machine” article features a rather unusual drawing clipped from an issue of the Philadelphia Evening Public Ledger celebrating the autumn splendor of the Wissahickon Valley. The drawing – which shows the routes of four fall “trolley hikes” in the Wissahickon – is just as interesting for what isn’t shown, as opposed to what IS.
Back to School Special
In honor of the arrival of the new school year, it is a great time to reflect on the history of some of the schools in our area, many of which have survived for generations. We do so with this photo montage showing some of the schools, and highlighting their connections to our history and community. During the 1910s and 1920s, parts of East Germantown were being intensely developed, causing a rapid growth in population.
Summer Classics - The NW Local Paper
Nostalgic pics from steamy seasons past, courtesy of Historic Germantown “America’s game” of baseball has long been a traditional summer pastime. Shown is a game being played around 1900 on the grounds of Chestnut Hill Academy a short time after the school relocated to West Willow Grove Avenue from its previous home on Germantown Avenue.
Old School Summer
HomeHistoryGermantown historyOld School Summer These photographs of summertime fun were chosen by Alex Bartlett, Librarian and Archivist of the Germantown Historical Society/ Historic Germantown (GHS/HG). Did you know that thousands of old photographs are available on the website of the Germantown Historical Society? They can be viewed here: germantownhistory.catalogaccess.com/home.
Busting Blockbusting
In our April “Time Machine” article, we discussed the role of redlining in the creation of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration’s Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) maps, which were published to assist the HOLC in identifying neighborhoods with the potential for high rates of housing foreclosure, due to the inability of its residents to make payments on their mortgages.
Rigging the Game
Redlining and its Effects in Northwest Philadelphia The Great Depression had a profound and long-lasting effect on our nation’s economy, and on our neighborhoods. As a result of the arrival of the Depression at the end of 1929, many people lost their jobs, their investments became worthless, banks failed, and many homeowners defaulted on their mortgages.
Through the Eyes of a Child
A Local Author’s Groundbreaking Children’s Book Addressed Race, Class and Religious Differences In 1946, local children’s book author and illustrator Marguerite Loftt de Angeli published her seminal work, Bright April, which was set in Germantown and dealt with racism as well as issues of class and religious differences at a time when these topics were rarely presented in children’s literature, by discussing everyday life as seen from a child’s perspective.
Tuomi's Time Machine: Rittenhouse Renaissance
From George W. Bromley’s 1923 atlas of the 22nd Ward showing the unit and portion of the 100 block of West Rittenhouse Street at the center of the image, trending left-right, with the building of Mount Zion Baptist Church visible at the center.
Tuomi's Time Machine: Hitch Your Wagon to a Star
Students of the Joseph E. Hill School, 1933. Photo courtesy Historic Germantown Dreaming big at the Hill School in Germantown In the first half of the 20th century, the 100 block of West Rittenhouse Street and the 100 block of West Price Street in Germantown were a tight-knit middle-class African-American neighborhood. The area was anchored by the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Mount Zion Baptist Church, Dr. William Warrick’s medical practice, the real estate office of George W.
Eateries of Chestnut Hill
by Alex Bartlett, Archivist, Chestnut Hill Conservancy With Center City (Philadelphia) Restaurant Week running from September 18th through 30th, it is a great time to reflect on the history of our eateries, be they restaurants, taverns, luncheonettes, tea rooms, coffee shops, and cafes in our community. This is an especially important time to do so, given the struggles that our local eateries have experienced as a result of the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tuomi's Time Machine: A Towering Figure
In Celebration of John S. Trower, Self-Made Man, Philanthropist and, at one time, Pennsylvania’s Wealthiest Black Resident In this edition of the Time Machine, we feature long-time Black caterer and Germantowner John S. Trower and his achievements. After moving to our area from Virginia via Baltimore, Trower built his catering business on East Chelten Avenue and later, at 5706 Germantown Avenue, from scratch.
Save Your Photos Month
by Alex Bartlett, Archivist, Chestnut Hill Conservancy Did you know that September is Save Your Photos Month? During this month, we are encouraged to preserve our photographs, so that future generations may learn from them. Part of the act of saving our photos involves making sure our photographs will survive the passing of time and ever-changing technology.
Save Your Photos Month
by Alex Bartlett, Archivist, Chestnut Hill Conservancy Did you know that September is Save Your Photos Month? During this month, we are encouraged to preserve our photographs, so that future generations may learn from them. Part of the act of saving our photos involves making sure our photographs will survive the passing of time and ever-changing technology.
Tuomi’s Time Machine: Defending Our Drinking Water
Cedar Dale Woolen Mills, 1895. Owned by David Hey, the mills stood along Cresheim Creek west of Germantown Avenue, near the present-day intersection of Cresheim Valley Drive and Navajo Street. This view towards the south is completely altered today; no features visible in this photograph remain. Water was once so important to Philadelphia that the Wissahickon Valley Park was created to protect it Did you know that August is National Water Quality Month?
Tuomi’s Time Machine: New Light Special
Decades after Allen’s Department Store closed its doors, the building may soon find a new purpose. Forty years ago, our community was struggling with the effects of deindustrialization and an anemic economy, all which caused Germantown to lose jobs, with many businesses closing or moving from the neighborhood. This exodus left a glut of empty buildings behind.
Red Bull Street Style Kicks into Action with Joel Asare leading Ghanaian charge
LISTEN 5 HOURS AGO More than 120 freestyle footballers from over 25 countries are set to light up the latest qualifying stage of Red Bull Street Style 2021, as the inaugural Rest of the World (ROW) Qualifier gets underway. Registrations from Africa hail from all four corners of the continent with entries from Algeria, Nigeria, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Madagascar and Zambia.
Discovering Chestnut Hill: Nurses Week
by Alex Bartlett, Archivist, Chestnut Hill Conservancy Did you know that May 6 is both National Nurses Day and the first day of National Nurses Week? This “Week” ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is often considered to be the founder of modern nursing. The field of nursing has a rich history in Chestnut Hill, with nurses helping to make patient stays at local hospitals and sanitariums more pleasant and healthful for generations.
Remembering Grover
A Jazz Giant and Philly Fixture Did you know that April is National Jazz Appreciation Month? Many jazz greats have a connection to our local jazz scene, including Sun Ra, Byard Lancaster, Stanley Clarke, Eric Gravitt, Michelle Beckham, Tony Williams, and Grover Washington, Jr., the latter of whom received a Germantown Historical Society Hall of Fame award 25 years ago this spring and is the focus of this month’s Time Machine article.
Discovering Chestnut Hill: The Wissahickon Garden Club
By Alex Bartlett, Archivist, Chestnut Hill Conservancy Normally, the first week of March brings us a reminder that spring is just around the corner, with the arrival of the Philadelphia Flower Show. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has scheduled the event for early June at the FDR Park in South Philadelphia.
Shelter from the Storm
This drawing of the Whosoever Gospel Mission (as published in a 1922 Mission program) shows the expanse of the organization, as it existed at the time, with Chelten Avenue visible at the bottom right corner. The then-new four-story building, which housed a new dining room, dormitory, and “broom shop,” is visible at the center, complete with a roof-top meeting space. Credit: Germantown Historical Society and Historic Germantown.
An Unsung Hero - The NW Local
Long overdue praise for a Germantown civil rights activist Florence Kelley as she appeared in 1925. Credit: Library of Congress. Heroes change over time, depending on who’s telling the story. Too often, some significant contributions made to society – and the people behind those contributions – remain largely unknown or under-recognized.
Tuomi's Time Machine: A Dubious Proposal
The Colonial Revival movement sought to make Market Square into a living “history” museum At the end of World War II, with a new-found appreciation for our freedom and our country’s history, the nation celebrated this history especially in regards to preserving buildings associated with the founding of the country.
Nightmare Alley - The NW Local
The Roosevelt Expressway didn’t arrive without a fight This photograph was originally published in the November 9, 1950, issue of the Germantown Courier shows unified community opposition to the Roosevelt Expressway, in a protest in Philadelphia City Council. Courtesy: Germantown Historical Society/ Historic Germantown.
Bright Lights - NWLocal
Founded in the Great Depression, the Germantown Theatre Guild provided hope during troubling times Sojourner was one of the many plays the Germantown Theatre Guild produced in its over 60 years in existence. Shown performing in the Guild’s 1986 production are (left to right): Janie Taylor, Ed Gavin, William Flynn, Elizabeth Flax, Ron Stepney, and Pamela Courtleigh. Photos courtesy of Germantown Historical Society/Historic Germantown.
Hard Lessons - NWLocal
Student activists fought for racial equity at Philadelphia high schools in the 1960s, and beyond A photograph from the pages of the 1967 GHS Revidere yearbook shows an integrated class at the high school. The content, however, runs contrary to the increased segregation occurring at GHS in the mid-to-late 1960s, with African American members of the student body finding themselves frequently isolated and marginalized from their white counterparts.
On the Shoulders of Giants
Long before the George Floyd protests ignited around the country and the world, Germantown’s own Reverend Doctor Leon Sullivan led a charge for the rights of African Americans. Doctor Reverend Leon Sullivan, as published in the February 17, 1988 Germantown Courier.
Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United: Live Stream, TV Updates, and How to Watch Premier League (0-0) | 23/06/2020
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The Virus This Time
The Spanish Flu of 1918 puts our current coronavirus pandemic in perspective. A “Spanish Flu” sign posted at the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia (Oct. 19, 1918). Credit: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command via the Associated Press. The arrival of the Coronavirus pandemic has us looking back to previous epidemics, and our responses to them, both as individuals and as members of a community.
Broad Streets - NWLocal
Re-engineering Germantown streets to accommodate the automobile 6000 block of McCallum Street in Germantown (circa 1910), before street widening. This block was originally constructed as a small, dead-end street with a small courtyard, extending northwest from Harvey Street. Photo courtesy of Germantown Historical Society/Historic Germantown.
"The downward spiral began and then every little thing added fuel to the fire, and in the end, I exploded." Ryan Campbell and Chairman of the PCA Daryl Mitchell on Mental Health in professional cricket - Sports Gazette
Ryan Campbell with colleague ahead of Netherlands world T20 Qualifiers. (credit: Ryan Campbell) The mental pressures of being a modern day professional sportsman are well documented. The last decade or so has seen an awakening across a number of elite level sports in mental health awareness. But it still remains a major problem that can threaten the careers and lives of professionals.
Storm Ciara: Five times Sport Clashed with Mother Nature
Storm Ciara has devastated sports fixtures up and down the country, with its winds whipping up a frenzy. Matches varying from the Premier league, the Women’s Super League and the Women’s Six Nations were cancelled Sunday due to the carnage and this is by no means the first time mother nature has wrecked havoc on the sporting calendar. We take a look at five times sports teams and schedules were affected by events outside of their control. Yes, cricket is excluded for its regular disruptions.
Fortunes Always Hiding: The Moyes reappointment and the West Ham Way
Credit: Alex Bartlett Sometimes brilliant. Sometimes shameful. Mostly mediocre. The West Ham Way. Fans had no problem with this. They knew how it went. The Hammers would produce spectacular results against the best and then falter against teams they should be beating. One year they may have a good year and finish towards the top seven and one year they may be closer to the relegation places. It has been like this for most of the club’s 123 year history.
Fallon Sherrock: The gift sport needed and got this Christmas
Fallon Sherrock before her third round clash with Chris Dobey. (credit: Lawrence Lustig) And like that it was over. Fallon Sherrock’s dream run at the PDC William Hill World Darts Championship came to an end yesterday but her legacy will never be forgotten. Over the past two weeks the formerhairdresser from Bletchley has not just transformed her own life nor the game of darts for every female player. She has produced one of the biggest moments in the history of women’s sport.
Festive Favourite: Michael van Gerwen set to dazzle Ally Pally again as World Darts Championship begins
Featured Photograph/WIkimedia Commons/Sven Mandel Pigs in Blankets. Crackers. The Queen’s Speech. That Uncle who has a little bit too much to drink. All feature in the perfect Christmas period. But on Friday the sporting festive favourite kicks off at the Alexandra Palace. The William Hill World Darts Championship. The victor will have the honour of becoming 2020’s first sporting world champion. What better way to prepare than making a fool of yourself with predictions for every match.
Ryan Campbell: The Aussie leading a Dutch cricketing revival
Head Coach Ryan Campbell and the Dutch side ahead of the ICC World t20 Qualifier in the UAE. (Credit: Netherlands Cricket, photo provided by Ryan Campbell) The oldest player to debut in a T20 International. The only cricketer to represent both Australia and Hong Kong internationally. Both are true of Ryan Campbell. The former Western Australia wicket keeper batsmen represented Australia in two one day internationals and later at the age of 43 debuted for Hong Kong at the 2016 T20 World Cup.
NFL giving Colin Kaepernick a second chance, or NOT?
Quarterback. Documented as the most important position in all of sports and therefore the most desired by the 32 NFL franchises. The difference between a good team and a great team. Some teams are lucky to have an established game changer at the position. The likes of Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Others have young, fresh, talent such as Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson. But around half of the league’s franchises aren’t lucky enough to have the luxury of a true franchise QB.
“Whatever the result women’s rugby league is the winner” Head Coach Craig Taylor ahead of Wales’ first ever International
Wales Squad after their first warm up match against Great Britain Teachers last month. (Credit: Craig Taylor) Head Coach Craig Taylor announced his squad of 23 for the first ever Wales Women’s Rugby League International game. The game reignites a classic sporting rivalry as Wales go up against an England Lions team in St Helens on Saturday.
“Whatever the result women’s rugby league is the winner” Head Coach Craig Taylor ahead of Wales’ first ever International
Wales Squad after their first warm up match against Great Britain Teachers last month. (Credit: Craig Taylor) Head Coach Craig Taylor announced his squad of 23 for the first ever Women’s Wales Rugby League International game. The game reignites a classic sporting rivalry as Wales go up against an England Lions team in St Helens on Saturday.
A Lasting Legacy: The Leicester Helicopter Crash One Year On
Flowers and shrine outside the King Power stadium to commemorate Vichai Srivaddhanaprahba (Credit: Cameron Eyles) Almost one year to the day since the tragic helicopter accident which claimed the life of Leicester’s owner and chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprahba, they produced the biggest away win in Premier League history beating Southampton 9-0.
Bengals focusing on “winning attitude” as they head to London in search of first win
Credit: Alex Bartlett The 0-7 Cincinnati Bengals head to London looking to break their duck under new Head Coach Zac Taylor against his former team the LA Rams. Taylor took over in Cincinnati earlier this year after his two-year tenure as QB coach with the Rams, but things have not started well for him or his team in their winless start to the season.
History Makers: Emily Hughes and Head Coach Craig Taylor on Wales First Women’s International Rugby League Team
Head Coach Craig Taylor addresses the first ever Wales International Women's squad. (Credit Craig Taylor) Wales will play their first ever Women’s Rugby League international against England in November. One of the biggest challenges facing the women’s side will be similar to one their male counterparts have faced for years. How can they compete in a country dominated so heavily by Union. Nobody represents this challenge better than squad member Emily Hughes.
Rising Surrey Star Will Jacks Highlights Crop of Young English Talent Ahead of “The Hundred” Draft
Cricket returns to the spotlight on Sunday as international stars and the best domestic players are selected in The Hundred’s first ever draft. One player hoping to be picked is Surrey and England Lions’ Will Jacks. The 20 year old is part of a group of exciting young English talent that are set to take the tournament by storm. Jacks is no stranger to the absurd. As a schoolboy at St George’sCollege, Weybridge, he scored an outrageous 279 in a 50 over game in April 2017.
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