Olney: A Neighborhood Tour

Stop 1: One and Olney Plaza

Where there was once the Heintz Manufacturing plant, there is now One & Olney Plaza. After it replaced the manufacturing plant, the new strip mall took some of the business from the 5th Street Business District. There are approximately thirty storefronts on the Plaza, including a ShopRite, RadioShack, Modell’s Sporting Goods, and more.

Stop 1: One and Olney Plaza

Where there was once the Heintz Manufacturing plant, there is now One & Olney Plaza. After it replaced the manufacturing plant, the new strip mall took some of the business from the 5th Street Business District. There are approximately thirty storefronts on the Plaza, including a ShopRite, RadioShack, Modell’s Sporting Goods, and more.

Stop 2: the Olney Midget & Teen League

Just yards away from the northern entrance to One & Olney Plaza are the baseball fields of the Olney Midget & Teen League. There is a tee-ball field for kids ages five-six and two other fields: one for ages seven-ten and one for ages eleven-fourteen.

Stop 2: the Olney Midget & Teen League

Just yards away from the northern entrance to One & Olney Plaza are the baseball fields of the Olney Midget & Teen League. There is a tee-ball field for kids ages five-six and two other fields: one for ages seven-ten and one for ages eleven-fourteen.

Stop 3: Olney Recreation Center

Surrounded by two jungle gyms, basketball courts, short bike paths, and a baseball field, and with several full-size indoor courts and after-school and summer youth programs, Olney Recreation Center at Front and Spencer is a popular gathering spot for the youth of upper Olney.

Stop 3: Olney Recreation Center

Surrounded by two jungle gyms, basketball courts, short bike paths, and a baseball field, and with several full-size indoor courts and after-school and summer youth programs, Olney Recreation Center at Front and Spencer is a popular gathering spot for the youth of upper Olney.

Stop 3: Olney Recreation Center

Surrounded by two jungle gyms, basketball courts, short bike paths, and a baseball field, and with several full-size indoor courts and after-school and summer youth programs, Olney Recreation Center at Front and Spencer is a popular gathering spot for the youth of upper Olney.

Stop 4: Korean Community Development Services CenterThe KCDSC, located at 5th and Spencer, was started by Jin Yu in 1985 in order to assist new Asian immigrants and refugees. The Center houses CareerLink terminals and offers Tests On English as a Foreign Language, computer training for senior citizens, day-care, and after-school and summer youth programs.

Stop 5: St. Helena’s Church

This church, located at 5th Street and Godfrey Avenue and shown here in modest Christmas decoration, is the religious center for the significant Vietnamese population in the northern Philadelphia area. In addition to English, the Church offers Spanish and Vietnamese Sunday Mass.

Stop 6: Fisher Park

23.3-acre Fisher Park was owned by Joseph Wharton, founder of Swarthmore College and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, until he donated it to the City of Philadelphia as a “Christmas present” in 1908. The park features basketball and tennis courts, as well as a foot-ball field, playground, garden-plot area, and a building that doubles as a Rec Center for summer camp programs and as a polling place during election years.

Stop 6: Fisher Park

23.3-acre Fisher Park was owned by Joseph Wharton, founder of Swarthmore College and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, until he donated it to the City of Philadelphia as a “Christmas present” in 1908. The park features basketball and tennis courts, as well as a foot-ball field, playground, garden-plot area, and a building that doubles as a Rec Center for summer camp programs and as a polling place during election years.

Stop 6: Fisher Park

23.3-acre Fisher Park was owned by Joseph Wharton, founder of Swarthmore College and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, until he donated it to the City of Philadelphia as a “Christmas present” in 1908. The park features basketball and tennis courts, as well as a foot-ball field, playground, garden-plot area, and a building that doubles as a Rec Center for summer camp programs and as a polling place during election years.

Stop 6: Fisher Park

23.3-acre Fisher Park was owned by Joseph Wharton, founder of Swarthmore College and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, until he donated it to the City of Philadelphia as a “Christmas present” in 1908. The park features basketball and tennis courts, as well as a foot-ball field, playground, garden-plot area, and a building that doubles as a Rec Center for summer camp programs and as a polling place during election years.

Stop 7: The 5th Street Business District

Stretching from approximately Chew to Rockland Streets along 5th, the 5th Street Business District is a flourishing example of the cultural diversity that characterizes Olney. In addition to many Korean businesses, there are some African-American, Cambodian, Dominican, Chinese, Columbian, and more.

Stop 7: The 5th Street Business District

Stretching from approximately Chew to Rockland Streets along 5th, the 5th Street Business District is a flourishing example of the cultural diversity that characterizes Olney. In addition to many Korean businesses, there are some African-American, Cambodian, Dominican, Chinese, Columbian, and more.

Stop 8: The Free Library of Philadelphia

In 1945, the Kiwanis Club and the Olney Community Council began collaborating to build a branch library. Their efforts bore fruit when in 1949 the Greater Olney branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia was opened in what used to be the Olney Bank and Trust Company building. At the corner of 5th Street and Tabor Road, the library offers Adult Education classes and the LEAP After-School Program, which gives homework and computer assistance and library skills to students in grades 1-12.

Stop 8: The Free Library of Philadelphia

In 1945, the Kiwanis Club and the Olney Community Council began collaborating to build a branch library. Their efforts bore fruit when in 1949 the Greater Olney branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia was opened in what used to be the Olney Bank and Trust Company building. At the corner of 5th Street and Tabor Road, the library offers Adult Education classes and the LEAP After-School Program, which gives homework and computer assistance and library skills to students in grades 1-12.

Stop 8: The Free Library of Philadelphia

In 1945, the Kiwanis Club and the Olney Community Council began collaborating to build a branch library. Their efforts bore fruit when in 1949 the Greater Olney branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia was opened in what used to be the Olney Bank and Trust Company building. At the corner of 5th Street and Tabor Road, the library offers Adult Education classes and the LEAP After-School Program, which gives homework and computer assistance and library skills to students in grades 1-12.

Stop 9: Rita’s Water Ice

Located on a small triangle bounded by Grange, Old 2nd and Mascher Streets, this local Rita’s Water Ice© is a gathering place for the Olney community when it’s open in the spring and summer, with its enticing icy treats and seating for at least six so you can sit down and enjoy your water ice or ice cream– if you can find an empty seat– and once you’ve finished you can just stand and take a few steps to get back in line for seconds.

Stop 10: Olney Transportation Center

The Olney Transport-ation Center was once the northern endpoint of the Broad Street Line. While no longer the end of the line, it is still the second-busiest and second-largest stop on the BS line, (the first being City Hall) and has its own escalator, elevator and underground food court to prove it. The Trans-portation Center is a nexus point surrounded by Girls’ High and Central high schools, McDonald’s, Dunkin Doughnuts, and many other storefronts, and serves nine SEPTA bus routes.

Stop 10: Olney Transportation Center

The Olney Transport-ation Center was once the northern endpoint of the Broad Street Line. While no longer the end of the line, it is still the second-busiest and second-largest stop on the BS line, (the first being City Hall) and has its own escalator, elevator and underground food court to prove it. The Trans-portation Center is a nexus point surrounded by Girls’ High and Central high schools, McDonald’s, Dunkin Doughnuts, and many other storefronts, and serves nine SEPTA bus routes.

Stop 10: Olney Transportation Center

The Olney Transport-ation Center was once the northern endpoint of the Broad Street Line. While no longer the end of the line, it is still the second-busiest and second-largest stop on the BS line, (the first being City Hall) and has its own escalator, elevator and underground food court to prove it. The Trans-portation Center is a nexus point surrounded by Girls’ High and Central high schools, McDonald’s, Dunkin Doughnuts, and many other storefronts, and serves nine SEPTA bus routes.

Stop 10: Olney Transportation Center

The Olney Transport-ation Center was once the northern endpoint of the Broad Street Line. While no longer the end of the line, it is still the second-busiest and second-largest stop on the BS line, (the first being City Hall) and has its own escalator, elevator and underground food court to prove it. The Trans-portation Center is a nexus point surrounded by Girls’ High and Central high schools, McDonald’s, Dunkin Doughnuts, and many other storefronts, and serves nine SEPTA bus routes.

Stop 11: Albert Einstein Medical Center

Two blocks south of the Olney Transportation Center is the entrance to Albert Einstein Medical Center. Einstein is a teaching hospital that offers residency and fellowship training programs, and it includes a Level I Regional Resource Trauma Center. On the hospital grounds is the Henry S. Frank Memorial Synagogue, which is a copy of the ancient synagogue at Kfar Bar’am, Israel and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Stop 11: Albert Einstein Medical Center

Two blocks south of the Olney Transportation Center is the entrance to Albert Einstein Medical Center. Einstein is a teaching hospital that offers residency and fellowship training programs, and it includes a Level I Regional Resource Trauma Center. On the hospital grounds is the Henry S. Frank Memorial Synagogue, which is a copy of the ancient synagogue at Kfar Bar’am, Israel and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Stop 11: Albert Einstein Medical Center

Two blocks south of the Olney Transportation Center is the entrance to Albert Einstein Medical Center. Einstein is a teaching hospital that offers residency and fellowship training programs, and it includes a Level I Regional Resource Trauma Center. On the hospital grounds is the Henry S. Frank Memorial Synagogue, which is a copy of the ancient synagogue at Kfar Bar’am, Israel and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Stop 11: Albert Einstein Medical Center

Two blocks south of the Olney Transportation Center is the entrance to Albert Einstein Medical Center. Einstein is a teaching hospital that offers residency and fellowship training programs, and it includes a Level I Regional Resource Trauma Center. On the hospital grounds is the Henry S. Frank Memorial Synagogue, which is a copy of the ancient synagogue at Kfar Bar’am, Israel and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Stop 11: Albert Einstein Medical Center

Two blocks south of the Olney Transportation Center is the entrance to Albert Einstein Medical Center. Einstein is a teaching hospital that offers residency and fellowship training programs, and it includes a Level I Regional Resource Trauma Center. On the hospital grounds is the Henry S. Frank Memorial Synagogue, which is a copy of the ancient synagogue at Kfar Bar’am, Israel and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Stop 12: Olney High School

Olney High School, the feeder high school for the Olney area, had its first graduating class in 1931, and for a time had the largest roster in the city with over 3600 students enrolled. Located at Front and Duncannon Streets, Olney High offers a variety of sports, including Boys/Girls basketball, volleyball, soccer, track and tennis, as well as cross-country, baseball, softball, field hockey, gymnastics, badminton, wrestling, and cheerleading.

Stop 12: Olney High School

Olney High School, the feeder high school for the Olney area, had its first graduating class in 1931, and for a time had the largest roster in the city with over 3600 students enrolled. Located at Front and Duncannon Streets, Olney High offers a variety of sports, including Boys/Girls basketball, volleyball, soccer, track and tennis, as well as cross-country, baseball, softball, field hockey, gymnastics, badminton, wrestling, and cheerleading.

Stop 12: Olney High School

Olney High School, the feeder high school for the Olney area, had its first graduating class in 1931, and for a time had the largest roster in the city with over 3600 students enrolled. Located at Front and Duncannon Streets, Olney High offers a variety of sports, including Boys/Girls basketball, volleyball, soccer, track and tennis, as well as cross-country, baseball, softball, field hockey, gymnastics, badminton, wrestling, and cheerleading.