Philadelphia’s Colonial Legacy

Pennsylvania 1780 Gradual Emancipation Act, all slaves born after March 1, 1780 would be free—at age twenty-eight. Slaves brought into the state would become free after six months, though prior to the six month limit masters could indenture them for several years.

Philadelphia was part of a tract of land given to William Penn as partial payment for a debt owed his father by Charles II of England. The wooded area, occupied by the Lenape/Delaware Indians for 10,000 years, appealed to Penn as the site of a colony where religious freedom was paramount, water access was accessible and green space was available for the health and happiness of the citizens. The city would become one of the first planned cities in the country and Penn negotiated with the natives for their land and no wall was built to deter access by both natives and colonists. City Hall’s statue of Penn was deliberately situated to face Penn Treaty Park where Penn and Chief Tammany signed a friendship treaty. visitphilly.com

Penn arrived aboard the Welcome in 1682. From the outset the city was cosmopolitan and until the 1770s was the largest city of the British colonies and had the largest English speaking population outside of London. It was a city of learning, intellectualism, creativity and was the capitol of the nation until 1800. Shipbuilding, textiles, crafts, international trade and the slave trade were economic mainstays.

People tend to be unaware of the early history of slavery in the northern colonies and later the northern states. While slavery was generally more limited and involved lower numbers the institution was part of colonial life and beyond. In 1684 the first slave ship, Isabella, to anchor in Philadelphia held a cargo of 150 Africans. By 1767 there were approximately 814 urban slaves with John Phillips being the largest slaveowner with a total of 13 enslaved. Even William Penn held three enslaved at Pennsbury Manor, his home 20-miles from Philadelphia.

There are places in Philadelphia and surroundings with lesser known stories to be told.  Visitors can follow the paths of the enslaved and immerse themselves in their stories. Our legacy is long, memories are short, but you can be a keeper of their stories.

Slave auctions were held at Front and High (Market) St. at the London Coffee House. It opened in 1754 after funds were raised by 200 merchants. It functioned as a restaurant, tavern, auction house and market venue. Africans were marched, shackled, up High Street from the Delaware River.
The 10-acre Lazaretto was established as a quarantine Board of Health facility in 1799. In July of 1800 the USS Ganges captured the Phebe and the Prudent near Florida. Onboard were 135 captured Africans bound for Cuba. The ships were sailed to Philadelphia  because the Abolition Society was. to care for them. They spent weeks in the Lazaretto for treatment. Eventually they were indentured with several settling in the city. Wanamaker Ave., Tinicum Township

In 1697 Rowland Ellis, a Welsh Quaker, settled on land he called Bryn Mawr and built a house. In 1719 he sold his home to Richard Harrison who renamed the plantation Harriton and brought in 99 slaves to grow tobacco. Harriton is home to Tuggy, the ghost of an enslaved woman. It is said that Tuggy was a witch and while casting a spell she accidently staked her dress to the ground while driving a stake into the heart of the Harrison’s child who was buried in the cemetery. Because the night was very dark she thought a spirit had grabbed her and she died of fright. Guided tours are available as are a schedule of events. harritonhouse.org

Benjamin Chew was one of the largest slave-holders in Philadelphia. He owned 9 plantations as well as homes in Germantown and the city. He held slaves at all properties. Richard Allen, founder of the AME Church, was born a Chew slave. Cliveden, a 1767 Georgian mansion, is fully furnished and offers a snapshot of 18th-century life for the wealthy, the enslaved and the indentured. The stories of the enslaved uncovered in the Chew papers present a unique picture of plantation slave life. The Battle of Germantown occurred on October 4, 1777. The British soldiers commandeered the mansion and fired on the Continental Army who were inside Upsala Mansion across Germantown Ave.

The nation’s first written slavery protest was penned in Germantown. Four Quakers met at the home of Thones Kunder in 1688 and petitioned the Quaker’s governing body. The 1770 Germantown Mennonite Meetinghouse displays the document and the table upon which it was signed. Tours are offered.

John Bartram is often credited with being the world’s greatest natural botanist. He discovered more than 200 plants and traveled thousands of miles collecting botanical specimens and detailing the topography and native cultures. Bartram, a Quaker, was initially a slaveowner but later emancipated his slaves but they continued to work for pay and he became a staunch abolitionist. His homesite, the 50-acre Bartram’s Gardens, is open for tours  of the 1730 house and gardens and most areas are handicapped accessible. The house if furnished and displays an original Franklin Stove, a gift from Franklin himself. John Bartram High School is named in his honor. @bartramsgarden.org              

Small Town Tales: Short Pump and Ashland, Virginia

In 1607 a group of 105 people led by John Smith established a permanent Virginia colony, named in honor of Queen Elizabeth I, at Jamestown on land inhabited by Native Americans. A colony, also established by the Virginia Company, was to become Richmond, situated on the fall line of the James River. The area was inhabited quickly because of its accessibility to transport. In 1670 William Byrd inherited land from his uncle and in 1670 the General Assembly added to his holdings and he created a trading network near the falls. Byrd II founded a town in 1733. It was named Richmond after the city in England it was said to resemble and incorporated as a town in 1742. The General Assembly relocated the state capital from Williamsburg to Richmond in May 1779.

Richmond, by virtue of its longevity, has always been central to the history of the United States. There are a vast quantity of historic sites, restaurants and accommodations but I suggest that travelers visit the nearby small towns and communities to more fully experience Virginia. Two great places to start are Short Pump and Ashland.

Many towns sprang up along roadways and Short Pump is no exception. Robert H. Saunders, a revolutionary soldier, opened a tavern beside Three Notched Trail, now Broad Street, in 1815. The trail linked Richmond and Charlottesville and legend has it that Thomas Jefferson stayed there on trips to Monticello. On the tavern’s exterior the owner had a porch enclosed water pump for stagecoach horses. The size of the porch hampered the pumping and so Saunders shortened the pump. The pump became iconic and soon people were meeting at the “short pump”. When the turnpike was built at the intersection of Pump Road and Saunders’ Tavern the juncture was officially deemed Short Pump.

For more than 200-years Short Pump has been a place to meet, eat, quaff your thirst and be entertained. The Short Pump Town Center Mall is a landscaped marvel of winding paths, water features, children’s areas, fireplaces, secluded seating options and even offers train rides aboard the Short Pump Express. Visitors can also avail themselves of several unique activities in the area.

You could really spend your entire vacation in Chocolates by Kelly. The shop offers exquisite handmade chocolates as well as classes and special customized chocolates for any occasion. A multi-generation chocolatier, Kelly enhanced her natural gift with lessons from her great grandmother who was a master chocolatier for Wanamaker’s in Philadelphia. You can order online but the aroma, the taste, the ambiance and the warmth of Kelly’s personality make this a must visit. chocolatesbykelly.com

Boomerang Air Sports gets you off the ground in a variety of ways. On offer are 13,000 square feet of trampolines, a Zip Line, Slam-Dunk Basketball, High Level Ropes Course and a chance to channel your inner  hero on the Ninja Warrior Course. This is a great place for small families or large groups. boomerangairsports.com

Even adventurers have hobbies and Painting With A Twist allows you and your friends and family to experience a walk on the artistic side. No experience is necessary and guests can consume snacks and beverages while they create a work of art along with a resident artist. Classes and parties can be scheduled. paintingwithatwist.com/studio/richmond-short-pump/

Who knew the “Center of the Universe” was Ashland, Georgia, right outside of Richmond? Ashland was the quintessential railroad town. The railroad created Slash Cottage Mineral Springs in the 1840s and soon after began to sell building lots adjacent to the tracks. The one-mile town was incorporated as Ashland, named after Henry Clay’s Kentucky estate, in 1858. During the Civil War a Confederate cavalry training camp was established there and in 1868 Randolph Macon College was relocated there.

Modern Ashland, a 7 square  mile college town, has a downtown that displays architecture from 1865-1919 and more than 200 homes and businesses are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Walking tours should begin in the Ashland Museum, founded in 2008, for a visual orientation to the town and its history. A restored 1926 Red Caboose on the grounds is  also open for tours. ashlandmuseum.org

The Henry Clay Inn was named in honor of Clay who was born in the county, was a politician and was a three time presidential candidate. The inn opened in 1992 and has thirteen beautifully furnished guestrooms. The inn exhibits a stunning collection of baseball paintings in the dining area and the Hanover County Black Heritage Society is housed on the premises. The inn is available for meetings and weddings. henryclayinn.com/history

Situated in the heart of downtown is the 1891 Tinder Guesthouse, a private B&B with a 3-bedroom suite, 2 baths and a game room. It is ideal for a family vacation of friend’s getaway. tinderguesthouse.com

Located directly across from the tracks on Railroad Avenue, Tiny Tim’s Trains and Toys is a delight for all ages. Trains account for a large part of their inventory but it is the games I found most intriguing. The store sells unique and hard to find educational games and toys that are wonderful for family time. trainandtoystore.com

Origin Beer Lab is another totally unique Ashland treasure. The facility bills itself as being “built for research, development, and teaching of all things beer”. Here they test new recipes, listen to consumer input and create and taste new products. Take the tour, taste the product and contemplate being in the “Center of the Universe”. www.originbeerlab.com

TRAVEL TIPS:
 Maryland Black History Month Programs honors Douglass and Tubman. On February 15, 2020. Beginning at 10am-3pm, Governor Larry Hogan will unveil statues of Douglass and Tubman in the Maryland State House, Annapolis. Maryland. www.visitmaryland.org

Germany is off to a fresh start into the new decade by gathering a full calendar of Beethoven events throughout the year. The 250th anniversary of the composer is going to take center stage all across the country. www.germany.travel/en

Montgomery, Alabama (part two)

 “My soul looks back in wonder.” African American Spiritual

Montgomery, Alabama has, from its beginning, acted as a historical vortex, drawing people and events into its orbit in astonishing configurations. This is the city of the Creek Indians, M.L.K., Rosa Parks, Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr. and Jefferson Davis, of the White House of the Confederacy and  Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. It nurtured both the Confederacy and the Civil Rights Movement. It is nearly impossible to fully understand the birth of the Movement without visiting Montgomery and following the US Civil Rights Trail. (https://civilrightstrail.com)

Alabama was settled, by Europeans, circa 1720 and slavery was introduced simultaneously. The majority of the enslaved were brought from other states. In 1819, when Alabama became a state, slaves accounted for 30% of the population. Alabama seceded in 1861 and at that time slaves were 45% of the population, there were 2,690 freedmen and they produced 23% of the country’s cotton. (#myMGM

In 1716 Scotsman James McQueen settled in Montgomery to trade. A year later the French established Fort Toulouse as a trading post. By 1860 51% of Montgomery’s population was enslaved.

Throughout the city historical markers have been placed to interpret the story and allow visitors to envision the events and spatial relationships. The Montgomery Slave Markets and First Emancipation Observance markers indicate that the main slave market, one of the state’s largest, was at the Artesian Basin, now Court Square. In. the 1850s there were 4 slave depots. Markers also indicate the port of entry and departure and the train depot used for transport of the enslaved.

The Museum of Alabama provides an excellent overview of the state’s history showcasing more than 800 artifacts. Native American culture is prominently featured as well as Civil Rights and first person stories in “Alabama Voices”. Many exhibits are interactive. Self-guided tours are free.

Old Alabama Town is a 6-block village consisting of more than 50 authentically reconstructed 19th and 20th-century buildings. Highlights of a tour of the living history museum are the 1850s Ordeman-Mitchell-Shaw House and urban slave dwelling and 1810s Lucas Tavern. Sites are furnished, interpreted and represent Central Alabama life. Tours are offered.

Montgomery became the state capitol in 1846 and later the Confederate States of America’s capitol in February of 1861. On February 14, 1861 a convention was held in the senate chamber and the Confederacy was formed. Four days later Jefferson Davis was inaugurated on the Capitol portico where a brass star indicates the spot. Alabama Bicentennial Park, across from the hilltop Capitol, displays a series of carved brass plaques that feature Alabama’s history from the “Ancient Sea” to  the new millennium. Free tours are available.

Frank M. Johnson Jr U.S. Courthouse Complex is named after Judge Johnson who was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1995. He is credited with making precedent setting decisions regarding integration and civil and voting rights. His 1963 case, Lee v. Macon County Board of Education, was the first statewide school desegregation ruling.

Rosa Parks was arrested on December 1, 1955 when she would not relinquish her municipal bus seat to a white male. Her bail was paid and M.L.K. organized the Montgomery Improvement Association to organize a boycott, considered the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. The Rosa Parks Museum and Library honors her legacy with exhibits, events and programs. A highlight is “The Cleveland Avenue Time Machine,” restored to replicate a 1955 public bus. Visitors experience the bus boycott through special effects. On December 1, 2019 a bronze statue of Rosa Parks was dedicated nearby. It is a great photo opportunity.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was pastor of the iconic Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church until 1960. It is from here that he organized the boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. A tour highlight is King’s original pulpit. Reservations recommended. (www.dexterkingmemorial.org/tours)

The Freedom Rides Museum is exciting on both the interior and the exterior. Photos and text on the exterior recount the harrowing passage from Washington, D.C. to Jackson, Mississippi. The goal was to call attention to lack of enforcement of rules against segregated transportation by having black and white passengers travel together. On May 20, 1961 the Freedom Riders arrived at the Montgomery Greyhound Station. They and Justice Dept. representatives were viciously attacked by a Klan inspired mob and the promised police presence was nonexistent. When the police arrived they charged the riders with inciting violence. President Kennedy sent 400 federal marshals to the city. (freedomridesmuseum.org/)

The 1965 Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, a national park area, follows U.S. Highway 80 from Selma to Montgomery for voting rights. Initially they were stopped by state troopers in a confrontation, known as “Bloody Sunday”, on Edmund Pettus Bridge. They set out again on March 21st after Judge Johnson granted authorization. They stopped overnight at the City of St. Jude, where there is now an interpretive Center and Garden, and held the "Stars for Freedom Rally". On March 24th they reached the State Capitol. King addressed the crowd with his “How Long, Not Long” oration. The Center’s exhibits are thematic and cover all aspects of the march. A striking statue, “Homeless Jesus”, is in the garden.

Keep your eyes open for the Public Art/Selma to Montgomery Sculpture Trail. They are a series of artworks throughout the city including a commemorative mural and “Footsteps of the Marchers” sculpture. @MontgomeryCapitalCool

Make your last adventure in Montgomery having a bite at 102-year-old Chris’ Hotdogs. The establishment has been frequented by Hank Williams and Dr. King among other luminaries.
Springhill Suites-Montgomery Downtown is also ideal for part two of your visit. Amenities include designer linens and bath products, complimentary wireless, coffee machine, large screen television and 24/7 fitness center. The location is no more than a 15-minute walk to dining and entertainment venues as well as 99% of the historic sites. (www.marriott.com/SpringHill/Suites)

Montgomery, Alabama (part one)

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of these acts will be written the history of this generation.” Robert Kennedy

Montgomery, Alabama is widely recognized as both the Cradle of the Confederacy and the Birthplace of Civil Rights. You may wonder how one small city can embody both of these huge movements but it somehow manages to balance this history by taking an unflinching look at the events holistically. The history of our country’s race relations requires continued  examination and, once again, Montgomery finds itself the site of four institutions dedicated to teaching, documenting and presenting issues of race that might otherwise go untold. (@MGMCapitalCool)

The Civil War ended in April of 1865. The Klan was formed in December of that year as a way of regaining and maintaining control over blacks, their initial targets, through terror. The Klan grew increasingly violent and emboldened, even organizing a meeting in 1867 to plan a unified response to the government’s Reconstruction program. The Klan, the first of the white supremacist organizations, expanded their hatred to include Catholics, Jews, Immigrants and LGBTQ individuals.

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a civil rights law firm, was established in 1971 by Morris Dees, Joseph J. Levin Jr., and Julian Bond. The nonprofit organization is most known for its litigation against supremacists, free Teaching Tolerance educational materials, and Hatewatch, the activity monitoring of right-wing radicals. The Civil Rights Memorial Center invites visitors to learn about the ongoing history, challenges and martyrs of the Movement through interpretive panels and interactive displays. A 20-by-40-foot digital Wall of Tolerance features cascading names of those pledged to fight against injustice. Visitors are invited to sign. (https://www.splcenter.org)

The SPLC Civil Rights Memorial was designed by Maya Lin in 1988 to honor 40 martyrs in the cause of human rights in the modern Civil Rights era, 1954- 1968. Their names are etched clockwise on the black granite Martyr’s Table.  The table is 31-inches high so that children may touch the names and feel the water that flows from its center. A wall behind it is etched with the words, “We will not be

satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream”.

The 11,000-square-foot Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration was established on April 26, 2018 on the site of former slave auctions and holding pens, near the docks and train depot used for their transport. The museum documents historic racism from the transatlantic trade through current mass incarceration with videos, interactive kiosks and large visual displays. Jars containing soil from the sites of the atrocities are displayed at both the museum and the memorial. The museum is stunning and should be visited prior to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. A shuttle is available to take you to the Memorial. (https://museumandmemorial.eji.org/museum)

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is situated on a hill within a complex consisting of a visitor center, gift shop, sculptural dioramas and gardens. A winding pathway takes you to the first memorial dedicated to black people who suffered through the lynchings, violence and terror perpetrated against them. It is lined with information panels that provide historical information. The main pavilion displays over 800 steel steles inscribed with the names of 4,400 people who were lynched or were victims of racially motivated murder from 1877 to 1950. Most perpetrators were never brought to justice. Remember that these crimes were documented and an accurate number is much larger. Tours are self-guided.

The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) funded this $20-million project through private donations. Their primary mission is to legally represent the unjustly incarcerated and accused. Just Mercy, opening in mid-January, dramatizes the story. (https://eji.org/national-lynching-memorial)

Springhill Suites-Montgomery Downtown provides ideal accommodations for any trip to the city. Originally built as a cotton warehouse, it has outstanding architectural features such as original beams, high ceilings and unique room configurations. Amenities include an outdoor pool, complimentary wireless and a 24-hour fitness center. Best of all, the hotel is located directly across the street from the Legacy Museum and three blocks from the main historic sites. The Alley, a downtown entertainment area, is across the street from the hotel. (www.marriott.com/SpringHill/Suites)

Central is a best bet restaurant located downtown. It is the 2018 OpenTable Diners' Choice Award and Montgomery’s #1 rated restaurant on TripAdvisor. Reservations are recommended. (central129coosa.com)

A local favorite, Dreamland, is known as the place for BBQ. The atmosphere is casual and the food and service are exemplary. (dreamlandbbq.com)

Montgomery offers an affordable journey and it has numerous sites on the US Civil Rights Trail and we will explore them in part two. (https://civilrightstrail.com)

Make a New Year’s Resolution to visit Montgomery and honor the legacy! (#myMGM)

TRAVEL TIPS:

Shreveport, LA’s Krewe of Harambee is celebrating 20 years of Mardi Gras festivities and observing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy from Jan. 19 through Monday, Jan. 20. These events include a float-loading party, pig roast, scholarship breakfast and parade.

Correction: CityPASS is available online and can be printed or saved on your mobile device for use at attractions in 14 cities. Users choose attractions to save up to 50% and bypass the ticket line. Tickets are valid for nine days after first use and a mobile travel guide is offered containing complete attraction information. (www.citypass.com)

Tickets are still available for Broadway’s “Soldier’s Play” starring David Allen Grier and Blair Underwood. The performances are award worthy and the Pulitzer Prize winning mystery intriguing.

Philly in a Phlash!

            “The lines are all Mr. Trumbauer’s, but the shadows are all mine.” Julian Abele

Whether your latest resolution was to spend more time with your family or not, this column is for you. Philadelphia was designated the nation’s first UNESCO World Heritage City in 2015, placing it on par with Berlin, Mexico City, Paris and Quebec City. It is widely recognized as an international destination, a historic and cultural mecca with venues that are accessible, affordable and family friendly. #visitphilly

I recommend CityPASS in every city where available and Philadelphia CityPASS is a member of the program. Passes are available online and can be printed or saved on your mobile device for use at attractions. Users choose up to five of twelve attractions to save up to 45% and bypass the ticket line. Tickets are valid for nine days after first use. A mobile travel guide is offered containing complete attraction information. citypass.com/philadelphia

Philly PHLASH is the best bargain in town. These colorful buses travel to 18 attractions, departing from a scheduled route, and two additional sites, Please Touch Museum and the Philadelphia Zoo, after a PHLASH transfer. Visitors can hop on and hop off, buses are 15-minutes apart, an all day pass is $5.00 and Seniors are free with a Septa Key card. This is also a great way to show guests the city. (note: No service from Jan-March 28) RidePhillyPHLASH.com

No matter how enthusiastic you are you can’t do it all in a day and most visitors tour Independence National Historic Park on their first trip and after that the choices become more difficult. The original city was planned to be 1,200-acres, 1-mile wide, 2-miles long and was laid out in an innovative grid system. Land to the west of the city was reserved for later use. That, including the cultural corridor known as the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, has since become a tourist draw with a vast number of museums, scientific institutions and architectural attractions.

Anchoring the parkway is the Philadelphia Art Museum, chartered in 1876 as part of the Centennial Exposition. The current site was selected in 1907 because of its location on the highest point in the city. The building was primarily designed by the African American architect Julian Abele, of the Horace Trumbauer firm, with a design based on classical Greek temples. He received minimal recognition until the late 20th-century. The museum welcomed visitors in March 1928. The 240,000 object permanent collection and special exhibitions are displayed throughout more than 200 galleries. Before leaving the site visitors love to run up the 72 exterior stairs and have their picture taken with the Rocky statue located in a grove to the right of the steps. A marker outside details Abele’s contribution. www.philamuseum.org

Dr. Albert Barnes was born in 1872 in Philadelphia, attended Central High School and earned a medical degree by the age of 20. He created an antiseptic and became a millionaire by the age 40 at which time he began purchasing art for his collection. In 1922 he established the Barnes Foundation and his residence on 12-acres in Merion, PA. where his artworks were displayed to a limited number of people. In 2012 the foundation moved into a new $150-million museum on the Parkway. In 2009 Barnes’ story was the subject of a documentary, “The Art of the Steal”.

The 24-room Barnes Collection is one of the world’s best of Impressionist, Post-impressionist and early Modernist European works valued at more than $25-billion. His 2,500 objects include 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 7 van Goghs, 46 Picassos as well as 125 African pieces and additional Native American and metal works. There are more Cézanne paintings there than in all the Parisian museums.

Until January 12, 2020 “30 Americans’ is on view. The exhibit explores race and gender through he artworks of 30 contemporary African American artists. Exhibited artists include Jean-Michel Basquiat, Barkley L. Hendricks and Kehinde Wiley. www.barnesfoundation.org

Eastern State Penitentiary is one of the countries most haunted sites and has been featured on several television shows as well as in movies and music videos. Most people visit for the Halloween extravaganza, Terror Behind the Walls. I suggest that you visit for the history and architecture any time of year.

Don’t be surprised that Benjamin Franklin was there from the start. In 1787 he and a group of citizens met to discuss the deplorable conditions at the Walnut Street Jail where all prisoners, regardless of their crime, age or gender were incarcerated together. Crime and disease were rampant. Reforms were instituted but the need for a larger prison, based on the Pennsylvania System of repentance, rehabilitation and spiritual guidance, arose.

The co-ed prison, then in the suburbs, was completed in 1829. The design, a central courtyard with 7 corridors and 2-story cellblocks arrayed around it. The stone exterior’s walls were 20-inches thick. The prison was equipped with central heating and toilets and showers in each cell. Prisoners were isolated from each other with their only personal property being a Bible. They were fed and communicated through a hole in the door.

Fifty stop tours are self-guided but include an audio tour narrated by Steve Buscemi.  Highlights of the tour  are “the Hole” and a facsimile of the cell occupied by Al Capone complete with Oriental rug, radio and other creature comforts. Elmo Smith and Slick Willie Sutton were other notable prisoners. Women were admitted in 1831 and the cellblocks were desegregated in 1961. Visitors can participate in the Hands-On History program for an interactive experience. The prison, a National Historic Landmark, closed in 1970 and reopened as an attraction in 1994 although visitors, Marquis de Lafayette, Charles Dickens, etc., toured as special guests.