Northeast Village, Philadelphia facts for kids

The Northeast Village was a special community built during wartime in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It was a housing project for military families, located near what is now Normandy Village. This area was bordered by Red Lion Road, Decatur Road, Comly Road, and Roosevelt Boulevard. Before the village was built, the land belonged to several farmers, including John and Joseph Root.

Building a New Community

Construction of Northeast Village started in 1946, right after World War II. The homes were ready for families to move in by January 1947. It was an important place for people who had served in the military and their families. The village even had its own school annex, the Benjamin Crispin (Northeast Village) Elementary School Annex.

Life in Northeast Village

Northeast Village was designed to be like a small town all by itself. It had its own stores, a fire station, and an elementary school. There were about five miles of winding roads within the village. Many of the streets were named after places in the South Pacific, like Atoll Road and Lagoon Road. These names were familiar to the many war veterans who lived there. People who lived in Northeast Village often said it was a very friendly and close-knit community. Residents cared about their village and worked together to make it a good place to live.

Changes Over Time

In 1949, the United States government handed over the property to the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA). The PHA is an organization that helps provide affordable housing.

Challenges and Closure

Northeast Village faced some challenges over the years.

• In 1950, a U.S. Air Force jet crashed into some homes on Beachhead Road. This accident caused the PHA to tear down several houses on that street.
• In 1953, more homes were removed. This was to make space for a longer runway at the nearby North Philadelphia Airport (now called Northeast Airport).
• By 1960, the PHA decided to close the entire complex.
• Dismantling of the village began in 1962. The site was completely cleared to make way for the Northeast Philadelphia Industrial Park.

What Remains Today

Today, the Northeast Philadelphia Industrial Park, which replaced the village, is mostly empty. The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) used to have offices there but moved to a different location.

Only a few small parts of Northeast Village can still be found. If you drive on Norcom Road, about 1500 feet past Red Lion Road, you might see them. There are partially paved paths that are about 5-6 feet wide. These are the remains of Dune Road and Echelon Road. Dune Road runs at about a 60-degree angle south of Norcom Road. These small paths are the only reminders of the once-lively Northeast Village.

Fire Alarm Box Locations

Between about 1950 and 1962, specific fire alarm boxes were set up in Northeast Village. These boxes allowed residents to quickly report fires.