Author Archive

Adam Levine

Adam Levine has done extensive research since 1998 into the historical topography of Philadelphia, mostly as a consultant to the Philadelphia Water Department. As part of this work, he manages the PWD Historical Collection, and also maintains an extensive website of watershed and water supply material at www.phillyh2o.org. In a related career path, he writes about gardening, and is the author of many articles and four books, including A Guide to the Great Gardens of the Philadelphia Region (Temple, 2007).  In another life, he worked full time as a journalist, both freelance and as a staff writer for the Gloucester County Times in Woodbury, NJ.

Flooding In Sight

Flooding In Sight

October 29, 2012  |  Vantage

River and stream expert Adam Levine offers some early observations on Hurricane Sandy and shows what the Fairmount Water Works looked like during the Schuylkill River's great flood in 1869. > more

Imagine Another Way

Imagine Another Way

January 9, 2012  |  Vantage

In 1928 city engineers completed an almost 50 year sewer engineering project that completely removed the Wingohocking Creek (among dozens of others). Adam Levine visits the sewer outlet in Juniata Park > more

Philly As Waffle, Or How The City Was Built

Philly As Waffle, Or How The City Was Built

December 22, 2011  |  Vantage

That iconic grid? It was wrought from hill and lowland, wetland and forest, a process that created what was probably the world's largest waffle > more

Beachcombing By The Airport

Beachcombing By The Airport

December 1, 2011  |  Vantage

Beachcombing near Philadelphia International Airport, with musings on the origins of whiskey bottles, cold cream jars, and the original Delaware River shoreline > more