In the recent history of the Elfreth’s Alley Museum, no single person has loomed larger than Ed Mauger, who passed away a year ago, after a battle with cancer. Mauger served as the museum director in a volunteer capacity for several years and covered utility bills himself, keeping the doors of this institution open when its future was in doubt. He was also active with the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides and recruited many volunteer docents who still staff Philadelphia’s historic sites today. Near the end of his life, Mauger campaigned to rename stretches of Market Street and 6th Street to commemorate the historic events which took place along those avenues.
This past weekend, friends and family gathered at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Little Pete’s Diner, and finally, at the Elfreth’s Alley Museum to remember Mauger in story and song. See the video below of the memorial in the Elfreth’s Alley Museum garden.