Rachelle Schneider and Megan Schneider

00:09 Hi, my name is Megan Schneider. I'm 33 years old today's date is Friday September 18th, 2015. I'm here at the BOK technical school in South Philadelphia.

00:23 And I'm here with my wife Rachelle cuz going to introduce yourself.

00:29 So am I name is Rachelle Schneider? I am 35 years old. Today is September 18th 2015 at the BOK Technical High School. I'm in South Philly and I'm here with my wife.

00:46 Great. Thanks. So, when did you move to South Philadelphia?

00:52 I I

00:56 Went to I went to college in in Philadelphia and I think

01:02 Shortly after graduating is when I first moved to what at what I thought was South Philadelphia now, I don't consider that part of the city South Philadelphia, but

01:14 So so that was maybe 12 years ago.

01:20 And I've

01:24 Every few years. I moved a little South and now I would be concerned in the heart of South Philly. Why did you decide to move South as opposed to North or west?

01:39 The one of the cool things I think about Billy is that it's such a city of neighborhoods and an H neighborhood has its own that all I do not stick as much as just a characteristic and and different cool things about it. And I think one thing when I lived in the neighborhood I lived at which was grad hospital. I work with a guy who's very very South Philly. And one thing he always boasted about was how how come you know, it was and how how everyone had it runs back and it was a real kind of community neighborhood. And so I I liked the idea of that and also communal bility. So I work in Center City and I enjoy being in vino downtown Philadelphia and South Philly I think has a little better move ability as far as accessibility as far as getting into the

02:38 Heart of the city but it also is close to you know, the highway and the kids on Big Box store when you need it so convenience. So when you first moved to South Philadelphia who were some of the people that made you feel welcome in South, Philadelphia.

02:58 Well, I think I think my first in this is I'll get i'll get to answering the question but I think the my first like when I really thought I was in South Philly. I kind of had a negative reaction in in the block. I just happen to be on there was a lot of I don't know a lot of people that didn't care about their their space in their property and and the cleanliness of the ground which I have deep issue with so I thought a real disconnect with that and I thought angry and upset that I lived in kind of dirty area and I think the first connection that made me feel

03:42 I don't know no welcome. But but it just made me feel like I was part of it was I printed out you might remember this I printed out flyers for everyone clean up the neighborhood and as I was handing them out and putting them in people's doors. There was a group of young guys that kind of lived or squatted on the corner and they kind of threw it back at me and kind of just missed it and said it was a waste of time and then we're basically jerks. And so I feel like I felt really bummed and discouraged but then but then when that morning Kim a lot of older people came out of their house and and everyone cleaned up and it really felt like a nice nice welcoming Community. I forgotten that you done that I forgot until you you ask that but then

04:40 So I have like three three location 3 South Philly locations that are kind of defining South Philly for me. The the one after that place was when we first when we first moved in together with other people because you didn't know if you wanted to live just with me and that was pretty cool. Welcome in situation in the fact that there was a baker across the street named Steve who works at

05:15 I don't even know the name of the bakery is just the bakery cuz every every couple blocks there was a bakery and that was our Bakery and Steve would you know every Sunday would save us some of the tomato pie that sells out right away or would give us rolls or or discounts. And I know he he actually gave me a pair of roller skates or something with wooden Wheels when he found out that we did roller derby and think they were his like Grandma, I don't know but but that that was a really nice welcome because he was he was the neighborhood speaker and he knew everyone and everyone knew him and it felt really nice to be welcomed by him and part of a community. But then on that same block

06:04 Coincidentally, we didn't know this when we moved in but we live with another lesbian couple and then found out that another lesbian friend live down the street and then a trans couple loads down the street. So we had that some fun little unexpected lesbo row has what we called it. So that that was kind of fun because South Philly is very traditional. I'm very Italian and very religious and Catholic in and so that's always a and if he situation to to walk into but it was really nice to be amongst.

06:40 Family, so what has your experience like being a lesbian in South Philadelphia? Awesome one thing because I'm I'm not one to ever hide who we are but I also am cautious of people's reactions and especially if I'm living next to them or or in close proximity. I'm not worried about other people's Comfort but I am worried about my safety if that's ever an issue and I've never felt uncomfortable or unsafe I think and again this is kind of generalizing and the South Philadelphia ends, but the the older generation very stereotypical South Philly people.

07:30 AR

07:32 Not homophobic, which is awesome, but they are racist which is not awesome. But the fact that I'm a white lesbian, I guess this makes make me made me feel more comfortable. I do. Remember I think the only the only thing that stands out as a negative thing that is their kids throwing rocks at a stop sign across the street when we lived on Tree Street and that came to the door with your car.

08:10 Ran away which looks like it's not an insult.

08:18 Yeah, I mean, I think it's been it's been great. I don't I don't feel weird like walking down the street holding your hand or I mean, I think it's something that I think about though. Like it's still not at a place where I don't have to think about it, but I overall feel very comfortable.

08:39 And yeah, I think it's just going to keep getting getting even more queer around here. And I think I'm on that.

08:50 On that topic quota is a really good I guess illustration of that. So quote has a like a monthly Gathering called queers on the Ave. And we live right off of a

09:07 And Avenue, Passyunk Ave. In that has all the all the old Italian restaurants, but also a lot of new restaurants bars and shops and cool things happening. But you know the very first quota I went to was at one of the old Italian pizzerias that had been there forever and it was really cool to see the integration of just like all these all these queers hanging out at this very old-school place. And and I think that was those are really nice.

09:42 I'm kind of really nice welcome to to see the the old and the new kind of coming together and not conflicting because I know there are a lot of neighborhoods where we're kind of the older Generations in the new generations clash. And I think that's one really cool thing about South Philly is that is that the integration is is okay and it's cool and I think the same with just the old kind of the real old-school, you know restaurant some jobs and people and the newer, you know, younger people moving in and setting up shop and it's at you know, everyone seemed to live in harmony witches. So you kind of brought it up, but the block where your house is now is kind of bordered by this this

10:33 Through fair or commercial District East Passyunk Avenue, and on one end and on the other end of Catholic High School. So, can you tell me a little bit more about what your block is like? Yeah. I think I think that's you know, that's a perfect introduction to for a perfect segue into exactly what the block is like because it's kind of this mix of of old tradition in new and although that have the thoroughfare has been there for a very long time if I guess thrived in the 50s, maybe Jose, I think so and and then kind of petered out and so now it's it's very very hip and destination. Do you know just recently I think this summer we got to the Taurus sign so it's like check out these things on Passyunk Ave. Makes it a destination.

11:32 And

11:34 So with you know with all of the kind of green initiatives and cool bars and restaurants and shops and art places.

11:44 On the one end in the Catholic School in the other and I think that's like the perfect sandwich of what our neighborhood is like Orange Street specifically, I was kind of interesting because we have you know, it's us and then everyone else that have has lived there for generations and then the people across the street. I have driveways and parking lots and I guess that space used to be a field for the school, right? I think it were I feel like I heard it was a cemetery before it was a playing field for the high school and then the mob turned it into row houses with with garages turned it could be urban legend.

12:28 It's a lot of that. Yeah.

12:30 But much contention between our side in their side. Yo parking in South Philly has not to be messed with. Yeah. Well if there's all those curb Cuts it's a mess so specifically what are the best aspects of your house?

12:49 My wife sharing it with you, but I think I'm in the location is amazing having the school in one and means that are wide Street isn't highly trafficked to the school does serve a purpose of educating youth? Yeah, I think the the location obviously because we we move specifically to be close to the pope which is the pub on Passyunk East. It's not my actual Pope who's coming next week to go so proximity to the pope and then all the other cool things and being really close to Subway and riding.

13:49 Now we both ride our bikes 10 minutes to work and that's amazing. But the I think the

13:56 Cellar 422 of the two of the selling points for a house where the yard and the bathroom and which is funny because everyone walks into our house and and loves our bathroom and we never use the like the Jets or the toddler is annoying.

14:22 Yeah, that's a nice light. So don't worry about the backyard. What's great about the yard. So I was talking to my neighbor over as I was as I was cutting pears from our tree and she was wearing her mint and we're talking about how we have like, you know, we have a killer backyard for like a huge huge Suburban a joke, but it's probably like 14 ft by

14:49 16ft again to grow food but also to eating together friends and it's really nice to have a little out outdoor space in the city.

15:10 I always think about the Fig Tree. I did not technically in our yard, but in order of it yet in our neighbor's yard who kind of catacorner is our backyard, even though it didn't the Fig Tree didn't really survive the most recent winter actress that was in my name is a thing for a lot of years cuz we had more fresh figs and we could even eat we made all sorts of fig products fig Jam take pies and you made some weird things with like the eggs and bacon. I don't even know things and she is and faking was amazing.

15:54 Yeah, the next season and apparently, you know, I think they're you run into fig tree that mean that Victory is huge and old I think it came over from Italy with the guy that lives in the yea or his parents. But apparently there are a lot of fig trees in South Philadelphia because of the Italian immigrants who came over from Italy and brought wanted a reminder of home and thank goodness. The Philly landscape allows that hard Metals. So what were the worst parts of your house when you were there, but we didn't realize I remember not remember it not realizing how big our backyard was because it was with your rose bushes that touch the other side of the fence and it was just covered in snow. So, I think I remember seeing half the yard.

16:54 And then when we went when it cleared up, we realize there's a whole whole second half but when but when we bought the house, it was the winter and we had there was a lot of water damage when visible when we when we got the house. So when we had our second inspection because the snow had cleared off the off the roof. It was pouring which it's just seemed perfect because then we would be able to see if there's any water damage and there wasn't and that seemed you know, that luck was on our side but when the pipes

17:35 Unfrozen melted and it rained again and it rained in our house and in our kitchen and and as water was pouring out of are the electrical and the bulbs and the knobs of our range hood. That was maybe the worst. Oh and the black mold in the corner That Grew mushrooms. Yeah the mushrooms growing out of the wall. That is the worst for me. I I just remember I remember you almost in tears every day is the first year was the worst but then but I think from that because of the you know the first year first home, but for sure home buyers tax rebate we were able to redo our whole kitchen and the boy our friend who is a concrete and cabinet maker and countertop. And so now we have this awesome kitchen.

18:35 Well, I know that you have a really great South Philly Story related to water perfect segue.

19:06 To do storycorps. Yeah, so are our first house project. What type of thought I think we both thought would be our only house project was in was digging up the weed into this week at other people dig up the basement dirt floor and pour concrete in and it was dug so you could fit in it. So it wasn't just me doing all the laundry, but I think they dug down a couple inches and and water just started seeping through from the other side. And so

19:44 So, you know naturally we would go to the neighbors and asked if we could I don't know see their basement if it's leaking down there, but the neighbors weren't home and we found out from Tony food is the neighbor of the neighbors are two doors down. Tony was the guy who who welcomed us to our neighborhood and welcomes everyone because he's the guy that you like Town watch stupider stupider than neighborhood gossip. So naturally he would have information so he gave us the Capones number. So then we found out that we were living next to the phone in Jeep mob Italian South Philly and our basement was leaking. So naturally I thought so it's dead bodies. Just sleeping through our walls. Are there some kind of you know,

20:37 Butter, but that number didn't work. So so we go back out to Tony and because the components don't live there. Naturally. They only check the mail once a week in the middle of the night and your neighbors the Capones would and so Tony says and so it's miles and miles long. Do you know where we'll find her so I go to seek out Frankie Capone sister.

21:21 And yeah, so so just by talking to other stupid sitters and I think the what was the description it was he said that he talked to other suitors and he described Mr. Capone's sister as she walks with her husband to church and they hold hands was a description of her and that

21:49 As something about the job to which wasn't even right, but yeah some somehow deduction is stoop sitters. And in that description we found the Capone sister and and you know what to add to the mystery of Capone. I remember she said no, I won't give you his number you'll give me yours and I'll call you and which just seems hysterical and then when we got the phone call someone someone came over to the house to check it out and make sure the basement was okay when the contractor asked to check out the basement heat we refused so dead bodies in four years later and they were Lovely by absolutely so you've mentioned a few but tell me about the characters in your neighborhood.

22:48 So just in

22:51 Just in our house and in the surrounding houses, so so we know there were the components that don't live there and Tony that lives next to the coupons. And yeah, he is by far the best he agrees with every morning because he's out that for verify the crack of dawn. Yeah, usually with his shirt off doing push-ups riding his bike. We went for a walk at what likes 6:37 this morning.

23:28 Throw that ass for getting up late and

23:34 Yeah, I mean he's just he's just awesome because he's been there forever and it was his mom's house before he lives there. So so he's got the history on everything and everyone but he's also he's a lot of fun because he I will he makes me soup not you he makes me soup every week and you know squares squares about the the nutrients in the house and I didn't and he had a little you know, he's a little Progressive than you know, trying new things like yeah, and yeah lyrics Tangled I have a lot of sharing and them that we've made him food.

24:23 So he is great. But he's also a little old-fashioned sometimes. Yeah, and and or experience the theorist. Yeah. Yeah, he refuses to go to the Farmers Market at the fountain in her neighborhood cuz he thinks the Amish there are fake a mesh wearing that you can buy store in sick on your face. If you want to pretend to be a mesh for the record. We don't say Hamish hate us.

24:59 And yeah, I think there's a there's a sensor on a light that he thinks is a camera which is naturally recording us for the government. And we do it he was he was complaining about the pope because he is a politician and it was going to ruin the city and he doesn't like boot trees on our street because they produce leave so he's a little like a guy but then behind the guy with the Fig Tree and then on the other on the other side is Carmelo who listens to Italian opera and you know, our neighbor who has

25:52 Who's been there for several Generations? But yeah, I think one thing I was really excited about moving to our neighborhood was other really cool hip young people better that are also in the stage of life and you know, young families and all these, you know, entrepreneurs and black doesn't have any of that. It's quiet. It's nice to see all those people.

26:33 So what are you hope that South Philly will be like in 10 years?

26:41 I mean just you know, we've we've been in our house for 5 years and so much has changed in the last five years and I think for the better it certainly has improved our property value, but I think I mean I think a lot of cool things are happening. There are other parts of the city where there's a lot more space and just as far as vacant Lots in another thing that you can build a pond in South Philly doesn't really have that. It's pretty pretty dense already. But but what is happening is is really cool. And I and I think it's fine like not only to see

27:20 Good restaurants pop up. Other than pretty cool even though everything is above our price range are we like to eat our block on different TV shows randomly and written up in New York Times and stuff, but I think I do and I'm in the place where we're recording us right now. It was an old high-school and unfortunately I had to close but really awesome group bought it and is going to be turning into really cool shared spaces and I think I think that's kind of a you know something I'm looking forward to just see how that integrates in the in the neighborhood and and how

28:10 You know how our community is merge a little more. I think one thing that I do hope that does get better cuz I think everything is getting better except for if we ever want to move cuz then we probably can't afford it and I hope the schools get better. I hope you know specifically in South Philadelphia and you know those kids here and and stay in the city and

28:44 How about you? Yeah, I mean.

28:48 I would like to see it be you know.

28:53 Moore green, I think to like more green spaces even though like you said, it's already really dense and more. I don't know like it's it's pretty clean already, but I wish that people kind of respected the space a little bit more like less letter things like that.

29:15 So

29:17 But overall I think it's it's heading in a really great Direction. I'm really happy that we're here and has a cold time to be here and yeah. Seeing the growth and the change definitely be at the the litter thing is

29:36 That's one thing. I mean, that's Citywide. But yeah, you know, I almost I was I was threatened. What was the cause of all times but last month that woman hit friend to you know, kick the crap out of me if her son wasn't sitting right next to her because I told her not to throw up plastic bottle into the sewer grate cuz that's okay. Yeah, usually older people do that and it's like well, okay that generation.

30:09 Will go away soon.

30:15 Plumber so yeah in 10 years I do hope there's a little more recycling visible and and then people can respect that a little more.

30:25 What's your experience been like being of Jewish Family in South Philadelphia?

30:34 Also great and I mean that that's relatively new to me. So so for me, I'm just so you know, I'm figuring out what that what that even means someone that means for me what that means for us.

30:48 I think I think the biggest bummer is that you know, we just don't have like we can't we can't hold her own with window decorations and them well, maybe we just don't but but we live two blocks from like Christmas tree, which is on the news every year and them.

31:13 And I'm wit which is really fun. It's really fun to walk down and you know, there's lights up all year round and people really really declan's about and it's against fun to walk through but I'm having less and less of a connection with that and I think you know the when I did celebrate Christmas, I really celebrated gifts and decorations and I just love I love decorating for holidays, but now I have more of a connection to the holidays then to the decorations.

31:48 You know, I I think

31:53 I don't I don't I don't know. I don't feel one way or another. I think I think it's cool through our synagogue that we've met so many people from our neighborhood. So we can't we kind of have this, you know this group, you know, I was like, it's kind of good to know know your neighbors like that. We can have a we have walkable neighbors, even though it's not, you know balerion Lee obvious when walking down the street, but I haven't

32:25 I haven't experienced any anyting significantly one way or the other but I think it's

32:34 I think it's nice to

32:37 Nice to be Jewish in South Philly. I like when we do go for a walk say another mrs. Is on the doors.

32:45 And I slid off recognition and during the holidays. I mean they're eating at the Southbury window display is a big deal. So a lot of people do

32:59 But you don't do big Christmas displays nativities in their window and we'll still decorate. You know, we'll put our Hanukkah displays in the front window and lighting the candles at the window. Yeah. So I think that there's other ways that you know that we contribute to the the flavor of the neighborhood.

33:27 Yeah.

33:29 Okay, so I'm going to ask you a question. What's your

33:36 What's been your perfect day in Southfield? Perfect.

33:47 That's a really good question.

33:55 Well, I mean one of the days that comes to mind is when my mom and aunt were part of the craft festival. They were selling their their Wares and we and my sister and my cousin got to work the table little bit and walked up and down and saw some of the other craft craft sellers. Yeah.

34:29 I don't know. Do you have any other ideas?

34:32 I know there's a there's no one that.

34:37 Specifically comes to mind.

34:41 I mean, I like the I like the days when we get up early before anyone sell can go for a walk and can eat breakfast outside. Yeah, that's the best.

34:51 Definitely

34:55 I don't think I have any other questions do you?

35:06 All right. Well, thanks for setting this up. I love you.