The Curse of Billy Penn
You Don’t Really Believe in Curses, Do You?
In 1683, Philadelphia’s founder and grand architect William Penn stood on the streets that he had helped to bring to life. Its design and his masterpiece — would serve not only as an example for other cities in America — but were constructed to endure not for 30 years but for 300.
Three Hundred and forty-two years, to be exact.
Even from the beginning of its design, recreation and leisure were a part of Philadelphia. Its design incorporates five squares, four of which still stand today: Centre, Logan, Rittenhouse, Franklin, and Washington. The lone exception, Centre Square — is now City Hall.
Nearly 200 years after his death, a 53,000-pound bronze statue of Penn was created and was placed on top of City Hall in 1894. For over a century, a “gentlemen’s agreement” was in place that no Philadelphia structure or skyscraper was permitted to eclipse the hat brim of that towering, bronze Billy Penn.
Then, in March 1987, two twin towers—One and Two Liberty Place—were unveiled as the two tallest buildings in Philadelphia. The Sixers won the last professional team championship in 1983, and Villanova won the NCAA Tournament in basketball in 1985.
It would be 25 years before another major Philadelphia sports team hoisted a world championship trophy in the city.
Over those nearly two decades — Philly sports teams came close. Really close. The 1993 Philadelphia Phillies made it to the World Series before being defeated by the Toronto Blue Jays 4 games to 2. The Flyers would advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 1987 and 1997 — only to lose to the Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings. The Sixers would advance to the NBA Finals in 2001 and win game one, only to then lose the next four to the LA Lakers. The Eagles — making it to four NFC Championships in a row and finally to the Super Bowl in 2005 — a loss to the Patriots 24-21.
After each gut-wrenching loss — we blamed the curse. And William Penn. But mainly the curse.
Then, in June of 2008 — all of that changed. The new Comcast Tower building, which became the tallest in Philadelphia’s skyline at 975 feet — would not let the curse continue. On its highest beam sat a miniature bronze statue of William Penn.
The following Fall of 2009, the Phillies would defeat the Tampa Bay Rays to win the World Series. Nine years later, the Eagles won the Super Bowl LII. In November of 2017, a new figurine of Billy Penn was placed at the top of Comcast Center.
Unlike his towering bronze silhouette, the real William Penn’s lofty perch of being the tallest man in Philadelphia was short-lived. He only lived for two years in Philadelphia and returned to Great Britain in 1684. He would come back to his proud Philadelphia in 1699, only to once again go back to England in 1701. He would never again see Philadelphia and would die penniless in 1718.
Over the years, as Philly sports teams advanced to the championship or finals, Penn’s Statue was decorated. It was not in 2009 and 2018. During the Phillies Parade in October of 2009 — the TV coverage occasionally cut away to a shot of Billy Penn’s figurine on that high Comcast beam.
But we don’t believe in curses, do we?
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