PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Stephen Frishberg got a rather unprecedented call earlier this month: “There is 10 feet of Ida water in the basement.”
Like a lot of other Center City infrastructure, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia building, located at 21st and Arch streets, was flooded by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. In that basement was the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Some of the memorabilia, like Chase Utley’s bat or a basketball signed by Larry Brown, were salvaged, but other items were a complete loss.
“We totally redesigned the museum,” said Frishberg, chairman of the Hall of Fame. “A lot of it is virtual. A lot of it was vinyl-like wallpaper that had the history of the people that were inducted. We built cases. We had lockers that were filled with memorabilia. It was really a charming museum.”
Because the museum was located below street level, the damage is not covered by insurance. The nonprofit museum is trying to raise funds to rebuild.
Despite the damage, the Hall of Fame’s 23rd annual induction ceremony will be held at Congregation Rodeph Shalom on Broad Street next week.
“The purpose of this museum is really to acquaint the community — not only the Jewish community, but the community at large — to know that there are Jews that are athletes and Jews involved in ownership, Jews involved in broadcasting, all in regard to sports,” added Frishberg. “And to be inducted into our museum, you have to have a Philadelphia connection.”