In all of Philadelphia there is one block that has been trapped in time. It exists between two south bound rows of cookie cutter houses. Normally these row homes have back yards with an alley way dividing them from the properties on the reverse side. But this particular street exists where both adjacent yards would have existed. On both sides of the seven hundred block of south Darien are row homes. It is partition by a narrow walkway which leads out to both adjacent streets on the opposite side.
On April 5th 2013, I was listen to the guiding unctions of the paranormal which steered me to the 800 block of Kenilworth Street. Here I came across a street in Philly that I never seen before. The street was so narrow you could not drive a modern car through. As I approached the beginning of the block I seen a vision from the past. In broad day light I seen a horse drawn wagon with a coffin in the back. It was heading east bound but as it got a certain distance it vanished.
Then abruptly the day turned to night and a ghostly vision of the past enveloped. I seen two people in a scuffle and heard the muffling sound of an argument. i seen a tall slim man with his hands around the throat of a well dressed young woman. As she let out a slight whimper in despair she fell backwards on to the ground. At this point he was leaning over her tightening his grip and then she struggled no more.
At this point I walked over towards them to get a better view. The whole incident occurred with the man's back towards me. As i approached the two I noticed that the man had a look of satisfaction on his face. Then he looked around to see if anyone had taken noticed of his ghastly deed. Finding no one around he casually turned westward and walked away.
At this point the ghostly seen vanished and the night turned back to day. Astonished at this array I quickly wrote it all down so that it could be later deciphered. The man was in a dark suit and top hate reminisce of the mid eighteen hundreds. She was wearing a dark blue dress and a matching shawl that was over her head and shoulders. The shawl had an inner lining of red, white and yellow lace.
In order to build a relationship of trust and confidence one must be open and available. My connection to the "paranormal world" is one of energy exchange and the bonds of a mutual friendship. Later that year and the next I would venture back to this same location to further investigate and explore.
It was a cold rainy day on 12/2/2014 when I decided to explore this area again. As I came upon this location I received clues from the other side. One of which was the word "church" and the only one in the vicinity was the "Church of the Crucifixion" which is located at 8th and Bainbridge. It was an Episcopal Church founded in 1846 that was one of a few racially integrated congregations at the times in the city of Philadelphia.
I walked over to the house where she lived and sat on the steps of 702 S. Darien Street. In a couple of minutes of deep thought I received the paranormal communication I needed. It painted a picture of cruelty, heart break and unresolved human ignorance. We are a matrix and once the outer shell is removed we discover who we are. The value of which is depended on how stable we remain over the test of time. Some may look perfect on the outside but inside they are a shallow void.
Her name was "Robbin" and she was a garment worker. She lived at 702 South Darien Street a rented shared residence for garment co-workers. Like other immigrants she desired a better life other then the one they were economically stuck in. "Robbin" like other new arrivals found refugee in attending a church and her's was the "The Church of the Crucifixion" located around the corner from her house. She was one who enjoyed living life to its fullest and indulging in music and dance.
At the time of the incident she was dating a new man. Someone who was culturally affluent and rich and who could one day provide her with a different life. Their courtship started off innocently and full of romance. But as time went by his intentions became one of a sexual fixation. In his mind he owned her but never with the intent to marry. His jealous and controlling manner become an overbearing burden on their relationship. His anger would get the best of him when not given the attention and sex he deserved. But she was kind hearted and figured she would be able to change him later down the road.
Robbin tried to keep her attendance at the Crucifixion a secret but eventually he found it out. A suspicious demeanor came over him because of the mixed congregation and her unaccounted where abouts at times. He accused her of sleeping with someone beneath his dignity. She persevered and through a soothing tone of voice she assured him he was mistaken.
This came to a head one night as they were walking back to her residence on Darien Street. As they passed a group of laborers along the way he noticed she greeted one with a smile. He bit his tongue until they got closer to the place she called home. As they turned on to Kenilworth Street and before she got to her door on Darien Street he snapped. But this time she stood her ground and didn't hold back her words. Shock and enraged he grabbed her by the neck and forced her to the ground by a gutter. She whimpered and gasped for air but he did not let up until she was dead. When the news spread of her murder those close to her knew he was the one who did it. But the authorities refused to believe it because he was an affluent man of wealth and political importance.
He who controls the narrative controls the outcome. The authorities caught wind of a rumor and sought out her supposed secret lover. His name was of no significance but as an African American former slave he would fit their agenda. As a grave digger at night over at the "Ronaldson Cemetery" which is located at 9th and Bainbridge Street he was a perfect scapegoat. It would put him in close proximity to the crime that night and an easy target for a quick end to the matter.
To those who knew the accused it didn't seem possible. He was a student at the "Institute of Colored Youth (Cheyney University)" across the street from the cemetery. It was founded in 1837 to advance education among the African American community that resided in the general area. It was financed by a grant left after the passing of "Richard Humphreys," a Quaker philanthropist who believed in the advancement of all through education. He only worked the grave yard at night in order to put himself through college during the day. This did not matter to some in the establishment who needed to maintain community control through population suppression.
The injustice of yesterday can never be undone or truly compensated for. It is up to the succeeding generations to evolve into a more "open society" than the previous ones. A world based on a greater civility and the values that follow in its step. In the end no one ever out runs the judgment and retribution that comes with karma. The "Spirit of Robbin" still dances on the street where she dreamed of a greater tomorrow.
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