Aunt Mary's Memoirs: XIX

At the extreme end of Domino Lane was the river and here were the locks of the Manayunk canal, which Mr. Giles would operate to let the boats pass. Mules pulled the boats and barges along the canal bank. Umbria Street was later cut through the end of our property leaving a persimmon grove on the far side. These trees were so tall that no one could ever climb them to get the fruit, so we waited until the ripened persimmons fell to the ground. From such a height they were consequently smashed and we usually ate them dirt and all if we wanted to taste their unusual goodness.