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Storytelling Benches In Historic Philadelphia Add Some Forgotten Facts

By Suzanne Monaghan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Once Upon a Nation in Philadelphia is offering people the chance to learn "little known pieces of history" as part of a special program that runs through the end of July.

There are 11 storytelling benches around parts of the Historic Philadelphia area. Storytellers are at these benches from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily and continuously tell bits of history that even many adults have never heard.

"People can hear a story about a real witch trial that happened here in the late 1600s or they can hear about Oney Judge who was Martha Washington's personal slave who escaped from the slavery from the president's house here in Philadelphia," says Program Director Jennifer Hoffmaster.

She says it's a great way for people to take in history at their own pace. The stories are told in the area where they happened; they last just a few minutes and are free.

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