About the 59th Republican Ward Exec. Committee

The 59th Ward was decreed into existence by an order of the Philadelphia Court of Quarter Sessions (now the Common Pleas Court) on May 22, 1958, carving out the ward from the 22nd Ward, one of the original wards from Consolidation Act 21 of February 2, 1854, the “Consolidation Act.” All wards were slightly realigned in a re-drawing by a Quarter Sessions court degree August 2, 1965. The 59th Ward encompasses what was originally most of Germantown Borough and the southernmost portion of Germantown Township (which also included all of what is today’ 22nd Wards’ Mt. Airy and the 9th Wards’ Chestnut Hill).

Today, the 59th Ward is a multi-diversified neighborhood by any social-demographic analysis. Divided into 25 divisions, there is the world renown Awbury Arboretum in the eastern portion of the ward, with well-established tree-shaded houses in the 2nd, 4th and the eastern part of the 9th Divisions. Low-income housing projects compete with rowhouses throughout the 6th, 7th, and 8th Divisions. The late Mayor Frank Rizzo got his start in the Philadelphia Police Department while living in the 14th Division. The 21st and 22nd Divisions constitute the famous Tulpenhocken Station Historical District, one of America’s first “Victorian” suburbs, with stately mansions running along Walnut Lane, Tupehocken Street, Green Street and Wayne Avenue. One such house was built for the Queen of Spain, while an attachment to another house was constructed as the honeymoon site for President Grover Cleveland and his bride. (Tupehocken is Lenni-Lenapese for “turtle land”). The 18th and 20th divisions run along side the Wissahickon Park portion of Fairmount Park, the nation’s largest urban park. (Within Wissahickon Park is the only covered bridge within an urban city).

Joseph L. Messa, Esq.
59th Republican Ward Leader
Joe Messa is one the few remaining attorneys left in Pennsylvania who were admitted to practice law by reading for the bar. Born 1924, Messa entered the Merchant Marines in 1943, and in 1956 reentered military service by enlisting in the U.S. Coast Guard, being a member of Flotilla 02-01, SNR since 1962. Messa graduated from Temple University with a B.S. degree in 1950, then attended Baltimore Law School before being relocated back to Pennsylvania, where he clerked for the Honorable Adrian Bonelli of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, while reading for the bar, which he passed in 1976. Messa was previously employed as a Right of Way real estate agent for the Pennsylvania State Dept. of Transportation, from 1955 through 1977. He has been appointed by the First Judicial District as a court arbitrator for several years. Messa was first elected 59th Republican Ward Leader in 1962, now having served for 44 years, the longest serving ward leader of either party in Philadelphia. He was the assistant Ward Leader since 1957. Messa, married 1954, has two sons, one an attorney, the other a building contractor. He is a member of St. Vincent DePaul parish and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, 4th degree.

Hon. Peter J. Wirs
59th Republican Ward Chairman
Born March 4, 1955, Bala Cynwed, PA; School of Journalism, Temple University (1973-1975); PA. Penna. ommission on Crime and Delinquency (Act 44) certification, Temple University (1998), Act 44 re-certification Harrisburg Area Community College (1998-1999). Journalism career began at the age of 13 for the Doylestown, PA Daily Intelligencer and a radio news broadcaster and correspondent by 17 years of age for WBUX AM, Doylestown, contributed to KYW Newsradio, Phila, WCAU-TV, Phila, and the Associated Press, covered Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and George H.W. Bush and Pope John Paul II’s Philadelphia visit. Chairman and CEO, The Poor Richard Corp. (1976- ); chairman Second UPI Unsecured Creditors Committee (1985). Administrative assistant to State Rep. Benj. H. Wilson (1970-1972), special assistant to Phila. Councilwoman Dr. Ethel D. Allen (1973-76), New Britain Twp. Republican chairman (1973-77), chairman, New Britain Twp. Bicentennial commission (1975), mbr., New Britain Twp. Park and Recreation Board (1974). First candidate for public office and first notary public in Pennsylvania under age 21 (1973). Elected State Constable for the City of Harrisburg (4th Ward) (1997) nominated in both Democratic and Republican primaries. Re-elected (2003) after being re-nominated in both Democratic and Republican primaries. Special Master (mediator) Philadelphia Firefighters Union Local 22 v. City of Phila. (Phila. Common Pleas) (2005-2006). Elected Member, Chairman, Acting Treasurer and Acting Ward Leader, 59th Republican Ward Executive Committee (2006-). Chairman, National Conference of Public Officials (2006-), mbr. Straight Talk America PAC, life mbr. Germantown Republican Club, Exec. Dir., life mbr., Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, mbr. Pensylvania Society, brd. Mbr., Friends of Pennsylvania Libraries (1997) (instrumental for the introduction of library reform legislation signed into law by Gov. Thomas Ridge). Author of self-published treatises, The Great Pennsylvania Library Crisis (1997); I Shot the Constable, but didn’t Shoot the Deputy – the History of the Pennsylvania State Constable (2000) and The Musmanno List — Rankings of Penna. Law Firms for Civil Rights Advocacy (2004). Mbr, ACLU, Board Mbr. ACLU South Central PA Chapter (2002-2006). Mbr., U.S. Capitol Historical Society, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Valley Forge Historical Society. Mbr., Historic Old St. George’s United Methodist Church (former member, Administrative Council, Chairman, Pilgrimage Committee), announced candidate for local pastorship, United Methodist Church, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. Mbr., Chalfont Vol. Fire Co. (1973-75) Valley Forge Vol. Fire Co. (1975-76), Chairman and Presidential designate, 250th National Fire Service Anniversary Commission (1983), Mbr., Temple Univ. Alumi Association. Exec. Vice President (2003-2006), President (2006-) Pennsylvania Wrestling Club, Inc.; Active competitive mbr. USA Wrestling, training for qualification for the Veterans Div. (freestyle); Mbr. Harrisburg Judo kai (Rank 5K). Married to the former Anna May Casper, Nov. 22, 2003. Residence, Philadelphia, PA.