Dilapidated Philadelphia house will be put to rest with a funeral

On May 31, a funeral like no other will be held in the Mantua neighborhood in Philadelphia. It won't be in honor of a person, but rather, a house that has stood at 3711 Melon Street for at least 114 years.

The boarded-up row house will be knocked down as part of the cultural project Funeral for a Home. The program, based out of Temple University's Tyler School of Art, seeks to "honor neighborhood history," The Associated Press reports, especially in impoverished areas like Mantua. It is a symbolic gesture that gives dignity to now dilapidated but once proud homes.

Instead of a somber funeral, the event will be a joyous "home-going." A dumpster taking away debris will be followed by a parade of drill teams, bands, and residents, who will then gather for a meal. Organizers are hopeful that the idea will resonate in other neighborhoods. "When you see these blighted homes, you forget that they were a thriving part of the community at one point," Tyler School of Art administrator Robert Blackson told The Associated Press.

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City officials said that 600 homes are torn down every year in Philadelphia, and 25,000 are vacant. The Melon Street lot won't be empty for long; the developer who purchased the house in 2012 for $15,000 plans on building affordable housing.