MINUTES OF THE 175th STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 5 April 1973 Dr. F. Otto Haas, Chairman Present: Dr. F. Otto Haas, Chairman Charles R. Tyson, Vice Chairman John Taxin William A. Costello, Commissioner of Public Property James L. Ferguson, Deputy Director of Finance Henry J. Hagstiner, A.I.A., Architectural Advisor to the Commission Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian Patricia Siemionkowski, Executive Assistant to the Chairman David Rosenblum, Esq., Assistant City Solicitor Unless otherwise noted, all action taken herein is the result of motions correctly made, seconded and carried. THE MINUTES of the Stated Meeting, 1 March 1973, were amended to read "Mr. Hagstiner, therefore, suggested that the City make a feasibility study to estimate the cost of underpinning the shed and that the City underwrite the Commission's and the City's position be presented to the Advisory Council and that the Council be asked to consider the problem and rule on it promptly." The Minutes were subsequently approved and directed to be filed. REPORTS The Report of the Architectural Committee for 21 March 1973 was approved and directed to be filed with the official copy of the Minutes. At the request of the Chairman's Assistant, the Board was asked to consider a request for the demolition of 504 South Fifth Street. The building had been cited by the Department of Licenses and Inspections as structurally dangerous and a report from the South Central Project Area Committee confirmed this. A motion to allow the demolition of this building was made, seconded and carried. Recommendations by the Staff for the Certification of Buildings, Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian. The following buildings were certified as being worthy of preservation: 301 Chestnut Street 36-40 South Third Street 44-52 South Third Street 919-921 Spruce Street 1034 Spruce Street -2304-16 South Broad Street MINUTES 2 5 April 1973 REPORTS (Cont'd) Report on Historical Commission Activities, Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian. Dr. Tinkcom's Report for the month of March was approved and directed to be filed with the Minutes. OLD BUSINESS Cannon Ball Farm, Dr. F. Otto Haag, Chairman and Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian. The Chairman and the Historian met at Fort Mifflin with representatives of those agencies concerned with the relocation of the Cannon Ball Farm house. Its relocation is occasioned by the Water Department's need to use the building's present site for expansion of their facilities. Four locations at Ft. Mifflin were considered
Chairman and the Historian met at Fort Mifflin with representatives of those agencies concerned with the relocation of the Cannon Ball Farm house. Its relocation is occasioned by the Water Department's need to use the building's present site for expansion of their facilities. Four locations at Ft. Mifflin were considered by the group. The preferred one is on land owned by the United States Corps of Engineers; the alternate one is on City property. If agreement with the Corps cannot be reached shortly, arrangements will be made to move the house to a site immediately adjacent to the Fort. Both Commissioner Crawford and Commodore Guarino volunteered $40,000 each to help to move and restore the old farm house. A letter requesting confirmation of this sum will be requested of both Commissioners. Mr. Magasiner noted that, in his opinion, the National Park Service would not at this time consider accepting Fort Mifflin as a part of their property. NEW BUSINESS Request for cooperation from the Historic American Engineering Record, Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian. The Historian reported on HAER's request for help in preparing a comprehensive survey of Philadelphia's industrial and engineering accomplishments. Although the Commission would be willing to make its staff and records available, funds would be more difficult to acquire. A letter expressing the Board's interest but explaining its inability to supply any money will be sent to Douglas Grifin, Chief of HAER. Bicentennial Booklet listing Philadelphia's colonial structures now standing that were here in 1776, Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian. At the suggestion of Mr. Charles Woodward, the matter of publishing a brochure listing all those buildings in Philadelphia standing in 1776 was brought to the Board's attention. The National Trust, who will be meeting in Philadelphia in 1976, agreed to consider assuring the printing costs for this project and Mr. Woodward volunteered a small sum of money (which could be supplemented with funds from the Harry A. Batten Memorial Fund, if necessary) to pay a student to do the research necessary for this project. MINUTES 3 5 April 1973 NEW BUSINESS (Cont'd) Commission Membership in the Association for Preservation Technology, Dr. Harrison B. Tinborn, Historian. The Board's membership, at a cost of $15.00 a year, was approved. Civic Center Project - joint enterprise - Independence National Historical Park and the Philadelphia Historical Commission, Dr. Rolland E. Diebolts, Historian. The request of the Independence National Historical Park
Association for Preservation Technology, Dr. Harrison B. Tinborn, Historian. The Board's membership, at a cost of $15.00 a year, was approved. Civic Center Project - joint enterprise - Independence National Historical Park and the Philadelphia Historical Commission, Dr. Rolland E. Diebolts, Historian. The request of the Independence National Historical Park and the Philadelphia Historical Commission to display in the Civic Center Museum an exhibit of folk art has been turned down by the Museum staff. Dr. Hass agreed to talk with Mr. Belinger about this matter. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Sisiontkowski Executive Assistant to the Chairman