DRAFT MINUTES OF THE 115th STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 25 July 1967 Present: Dr. Roy Franklin Nichols, Chairman Mr. John Taxin Mr. Charles R. Tyson Councilman Mary A. Varallo Mr. R. Norris Williams, II. Deputy Commissioner Paul L. McSorley, Department of Public Property Mr. Oscar Goodstein, Administrative Assistant, Dept., Public Property Mr. James L. Ferguson, Deputy Director of Finance Mr. Eugene Meyer, Reporter, THE EVENING BULLETIN Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian Mrs. Charles J. Maurer, Secretary Unless otherwise noted, all action taken herein is the result of motions properly made, seconded and carried. THE MINUTES of the Meeting held 27 June 1967 were approved as circulated. REPORTS Historical Values Committee, Dr. Roy Franklin Nichols, Chairman. This report was approved and ordered to be filed with official copies of the Minutes. Architectural Committee, Mr. George K. Trautwein, Chairman. In his absence, the secretary read the report which was approved and ordered to be filed. The Commission's Activities, Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian. This report was approved and ordered to be filed with official copies of the Minutes. OLD BUSINESS Carpenters' Company, 320 Chestnut Street. Dr. Nichols stated that since Mr. Harbeson's letter, dated 5 July 1967, had been circulated, no further information had been received. For the benefit of those not present at the June Stated Meeting, the Chairman continued by saying that the Carpenters' Company was unfinished in 1774, that the present members of the Company now want to give an 18th century flavor to the interior by adding ornamental mantels to the original fireplaces. The Historical Commission proposes that if new mantels are applied, they must follow the design delineated in the ARTICLES OF THE CARPENTERS' COMPANY (See HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA, p. 125, fig 17). The Commission asks that the Carpenters' Company also add a suitable cornice around the room. Mr. Tyson moved that the Chairman's recommendation be adopted. This was seconded by Mr. Williams and unanimously approved by the Commission. Southwark, the moving of several certified buildings from the path of the Delaware Expressway. Mr. McSorley was asked to report on the meeting with members of the National Park Service, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, the State Highway Department and the Federal Bureau of Public Roads which and Dr. Tinkcom attended, representing the Historical Commission. Mr. McSorley stated that the City had been given two weeks to solve the problem of relocating six or eight
the National Park Service, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, the State Highway Department and the Federal Bureau of Public Roads which and Dr. Tinkcom attended, representing the Historical Commission. Mr. McSorley stated that the City had been given two weeks to solve the problem of relocating six or eight buildings. More [HANDWRITTEN NOTES: 1. Top left corner: circled "C" (in margin) 2. Top right corner: small period or dot 3. "115th" - the "th" appears to be handwritten as a superscript 4. Left margin, middle section: circled "C" (in margin) 5. Bottom right corner: "More" appears to be typed but may have minor handwriting elements] The Minutes 7.25.67 Page 2 OLD BUSINESS CONTINUED Commissioner Costello asked the Development Coordinator, Mr. McLaughlan, Mr. McSorley and Dr. Tinkcom to meet in his office that same afternoon to consider the matter. Because the original group of houses had been vandal- ized since their acquisition by the State Department of Highways, it was decided to try to save some of the fine structures on S. Front Street in the 700 block. An engineer was immediately sent to look into the moving of 704 S. Front Street. This, it seems, cannot be done because of the way this building was constructed. Dr. Nichols pointed out that an historic point in the Commission's work has now been reached: The matter of the preservation of these historic houses in Southwark is closed. Model Cities. Dr. Tinkcom reported that the basic problem is money, so far as the Historical Commission's cooperation with City Planning Commission in this project is concerned. It had been estimated that the cost of a his- torical study would be $18,500; that graduate students, working under the direction of an experienced Historic American Building Survey architect, could have been used to survey the area involved. The budget for the work the Historical Commission had been asked to do has been cut 90%, leaving about $1,500.00 for research. Dr. Tinkcom said the Commission could not do anything worthwhile on this amount, and proposed that the Historical Commission with draw from the program. Mr. Williams and Mr. Goodstein concurred. The proposal was approved and the Commission will notify Mr. Bacon that unless adequate provision can be made to finance the Commission's work it must regretfully decline to participate in the program. Extension of the Commission's Ordinance. In Mr. Kranzel's absence, Mrs. Varallo reported that the
and Mr. Goodstein concurred. The proposal was approved and the Commission will notify Mr. Bacon that unless adequate provision can be made to finance the Commission's work it must regretfully decline to participate in the program. Extension of the Commission's Ordinance. In Mr. Kranzel's absence, Mrs. Varallo reported that the matter is before City Council but is being held in abeyance. It was agreed that the matter shall rest for the time being. NEW BUSINESS City Hall Renovations. A discussion of the Historical Commission's reasons for asking to have an opportunity to review plans for changes in City Hall followed. It was pointed out that a complete record of all major changes made in this historic building should be available in the Commission's files. For this reason, it was proposed that all plans submitted to the Art Com- mission be submitted to the Historical Commission also. Mr. Godstein was asked to report this to Commissioner Costello who would raise the issue at the next staff meeting of the Department of Public Property. A letter of thanks will be sent to the Department of Licenses and Inspections for bring- ing this matter to the Historical Commission's attention. Central Germantown Renewal Program. Dr. Tinkcom stated that a Public Hearing would take place on September 6, 1967, and that the Historical Commission had been asked to attend. Mrs. Varallo endorsed the request and it was agreed that the Chairman or another Member of the Commission would be present if it were at all possible. The date of the next Stated Meeting. It was resolved that this be at the pleasure of the Chair, or on the last Tuesday in September, - the 26th. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:05 P.M. 'Respectfully submitted Roy Franklin Nichols Chairman for the Commission RFN:mrm