MINUTES OF THE 205th STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 2 September 1976 Present: James S. Klein, Vice Chairman Edward Snuksacki John Tulin Val Mogerman, Assistant Director of Finance Barbara W. Levy, A.I.A., Architectural Advisor to the Commission David Hoerblina, Esq., Assistant City Solicitor, Law Department Richard Tyler, Historian Patricia Ritenhouse, Executive Assistant to the Chairman Guests: Hobert Croward, Superintendent, Independence National Historical Park Unless otherwise noted, all action taken herein is the result of motions expressly made, seconded and carried. THE MINUTES of the Stated Meeting, 5 August 1976, were approved and directed to be filed. REPORTS The Report of the Architectural Committee for 18 August 1976 was approved and directed to be filed with the official copy of the Minutes. Recommendation by the Staff for the Certification of Buildings, Richard Tyler, Historian The Commission reviewed the request of the owner for the con-certification of the building at 2327 Naudais Street. It was agreed that the building in itself did not merit individual certification but that as part of the entire streetscape it should be eligible. The Commission rejected the request for the single certification and recommended that the Applicant endeavor to secure the interest of the owners of the remaining buildings in an effort to obtain a block certification. At the request of the Albert Einstein Medical Center the Historical Commission considered the certification of the United States Mint columns standing at the entrance to the hospital grounds. The columns are the only remaining components of the building designed by William Strickland which stood at Thirteenth and Chestnut Streets. The Commission, with the conception of Mr. Finegstein, voted to certify the columns a precedent for the certification of historic other time buildings had already been established by the Commission [HANDWRITTEN NOTES: A curved line/checkmark mark appears in the left margin next to the paragraph beginning "At the request of the Albert Einstein Medical Center..."] MINUTES 2 2 September 1976 REPORTS (Cont'd) in the certification of several horse watering troughs through- out the City, the Egyptian facade of the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, as well as a cast iron sidewalk on North Seventh Street. The Commission ratified the certification of the following properties: 318 Bainbridge Street Franklin Institute, 20th and the Parkway Arch Street Methodist Church, Broad and Arch Streets Heritage House (Keim Forrest House), Broad and Naster Streets -/3 2./11 [?]/... Girard Trust Bank, Broad and
cast iron sidewalk on North Seventh Street. The Commission ratified the certification of the following properties: 318 Bainbridge Street Franklin Institute, 20th and the Parkway Arch Street Methodist Church, Broad and Arch Streets Heritage House (Keim Forrest House), Broad and Naster Streets -/3 2./11 [?]/... Girard Trust Bank, Broad and Chestnut Streets. (The Historical Commission suggested asking Mr. Hyman Myers for copies of his documentation on the building as a Furnace design.) The deletion of the buildings situate at 2107 through to, and including, 2117 Bainbridge Street from the Commission's administrative list of certified buildings was unanimously approved. Report on Historical Commission Staff Activities, Richard Tyler, Historian. Dr. Tyler's Report for the month of August was approved and directed to be filed with the official copy of the Minutes. OLD BUSINESS City Tavern, Hobart Gewood, Superintendent, Independance National Historical Park. At the request of the Historical Commission Mr. Gewood spoke to the Commission members concerning plans for the Independence National Historical Park and, specifically, the City Tavern. The history of the acquisition of the site and the project's implementation as well as current problems with the operation of the tavern were discussed. The objections raised by Mr. Taxis to the building's inaccessibility to the non-customer public and to the opening of a hot dog stand on the corner as part of the operation were addressed by Mr. Gewood who noted that the tavern was, indeed, accessible to the public and that the outdoor sceession served only eighteenth century foods in an eighteenth century manner in accordance with the Park Service's standard priority. In any case, Mr. Gewood agreed to present Mr. Taxin's objection to the outdoor screession to his superiors and advisors. Mr. Gewood was also questioned concerning plans for the Front Street overpass at Walnut Street. The area, according to the Superintendent, will be landscaped in the near future. Following some discussion on [HANDWRITTEN NOTES: Line 8: "-/3 2./11 [?]/..." appears in the right margin, handwritten.] MINUTES 2 September 1976 OLD BUSINESS (Cont'd) the acquisition of properties in the area for a mall, as proposed by Mr. Tarin, and the pending demolition of the Keystone Building. Mr. Cawad was thanked for attending the meeting and providing the Commission members with the information requested. The Plaques, Richard Tyler, Historian. In accordance with the Commission's directive, Mr. Tyler contacted a number of iron foundries to obtain price quotes for the manufacture
the pending demolition of the Keystone Building. Mr. Cawad was thanked for attending the meeting and providing the Commission members with the information requested. The Plaques, Richard Tyler, Historian. In accordance with the Commission's directive, Mr. Tyler contacted a number of iron foundries to obtain price quotes for the manufacture of the Commission's plaques. At the suggestion of Mr. Tyler, the Commission voted to retain the Quint Company as manufacturer of the plaques. Mr. Tyler noted that the additional cost for the re-casting of the two plaques would be passed on to the consumer and would not be the Commission's responsibility. Old City Committee. At the Commission's last meeting the discussion of certifications in the OldCity Area lead to the suggestion that a committee be formed to conduct an on-site survey of the area. Mrs. Klein asked for volunteers to serve on such a committee. The following persons offered to serve: Herbert Levy, Val Hogamsen, Edward Pinkawski, David P Gschlium, and Janet Klein. Mr. Tyler who will accompany the committee on its survey of the area worked that the Chairman also expressed his desire to be a member of the Committee. Mr. Pinkawski suggested scheduling the field trip either late in the morning or early in the afternoon. Mr. Tyler agreed to contact the committee members within two weeks concerning specifis arrangements for the trip. Assets of Philadelphia '76, Inc., Richard Tyler, Historian. With the dissolution of Philadelphia '76, Inc. at the end of the year, the Philadelphia H istorical Commission will be offered the agency's library and its City Chronicle Series to include the copyright and permission to distribute the series. The Commission agreed to accept the library but recommend that the City Chronicle Series be given to the Office of the City Representative for storage and distribution. Mrs. Klein suggested checking on the location of the negatives or plates, probably in the hands of the printer, in case there is a need to reprint the series. Fort Mifflin, Richard Tyler, Historian. The Commission authorised the payment of $3000.00 for architectural services rendered by the firm of Day and Zimmerman in the rehabilitation of several buildings at Fort Mifflin. The $3000.00, deposited in the fund, was allocated solely for this purpose. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:50 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Siemionkowski Executive Assistant to the Chairman /pas