D R A F T MINUTES OF THE NINETY-THIRD STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 25 May 1965 Present were: Mr. Grant M. Simon, Chairman Mr. James L. Ferguson, Deputy Director of Finance Dr. Roy Franklin Nichols Mr. R. Norris Williams, II. Mr. Robert Goodkin, Budget Officer, Public Property Mr. Oscar Goodstein, Administrative Assistant to the Commissioner 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 on 27 April 1965 were approved. REPORTS The Historical Values Committee, Dr. Roy Franklin Nichols, Chairman. A specific recommendation was made that St. Alban's Church, Olney, be certified as worthy of preservation and a general recommendation that a small sampling of various representative styles of 19th century buildings in West Philadelphia, typical of their period architecturally, be certified. Dr. Nichols reported that the West Philadelphia Corporation had furnished a list of thirty-three houses in Hamilton Village, effectively documented, among which were several Victorian villas, such as are found in Powelton Village and in Germantown. Dr. Nichols's Report was approved. Architectural Committee, Mr. George K. Trautwein, Chairman. There was no report. The Commission's Activities, Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian. Action taken included a discussion of the new law in New York for preserving historical buildings and Mr. Ferguson's agreement to have the Law Department read it and give the Commission an opinion on the ordinance and a simplified explanation of its scope. Dr. Tinkcom's Report was approved. OLD BUSINESS The Budget for 1966. The Chairman and the Historian explained, for the benefit of Mr. Goodkin, the history of the $5,000 which had been allocated for research for a period of two years and withdrawn from the 1965 Budget by the Mayor's Cabinet. Dr. Tinkcom said that the Commission's research program in areas where there is considerable activity and a great need of adequate documentation for old buildings and the necessary cross indexing of records in the file cannot be carried out unless this sum is made a continuing part of Class 200 for Professional Services. Mr. Goodstein asked that a [HANDWRITTEN NOTES: Top right corner: "CWD" with "7/27/65" beneath it Top left corner: "C" with a curved bracket] THE MINUTES 5.25.65 Page 2 OLD BUSINESS continued justification for this in specific detail and recommended that the $5,000 be requested as
Class 200 for Professional Services. Mr. Goodstein asked that a [HANDWRITTEN NOTES: Top right corner: "CWD" with "7/27/65" beneath it Top left corner: "C" with a curved bracket] THE MINUTES 5.25.65 Page 2 OLD BUSINESS continued justification for this in specific detail and recommended that the $5,000 be requested as a permanent part of the Historical Commission's budget. Mr. Ferguson made some useful suggestions about the greater detail required and assured the Chairman that he would do his utmost to see the budget through the Finance Department. The statement was made that the Historical Commission is often the public image of the City; and that if a superficial answer be given to a question, it reflects adversely on this image. Delaware Expressway. No action was taken, following a resume of letters sent and received since the April Stated Meeting. The Historical Commission's power to withhold a demolition permit for more than six months. The Chairman explained the reason for seeking an extension of the present legal period, on the grounds that once demolished, important historical buildings are gone forever. The balance of this matter was covered by Dr. Tinkcom's report. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:15 P. M. Respectfully submitted, Grant M. Simon, Chairman [HANDWRITTEN NOTES: There is a handwritten annotation in the margin on the left side of the third paragraph, consisting of a single curved line/mark, but the text is not legible enough to transcribe with certainty.]