MINUTES OF THE STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 2 August 1973 Dr. F. Otto Haas, Chairman Present: Dr. F. Otto Haas, Chairman John Varin William A. Copello, Commissioner, Department of Public Property James L. Fordham, Deputy Director, Department of Finance Henry J. Eckstein, A.I.A., Architectural Adviser to the Commission Barbara Mitnick, Architectural Consultant to the Commission Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian Patricia Slenkowski, Executive Assistant to the Chairman David A. Rosenblum, Assistant City Solicitor Mrs. Joseph Nagel, Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority Also: Jan Schreffer, reporter for the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER Unless otherwise noted, all action taken herein is the result of motions currently made, seconded and carried. THE MINUTES of the Stated Meeting, 7 June 1973, were approved as amended and directed to be filed. The Historian requested that the following be added to the paragraph regarding the Preservation Charter. The Board agreed to send a letter to the Redevelopment Authority expressing the Commission's concern for the Theatre in view of the fact that redevelopment cannot proceed unless the zoning bill before Council is passed this month. The bill with the zoning noted upon before August 31." REQUESTS The Reports of the Architectural Committee for both 15 June 1973 and 11 July 1973 were approved and directed to be filed with the officialology of the Minutes. At this time, the Board was asked to consider a request by the Redevelopment Authority to demolish 988 Bodum Street and 1252-54-56 Bodine Street. In both cases, the buildings in question should in the way of the development of the whole block for new residential or commercial use. The Architectural Committee had reviewed the request earlier and tabled it pending receipt by the Commission of more information about the proposed use for the land. Permission to demolish was granted. Recommendations by the STAFF for the Certification of Buildings, Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian. The following buildings were approved for certification: 1062-25 Clinton Street—Proposed by the Redevelopment Authority. [HANDWRITTEN NOTES: A signature or initial appears in the lower portion of the page near "REQUESTS," but it is not clearly legible enough to transcribe with certainty. The mark appears to be in cursive script.] REPORTS (Cont'd) Summit Street (Nos. 8,12,14,18,22,26,30,32,38,42,46,52, and 54; Nos. 1,17,21,25,31,39,37,39,41, and 57.) Also 100 Summit Street Requested by the Chestnut Hill Historical Society. Bellevue Stratford Hotel, Northwest corner Broad and Chestnut Sts.--St. James Hotel, Southeast corner Thirteenth and Walnut Streets. John Wannamaker
The mark appears to be in cursive script.] REPORTS (Cont'd) Summit Street (Nos. 8,12,14,18,22,26,30,32,38,42,46,52, and 54; Nos. 1,17,21,25,31,39,37,39,41, and 57.) Also 100 Summit Street Requested by the Chestnut Hill Historical Society. Bellevue Stratford Hotel, Northwest corner Broad and Chestnut Sts.--St. James Hotel, Southeast corner Thirteenth and Walnut Streets. John Wannamaker Store, Market, Thirteenth to Juniper Streets. Providence Trust Company, Southwest corner Broad and Chestnut Sts. Bank, Northeast, corner Fifteenth and Walnut Streets. (Packard Building, Southeast corner Fifteenth and Chestnut Sts.-- Approved in hold temporarily.) Baptist Church, Bethlehem Pike and Germantown Avenue. Our Mother of Consolation Church and Rectory, S. Chestnut Hill Ave. St. Paul's Church, E. Chestnut Hill Avenue. Christ Lutheran Church, 6300 Germantown Avenue. Seventh Day Adventist Church, 6700 Germantown Avenue. 6012 Ridge Avenue—Suggested by Norriton-Manaywink Historical Society, 206-10 Walnut Street. Commission Activities, Report on, Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian. Dr. Tinkcom's report for June and July was approved and directed to be filed with the official copy of the Minutes. OLD BUSINESS Head House East, 123-25 South Second Street, Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian. The Historical Commission was presented with the developer's request to remove not only the back buildings of these two structures but also five feet at the original main building. The Board did not alter its previous approval to remove only the back buildings but instead referred the problem to the Architectural Committee for review and advice. Gammon Ball farm house, The Chairman informed the Board of the extended deadline for the moving of the Gammon Ball house from February 74 to February 75. A survey is now being made to deter- mine exactly the tract of land the City (Water Department) would like to acquire for the Fort in an exchange of ground with the Army Corps of Engineers. The Historian also reported to the Board on a meeting in Washington, D. C., of interested officials with the State's representatives and senators to urge the introduction of a bill into Congress authorizing the addition of Fort Mifflin to the Independence National Historic Park. It was agreed that such a bill would be introduced. NEW BUSINESS 56-66 North Third Street, Request for Demolition. Patricia Sticklothswski, Executive Assistant to the Chairman. The Religious Society of Friends' request to demolish these buildings was presented to the Board who voted to table the matter for further study. National Trust Annual Meeting in Cleveland, Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian.
BUSINESS 56-66 North Third Street, Request for Demolition. Patricia Sticklothswski, Executive Assistant to the Chairman. The Religious Society of Friends' request to demolish these buildings was presented to the Board who voted to table the matter for further study. National Trust Annual Meeting in Cleveland, Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian. The Board voted to send Miss Sticklothswski to the National Trust Annual meeting in Cleveland in October if money were available in the budget. (If the Commission found that funds were not available, Mr. Taxis agreed to cover the cost.) Diagnostic and Rehabilitation Center, Northwest corner Bread and Arch Streets. Dr. P. Otto Hass, Chairman. The Commission voted in favor of this location for a new Diagnostic and Rehabilitation Center. This project has also received the support of the City Planning Commission and the Managing Director's Office. Philadelphia Historical Commission Publication, Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian. A brochure, outlining the work of the PHC, is in the process of being compiled for publication. The brochure will contain an outline map of the City showing those areas with the greatest concentration of certified buildings; photographs of certified buildings and line cuts of architectural drawings; and possible prints of the staff in action. The buildings to be shown will be representative of Philadelphia — chronologically, geographically, and by the type of structure. We need, of course, full explicit the Commission's work and stress continued cooperation through community involvement. Archaeological Investigations at Head House East, Miss Barbara Liggett, Archaeological Consultant to the Commission. Miss Liggett brought to the meeting three examples of Rouen and Norris pottery; uncovered in an archaeological dig on east of Second Street. The three pieces found, the work of the famous Philadelphia manufactory on Washington Avenue—the first pottery plant in the United States—are among the few surviving examples of this ceramic work. Miss Liggett attended an invitational to the Board members to visit her lab at 1112 Pine Street to see the other rich finds uncovered at Head House. Retirement of the Commission's Historian, Dr. P. Otto Hass, Chairman. Mr. Hass reported his request to retire at the end of December, 1972, and asked the Board to refer to him pay adjustments they feel are justified for the position. It was noted that a one year residency requirement for all civil servants waived out- of-state applicants applying for the job. Proposal from the Mayor's Office, Dr. E. Otto Hass,
of December, 1972, and asked the Board to refer to him pay adjustments they feel are justified for the position. It was noted that a one year residency requirement for all civil servants waived out- of-state applicants applying for the job. Proposal from the Mayor's Office, Dr. E. Otto Hass, Chairman. The Commission was approached by the Mayor's Office concerning the hiring of a staff archaeologist for the Commission. Although NEW BUSINESS The Commission voted to adopt the Policy for Fees on archaeological or ADC work. It was noted that the opinion that in compliant in these regarding machine. If the Commission's trust can be breached to provide for the paying for a para-time custodian and for hiring of a new to help with the signing of the Journal and execution of the pertinent numbered, the Commission would be permitted. There being no further business, a meeting adjourned to 5 P.M. Democratic Committee. Patricia Geissler-Hamill Executive Assistant to the Chairman ABSENT