The HISTORIC VALUES COMMITTEE met October 30, 1962, at 3:00 P.M. in the office of the Philadelphia Historical Commission. Present: Dr. Nichols, Chairman, Mr. Williams Dr. Tinkcom The Committee approved for certification the North side of Fairmount Ave, between 5th & 6th Sts., incl.: 6926 Ridge Avenue 7953 Ridge Avenue The Committee also agreed to recommend to the Commission the following criteria for certification: (see attached sheet) Meeting adjourned. Margaret B. Tinkcom, secretary [HANDWRITTEN NOTES: There are various handwritten stamps and markings on the right side of the document, but they are largely illegible in this image quality. There is also faint handwritten text in the margins that cannot be reliably transcribed due to image resolution and quality.] PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 634 City Hall, Philadelphia 7, Pa. MU 6-4543 HARRY A. BATTEN THE HON. VICTOR E. MOORE DR. ROY FRANKLIN NICHOLS CHARLES E. PETERSON JOHN TAXIN GEORGE K. TRAUTWEIN FREDERICK B. WILLIAMS, II FRED T. CORLETO, Commissioner of Public Property FRANCIS A. LALLEY, Director of Finance WILLIAM RUBINSTEIN DR. MARGARET B. TINKCOM, Historian MRS. CHARLES J. MAURER, Executive Secretary November 2, 1962 When considering a building or group of buildings for certification as worthy of preservation, the Philadelphia Historical Commission makes use of the following criteria: 1. Was the building associated with an event or a person important to the local or national scene? 2. Is the building a good example of Philadelphia architectural style at a given period, as are, for example, the houses in "Portico Row" (on the south side of Spruce St. in the 900 block)? 3. Does the building show a characteristic way in which Philadelphians used their land, for example, the court houses (see Drinker's Court, 238 Delancey St.) which were built throughout the old city from the early 18th through the 19th centuries? 4. Or, if a street, graced by a group of handsome old buildings, would look the worse if even one building, which in itself is not distinguished either historically or architecturally, were to be removed, leaving an ugly gap in a relatively homogeneous street scape, this house would be certified. 5. Finally, the position of the building in relation to other historically significant buildings is also taken into consideration. For example, one house, unless of unique interest both historically and architecturally, would possibly not be certified for preservation, if it stood in an industrial area. The Philadelphia Historical Commission recognizes that
Finally, the position of the building in relation to other historically significant buildings is also taken into consideration. For example, one house, unless of unique interest both historically and architecturally, would possibly not be certified for preservation, if it stood in an industrial area. The Philadelphia Historical Commission recognizes that a building must be able to serve a useful purpose in the foreseeable future before considering it for certification. On the other hand a similar house, on a street with a number of other good houses in a neighborhood where their continued use and enjoyment by 20th-century Philadelphia is practicable, would be put on the Commission's list. Many of the houses on the small streets - Quince, Iseminger, Waverly, etc., in Washington Square West fall into this category. Individually, none would be considered worth preserving if isolated in an industrial neighborhood, but gathered together they are certifiable.