Philadelphia Saving Fund Society South Broad Branch
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NOMINATION OF HISTORIC BUILDING, STRUCTURE, SITE, OR OBJECT PHILADELPHIA REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION SUBMIT ALL ATTACHED MATERIALS ON PAPER AND IN ELECTRONIC FORM ON CD (MS WORD FORMAT) 1. ADDRESS OF HISTORIC RESOURCE (must comply with a Board of Revision of Taxes address) Street address: 2001-07 S. Broad Street Postal code: 19148 Councilmanic District: Second 2. NAME OF HISTORIC RESOURCE Historic Name: The Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Branch Bank Common Name: Citizen’s Branch Bank 3. TYPE OF HISTORIC RESOURCE Building Structure Site Object 4. PROPERTY INFORMATION Condition: excellent good fair poor ruins Occupancy: occupied vacant under construction unknown Current use: Citizen’s Bank Branch Building 5. BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Please attach a plot plan and written description of the boundary. 6. DESCRIPTION Please attach a description of the historic resource. 7. SIGNIFICANCE Please attach the Statement of Significance. Period of Significance (from year to year): from 1923 to 1937 Date(s) of construction and/or alteration: 1923-24 Architect, engineer, and/or designer: Mellor, Meigs and Howe, George Howe Builder, contractor, and/or artisan: Samuel Yellin Original owner: Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Other significant persons: CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION: The historic resource satisfies the following criteria for designation (check all that apply): (a) Has significant character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the City, Commonwealth or Nation or is associated with the life of a person significant in the past; or, (b) Is associated with an event of importance to the history of the City, Commonwealth or Nation; or, (c) Reflects the environment in an era characterized by a distinctive architectural style; or, (d) Embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style or engineering specimen; or, (e) Is the work of a designer, architect, landscape architect or designer, or engineer whose work has significantly influenced the historical, architectural, economic, social, or cultural development of the City, Commonwealth or Nation; or, (f) Contains elements of design, detail, materials or craftsmanship which represent a significant innovation; or, (g) Is part of or related to a square, park or other distinctive area which should be preserved according to an historic, cultural or architectural motif; or, (h) Owing to its unique location or singular physical characteristic, represents an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood, community or City; or, (i) Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in pre-history or history; or (j) Exemplifies the cultural, political, economic, social or historical heritage of the community. 8. MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Please attach a bibliography. 9. NOMINATOR Name with Title: Philadelphia Historical Commission staff Email: Organization: Date: Street Address: Room 576 - City Hall Telephone: (215) 686-7660 City, State, and Postal Code: Philadelphia, PA 19107 Nominator is is not the property owner. PHC USE ONLY Date of Receipt:_______________________________________________________________________ Correct-Complete Incorrect-Incomplete Date:_________________________________ Date of Notice Issuance:_________________________________________________________________ Property Owner at Time of Notice Name:_________________________________________________________________________ Address:_______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ City:_______________________________________ State:____ Postal Code:_________ Date(s) Reviewed by the Committee on Historic Designation:____________________________________ Date(s) Reviewed by the Historical Commission:______________________________________________ Date of Final Action:____________________________________________________________________ Designated Rejected 3/16/07 5. Boundary Description Beginning at the southeastern corner at the intersection of South Broad and McKean Streets the boundary extends southward along South Broad Street a distance of 40 feet, thence eastward parallel to McKean Street a distance of 150 feet, thence northward parallel to South Broad Street and along South Watts Street a distance of 40 feet, thence westward along McKean Street a distance of 150 feet to the point of origin. Street Broad S. Street Watts S. 6. Physical Description The South Broad Branch of the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society (now Citizens Bank), is a Renaissance Revival style bank building located at 2001-07 S. Broad Street at the intersection of S. Broad and McKean Streets and Passyunk Avenue Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The building was constructed between 1923 and 1924. It is a commercial building built on a corner lot, located on the Southeast corner of the intersection. The general plan is rectangular, and the majority of the building is finished with limestone cladding. The base is of black and white granite, and the use of various types of marbles can be seen throughout the upper portions of the building. The original building was also ornamented with a variety of Samuel Yellin ironwork. North 2001-07 S. Broad Street West (a) East South (b) North West West Elevation The base of the West-facing façade is black and white granite. Above the granite base are five courses of rusticated limestone blocks. Above the rusticated limestone courses is a belt course of limestone. The base, rusticated limestone and belt course are interrupted at the center of the façade by the building’s entry (c). The entry consists of an arched opening framed by rusticated limestone. The keystone in the apex of the arch has a scroll detail. Above the keystone is a smooth rectangular limestone lintel. The entire entry sits proud of the base and the plane of the building wall. Above the lintel is a bas- relief limestone medallion with the profile of Ben Franklin circled with the text “Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Crescit Fundo” carved into the frame of the medallion. (d) The wall of the building is finished in smooth limestone with color-matched mortar. On either side of the medallion are two limestone framed roundels with a different type of marble insert in each. (c) Front façade (d) Medallion Above the medallion are two courses of monolithic limestone topped by a limestone frieze with the text “Philadelphia Savings Fund”. Above the frieze is a limestone cornice with brackets. Copper flashing sits at the top of the cornice. The current roofing material is a black material, most likely modified bitumen. The entry door was originally a glass and ironwork door fabricated by Samuel Yellin Ironworks. The original door has been replaced with a glass and metal storefront. The original ironwork transom remains. On either side of the entry door were two plaques. The plaques have since been removed. Also on either side of the door are bronze brackets with a scroll detail. These brackets originally supported open ironwork globe lamps. One either side of the entry door, are two rectangular punched windows, identical to the ones described in the North elevation. (e) (e) Front entry North Elevation The materials and coursing on the West Elevation transition at 90 degrees to the West Elevation. At the corner, there is a bronze bracket scroll with a bronze ring above the belt course. This bronze bracket originally supported a flag pole. There are four double hung bronze single paned windows located directly above the belt course with twelve divided-lites each. There is a limestone bracketed hood at the top of the window. The belt course of limestone takes the place of a sill at the base of each window. Below the belt course set into the rusticated limestone are single pane windows with original security ironwork at the exterior. There are four roundels with different types of marble located between the upper windows. At the top of this elevation is a limestone frieze with the text: “The Oldest Savings Bank in the United States Founded 1816” (f) (f) North Elevation East Elevation At the rear the building there is a picket iron fence is a yard paved with cement. The only elements that transition from the North Elevation to the East Elevation is the limestone belt course, the frieze, and the bracketed cornice with copper flashing. There is only a return of the rustication. The exterior material is stucco with a thin layer of white paint. Above the belt course there is one window with the same proportions as those found on the North Elevation. There is an iron security Grill over the window. Below the belt course are four double hung windows with iron security grates projecting in front of them. There is a stairway to a service door with two window openings up into the stairwell. (g) (g) East Elevation South Elevation The South Elevation is a party wall to the adjacent property and has no exterior architectural features. (h) 1980 Photograph 7. Statement of Significance The South Borad of the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society (PSFS) at 2001-07 S. Broad Street in Philadelphia is a significant historic building in the City and should be listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. PSFS’s South Broad Branch fulfills Designation Criteria A, C, D, and E of the Philadelphia Historical Commission Ordinance, section 14-2007 of the Philadelphia Code. PSFS’s South Broad Branch: (a) Has significant character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage,