November/December 2016 The Newsletter of The Society Hill Civic Association
SOCIETY HILL Reporter www.societyhillcivic.org Master Plan Kick-Off
he Society Hill Civic Association (SHCA) Neighborhood Association, a far larger and T invites all neighbors to the General possibly more complex area. Membership Meeting on November 16, All stakeholders in our neighborhood must which will feature a kickoff meeting with the be identified first, so that each group can have Philadelphia-based urban planning firm, KSK. a voice in the planning. Some stakeholders our SHCA selected KSK to create this master plan for committee has identified are: residents of town Society Hill, which will evaluate our neighborhoo d homes, condominiums and apartments; religious from the Delaware River to 8th Street and from institutions and schools; and non-profits such Walnut to Lombard Streets. This evaluation will Pennsylvania Hospital, the Physick and Powell Best wishes for a consider appropriate zoning and future develop - Houses and the Athenaeum. In addition, we joyous holiday ment, as well as suggested improvements and value the input from business owners, as well season and a maintenance plans for all buildings, parks and as Independence National Historic Park, which healthy, happy open space. Community input is vital to the owns Washington Square and the Magnolia New Year! success of this plan. and Rose Garden parks. We welcome, also, the participation of owners and stakeholders The Steering Committee interviewed three firms of open spaces and memorials such as Harbor highly qualified to do the Master Plan before Park, the Vietnam War Memorial, Foglietta unanimously selecting KSK, a firm headed up Plaza, Three Bears Park and Head House Square. by architect and planner John Gibbons. KSK has teamed up with Urban Partners, a consulting We are very excited to introduce the team to firm headed by preservationist/architect/planner you on Wednesday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m. John Gallery and economic consultant James at Pennsylvania Hospital’s Zubrow Auditorium, Hartling, as well as Viridian Landscape Studio, located on the first floor inside the main entrance landscape design consultants headed by Tavis at 8th Street near Spruce. Please come with your Dockwiller. KSK and Urban Partners produced neighbors and any questions you may have about a very successful plan for the Logan Square the Master Plan timeline or process.
WEDNESDAY MARK YOUR CALENDAR DECK THE DOORS November Society Hill Civic Association Meetings Wednesday, November 16, 2016 16 Pennsylvania Hospital 8th and Spruce Streets
5:45 p.m. Board of Directors Meeting Pennsylvania Great Court Conference Room All SHCA members are welcome. 7:30 p.m. General Membership Meeting Pennsylvania Hospital Zubrow Auditorium All neighborhood residents are invited to attend. Topic: A Master Plan for Society Hill Speaker: KSK, Philadelphia-based urban planning firm Also: Hall Mercer, Pennsylvania Hospital Mental Health Center
Bonnie Halda photo PAGE 2 SOCIETY HILL Reporter
NUSA Place SOCIETY HILL 1st ng Winni ard- Aw etter Newsl LookingLooking forfor a 2016 schoolschool forfor your Reporter Editor-in-Chief Press Release Liaison li lestli lest one?one? Sandra Rothman c/o Matt DeJulio Columnists [email protected] Marilyn Appel Advertising Manager Claire Batten Lenore Hardy The BZBI Preschool Jane Biberman [email protected] and Playschool Al Cavalari Submission Deadlines are accepting Matt DeJulio applications for the Martha Levine Jan/Feb Issue 2017 school year. Sandra Rothman December 1 To book a tour, Keri White Society Hill Civic call us today at Contributors Association 215-735-5142215-735-5142 or email Bonnie Halda P. O. Box 63503 [email protected] Lisa Kelly Philadelphia, PA 19147 Laurel Landau Tel. 215-629-1288 Katy Wich Website Graphic Design Find past issues in color [email protected] at www.societyhillcivic.org. Submissions If you have news that would be of interest to Society 300 South 18th Street Hillers, email Sandra Rothman at [email protected]. Philadelphia, PA 19103 Materials must be submitted in writing and include the 215-735-5148215-735-5148 | bzbi.org name of a contact person. Edited submissions will be considered for publication if space permits. Letters to the Editor must be signed, with contact information. SHCA Mission Statement The aims and purposes of SHCA are to promote the improvement of the Society Hill area of Philadelphia, including its cultural, educational and civic activities, parallel and the preservation and restoration of its historic buildings; to represent the residents of Society Hill in matters affecting the City of Philadel p hia generally and Society Hill in particular; and to interpret the design value and significance of Society Hill to the public. Find our SHCA Board Officers and Directors designs President SE Quadrant online. Rosanne Loesch Woody Rosenbach, Barbara First Vice President Gelman, Gail Hauptfuhrer Martha Levine SW Quadrant BeyondTheLibertyBell.org Second Vice President Alison T. Young, Carolyn Parallel-Design.com Kim Williams Ambler Walter, Martha Moore Treasurer Continuing Director Madeline Miller Bob Curley 215-476-4040 Secretary Representatives Diane Stein St. James Court Directors at Large Norm Wisler Logos Georgine Atacan, Jeff Berry, Penn’s Landing Square Amy DeMarco, George Dowdall, Loretta Burton Websites Shelly Hirsh, Dan Horowitz, Independence Place Banners Newsletters Mary Purcell, Lisa Unger Jerry Yablin NE Quadrant Hopkinson House The Award-Winning Books Fred Manfred, George Kelley, Diane Rossheim Brochures Society Hill Robert Kramer Society Hill Towers NW Quadrant Lorna Katz Lawson Invitations Reporter ! Sissie Lipton, Norman St. James Highrise Lieberman, Mary Tracy Priscilla McDougal NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 PAGE 3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
By RoSAnne LoeSCH Preserving the Unique Historic Character of our Community for Future Generations
lease come out for our General Membership The Zoning Commission concluded that the PMeeting on Wednesday, November 16 to meet Historic Commission review process, which all KSK, the outstanding urban planning firm selected new building or exterior renovation in historic to do a Master Plan for Society Hill (read more districts such as Society Hill must undergo, was on the front page). Your participation in the enough of a protection. However, many in the master planning process is critical to its success. historic preservation community are not sure that this is enough. Our overriding goal, there - We anticipate continued pressures for development fore, in determining future development is to even in a neighborhood such as ours that is already make sure that the unique and historic character in large part fully developed. This could take the of a community we value so much is preserved form of filling in what is now open space or build - for future generations. In addition, there are ing higher structures or denser structures, as is Rosanne Loesch, corners of our neighborhood that could be made SHCA President now allowed in the new zoning code, or through even better, and we hope by engaging in this the process of obtaining a variance. The need for planning process KSK can help us propose variances was supposed to be mostly eliminated plans to upgrade these areas. by the new zoning code. It was one of the stated primary purposes of reforming the code. We look forward to meeting with you on However, while there has been an overall reduc - November 16. tion in the number of variances being requested, Rosanne Loesch to our chagrin, they are still occurring with high is an attorney and former president frequency, especially for larger projects. In addi - of SHCA. She, her husband and two children have tion, no special consideration was given to over - lived in an historic house on Spruce Street since 2002 lays for historic neighborhoods such as ours. and, before that, lived for 14 years in the Washington Square West neighborhood.
FIOS INSTALLATION PROGRESSES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6 Verizon has begun work Hill. Residents may choose assisting him. You may Start Holidays Early with to deliver Fios capability between connections be hearing from Laura at the request of individ - made under the sidewalk as the project moves for - Friends & Neighbors ual homeowners in Society or else “daisy chain” ward, and Verizon sched - connections made throug h ules site visits to place Mark your calendars! All SHCA mem - adjoining basements, duct, fiber or both in bers are invited to the Annual Holiday with the agreement of all basements. Laura can Social on Tuesday, December 6 from homeowners in a block. be reached at 215-591- 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Bridget Foy’s, 200 Unless a daisy chain is 6495 or laura.m. lippin - South Street, 3rd floor. The $15 cover agreed upon, connections cott@verizon. com. Feel includes hors d’oeuvres. A cash bar will be made under the free to contact her with is available and $5 wine will be available. sidewalks. questions or concerns . RSVP by Friday, December 2 with your payment, in Senior Engineering Remember that each day order to provide the restaurant with an accurate Manager Brian Magee the company will excavate account. Make check out to SHCA and mail to SHCA, has visited many of the only as much as can P.O. Box 63503, Philadelphia, PA 19147. homes that qualify for be completed that day; If you wish to attend and are not yet a member, join by the Daisy Chain Project. sidewalks will not be filling out the form on page 25 or visit societyhill.org. Work on American Street Laura Lippincott is now left disturbed overnight. Please email [email protected] with your questions.
In This Issue… Page 5 Page 9 Page 14 Page 21 Fall Clean-Up Day Keeping Posted: Grave Out and About: Headhouse Farmers’ Market Page 7 Doubts About Betsy Ross Why Join SHCA? Locally Distilled Whiskey Getting Involved: Page 11 Page 17 Page 26 Many Ways to Support Stepping Back in Time: Pro- On Our Shelf: Nifty Neighbors in My Own McCall School gressive Play at Starr Garden Richard’s Holiday Picks Backyard: Carol & Alan Fuchs PAGE 4 SOCIETY HILL Reporter Great Gifts!
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r r r r r r r r r NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 PAGE 5
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 Fall Clean-Up Day
inter is around the corner. With it comes — leaving the south side of these streets available Wthe ice and snow that make our sidewalks for congregants to park their cars. All streets will dangerous for pedestrians. Add accumulated be swept from Front to 8th and from Chestnut to leaves and litter, and the bricks and cobblestones Lombard Streets. become especially treacherous. So let’s roll up There will be no parking on either side of the 300 our sleeves, get out the brooms and rakes and join and 400 blocks of Front Street or the 200 and 300 our neighbors for Fall Clean-Up Day on Saturday, blocks of 2nd Street and Lawrence Court. November 12. This year, sweeper trucks will be on Although “Other Side Parking” signs will generally the streets on Friday evening, November 11, to pre- read “from 6 p.m. Friday until 3 p.m. Saturday,” clean before cars are moved to the alternate side. Society Hill’s Block Coordinators are encouraged We ask you to sweep around your house and on to remove these signs as near to 1 p.m. as possible your block. Remember to get those gutters cleared, — in order to permit cars to be moved back to as well as nearby walkways and alleys, before the their usual side of the street between 1 p.m. and 3 city’s sweeper trucks come back sometime between p.m. and prevent those cars from getting ticketed. 8 a.m. and noon. Consider stepping up to the plate if you notice your neighbor is away or a rental Shredding and Recycling property needs a little TLC. And let’s not forget St. Peter’s School Parking Lot Three Bears Park! It’s worth noting that because 3rd and Lombard Streets of city budget cuts, SHCA is picking up half of the November 12, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (earlier if the truck reaches capacity) bill for the sweeper trucks this year. State Repre - sent ative Michael O’Brien is paying for the shred - SHCA is sponsoring paper-shredding and electron - ding services and staff from his office will be there ic recycling services on the November 12 Clean-U p to answer any and all questions. Trash bags will be Day. The shredding service is for the convenience available, handed out by SHCA’s Clean-Up Day vol - of Society Hill residents only — sorry, no busines s- unteers, at the South 5th Street Acme Market, es. It is only for confidential materials; non-confi - from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. dential papers should be recycled, not shredded. Your bagged leaves and street litter, but no house - • Only paper is accepted. No CDs or disks. hold trash, should be left by noon at intersections • Electronic recycling will take anything with a on Locust, Spruce, Pine, or Lombard Streets, plug, except televisions and computer monitors. where they cross the numbered streets. • No large appliances like refrigerators or washing Wherever signs are posted, cars must be moved machines. Also, no smoke detectors are accepted. to the opposite side of the street after 6 p.m. on Friday night, or they could be ticketed on Saturday If you use these special services and are not yet an morning beginning at 8 a.m. Please note that to SHCA member, please consider joining SHCA by accommodate Saturday synagogue services, the simply filling out the form, either on page 25 of 300, 400 and 500 blocks of both Spruce and this newsletter or online at societyhillcivic.org. Lombard Streets will be swept by 8:30 a.m. Any questions? Call 215-629-1288.
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SHCA MEMBER NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 PAGE 7
BIKE LANE OPINIONS EXPRESSED Residents Speak Out About Delineator Posts
ver 150 neighbors packed Pennsylvania Widths of our streets are 25 and 27 feet with OHospital’s Zubrow Auditorium at SHCA’s three lanes: a park lane, a travel lane and a bike September general membership meeting. lane. The installation of delineator posts would Jeannette Brugger, Pedestrian and Bike complicate or prevent vital temporary parking Coordinator for the City of Philadelphia, gave and cause traffic congestion and safety risks a power point presentation about the proposed for tasks as important as loading or unloading delineator posts along Philadelphia’s bike lanes, children and the elderly, since many of our homes including those on Spruce and Pine Streets. have no rear access. The audience offered many The plan is in its very early stages and the City more examples of cause for concern: parcel is reaching out to neighborhoods for feedback. deliveries, trash collection, emergency vehicles, and snow removal were some. There was also Not only did the audience have an opportunity some discussion about how these posts could be to learn more about the initiative, but Jeannette unsightly, as well as inappropriate, for a historic also welcomed their comments and questions. district such as Society Hill. There was broad It appeared that the majority of the audience consensus among residents that bike lane delin - was in favor of bike lanes, with some neighbors eators will not work for Spruce and Pine Streets. noting how bikes have cut down on motor vehicle traffic in our community. All in all, it was a good exchange between our residents and the city’s representative. SHCA Residents voiced their concerns about the nar - will continue to work for what we all think is rowness of Pine and Spruce Streets, compared best for Society Hill and will keep you well- to other streets in the city with bike lanes. informed regularly.
GETTING INVOLVED Many Ways to Support McCall School
eneral George A. McCall Elementary School, If you are able, please consider making a tax- G 325 S. 7th Street, serves over 700 children deductible donation to our Annual Campaign. living in Society Hill, Washington Square West, Make a check out to “McCall Home & School Old City and Chinatown, from kindergarten Association” and send to McCall Elementary through eighth grade. School, ATTN: McCall Home & School Association, 325 South 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 or con - Dynamic principal Rose Rock leads McCall School, tribute online at www.meetingmccall.com/donate/. aided by a strong Home and School Association (HSA) led by President Laurel Landau. The HSA, Here are other easy ways to help McCall: which has 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, serves as a Shoparoo : Download the Shoparoo app onto liaison among parents, students and administra - your phone. Simply scan your grocery receipts tion and handles the school’s fundraising efforts. and Shoparoo donates money back to the school. In recent years, in light of the limited budget, HSA has replaced a badly damaged playground Box Tops : Clip and collect “Box Tops for safety surface, funded the librarian’s position, Education,” which are on many common brought much technology into the school and household brands like General Mills, Hefty and Ziploc and bring them to the school. provided textbooks and workbooks. It also recently McCall School hosted the Fourth Annual Casino Night & Silent Amazon : Many Amazon purchases made through Auction and raised over $40,000! We were thrilled smile.amazon.com are eligible for a percentage to have so many neighborhood attendees. donation to McCall. Just make sure you select “McCall Home & School Association” as your McCall thanks Society Hill Civic Association and charitable organization of choice. its members for their ongoing support. Because of generous contributions, McCall is able to For questions or to volunteer at the school, offer its students tremendous opportunities and please contact Laurel Landau at remain one of the top schools in Philadelphia. [email protected]. PAGE 8 SOCIETY HILL Reporter NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 PAGE 9
KEEPING POSTED
By AL CAvALARi Grave Doubts About Betsy Ross
his postcard from 1935 shows the second Betsy Ross’s second grave site, T resting place of Betsy Ross at Mount Moriah is in Mount Moriah Cemetery, near Cobbs Creek in southwest Cemetery near Philadelphia. So where is the first place, you Cobbs Creek in might ask? And is there a third grave site? southwest Philadelphia. Initially, Betsy was interred in the Free Quaker Burial Grounds at North Fifth Street. She was one of the last members of a congregation known as the “fighting Quakers,” those who could not reconcile themselves to the Quaker principals of pacifism when the need to defend the country against the British arose. the Bicentennial Celebration in 1976. They It’s uncertain why her remains were removed found no remains under her stone and so from this cemetery and reinterred at Mount continued to dig out a large area of the family Moriah twenty years after her death in 1836. plot, until the first bones found were declared Fortunately, for those who wish to pay their to belong to Betsy Ross. Today, the Mount respects, her body, or what remained of it, Moriah site is marked with a bare flagpole. was again moved in 1976 to the courtyard of the Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch Street. Al Cavalari is a certified member of the Association of Hidden City Philadelphia reports that city officials Philadelphia Tour Guides and gives tours as a volunteer for decided to move the Ross grave to Old City for the national Park Service. For a day job he operates The Flag Guys, a flag business in upstate new york. PAGE 10 SOCIETY HILL Reporter
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