1965 to 2015 to 2065: Who and What Will Tell the Preservation Story? by Anthony C

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Anthony C. Wood, Chair Elizabeth R. Jeffe, Vice-Chair Stephen Facey, Treasurer Lisa Ackerman, Secretary Daniel J. Allen Michele H. Bogart Susan De Vries Kent Diebolt Amy Freitag Shirley Ferguson Jenks Richard J. Moylan Otis Pratt Pearsall Gina Pollara Anthony W. Robins Bradley J. Vogel Duane A. Watson NEWSLETTER SPRING 2014 Welcome to the 20th edition of the newsletter of the New York Preservation Archive Project. The mission of the New York Preservation Archive Project is to protect and raise awareness of the narratives of historic preservation in New York. Through public programs, outreach, celebration, and the creation of public access to information, the Archive Project hopes to bring these stories to light. Kent Barwick protesting Mayor Koch’s proposed changes to the Landmarks Law at a 1988 restaging of the 1962 picket line at Pennsylvania Station, June 29, 1988; Courtesy of Steven Tucker 1965 to 2015 to 2065: Who and What Will Tell the Preservation Story? By Anthony C. Wood, Founder & Chair The multi-year celebration of the 50th and definitive historical analysis, this will of the second 50 years of preservation can anniversary of New York City’s Landmarks be the “first take” on telling the story of be told with even greater thoroughness, Law is building steam. The NYC preservation over the last half-century. accuracy, insight, and excitement. Landmarks50 Alliance, under the dynamic leadership of Barbaralee Diamonstein- How will that story be told? In great part, What do we have to work with to tell the Spielvogel, now involves over 120 the answer depends on the archival material story of the last five decades of preservation organizations, and each of them is hosting and other resources available to inform that in New York City? First, where do we stand a special activity to focus public attention story and make it dynamic and engaging. on the basics—the Sergeant Joe Friday of on the past 50 years of preservation in New Appreciating what we have and what we Dragnet “Just the facts, ma’am” approach York City. Appropriately, as part of this don’t have to tell that story can help instruct to history? We have the public records celebration, there will be efforts to present us in what we should be saving and archiving of what the Landmarks Preservation and analyze the history of the past 50 years. now so that in 2065, when the centennial of Commission has designated. Second, going Though still too fresh for a truly detached the Landmarks Law is celebrated, the story deeper, do we have the basic facts for the Page 1 preservation efforts behind those and other David Todd, who passed away before the and St. Bartholomew’s. But how many sites, e.g. chronologies of events, lists of project was launched). This collection unknown photographs of less prominent protagonists, accounts of activities? Sadly, it provides a baseline view from that singularly preservation efforts exist in forgotten files is a rare occurrence when a specific episode important preservation perch. We also have or dusty scrapbooks? In an old photo album of preservation advocacy has been dutifully oral histories from leaders of key civic of mine I recently ran across photographs documented during or shortly after the fact, organizations and a range of participants in of the exhibition mounted at the Municipal when information is readily available and a variety of preservation efforts. Many more Art Society in the 1980s as part of the memories still fresh. Good examples of such narratives are needed to fully tell the unsuccessful campaign to have a stretch such efforts are the book The Fight for City story of the last half century, but we have of Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan and Suburban Homes and the web resource made a good start. Looking ahead, the task designated a historic district. What photos “Campaign to Preserve 2 Columbus of capturing the voices that will tell the do you have? With cameras now built into Circle: Chronology, Bibliography, Dramatis stories of the next half-century is one we all every possible device, there is no excuse Personae” on the Archive Project website. need to embrace. for not appropriately documenting the next 50 years of preservation history, unless, of This rarity proves that those engaged in Providing great insights, yet rarely available, course, we forget to do so! today’s preservation campaigns and those are first person accounts of preservation who will be involved in tomorrow’s need to efforts. A great example of a new entry in Over the past 50 years, there has been radio add the task of keeping basic accounts of that category is Scott Hand’s and Otis Pratt and television news coverage of key episodes their activities to their already lengthy to- Pearsall’s The Origins of Brooklyn Bridge Park, in preservation history. Surely there must be do lists. Future historians will bless them 1986-1988 (now available on the Archive existing footage somewhere of Jacqueline for even the most rudimentary timelines Project’s website). This 90-page account Kennedy Onassis taking the Landmark of events (meetings, public hearings, press of the earliest days of the efforts to create Express Train II to Albany to testify against coverage, etc.) and an annotated roster of Brooklyn Bridge Park not only rigorously legislation that would have removed religious the key players. For multi-year preservation recounts the events that took place, the properties from the protection of New efforts (and most are) with many players in the drama, and the tenor of the York City’s Landmarks Law. Is there a tape permutations (e.g. designation hearings, times, but also provides insights into the somewhere out there of William Warfield court proceedings, hardship procedures, thinking and strategy behind the scenes. singing “Goin’ Home” at the City Council etc.) a simple chronology will provide future Meticulously documented, this narrative is public hearing on the Dvořák House? What historians an invaluable guide to their efforts. a model other preservationists should be other treasures might be out there? encouraged to emulate. Having access to the facts helps answer There is also the media generated by the the basic questions of “What happened?”; Finally, what do we have to animate campaigns themselves. Remember Tony “When?”; and “Who did what?”; but the preservation stories of the last 50 Schwartz’s “narrowcasting” (messages doesn’t necessarily provide answers to years? Fortunately we have photographs targeted to the key decision-maker in such higher order questions as “What documenting such iconic preservation battles a controversy and aired publicly vs. were they thinking?” To gain that level of as the efforts to save Grand Central Terminal broadcasting aimed at motivating the general understanding one needs public) media efforts access to the thoughts employed on behalf of of the players. When it the battle to save the comes to capturing the Naumburg Bandshell in mental processes of Central Park? Looking those involved in the last to the future, with the 50 years of preservation, help of technology, why the Archive Project shouldn’t every present has conducted over 60 and future preservation interviews, many of which effort be extensively are available as transcripts documented on video on the Archive Project shot from smart phones? website. Today, there is almost no excuse for failing to Part of that collection capture significant events. is a series of oral histories with each of In addition to seeing the the past chairs of the players and hearing their Landmarks Preservation voices, what else can bring Commission (with the Exhibition at the Municipal Art Society mounted as part of the campaign to designate alive key episodes in the exception, sadly, of a portion of Fifth Avenue as a historic district, 1984; Courtesy of Anthony C. Wood history of preservation? Page 2 How about the sailor’s hat (referencing the iconic photo of the sailor kissing the nurse in Times Square on V-J Day) worn NYPAP Events by participants in the rally to save Times Square or the preservation lollipop from Our Public Programs Continue to Celebrate, Educate, & Inspire the Campaign to Save 2 Columbus Circle (known as the “lollipop building”)? What This spring the Archive Project joined City history. Attendees gained both a greater would we give today for one of the original the New York Landmarks Conservancy, knowledge of this dynamic neighborhood, placards from the August 2, 1962 picket line the Historic Districts Council, the NYC and a better understanding of the process at Pennsylvania Station or the September 26, Landmarks50 Alliance, and NYU Press of urban renewal as it pertains to New York 1964 protest at the Brokaw Mansion? What to celebrate the publication of James M. City’s distinctive waterfront and the special about the architectural models for some of Lindgren’s new book, Preserving South Street history these areas exhibit. An in-depth the proposed towers over landmarks that Seaport: The Dream and Reality of a New book review of Preserving South Street Seaport were defeated? What about reminders from York Urban Renewal District. Lindgren is a appears on page seven. preservation failures or salvaged elements of professor of history at SUNY Plattsburgh * * * beloved lost sites? I have an eight-inch piece and the author of several books and essays As a follow-up to the 2013 Bard Birthday of decorative plaster from the Biltmore on preservation. Preserving South Street Breakfast Benefit, the Archive Project and Hotel’s Palm Court that I picked from the Seaport: A Book Talk was generously the Neighborhood Preservation Center wreckage while being ejected, along with hosted by The Paris Café, first opened in hosted The Rise & Fall of Penn Station: Gabe Pressman, from the demolition site in 1873 and frequented by such personages as A Screening Party.

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