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View Nomination 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 an Office of Property Assessment address) Street address:__________3500 Baring Street________________________________ Postal code:___19104_______ Councilmanic District:_____3____________________ 2. NAME OF HISTORIC RESOURCE Historic Name:_________Northminster Presbyterian Church________________ Common Name:________Metropolitan Baptist Church_________________ 3. TYPE OF HISTORIC RESOURCE X Building Structure Site Object 4. PROPERTY INFORMATION Condition: X excellent good fair poor ruins Occupancy: X occupied vacant under construction unknown Current use:__Church____________________________________________________________ 5. BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Please attach a plot plan and written description of the boundary. 6. DESCRIPTION Please attach a description of the historic resource and supplement with current photographs. 7. SIGNIFICANCE Please attach the Statement of Significance. Period of Significance (from year to year): from _1875____ to present__ Date(s) of construction and/or alteration:_1873-75; 1904 (parsonage)_______________ Architect, engineer, and/or designer:__Thomas Webb Richards, Wilson, Harris and Richards____ Builder, contractor, and/or artisan:___Tiffany Studios__________________ Original owner:_Northminster Presbyterian Church_ Other significant persons:_________ CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION: The historic resource satisfies the following criteria for designation (check all that apply): X (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, X (c) Reflects the environment in an era characterized by a distinctive architectural style; or, X (d) Embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style or engineering specimen; or, X (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 X (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__Amy Lambert ____ Email: [email protected] ___________ Organization_University City Historical Society________Date____December 11, 2016_______________ Street Address_____P.O. Box 31927__________________Telephone________(215) 387-3019________ City, State, and Postal Code_______________Philadelphia, PA 19104________________________ Nominator is X 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 4/11/13 5. Boundary Description The boundary of the Metropolitan Baptist Church at 3500 Baring Street encompasses a rectangular lot at the southwest corner of 35th Street. Beginning at the point formed by the intersection of the Westerly side of 35th Street (50 feet wide) and the Southerly side of Baring Street (60 feet wide); thence extending from said point of beginning Southwardly extending Westwardly on a line parallel with Baring Street partly through a brick wall 122 feet 11 1/8 inches to a point; thence extending Southwardly on a line at right angles to Pearl Street (30 feet wide) 25 feet to a point on the Northerly side of Pearl Street; thence extending Westwardly along the said side of Pearl Street 80 feet to a point; thence extending Northwardly on a line at right angles to Pearl Street and also at right angles to Baring Street 178 feet to a point on the Southerly side of Baring aforesaid, thence extending Eastwardly along the said side of Baring Street 214 feet 1 ½ inches to the first mentioned point of intersection and place of beginning. The property is known as Parcel No. 055N23-0038, Office of Property Assessment Account No. 774068000. 6. Building Description The former Northminster Presbyterian Church is located along the south side of Baring Street, at the southwest corner of its intersection with 35th Street, within an immediate area of largely two- and three-story Italianate twins. The decorative Romanesque church with Gothic Revival influences was purpose-built as a Presbyterian church by Philadelphia architect Thomas Webb Richards in 1875. The contiguous manse to the west was built in 1904 by architects Wilson, Harris & Richards as a parsonage. The church was originally clad in green serpentine stone with terra cotta trim, and it is presumed that the deterioration of the stone caused its replacement in local schist by the continuation of Wilson’s firm.1 According to the specifications, the roof was originally in “diagonal pattern & bands of red and green slates” but now has asphalt shingles.2 The church’s front gabled, stone façade is set back from Baring Street, and buffered from the sidewalk by a low stone retaining wall and a grassy yard bisected by a wide walkway to the double entry. The church is a prominent local landmark and gives the immediate stylistic impression of the Gothic Revival, especially with its rose window centered in the front gable, yet the rounded window openings reveal a more Romanesque personality. Richards’ employment of a colorful and decorative design is especially revealed at the interior, but had been extended to the exterior originally by using green serpentine stone, brownstone, and terra cotta.3 In plan, the main elevation of the church extends into the site to form a two level, rectangular church in a simple yet symmetrical volume. The long, side elevation faces N. 35th Street with a small setback from the sidewalk, bordered by low fencing and sod. The building’s symmetry and rectangular footprint are challenged, however, with the placement of the tall, corner tower. It is flush with the north façade yet steps out from the side elevation, a relationship that indicates an early incarnation of the more theatrical turn Protestant churches took after the innovation of the Akron plan in 1870. Additionally, the square plan tower echoes those found in Norman churches. Although placed at the most prominent corner of the building, the tower is flush with the façade and therefore set back from Baring Street, but it was built up to the right-of-way along N. 35th Street and can be accessed by an 1 National Register of Historic Places, Powelton Historic District, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1984, Item 8, p. 2. Northminster is described as “a highly styled, originally green serpentine building similar to Richards’ University buildings. Presumably the deterioration of the stone caused its replacement in the early twentieth century by the continuation of the Wilson Brothers.” 2 Building Specifications by T. W. Richards, 1872. Source: Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia. 3 Ibid. east-facing door reached by wide steps. The tower signals the presence of the church within the neighborhood but by being set back from the street corner it falls short of acting as the main entrypoint for the church. That work is left to the Baring Street façade, with its grand rose window hovering over a double arched entryway. To the west of the church façade is a parsonage that is contiguous with the church; it is also a front gabled building, somber in gray brick with flat window openings and painted wood elements. To the west of the parsonage is a parking lot owned and used by the church. Together, the church, parsonage, and parking lot constitute the entire site of the Metropolitan Baptist Church. North Elevation (Baring Street) The façade of the Metropolitan Baptist Church is imposing but welcoming. It consists of a front gabled, main volume of coursed, schist masonry with a rose window atop a two-story projection where two deeply-recessed, round-arched entry doors are located. To the east
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