PRESERVATION Preservation Alliance for greater philadelphia MATTERS THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PRESERVATION ALLIANCE FOR GREATER PHILADELPHIA FALL 2012 he time has until it became possible to hire a full-time executive director. Along the come,” the way I found that I was enjoying the work a great deal—it allowed me “T Walrus said, to combine my interests in architecture, public policy and community EXECUTIVE “To talk of many things: of development—and so one year became another and suddenly ten years shoes and ships and sealing- had passed. DIRECTOR’S wax, of cabbages and kings I am still very excited about the Alliance and historic preservation in MESSAGE and why the sea is boiling hot Philadelphia, still have many things I have not accomplished, and could and whether pigs have wings.” envision staying around for another five years. But change in leadership I always think of this line from Lewis Carroll in times of change. To is healthy for an organization, and I believe a change in leadership at me it doesn’t mean talking about things, I think of it in terms of doing this point will be very positive for the Alliance, and will enable me to other things. And maybe doing other things as different from the old pursue some of my other interests. as cabbages are from kings. I want to thank all of you who have supported the Preservation For me, and for the Preservation Alliance, the time has come for a Alliance during the past ten years. Without your support we would change. I am intending to leave the position of executive director at the not have been able to accomplish so many fine things. I hope you will end of this year or early next year, once a new executive director has continue to give the Alliance and its new executive director the same been found. The board has already begun the search process, and I am support you have given me and that the next ten years will be even bet- optimistic that an exciting new leader will emerge. ter than the past ten. I came to the Alliance in February 2002, with the intention of help- JOHN ANDREW GA LLERY ing implement a new strategic plan for a couple of years as a consultant Executive Director Area Organizations Working to Preserve Historic Resources The Philadelphia region is fortunate to have many organizations that focus on historic preservation. The successful preservation of the region’s historic resources is the result of their dedicated work. To show our appre- ciation, the Alliance is pleased to continue to highlight these organizations. If your organization would like to be featured in a future newsletter, please call 215.546.1146 x3 or email [email protected]. tects and buildings of the recent past. Wanting to preserve the history of this era, Janet and University of Pennsylvania scholar Stephen Anderson contacted Docomomo’s national organization for assistance in establishing a local chapter. The first Docomomo-PHL meeting drew ten attendees to Janet’s newly-designated home in East Falls. Since then, the chapter’s membership has quadrupled, and the group has organized successful modern home tours and educational lectures. They have also continued working to nominate modernist buildings to the Philadelphia Register and have participated as consulting parties in Federal Section 106 design reviews. In one recent case, Docomomo collaborated with the Preservation Alliance and the Washington Square West Civic Association to negotiate the redesign of a pro- posed addition to Oskar Stonorov’s Casa Farnese apartment Wyatt Gallery building (1300 Lombard Street, 1962) to preserve elements of Historic RittenhouseTown its iconic crescent-shaped entry canopy. For the Sixth Annual Docomomo Tour Day on October 6, revolution in the 19th century, the mills at RittenhouseTown Docomomo-PHL will host a tour of Louis Kahn’s Richards ceased production. By 1900, the village had been incorporated Medical Labs on the University of Pennsylvania Campus. into Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. For more information, visit their Facebook page at www. Since 1984, Friends of Historic RittenhouseTown, a private facebook.com/DocomomoPhiladelphia. non-profit organization, has worked to preserve and protect Wyatt Wyatt Gallery the six surviving Rittenhouse structures dating from 1707 Louis Kahn’s Richards Medical Labs Historic RittenhouseTown that make up a National Historic Landmark District. The To those who lived and worked at RittenhouseTown, the Friends’ mission is to tell the inspiring story of generations Docomomo Greater Philadelphia Chapter sights and sounds of a working mill were the stuff of every- of the Rittenhouse family and their workers. Groups tour the One of the region’s youngest historic preservation organiza- day life. The rush of water, the hum of the water wheel and buildings, make paper using the same tools and techniques as tions was established to help promote and protect some of the the clatter of horses’ hooves echoed through the narrow val- the Rittenhouse family, prepare an authentic colonial recipe region’s youngest historic resources. Docomomo, which stands ley cut by the rapidly moving Paper Mill Run. Wagons from in the circa 1725 Bake House, and print on a replica 18th cen- for the Documentation and Conservation of Buildings, Sites, nearby Germantown brought linen rags to be made into tury press. RittenhouseTown is a reminder of the importance and Neighborhoods of the Modern Movement, is an orga- paper and carried away finished reams to the local printer. of the paper making industry to the development of early nization with chapters in 56 countries and 12 regions in the The smell of pulp permeated the air. America and the essential role of the Rittenhouse family as United States. The Docomomo Greater Philadelphia Chapter The mill was built in 1690 by the Rittenhouse family on the suppliers of locally produced paper for letters, legal docu- (Docomomo-PHL) was established in February of 2011. northern banks of a tributary of the Wissahickon Creek. The ments, maps and books. In 2010, Janet Grace was writing a nomination for her mill quickly became the heart of a thriving industrial commu- Historic RittenhouseTown is open for tours from June Norman Rice-designed mid-century modern home to be nity known since the early 18th century as RittenhouseTown. through September on Saturday and Sunday, 12 – 4pm. The placed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. While For 150 years, eight generations of the Rittenhouse family and education program welcomes groups throughout the year. doing her research, Janet discovered that there were few collec- their employees lived and worked along the Paper Mill Run For more information on programs and events, visit www. tions of biographical and historical information of the archi- and Wissahickon Creek. With the coming of the industrial rittenhousetown.org or call 215.438.5711. continued on page 2 WWW.PRESERVATIONALLIANCE.COM continued from page 1 Fort Mifflin on the Delaware and blacksmithing demonstrations and four battles. The full PHMC Appoints Regional Coordinator calendar of events and information on activities and pro- On the banks of the Delaware River adjacent to the bustling grams are available at www.FortMifflin.us. Philadelphia International Airport stands the site of the greatest bombardment of the American Revolution. Often In November 2011, Cory Kegerise joined the Pennsylvania Historical and overlooked in the wealth of historic resources in Philadelphia, The Woodlands Trust for Historic Preservation Museum Commission’s Bureau for Historic Preservation as the Community Fort Mifflin’s history is compelling but largely unknown. Preservation Coordinator for Eastern Pennsylvania. Based at historic Designed in 1771 by British Chief Engineer John Graeme Park in Horsham, Montgomery County, Cory provides technical Montressor, Fort Mifflin was constructed to defend the assistance and community outreach for 13 counties on the eastern edge wealthy colonial city of Philadelphia. In American hands by 1775, the Fort supported the American Revolution by delay- of the state, including Philadelphia. The bulk of Cory’s work focuses on ing the re-supply of British forces occupying Philadelphia helping representatives of municipalities, including Historical Architectural in November 1777. Beginning in October of that year a Review Boards, Historical Commissions, Planning Commissions, and elect- valiant 5-week battle took place, culminating in the largest ed officials, develop and implement historic preservation programs in their bombardment ever experienced in North America. General Washington ordered Fort Mifflin’s young garrison to “hold communities. Cory also works with Metropolitan Planning Organizations to the last extremity,” and that they did. like the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission to ensure that Fort Mifflin was reconstructed in the late 18th century and cultural resources are incorporated into transportation plans, conducts remained an active military post until 1954. In one visit to training and educational programs in the region, and serves as a liaison Fort Mifflin a guest can stand on a Revolutionary War battle- field, inside a Civil War prison and next to a magazine that The Woodlands Mansion between local groups and the central PHMC offices in Harrisburg. stored gunpowder during World War II. Cory is a native Pennsylvanian, having been born and raised In the 18th century, William Hamilton used his 600 acres of in Berks County. Immediately prior to joining PHMC Cory was the land overlooking the Schuylkill River to develop the finest Administrator of Local Preservation Programs at the Maryland Historical example of an English country estate in America—at least according to Thomas Jefferson. Using his interests in horti- Trust. The job with PHMC was the perfect opportunity for him to return culture and botany to create one of the great “picturesque” to the Philadelphia region where he lived and worked for eight years landscapes, Hamilton assembled one of the largest collections before his work in Maryland.