Walking across the boards by Ralph Rodriguez and opened in 1962, you could Andrew Thompson restage your own Nixon- This is the third in a Khrushchev kitchen debate four-part series anticipating in a full scale mock-up The Newsletter of the 50th anniversary of of a Hopkinson House Hopkinson House in 2012. apartment at Strawbridge & Hopkinson House • Summer 2011 In 1962, our building‘s Clothier’s department store original developer, Major on Market Street. The model (1963) seems to confirm this and the basic Philadelphia Realty Corporation, began apartments included skyline viewpoint: psychology for centuries has renting out lower floor views through faux windows. “A few Old Philadelphians been oriented, like London, apartments before Design consultants stood have always lived in rather toward houses, not, like Paris, the rest of the ready to help you moth-eaten apartment houses toward flats. As far as Old structure was 1962 choose the furniture along Rittenhouse Square or Philadelphia is concerned, completed. A series and accoutrements in such residential hotels as remodeling houses in Society of plywood tunnels HH needed to realize a the Barclay, but these have Hill is suitable; renting rooms were constructed fabulous high-rise usually been older or single in Park Towne [Place: on Benj. from the street to lifestyle. Sky-high people. Nearly everybody else Franklin Parkway] is not. One the service elevator 50 homes were still a see anniversary, page 11 in Philadelphia wants a house, 2012 for the safety of fairly new concept those earliest tenants. outside of New York These and other pieces of and Chicago, and What’s inside Hopkinson House lore members of our group recall were noted during a recent that some Philadelphians by Nelly Childress conversation with several found the idea of taking You will find in this issue the Council’s message long-time residents—some an elevator to a high floor by Harry Zaleznik, President, an important column of whom walked across those residence disquieting. A that will help you have an appreciation of how governing boards. contemporary perspective a condominium building is accomplished by Council. Our group recalled by Nathaniel Burt in The The reminders and recommendations from General that when the building Perennial Philadelphians Manager Judi Forte are a must even though you may be confident that you are well-aware of the nuts and bolts of Hopkinson House’s organization and how to navigate it. Two social events are noted, one by Susan Tomita on the Hopkinson House Courtyard inclusion in the Society Hill Civic Association Open House and Garden Tour that took place on a cool and windy Sunday afternoon in May, and the other, by Lynn Miller, on the Washington Square Affair also sponsored by Society Hill Civic Association on a heat-record day in June. The third of the four-part series written in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of Hopkinson House—“Walking across the boards”—recounts with humor Hopkinson House lore from conversations with long-time residents by Ralph Rodriguez and Andrew Thompson. Dan Rothermel gives us interesting comments on the Philadelphia Opera Company’s American premiere of Hans Werner Henze’s Some of Hopkinson House’s longest continuous residents. Back row opera Phaedra. The saga of a Jewish Viennese teenager from left: Byron Fink (since 1962) George Koch (1966) Jim Siegel (now our neighbor) and her parents following the 1938 (1977); Front row from left: Bo Ettlinger (1965) Scott Childress Anschluss and their resettlement in the USA has been (1963) Nelly Childress (1975); Not pictured: Bob Devoe and written compassionately by Enny Cramer. ■ Nancy Snyder.. Photography: Thompson Andrew 2 • SUMMER 2011 • ON THE HOUSE ON THE HOUSE • SUMMER 2011 • 3 Remembering our building’s namesake Message from Council by Nelly Childress January 1st, 1778, kegs charged Nor dream’d of harm as he lay Although Independence with gunpowder (the first warm, Editorial Committee Considering new capital projects Day is past we in Philadelphia mines) down the Delaware In bed with Mrs. L----g. Nelly M. Childress Enny Cramer continue to celebrate River toward the city. Alarmed by Harry Zaleznik solarium, and maintenance begun preliminary review Byron Fink throughout July. On this for the safety of their ships, the Now in a fright, he starts upright, HHOA Council President shop) was completed in 2007. and planning for the eventual Lynn Miller occasion let us remember the British fired with cannons and Awak’d by such a clatter; Dear Neighbors, Two other capital projects upgrading of the heating David Roberts Ralph Rodriguez person our building was named small arms at everything they He rubs both eyes and boldly As residents enter and are also well under way. First, and air conditioning in the Dan Rothermel after: Francis Hopkinson, best saw floating in the river. It is a cries, leave Hopkinson House this Council is working with the individual units. As part of Susan Tomita known for his role as an ardent very long poem, but here are “For God’s sake, what’s the summer, they will likely be Design Committee to select a this process, Council has Council Liaison patriot during the American some of the stanzas. matter?” aware of the project to replace reasonably priced replacement commissioned a ten-year Paul Coyne Revolution, and a signer of the the ground floor windows. carpet for the solarium. capital reserve study as a Graphic Design Declaration of Independence. “These kegs, I’m told, the rebel At his bed-side he then espy’d, Several months of negotiations Second, Council is awaiting necessary first step in exploring Desperate Hours Productions, He was a versatile individual, hold, Sir Erskine at command, sir, with the Philadelphia Historic a revised design based on its various options for funding [email protected] author, musician, dabbled Pack’d up like pickling herring; Upon one foot, he had one boot, Commission were required recent feedback on an initial the project. Hopkinson House Advertising in science and worked out And they’re come down t’attack And th’ other in his hand, sir. to secure final approval of the proposal for the renovation of is indeed fortunate to have icon. Messages can be read Nancy Snyder, (215) 627-1731 inventions, a skillful draftsman the town, design. The project, which the passenger elevator cabs. such a hard working, involved by all Council members, and Photography and a clever maker of pastel In this new way of ferrying.” Unfortunately for the includes the windows for As a result of previous Council. the President will respond on David Roberts portraits. success of the experiment, the all commercial space, has an Councils’ careful planning, As part of its commitment behalf of Council. Issue Contributors During the war of The soldier flew, the sailor too, British ships had been drawn estimated completion date the costs for all three projects to improved communication, Council looks forward Nelly Childress Independence he wrote the And scar’d almost, to death, sir up into the docks out of the of October 2011. This is the (ground floor windows, Council has enhanced the HH to the continued cooperation Enny Cramer Judi Forte ballad “Battle of the Kegs” that Wore out their shoes, to spread way of floating ice. final phase of the multi-year solarium carpeting, and website so that residents can of building management and Lynn Miller was long exceedingly popular, the news, This text was taken from window replacement project: elevator cab renovation) send comments or questions staff, as well as unit owners, as Ralph Rodriguez but an imaginative expansion And ran till out of breath, sir. George Everett Hastings: The windows throughout the are fully covered by funds to Council. After accessing we complete current projects Dan Rothermel Andrew Thompson of the actual facts: To alarm the Life and Works of Francis individual units were replaced earmarked for these projects in the website http://www. and look ahead to other capital Susan Tomita British forces at Philadelphia Sir William, he, snug as a flea, Hopkinson (Chicago: The in 2006, and the replacement our Capital Reserve Fund. thehopkinsonhouse.com, simply needs. Harry Zeleznik the Americans floated, on Lay all this time a snoring, University Press, 1926). ■ of roof area windows (pool, Your Council has also click on the “Council e-mail” All the best. ■ Message from Management There’s warm, there’s hot, then there’s fire by Judi Forte furniture and mulch fires. A goes into the early morning Summer arrived earlier fire is a high price to pay for hours when most of the than anticipated, with not extinguishing your butts residents are asleep, only to late May and early June in a closed ashtray. be awakened suddenly by temperatures well into the Remember that all loud voices or noises coming 90s. Most of us love the balcony umbrellas must be from a neighboring balcony. summer weather and the closed when they are not in Please remember that your opportunity to enjoy the use and taken down when voice carries when you are world outside. But, when you there is the danger of a storm on your balcony and to use live in a multi-family building or high winds. All loose or your inside voice so as not to such as Hopkinson House, removable objects must be disturb your neighbors’ rest. summer brings its own set of removed from the balconies We also would like to remind The use of bar-b-que issues, which are not unique during periods of high everyone that residents are grills is prohibited in high to Hopkinson House. One winds. And please remember entitled to the use of their rise buildings by order of the most serious issues that bird feeders are not balconies to entertain guests of the Philadelphia Fire is the continued practice of permitted on the balconies.