harrisburg heritage spring/summer 2013

• HARRISBURG HERITAGE • www.HistoricHarrisburg.com

HARRISBURG HERITAGE

OUR MISSION IS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PRESERVATION, RESTORATION AND STEWARDSHIP OF HARRISBURG’S ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE. HHA PROMOTES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT RESPECTS OUR CULTURAL LEGACY

FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN, WORK IN, AND VISIT HARRISBURG

Newsletter of Historic Harrisburg Association • SPRING 2013

(continued on page 2)

Historic Harrisburg Association, founded in 1973, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year as the city’s only historic preservation organization dedicated to creating sustain-able communities that respect architectural heritage and the cultural environment. In a time when organizations have struggled, Historic Harrisburg has grown to be a leader in the continued revitalization of Harrisburg.

To commemo-

Four Decades of Historic PreservationHistoric Harrisburg Association Celebrates 40th Anniversary

A celebration of accomplishment is May 23, 2013 at historic Milestone on the River.

rate Historic Harrisburg’s 40th Anniversary, we will be honoring our Founders and Pio-neers from our formation decade. We will honor the likes of Marianne Faust, Frank Pines, Duryea Cameron and Robert Young for their dedication and devotion to Historic Harrisburg and interest in making our great city a destination for culture and architec-ture. On Thursday, May 23, 2013, Historic Harrisburg will toast four decades of pres-ervation efforts and accomplishments, cele-

brate our founders and pioneers, and a n n o u n c e

our annual Historic

Preser-

vation Awards. While some of our founders have passed on from this life, their legacies are strong and will be honored.

The 40th Anniversary event, at the historic Milestone on the River, a property along the city’s riverfront that was saved from demolition with the help of Historic Harrisburg in 2000, will be a gala celebration to highlight HHA’s accomplishments over 40 years and honor those who were pillars of the organization in its formative years. In an effort honor all of those who shaped Historic Harrisburg, we are asking charter members and other “pioneers” of our

rst decade to contact us and let us know We don’t want you to miss out on this great celebration of historic preservation and

We don’t want you to miss out on this great celebration of historic

preservation and Harrisburg’s continued

re-birth.


Historic HarrisburgA s s o c i a t i o n

HARRISBURG HERITAGE

Harrisburg Heritage, the newsletter for the Historic Harrisburg Association, Inc., is pub-

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

David J. Morrison President

Mandy Arnold Vice President

Michael Walsh Secretary

Peter Durantine Treasurer

Michael ChapaloneyDavid Cordier

Tom DarrRay Davis

Devan DrabikDragan DodikNicole Ernst

Dr. Dorothy KingMatthew Krupp

Catherine LawrenceJohn Reitz

Alan Kennedy-ShafferDr. Rob Steinmetz

Hon. Kelly D. SummerfordRachel Jones Williams

Robert Shoaff

STAFFJohn Campbell Executive Director

Cindy Essig Archives and Programming Director

Dawn Frey Administrative Assistant

Historic Harrisburg Association P.O. Box 1843

Harrisburg, PA 17105-1843(717) 233-4646

[email protected]

Letter from the Executive Director

SPRING 2013

Spring is upon us and Historic Harrisburg’s

40th Anniversary programs are in full bloom.

Over the past three years you probably

have noticed Historic Harrisburg’s growth,

speci cally our investment in our programs.

This year we are excited to have so many

great educational seminars ranging from

vintage gardens to Harrisburg’s role in the

Civil War. Over 20 programs have been

schedule to help promote the mission of

Historic Harrisburg and to engage the com-

munities that we serve.

In addition to these great programs,

Historic Harrisburg has taken on signi cant

initiatives such as 3rd in the Burg, Harris-

burg’s monthly art walk, City Beautiful 2.0,

a movement of civic engagement to make

Our City Our Concern, and Lighten Up

Harrisburg, a project to re-light the Walnut

Street Bridge and bring more light into

Harrisburg’s neighborhoods. We believe

sustainable communities are more than just

preserving historic homes, it is about creat-

ing community, engaging culturally, and

sharing the pride of ownership that we live

in a great capital city.

A s 2 0 1 3

continues to un-

fold we are grate-

ful for the tre-

mendous support

we have received

from our found-

ers, pioneers,

members, vol-

unteers, board di-

rectors, and staff.

Great things are happening in Harrisburg

and you will nd Historic Harrisburg’s hand

print on almost all of it. We ask that you

continue to promote our mission of historic

preservation and creating sustainable com-

munities. We have an opportunity to move

Harrisburg forward and what a better time

than now, Historic Harrisburg’s 40th An-

niversary.

John R. Campbell

Executive Director

Four Decades of Historic Preservation continued from page 1…

Harrisburg’s continued re-birth. Contact us at [email protected] or 717-233-4646 to help us complete our list of those to be invited as our special honorees. In addition to building this honor roll for the 40th Anniversary celebration, we have begun hosting round table discussions with our founders and pioneers. These conversa-tions have yielded great historical knowl-edge and have inspired us to begin an oral history project. This project will take place throughout 2013 and will capture the great stories surrounding Harrisburg’s resurgence and Historic Harrisburg’s founding. Historic Harrisburg celebrates this milestone with a calendar of programs and events. Throughout its 40 years, HHA has

saved numerous neighborhoods from total demolition, promoted Harrisburg as a place to live, work, and play, and encouraged responsible economic development through strategic partnerships with developers and civic leaders. In addition, HHA has launched a robust calendar of programs that include the topics of homeownership, historic Get-tysburg, and the future of development in Harrisburg. A full list of the programs can be found at www.HistoricHarrisburg.com. We encourage you to get engaged, come to a free program, support Historic Harrisburg at its 40th Anniversary event this May and continue to champion our cause of creating sustainable communities.


Overheard at a recent Susquehanna Art Museum exhibition opening:

Dad: What’s this sculpture all about?

Son (age 7): The woman is sad because the city is crumbling [broken column].

Dad: And maybe the broken plaster bread loaves mean that there’s not enough food for everybody.

Son: I like my idea better!

SITUATION: Dialogue between father and son … about art.MORAL: There is no right or wrong answer … about art.E PERIENCE: Priceless

Engagement with community has always been the mission of the Susquehanna Art Museum and what better pathway to that experience than sharing and talking about art. Now SAM looks forward to an explo-sion of creative activity – with schoolchil-dren, youth groups, artists, scholars, and the general public – as we restore the historic

A New Art Museum for Central Pennsylvania, Coming to Midtown in 2014!

Keystone Bank building at Calder and Third streets and add a 17,000-square-foot addi-tion. It’s set to open in 2014. By the May 7, 2013, ground breaking and block party (4:30 - 8:00 p.m.), con-struction of this new cultural institution for Central Pennsylvania will have begun. This summer will see demolition and site prepa-ration and, by year’s end, renovation and construction will be in full swing. By late spring and early summer 2014, SAM will be a visible presence as all the nishing details take shape inside and out. Meanwhile, the museum will continue to feature off-site ex-hibitions at the State Museum and Whitaker Center, all the time sending our anGo bus to schools and community events around the region. The new museum is slated to open the fall of 2014. When that happens, Pennsyl-vania will no longer be one of four states without a dedicated art museum in its capital city.

WATCH US GROW into our brand new space

Laurene Buckley, Ph.D. Executive Director –

Susquehanna Art Museum


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As Historic Harrisburg Association cel-ebrates 40 years of preservation and suc-cess as an organized dedicated to creating sustainable communities, we have been inviting our founding pioneers to participate in conversations about those past efforts. From these discussions one thing is clear: Since HHA’s founding Harrisburg has been, and still is, experiencing a rebirth and a renaissance through citizen engagement and ownership of the community. Our talk has typically focused on the decade from 1973 to 1983; a retrospective that couldn’t be more relevant to what is now occurring in the city. Forty years ago, neighborhoods like Midtown, Capital Area, and Shipoke were nothing like they are today. Banks often placed these neighborhoods on a “redlined” list, making it extremely dif cult, and most times impossible, to obtain mortgages. Prostitutes roamed Third Street and other high traf c areas of the city Houses were

often vacant, crumbling and occupied by drug addicts and transients. This picture doesn’t sound like the neighborhoods we know and love today. Change during this time was long and tough, but the new residents, and Historic Harris-burg pioneers, like Charles Peguese, Eileen and Bob Young, Carl Marshall, and Jeb and Robin Stuart were determined to care about their neighborhoods. By day they worked in the city as librarians, teachers, or other professionals and by night they were restoring their homes and sitting on corners collecting the license plates of johns driving by. Through their civic engagement, a concern for their community, and a pride of ownership they were able to make their neighborhoods a place to live and love. This rebirth is taking place when many urban centers continue to experience the effects of suburban sprawl and urban ight. These founders and pioneers of Historic Harrisburg became leaders throughout the

community and still live in these neigh-borhoods today proving that commitment, development, dedication, investment, and determination can create sustainable com-munities. It is examples like this that have allowed our city’s continual rebirth. In 2011, Historic Harrisburg recognized the accomplishments of WCI Partners and their work in Olde Uptown, where today it stands as a testament to a developer’s vi-sion and strong commitment to sustainable communities. By purchasing and developing over 90 properties in the neighborhood, WCI has attracted over 120 new residents and businesses like Little Amps Coffee Roasters. This investment doesn’t stop with WCI. We see homeowners investing in their properties and showing a pride of ownership that was lacking prior to the development project. Harrisburg’s rebirth is a long, continu-ous and fruitful process. Movements like

Harrisburg’s Rebirth: Cultural and Community Growth

(continued on page 5)


Do you own a vintage property in a Harris-burg neighborhood If so, consider re ning your garden design to more fully complete that property’s integrity and historic theme. In so doing, you’ll be helping create a greater understanding of who we have been and who we are today, a deepening sense of community identity. You may not know where to start. If you intend to have your property recog-nized by the National Register, it’s best to enlist a Landscape Architect/Designer to ensure detailed historical accuracy, spelled out in Bulletin #18, How to Evaluate and Nominate Designed Historic Landscapes, found at www.cr.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins and Brief #36, Protecting Cultural Landscapes found at www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/briefs/presbhom.htm. However, a property that you don’t intend to register can certainly be handled on your own All you need is the gardening basics, a little research to determine your style, and selection of your speci c plant varieties. First, always remember you’re using living things to fill your garden, so it’s important to follow “Right Plant, Right Place.” This requires analysis of your site to determine the microenvironments (sun/shade, soil type, drainage), existing trees/shrubs, usage constraints (e.g., where kids will play), underground utilities (using 8-1-1/paonecall.org), and desirable views (e.g. front window, street corner). Next, take time to research vintage garden styles. Bulletin #18 has an excellent book/article list, including entries speci c to Harrisburg. The Smithsonian offers the

incredible Archive of American Gardens at http://collections.si.edu/search. The Dau-phin County Historic Society is available for in-person assistance. This research will help you discover style categories such as Cottage Gardens, Formal Gardens, and Informal/Rock Gar-dens. You’ll nd key features of each.Cottage Gardens, for instance, tradition-ally include a white picket fence serving as a owerbed backdrop, coupled with the classic white wooden archway covered by

owering vines. Formal garden styles incorporate well

Gardening for Your Vintage Homes

de ned linear geometry, attention to sym-metry and sculpted shrubbery. Colonial Revival is de ned especially by Parterres and the “four-way cross plan.” Italianate features a long central axis. Neoclassical borrows features to create eclectic gardens that still follow the strict structure and line of formal styles. The Victorian “Romanesque” style is more owing and informal. Cutting gardens and the use of curvilinear beds are its most common features. No matter the style, all vintage gardens are best filled with plants reflecting the style’s era. Gardening guides written during each era include suggestions for commonly used plants at that time. Photographs also reveal the most commonly used items. “Vintage” plants may be hard to nd; consult garden centers/nurseries devoted to special requests (e.g. Highland Gardens in Camp Hill), or seek out “heirloom” suppliers online.Completing your property’s historic theme will help us all acquire a better feel for our common heritage. Contact me at [email protected] for resources to get started

Denise M. WilliamsPennsylvania Certified Horticulturalist

City Beautiful 2.0, Clean and Green Harris-burg, and others are becoming the catalysts for civic engagement to make “Our City Our Concern.” By invoking the dedication of Historic Harrisburg’s founders and listening to their four decades of stories, neighborhoods in Harrisburg that were once neglected will soon have a strong voice. As Historic Harrisburg celebrates its

Reservoir Park during the spring

Harrisburg’s Rebirth: continued from page 4…

40-year anniversary, we believe the level of commitment we see in the city today re ects the traditions established by our founders and pioneers. We will continue on into the next 40 years and beyond, encouraging civic engagement and investment in neighbor-hoods that foster and preserve a culture of ownership, pride, history and life.

John Campbell, Executive Director


Leave a Legacy, Support Historic

Harrisburg for Future

GenerationsThe Historic Harrisburg Association gratefully acknowledges the members of the Legacy Society. This group of people has generously named the Historic Harrisburg Association as a bene ciary of their estate plan or other planned gift.

John CampbellMarie Graupner Elias*David Morrison

*Deceased

If you have named the Historic Har-risburg Association as a bene ciary of your estate or planned giving, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected] or calling us at 717.233.4646. If you are interested in leaving a legacy to Historic Har-risburg please contact us.

Each year in celebration of National Historic Preservation Month, the Historic Harrisburg Association honors individuals, organiza-tions, projects and programs whose work demonstrates a commit-ment to excellence in historic preservation. In doing so, we hope to inspire others to take action to preserve, protect, and promote historic resources. Nominations for the Association’s annual Pres-ervation Award are being accepted through Friday, April 29, 2013. Previous years’ winners included WCI Partners, Bellevue Park, City House Bed & Breakfast, Tri-County Housing, The Midtown Scholar, M&T Bank, “Pancake Row” in Shipoke, the Capital Area Neighborhood, McCormick Mansion and the Snyder-Stuart Man-sion. Nominations should follow the outline and guidelines avail-able at www.HistoricHarrisburg.com. Submissions should be sent by mail or email to Historic Harrisburg Association, PO Box 1843, Harrisburg, PA 17105-1843 or [email protected]. All nominations must be received by end of day April 29, 2013. Awards will be given during Historic Harrisburg’s 40th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Preservation Action Alert!Today “The Jackson House” means some of the best hamburgers in town, but it in decades past it meant the temporary residence of the likes of Pearl Bailey, Louie Armstrong, and Cab Calloway. Operated by German Jackson, his home at 1006 N. Sixth St. was the place for prominent African-Americans to lodge during the days of segregation when the downtown hotels were off limits. Once considered a site for a proposed National Museum of African American History – how Jackson’s historic home fell into disrepair is a tale for another time. It is the 4-story building at far right below. Preservation Pennsylvania named the 1000 block one of the 10 most endangered sites in the state last year. The city has condemned the building. The current issue is how to save the Jackson Mansion from demolition. The time to act is now. Until a viable reuse and developer for the mansion and the entire 1000 block of North Sixth Street have been identi ed, the next best alternative is to identify solu-tions to securing the structure, stabilize and preventing demolition. This appears to be more dif cult than originally thought due to the likely need for frame and roof reconstruction. Historic Harrisburg is committed to preserving Harrisburg’s rich African Ameri-can history. If you have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] or by phone at 717-233-4646

Nominate Your Favorite Preservation Project for Historic Harrisburg’s 2013 Preservation Awards

“Pancake Row,” Shipoke – 1997 Preservation Award Recipient


Preservation in ProgressKunkel Building (15 North Third Street) - Brickbox Enterprises is currently restoring this historic bank building into dormitories for Harrisburg University Students. Erected in 1914 as the home of the Mechanics Trust Company, the building is seeing new life through the lens of adaptive reuse.

Barto Building (420 North Third Street) – The former Masonic Lodge constructed in 1911 will soon be home to approximately 30 condos and city living dwellings. This project is being completed by Brickbox Enterprises.

Little Amps II (Second and State Street) – Formerly State Street Copy, this corner building is being renovated by WCI Partners to house the second location of the popular Little Amps Coffee Roasters. The project is scheduled to be complete in May.

Historic Glass Factory (1841 North Third Street) - Newly renovated, this 18,000-square-foot building boasts well appointed executive-style studio and one bedroom apartments located in the heart of the Olde Uptown. This project is being completed by Skynet Properties.

Keystone Bank Building (North and Calder Streets) – The future home to the Susquehanna Art Museum will surely bring new life to Midtown. Plans for the proposed Museum will include full restoration of the bank building and demolition of the intrusive additions. Ground breaking is scheduled for May 2013.

1701 North Third Street – This former retail space has sat vacant for over a decade. Today, renovation has begun to provide market-rate apartments and retail shopping.


P I L L A R SAlex and Kristine HartzlerArden and Rebecca EmerickBrian and Kim ElgartHadee MosqueHarris TowerMac and Shirley AicheleGavin AdvertisingSimply Stated ArchitectureFred & Terry BarnabyDonald BarnettMichael and Jane BartonBrian BereschakRussell A. Boggs and John H. Bookwalter, Jr.Ashley Furniture Home StoreJanetta and Rich BrennerGloria BrissmanDavid Bronstein, D.O.City House Bed and BreakfastWCI Partners, LPJohn CampbellLittle AmpsM. Eileen CarsonPA State System of Higher EducationAlan Ceperich, CPAMichael ChapaloneyThe State Museum Of PennsylvaniaShawn & Meghann ConnorGovernor Tom CorbettCordier Antiques & Fine ArtJames Cowden, Esq.Sam DalbyThomas DarrHarrisburg Redevelopment AuthorityJ. Michael DavisBob DeiblerReuel Deppen & Christine WnukAlyce DerethikKazim Dharsi

Carol & Philip Di MartileDerek and Erica DilksMid Penn BankJoan DonovanCrystal & David DowningPeter and Angela DurantineThe Milestone on the RiverDavid & Jane EnglishNicole ErnstArt Communications Systems, Inc.Leon and Fran FeinermanEthel FeinourCharles Fetterhoff, Jr. D.M.D.M. Steven FunkGene and Carol GangwishKathy GatesAndrew & Kristen GiorgioneG.W. Wilson Inc.Raymond and Mary Lou HarrisMaxine HaynesErik HeinGeorge and Joan HellmannSue HelmNew Fox Ridge Homeowners AssociationRestorations Unlimited, Inc #PA163Pennsylvania ResearchAlan Hostetler InsuranceRobert Hostetter, Jr.Nick and Ellen HughesGary and Edna HutchinsElizabeth Johnson & Dan DeiblerJames JonesGuy Kehler and Lindsay MillsBret Keisling, EsqBrad KoplinskiNorman & Pat LacasseDonald and Marney LappleyDauphin County Library System

David & Gwen LehmanLois Lehrman GrassKent & Kay LeidThomas Leonard & Janet DayCumberland Stained GlassSteve MacDonald and Mary WarnerRon MadarPenn National InsurancePeter and Shirley MarksCarl Marshall and Michael HarperTed Martin and Dwayne HeckertZembo ShrineDauphin County Historical SocietyThomas & Alice McGroryVern and Kristen McKissickMark & Jane MendlowLuther Milspaw & Judge Jeannine TurgeonDr. Jose and Cherie MisasBrian and Christa MummauSpencer & Helen NaumanThomas & Deborah NifongBill O'BrienAriel Oravec-Baley and Ryan BakerLindabeth ParkerD. George Parr and Jessie SmithWilliam S. Pierce, MDFrank and Barbara PintoPavone Advertising, Inc.Bernie PupoChristopher Dietz & Alexander ReberCorinne RebinskiJohn Reitz and JoAnne RossHelen L. ReplogleHenry RhoadsRyan and Kim RileyJefferson Rougeau and Steven R. CrepsPauline RubendallJoe and Beth Santanna

Capitals and Pillar MembersHISTORIC HARRISBURG ASSOCIATION has an active membership of over 1000 individuals, businesses and other supporters. We gratefully acknowledge the support of all members, especially those who have contributed at the following gift levels:

IONIC CAPITALS

DORIC CAPITALS ABC27 WHTM

William & Marion AlexanderBrenda Barrett

Patricia A Bucek and Sharon RyanDuryea & Pat Cameron

Robert ColdrenThe Civic Club

Millers Mutual GroupRay Davis

Brickbox Enterprises, LTD

PinnacleHealth SystemsJohn Enos

Douglas & Amy HillJohnson & Grif ths

Jones Masonry Restoration CorpThe Honorable Hannah Leavitt and

Jack KrillEric Papenfuse and Catherine

LawrenceRed Door Consignment Gallery

Andrew and Audry Carter

George M. and Carol Case

Rosewein Realty, Inc

Louise Hepschmidt

The McInroy-Sheffer People Trust

David J. Morrison

Valk Manufacturing Company

Letum, Inc.Dan Miller

Bridget Montgomery & Michael Spangler

Charles Peguese & David HoffmanWilliam and Susannah Rothman

NRG Energy CenterHighland Gardens

Jinny SpringenPeter & Corinna Wilson

CORINTHIAN CAPITALS

Sloan & Susan Auchincloss

Richard and Trina Gribble

Charles & Margaret SchenckAlice Anne Schwab & Bob GarrettFaye ShannonLarry and Karen SheiplineMarjorie M. ShermanElizabeth ShevitzPaul and Elizabeth ShowalterMr. David Skerpon and Mr. Chris BaldridgeSalem United Church of ChristAlyce & Morton SpectorLou StarzlRob SteinmetzL. Kate StevensRebecca StevensonElaine StrokoffJeb and Robin StuartKenneth J. Suter, Esq. &

Rev. Dr. David A. ZwifkaRosemary C. TatkovskiDean TouloumesKenneth UmbenhauerVictor Vail and Richard KleinMichael WalshGregg & Rita WarnerJohn & Susan WesleyKnight Security Systems, Inc.Michael and Denise WilliamsNiki WilliamsLarry WilsonArt Association Of HarrisburgChristopher WondersAnne YellottLee and Kelly YorkRobert and Eileen YoungArchitecurally SpeakingRobert R. Zeigler R.A.Dimitri and Pauline Zozos


The Historic Harrisburg Association is undertaking a Multiple Property National Register Nomination that would set forth a blueprint to list the city’s park system in the National Register of Historic Places. This effort is part of the overall City Beautiful 2.0 initiative to engage interested organizations and individuals in the common purpose of assisting City Hall in addressing parks main-tenance and improvement issues. The ultimate goal of this effort could be the establishment of a Harrisburg Parks Conservancy. Other cities have created public/private partnership conservancies such as Schenley Park in Pittsburgh. The National Register process is to recognize the signi cance of Harrisburg’s City Beau-tiful initiative at the beginning of the 20th century and particularly the work of noted landscape architect Warren Manning and public works expert James Fuertes as well as Harrisburg activists and conservationists Myra Lloyd Dock and Horace McFarland. Ultimate listing in the Register would lead to environmental protection of the parks and eligibility for additional grant funding. By the turn of the 20th century, com-munity and business leaders in Harrisburg agreed that the city had the status and ap-pearance of a town of the 19th century, experiencing deplorable civic and environ-mental conditions – ranging from the river bank serving as the town’s dumping ground and point of discharge for raw sewerage; unsanitary drinking water un ltered from the Susquehanna River; unpaved and dirty streets; littered lots; and other appalling disorders. The growing focus on these conditions, coupled with the dawn of a new century and the magni cent new Italian Renaissance State Capitol that was about to rise amidst this municipal squalor, prompted action by community activist and botanist Mira Lloyd Dock and Harrisburg printer, horticulturalist and conservationist, Horace J. McFarland. Assuming a leadership role, the two activ-ists engaged the citizens of Harrisburg to pull together and set into motion a plan that would result in a broad and comprehensive approach to improve municipal conditions in the city. This plan was an expression of a larger national civic movement from about 1900-1910, known as the City Beautiful Movement, which promoted the bene ts of

physical urban beauty and citizen engage-ment. The improvement campaign in Harris-burg began late in 1900 and probably was the rst to use the phrase City Beautiful. The ideals of the movement were advanced through the newly formed organization known as the Harrisburg League for Munici-pal Improvements. Between 1902 and 1926, thirteen municipal loans were approved by referendum to carry out plans made by three nationally-known professionals in the elds of landscape architecture, public works and street paving. These plans formed the basis for civic work over the next 25 years, although modi ed and expanded to t the times, which lead to the execution of many of the consultant’s recommendations. Projects included: construction of an expanded water pumping station and water

ltration plant; expansion and uni cation of riverfront park and construction of the gracious river steps disguising a new sewer interceptor main beneath; planning of Italian Lake park; replace-ment of the Mul-berry Street bridge; expansion and de-velopment of Reser-voir Park; planning for the development of Wetzel’s swamp just to then north of the city into to-day’s Wildwood Park sanctuary; par-tial completion of an urban green belt to circumnavigate the city; construction of the Dock Street dam to serve as ood con-trol and recreational use; and develop-ment of recreational facilities on City Is-land. These were the principal progres-sive and nationally-hailed undertakings that Harrisburg’s City Beautiful cam-paign advanced. The movement in Harrisburg was

significant and nationally recognized at the time for being unusually progressive for a city of Harrisburg’s size. Leaders of the trend for municipal improvements na-tionally happened to be Harrisburg people whose work leaves a lasting legacy to this day. Two community forums were held this past January and February to encour-age participation and feedback about how the community should embrace the ideals of City Beautiful 2.0. The Multiple Prop-erty National Register Nomination is being prepared by HHA member Jeb Stuart along with HACC Midtown’s Geographic Infor-mation System class, led by Nicole Ernst, which is undertaking a detailed mapping of the parks as they exist today and as pro-posed by Manning. Also, HACC’s website development department is working on a logo and website for the project.

Jeb Stuart

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The Hickok Mansion was built in 1903 as a wedding gift. Rare unusual woods were used throughout its interior. This woodwork was shipped from the family’s lumber mill operations in Williamsport. The Hickok family was in uential in Harrisburg and the Commonwealth. The home remained in the Hickok family until they sold it to the Department of Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in the 1940s. The VFW recently sold it to PHFA, which has expressed interest in signi cantly altering the neighborhood and the building by ex-panding their current modern facility. Historic Harrisburg stands with the Capitol Area Neighbors (CAN) in advocat-ing for the denial of the proposed changes to the Hickok Mansion by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), located at 201 North Front Street, Harrisburg. As an organization which advocates for the restoration, preservation, and stewardship of Harrisburg’s most treasured architectural properties, Historic Harrisburg recognizes the opportunity of economic development the proposed project presents. However, as submitted, the proposal falls short of maintaining the preservation efforts of the residents of Locust Street, one of the last remaining intact streets in the Downtown neighborhood.

Historic Hickok Mansion Threatened by PHFA Plans … Again

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency is a quasi-governmental agency with representation from the Governor and the Department of Community and Eco-nomic Development on its board. PHFA also promotes itself as being a good steward of design, healthy neighborhoods and revital-ization. The Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Agency submitted expansion plans in 2008 utilizing the Hickok Mansion as a parking garage and requiring a height variance for a tower on top of the mansion. These plans were denied by the city in December of 2008 with the recommendation that PHFA work with CAN and the Historic Harrisburg As-sociation to come to agreement. Meetings were held and an agreement was reached to eliminate parking from the plan and lower the height of the building. PHFA now has presented new plans to expand its current headquarters to the corner of Locust and Front Streets in Harrisburg, utilizing the historic Hickok Mansion. The plans cur-rently presented will make a shell of the historic Hickok Mansion to put three levels of parking within this shell. The plans with the garage oors will require a zoning vari-ance for height, due to the need for four

oors of of ce space on top of the mansion, which is not in character with the historic

nature of the mansion or the residential and streetscape of Locust Street. Notably, Locust Street has one of the last fully intact historic blocks in downtown Harrisburg, which includes this section from Front to Second Streets. Historic Harrisburg joins the Capitol Area Neighbors in supporting an adaptive reuse design that properly preserves this historic structure without signi cant modi-

cations to the Hickok Mansion, and one that does not detract from the surrounding neighborhood. While we understand the need for greater parking, Historic Harrisburg supports the use of Harrisburg Parking Au-thority garages which would bene t both the City and the neighborhood. We believe that there is a solution to preserve the property and maintain the historic nature of the Har-risburg Historic District in downtown. The Historic Harrisburg Association strongly urges the Harrisburg Architectural Review Board, the Harrisburg Planning Commission, the Zoning Hearing Board, and members of City Council to stand with community residents and associations in advocating for a plan which preserves the Hickok Mansion and an overall development project which respects the neighborhood and its unique characteristics. Please consider showing your support of the preservation of the Hickok Mansion by contacting City Council at www.Har-risburgCityCouncil.com or by contacting the Department of Building and Housing at 717-255-6419.

Michael Walsh

Volunteers and Donations NeededVolunteers are needed to serve on the following committees:

• Facilities

• Education, Preservation, and Advocacy

• Events

• Candlelight House Tour

• Elegant Progressions

• Communications and Public Relations

• Board of Directors

Items to donate:

• Of ce supplies, such as paper, folders, staples, etc.

• Cleaning supplies

• Architectural salvage

• Archival books, pictures, docu-ments, etc

• Book shelves

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Archives support

• Mailing preparation

• Research

• Data entry

• Cleaning

• Landscaping

Contact John at [email protected] for more information or to volunteer


Tom Corbett, Governor Brian A. Hudson Sr., Executive Director & CEO

Visit us at www.PHFA.org

Brian A. Hudson Sr. PHFA Executive Director & CEO

PHFA is excited to support the Historic Harrisburg Association in its efforts to restore and preserve the rich heritage, culture and the many beautiful landmarks throughout our city.


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assistance with entire estates or individual treasures.

Great Selection of: • Furniture • Rugs • Antiques • Lighting

• Accessories

Work continues on the 120-year-old Central Trust Building, also known at the Historic Harrisburg Resource Center. In 2012, His-toric Harrisburg partnered with students from Harrisburg Area Community College to present design schemes for upcoming ren-ovations of the community room. The ren-derings have been completed and the scope of work has begun to take shape. HACC students also will provide ren-derings for the

Historic Harrisburg Begins Major Design Stage of Restoring the Central Trust Bank Building

bank lobby and driveway space. Great ideas are owing at the Historic Harrisburg As-sociation for the best way to restore this magni cent space. Construction has started on the front two executive of ces. New electrical wir-ing, lights, carpeting, paint, and wood panel repairs are nearing completion. These of ces will serve as permanent staff of ces for Historic Harrisburg’s Executive Director and

New Programs and Archives Director and Events Coordina-

tor/Of ce Manager. We are

excited by the progress of the restoration, which is all made possible through the gen-erosity of individuals and foundations like the Stabler Foundation and Kline Founda-tion. For more information or to contribute to the renovation project please visit www.HistoricHarrisburg.com, or contact 717-233-4646.


Saturday April 20, 2013, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Location: Meet at the Horace McFarland

Mansion, Breeze Hill, 2101 Bellevue Road

Architectural Walking Tour: “Bellevue Park: Home of the City Beautiful”Bellevue Park historian and resident Dan Deibler joins David Morrison and John Campbell of Historic

Harrisburg Assn. to lead this brisk and scenic tour of one of America’s foremost landscaped communities, where

forests, lakes, waterfalls and natural contours defy the traditional urban grid. 10 AM to Noon, Saturday, April

20 (in high magnolia and azalea season!) Meet at 21st St. and Bellevue Rd., in view of iconic “Breeze Hill,”

centerpiece of Bellevue Park and longtime home of nationally prominent “City Beautiful” advocate, J. Horace

McFarland (1859 – 1948). Considerable distances will be covered; come prepared for vigorous walking!

The cost is $5 for HHA members and $10 for all others, payable on arrival. Meet at the Horace McFarland

Mansion, Breeze Hill, 2101 Bellevue Road. More information is available by calling 717-233-4646 (or 717-574-

5370 on day of tour.)

Sunday, May 19, 20132:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Location: Meet at the King Mansion, 2201 North Front

Street, Harrisburg

Architectural Waling Tour: “What’s Old in New Uptown”A follow-up to their popular 2012 “What’s New in Olde Uptown” tour, David Morrison and John Campbell of

Historic Harrisburg Assn. will lead tour goers through the northern half of Uptown Harrisburg (north of Maclay

Street) where early 20th-century architecture reflects the chauffeur-driven automobile era and the exuberance of

the “Roaring Twenties.” From 2 to 4 PM, Sunday, May 19. Meet at the stupendous Mediterranean-revival King

Mansion, 2201 N. Front Street for welcoming remarks by its current owner, J. Alex Hartzler.

The cost is $5 for HHA members and $10 for all others, payable on arrival. Meet at 10 AM at the King

Mansion, 2201 North Front Street. More information is available by calling 717-233-4646 (or 717-574-5370 on

day of tour.)

Thursday, May 23, 2013, 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Location: Milestone on the River, 2701 North Front

Street, Harrisburg

A Toast to our Founders: Celebrating 40 Years of PreservationFounded in 1973, Historic Harrisburg has been and continues to be the leading organization on historic

preservation and building sustainable communities in Central Pennsylvania. This year, Historic Harrisburg

celebrates 40 years of preservation excellence and will be honoring our founders for a special toast at the historic

Milestone on the River. In celebration of National Historic Preservation Month, Historic Harrisburg will also

recognize those individuals, businesses, and organizations who have been leaders in building communities,

preserving Harrisburg’s heritage, and showcasing the city’s built environment with our coveted Preservation

Awards. Tickets and sponsorship information is available at www.HistoricHarrisburg.com.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Location: Historic Harrisburg Resource Center,

1230 North Third Street

Window Restorations and Weatherization WorkshopHave you ever wondered if you can save those old wood windows? Considered the difference in cost between

restorations of your old sash versus replacing them with new windows? Wanted to know what tools you’ll need

for specific window restoration projects? Duffy Hoffman, owner of Hoffman Preservation & Restoration, and

one of the founders of Window Preservation Standards Collaborative, will present a workshop on Wednesday,

May 29, 2013 on historic window restorations and weatherization. This program is surely to be helpful for those

with historic windows in historic districts.

The program is free and open to the public. RSVP is not required, but suggested due to limited space. Please

call 717-233-4646 or [email protected] with questions or RSVPs.

Thursday June 20, 20136:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Location: Historic Harrisburg Resource Center,

1230 North Third Street

The City Beautiful: A Movement of Civic EngagementDr. Michael Barton, Norm Lacasse, and Linda Ries will discuss the City Beautiful Movement that took place

in Harrisburg in the early 1900s. The focus will be on the three leaders of the movement: Mira Lloyd Dock, J.

Horace McFarland, and Vance C. McCormick. Come listen as we discuss what the City Beautiful Movement was

and how it shaped much what our great city is known for today. Harrisburg’s City Beautiful Movement was the

poster child for a national resurgence of civic engagement.

The program is free and open to the public. RSVP is not required, but suggested due to limited space. Please

call 717-233-4646 or [email protected] with questions or RSVPs.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS


The Art Gallery at Historic Harrisburg

Pat has always enjoyed creating beautiful, ower lled gardens at her ho e t cu enical etire ent o unity, she is

able to continue her interest in gardening and even e plore a few new interests cu enical etire ent o unity residents bring the best parts of their lives with the , often nding new friends with si ilar bac grounds to share their interests, hobbies and passions

or ore infor ation about active, a ordable retire ent living, call 717.561.9982 or visit EcumenicalRetirement.org.

Bring your life with you to cu enical etire ent o unity

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Pat Gorman tends to the

We have something new in the Art Gallery at Historic Harrisburg’s Resource Center, an ongoing rotating art gallery. Throughout the year we have scheduled exciting new art shows that represent The Harrisburg experi-ence. We encourage artists to produce their interpretation of the subject matter. In January, we had a number of artists participate in “The Farm Show” exhibit. Long before the Farm Show complex was ever built, Harrisburg held farm show week throughout the city in multiple locations in the early 1900’s. Much like today, people would come from all over to see the new farm equipment, the produce displays, the agricultural conferences, and livestock

shows. The art on display illustrated the im-portance of Pennsylvania’s rich agricultural history. In February and March, we celebrated Black History. Nancy Mendez was our featured local artist. Along with her art-work, our archive department displayed photographs of a number of outstanding African Americans from Pennsylvania. A brief description of their contributions and accomplishments were put on view. We also began, once again, to participate in 3rd in the Burg. What a great success The numbers of attendees coming through Historic Har-risburg Resource Center’s doors has been

wonderful. For the month of April, “Artistic Expressions” will be on display, an as-semblage of student artwork from a number of participating schools in our area. Please come out and support our young artists. And to complete the spring season, photographer D. Noel Collanbine will display an arrange-ment of her work, “Interpretations of A City Beautiful.” If you are an artist and would like to participate in our summer show, “Summer in the City,” please email [email protected] for more information on displaying your art with us.

3rd in the Burg with Artistic ExpressionsDate: Friday, April 19, 2013, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PMLocation: Historic Harrisburg Resource Center, 1230 North Third Street, Harrisburg

Join Historic Harrisburg in celebrating Artistic Ex-pressions, a group dedicated to featuring the works of exemplary student artists from secondary schools throughout Central Pennsylvania. Coordinated by area art educators, this exhibition will bring together the very best student artwork of four counties in one area. High schools to be featured include: Camp Hill, Capital Area School for the Arts, Cedar Cliff, Central Dauphin, Central Dauphin East, Cumberland Valley, Hershey, Lower Dauphin, Red Land, Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, Harrisburg, Boiling Springs, Big Springs and Harrisburg Academy.

The gallery exhibit is free and open to the public. It will run the month of April, so if you can’t join us for 3rd in the Burg, stop in anytime during the week or Saturdays in April

3rd in the Burg at the Gallery at Historic HarrisburgDate: Friday, May 17, 2013, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PMLocation: Historic Harrisburg Resource Center, 1230 North Third Street, Harrisburg

Join Historic Harrisburg for 3rd in the Burg this month. There will be great art displaying the City Beautiful then and now. Check out this great exhibit and enjoy refreshments during 3rd in the Burg

This gallery exhibit is free and open to the public. It will run the month of May, so if you can’t join us for 3rd in the Burg, stop in anytime during the week.

3RD Burg

in the


Name: ________________________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________

Phone: ________________________________________________________________________

E-mail Address: ________________________________________________________________

Historic Harrisburg Membership ApplicationMail to: Historic Harrisburg Association • P.O. Box 1843 • Harrisburg, PA 17105-1843

___ Individual ($25 per year)

___ Household ($35 per year)

___ “Pillars of HHA” ($100 per year)

Historic Harrisburg Association is properly registered in Pennsylvania as a charitable organiza-tion. A copy of the registration and nancial information may be obtained from the PA Depart-ment of State by calling 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

___ Doric Order ($250 per year)

___ Ionic Order ($500 per year)

___ Corinthian Order ($1000 per year and up)

Yes, I/we want to help preserve the residential, commercial, economic and cultural life of Harrisburg! Please start my membership at the following gift level:

Members of HHA’s “Capital Club” provide uppermost levels of support, in the following categories, which are based on the classical orders of architecture:

All memberships are renewable annually. Questions may be directed to 233-4646.

Payment Enclosed Please make checks payable to Historic Harrisburg Association.

Please Bill Me

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Please contact me/us about Volunteer Opportunities

Historic Harrisburg Seeks Nominations

for 2013 Preservation Priorities List

The Historic Harrisburg Association will announce its an-nual Top Preservation Priorities list in an effort to heighten awareness of the year-round need to protect and preserve our region’s important architectural heritage. As part of its preservation efforts, Historic Harrisburg also wants to encourage responsible redevelopment and revitalization that allows our community to thrive and grow. This list of Top Preservation Priorities has been developed to bring attention to properties that are important in Harrisburg’s history and the health of our local communities. We want your recommendations for the 2013 Pres-ervation Priorities List. Please email your nomination to [email protected] or mail them to Historic Harrisburg, 1230 North Third Street, PO Box 1843, Har-risburg PA 17105. Nominations should be received by April 29, 2013, and will be announced during Historic Harrisburg’s celebration of National Historic Preservation Month in May. For the 2012 complete list, please visit www.histo-richarrisburg.com.


U.S. Postage

P A I DPermit No. 79

Harrisburg, PA

HISTORIC HARRISBURG ASSOCIATIONP.O. Box 1843Harrisburg, PA 17105-1843

Commercial Space for Lease or Purchase�From 400 to 6700 s.f. Ample off-street parking

www.tracymansion.comA SUSQUEHANNA REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

ON HARRISBURG’S HISTORIC RIVERFRONT

For information, contactDaniel J. Alderman717-761-5070 Ext. 132

New Home of Char’s Restaurant

harrisburg heritage spring/summer 2013

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