tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post229251037510320805..comments2023-08-25T03:21:41.842-07:00Comments on The Petch House: City HallGreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02807710209656158413noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-2987785857657738102011-01-09T07:04:22.316-08:002011-01-09T07:04:22.316-08:00In response to St. Blogwen's comment, part of ...In response to St. Blogwen's comment, part of the reason I chose not to study architecture is that I knew the programs all pooh-poohed this type of building. My thinking: why spend big bucks and precious time going to a program that is designed to train that kind of passion out of me? No thanks! 20 years later, I've got the chutzpah to stand up to it, so I'm thinking of going back for the MArch. Besides, the world needs some architects that are for, not against, this sort of thing.<br /><br />Greg, it was very bold of you to post the photo of the majolica tile dado. It comes close to showing up your dining room. But the old redwood can take it!slateberryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08103647633823180128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-52662213928744471792010-10-12T06:41:17.892-07:002010-10-12T06:41:17.892-07:00Everytime we come back into the city from a trip, ...Everytime we come back into the city from a trip, I say Hi to William Penn. My sons roll their eyes, but there is something about him overlooking the city that makes me happy.anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10907362042684864253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-30505351527853149092010-10-09T18:26:22.974-07:002010-10-09T18:26:22.974-07:00The PFSF building is where I stayed. It was a ver...The PFSF building is where I stayed. It was a very nice change from the cookie-cutter Hyatt's and Hiltons I normally stay at. The room was a cross between 30s deco and 50s modern.<br /><br />The gentleman who gave the tour of City Hall was very knowledgeable about the city as a whole, not just City Hall. He is a former city planner. Two stories that I liked were 1) the PSFS sign can't be taken down because the building is on the National Register of Historic Places. 2) After the scaffolding on City Hall had been up way too long, local school kids started a penny drive to help finish the restoration. This shamed the city in to coming up with the funds to finish the project.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02807710209656158413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-89362038820815669462010-10-09T18:17:53.683-07:002010-10-09T18:17:53.683-07:00Such a modest building, no? The statues on it are ...Such a modest building, no? The statues on it are just amazing. On the side facing what was Wanamakers (Macy's now) from your previous post there's a statue of John Wanamaker, the store founder, looking like he's ready to walk to work.<br /><br />You luck out, though, coming after most of the exterior restoration is finished. For a long time all of the metal work on the roof edges were orange with rust, looked just awful. Thankfully wise heads prevailed and it has been taken back to it's glory. <br /><br />You mentioned my favorite part about the building - nothing better than a building that took so long to finish that it was 20 years out of style by the time it was finally done!<br /><br />the PSFS building (Philadelphia Savings Fund Society, hasn't been that in years) is also something else, even though it's so different from City Hall. After it ceased being PSFS after bank merger in 1990, they turned off the sign on the roof since it wasn't PSFS anymore. Everyone pitched a fit that such an iconic part of the skyline was turned off that Mellon Bank, who now owned it, agreed to turn it back on.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00487559447027136245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-38149956396261067132010-10-09T10:51:32.184-07:002010-10-09T10:51:32.184-07:00No doubt there will be a few more posts about Phil...No doubt there will be a few more posts about Philadelphia. Today though, I'm installing the stair runner, so I will most likely blog about that next. <br /><br />That is, if it comes out good.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02807710209656158413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-42596132733853582792010-10-09T10:16:44.915-07:002010-10-09T10:16:44.915-07:00W00t! w00t! You made it!
When I saw your post ti...W00t! w00t! You made it!<br /><br />When I saw your post title I was afraid you were having trouble with Eureka City Hall over something at the Petch House. But this is so much better than a relief.<br /><br />Isn't Philadelphia City Hall a glorious wedding cake? When I first saw it on a night in May of '76 I recognised it as the sort of thing my college Architecture History professor hated, but I loved it anyway. I had no idea they'd thought about taking it down in the '80s. Were they out of their MINDS??<br /><br />I think it was a sad day for the Philly cityscape when they began to build skyscrapers higher than Billy Penn's hat. Whenever I return to my old neighborhood of Rittenhouse Square I have to keep my eyes at tree level and ignore the built excrescences towering above them.<br /><br />They used to present summer Shakespeare performances in City Hall courtyard, subway trains running below and all. I wonder if they still do.<br /><br />So glad you finally got to take your trip. I'm looking forward to the posts I think you're contemplating writing on the other Philly wonders you saw.<br /><br />Kate H.<br />The Sow's EarSt. Blogwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04173870976749288145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-79064846276955733252010-10-09T04:24:44.973-07:002010-10-09T04:24:44.973-07:00Oh my gosh, what a gorgeous building!Oh my gosh, what a gorgeous building!Jaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03564514698418229865noreply@blogger.com