Hha newslttr fall2104

PAGE 1 • 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 • FALL 2014

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Beginning at the turn of the last century, the City of Harrisburg took part in a national campaign to restore or reimagine existing urban landscapes with the purpose of creat-ing moral and civic pride. The City Beauti-ful Movement, as it was called, spurred Harrisburg developers to invest in the first landscaped suburb in Pennsylvania called Bellevue Park. The other civic investment that bloomed during this period is called Reservoir Park, the City’s largest public park and the highest overlook. The theme for the Historic Harrisburg Association’s 41st Candlelight House Tour will be “Preserving the City Beautiful.” This year, the Historic Harrisburg Association will present tour participants with some of the most intriguing properties, both private and public, to come out of the City Beautiful movement. Scheduled on Sunday, December 14 from 1:00pm to 6:00pm, the event will showcase 14 historic homes and buildings among the Bellevue Park and Reservoir Park neighborhoods. In Bellevue Park, tour goers will enjoy exploring the meandering tree-lined streets that lead up to the detached homes of the Candlelight Tour. Two such properties are named “Swiftwoods,” a modern, Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired prairie house at 2304

41st Candlelight House Tour Revisits the City Beautiful Movement

Historic Harrisburg association 41st annual

candleligHt House tour

Preserving the city beautiful Features of bellevue Park & reservoir Park

sunday, dec. 14, 2014 ~ 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm

TICKETS: $20 In advanCE ~ $25 ThE day of ThE Tour


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 published as a membership benefit.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:Michael Walsh

President

Michael Chapaloney Vice President

Tom Darr Secretary

Hon. Bruce Weber Treasurer

David J. Morrison Immediate Past President:

David ButcherDavid Cordier

Ray DavisDevan DrabikNicole Ernst

Jennifer HuberDr. Dorothy KingMatthew Krupp

Catherine LawrenceDavid Ledermann

Hava PellAlan Kennedy-Shaffer

Jonathan SmithMary Beth StringentKelly Summerford

Stacia Zewe

STAFFDavid J. Morrison

Acting Executive DirectorCindy Essig

Programs and Archives DirectorDawn Frey

Events Coordinator

Historic Harrisburg Association 1230 N. Third Street

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

[email protected]

Letter from the Executive Director

FALL 2014

Dear Members and Friends of Historic Harrisburg: It is my honor and pleasure to be communicating with you – in my “Grover Cleveland status” – back here once again in a leadership capacity at Historic Har-risburg Association. Ever since the fall of 1982, when Carl Marshall* in his capacity as Candlelight House Tour chairman asked me to place and host the Capitol Rotunda on that year’s tour (I was Assistant to the Secretary of General Services, and we had just launched the epic restoration of the Capitol Building which continues to this day), I have enjoyed playing many roles in what has become my favorite community enterprise. Now in its fifth decade of service to Harrisburg and the Capital Region, HHA can look back on a legacy of good works and civic contributions that are without equal and that have been transformational. As a group, we have not merely been about the business of preserving and restoring buildings, we have been instrumental in preserving and restoring our community, Pennsylvania’s Capital City, which we once again are proudly calling “The City Beautiful.” Our successes and milestones include:

• The creation and promotion of seven mu-nicipal historic districts that today are thriv-ing and beautiful urban neighborhoods;

• The guardianship and stewardship of such iconic civic assets as Riverfront Park, Front Street and the Broad Street Market;

• The establishment of HHA’s Community Historic Preservation Fund as a permanent resource for supporting and encouraging preservation projects throughout the com-munity;

• Our advocacy and vigilance in matters that threaten historic buildings and historic neighborhoods, through public outreach and appearance before governmental bod-ies. (HHA’s leadership in forming “The Committee for the Future of Harrisburg State Hospital” is a current example);

• Our educational programming, lectures, seminars, walking tours, library, archives and Resource Center, which serve to assist and inspire the public to embrace “historic preservation, urban revitalization and smart growth;”

• And of course our flagship Candle l ight House Tour, which since 1 9 7 3 h a s showcased the best of our his-toric proper-ties and neigh-borhoods to an audience that numbers in the tens of thousands!

No individual can take credit for this, and indeed Historic Harrisburg Association itself does not presume to take sole credit for these accomplishments. Our philosophy, from the very beginning, has been one of collaboration – with citizens and property owners, with businesses, with Federal, State and local government entities (on matters ranging from the Federal Court House to sidewalk repairs), and perhaps most signifi-cantly, with other non-profit organizations and community groups (which number literally in the dozens!). Even in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Agnes and the loss of the mag-nificent State Theater in the early 70s, HHA has never looked at Harrisburg (or our cause) through a prism of defeat or despair. We have always viewed our community, its neigh-borhoods and its buildings through a prism of optimism and possibilities! We do not monopolize this attitude; we enthusiastically share it with any and all. You – our members and friends – have been instrumental in that phenomenon. Thank you for your steadfast support and for embracing our mission of “historic preservation, urban revitalization and smart growth since 1973!”

Sincerely,

David J. MorrisonActing Executive Director

*I am not HHA’s only Grover Cleveland. Carl Marshall and Jeb Stuart, both veteran leaders of HHA for more years than I, are reprising old roles as co-chairs of our 2014 Candlelight House Tour!


Bellevue Road, and “Maple Hill,” a 4-story Colonial-Revival home at 2100 Bellevue Road. Both homes’ impeccable detailing will be on display, including original woodwork, wide-plank hardwood floors, and period-specific light fixtures. The owners will also provide viewings of their antique collectibles and furnishings, as well as State Capital memorabilia. Another property not to be missed on the tour is the Bellevue Park Community Building. Designed by architect Miller Kast, this building was the former office of the Union Real Estate Investment Company, the developer of Bellevue Park. The Craftsman Style building’s interior was converted into a single large room to accommodate group gatherings (the building is also used as a polling station for Harrisburg’s 9-4 voting precinct). An exhibit featuring architectural drawings and historical photographs from the Bellevue Park Associations records as well as a copy of designer Warren H. Man-ning’s original landscape design for Bellevue Park are located in the building’s conference room.

The sprawling landscape of Reservoir Park will also be available to tour. The Eugenia Smith Family Life Center, or The Mansion at Reservoir Park as it is histori-cally known, sits prominently on its western lawn, providing a breathtaking panorama of the City from its wide veranda entrance. The building’s first floor will be open to the public during event day and will also feature an exhibit containing historic pho-tos and lithographs depicting Harrisburg’s cityscapes and landmarks. The 41st Candlelight House Tour pro-vides a unique opportunity to see two of

the most beautiful, iconic areas of the City in one day. Along with displaying classic architectural styles including Colonial Re-vival, Tudor Revival, and Craftsman, many of the homes also exhibit antique furniture and historic documents that further enhance the experience. Tickets for the tour are available at the Historic Harrisburg Resource Center (1230 North 3rd Street) starting on November 10th and cost $20 for advance tickets, or $25 on the day of the event. For more information about the tour or for purchasing tickets on-line, visit www.historicharrisburg.com.

41st Candlelight House Tour continued from page 1…

Date artist theme

November - 3rd in the Burg haCC art students “Food for thought”

December - 3rd in the Burg tibetan monks “Tibetan Art & Crafts”

February - 3rd in the Burg hha archive exhibit “Behind the Capital - sceneof the Old 8th Ward”

The Art Gallery at Historic Harrisburg Association


Capitalizing on the groundswell of interest in America’s century-old “City Beautiful Movement” in which Harrisburg was transformed from an over-crowded and polluted urban eyesore into a nationally –admired showplace, the 2014 edition of “Elegant Progressions” will feature “Vistas of the City Beautiful,” in which attendees will travel to the hills of the “the near West Shore” from which views of the city have traditionally been experienced. The annual black-tie progressive din-ner, which takes place Friday and Saturday evenings, Dec. 5 and 6, has been a fundrais-ing partnership of HHA and The Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania since its founding in 1992. This Presenting Sponsor of this year’s edition of Elegant Progressions is the Hall Foundation, which has been a major supporter and participant in the event for more than two decades. As a new initiative intended to attract younger attendees to the event, the Hall Foundation and the “EP” Steering Committee have worked to create

Elegant Progressions Launches 22nd EditionFeaturing “Vistas of the City Beautiful”

a special discount subscription price for younger and first-time patrons. The offer is being dubbed “Hall Foundation Scholar-ships,” in recognition of the foundation’s historic reputation for providing educational scholarships and other opportunities to promising individuals. Prospective younger patrons will be sought not merely as pay-ing guests but as EP volunteers and “future community leaders.” The concept, which is widely em-ployed at black-tie fundraising galas in the Philadelphia area, will be implemented by a “younger patrons committee” being chaired by Jarek Hall, grandson of John N. Hall and the foundation’s first third-generation board member. This year three prominent proper-ties will be featured. Hors d’oeuvres will be served at the stately home of Luke Rohrbaugh, nestled in eleven acres of a park-like setting in Susquehanna Hills. Moving on will be dinner in the classically inspired interior of the Mary and Tim Weston resi-dence in nearby White Oaks. The finale of

the desert destination will be the home of Sandy Henry at the bluff-perched commu-nity of Bridgeport from which breathtaking views of the Harrisburg skyline and the Susquehanna River will be enjoyed. Stocks on 2nd and the JDK Group, two of Pennsylvania’s most esteemed caterers, will again both be providing catering services for the two-night event, which has always strived to provide a professionally-presented old-world dining in the grandeur and privacy of the region’s most elegant historic and architecturally significant private homes. Reservations for full tables and indi-vidual subscriptions, as well as Platinum, Gold and Silver Sponsorships are currently being accepted. For more information, please contact the Elegant Progressions office at 717.233.4646.



Historic Harrisburg Association has been at the forefront of a broad-based com-munity effort to ensure that an appropriate future is mapped for the spectacular campus of the former Harrisburg State Hospital. “The Committee for the Future of HSH,” a volunteer group representing about 10 stake-holder organizations and interests, has been meeting monthly at the Historic Harrisburg Resource Center since June of this year. When it was learned that the Com-monwealth of PA was preparing to sell the nearly 1,000-acre property, interested par-ties quickly came together to forge a set of recommendations that would proscribe the best possible outcome. Meeting with State Rep. Sue Helm, in whose Susquehanna Township district most of the hospital tract resides, the Committee quickly drafted rec-ommendations for State Legislation to guide

Harrisburg State Hospital Campus: A Regional Treasure Worth Preserving

the process, which became House Bill 1945. On July 2, Governor Tom Corbett signed Act 100 authorizing the Department of General Services (DGS) to survey the grounds of the Harrisburg State Hospital and present a plan for conveyance of the property to both houses of the General Assembly for approval. The Committee for the Future of Harrisburg State Hospital recommends that DGS, in surveying and subdividing the site, be guided by the following map of the con-servation, recreational and historic values of the state hospital grounds. The map, created by the Committee, shows the conservation and development opportunities on the property and the core area of historic buildings and landscape. These resources include:• Greenbelt – Asylum Run Conserva-tion Corridor Area: This parcel includes:

the Capital Area Greenbelt, a bicycle and pedestrian trail that has been reclaimed by hundreds of volunteers for the benefit of thousands of citizens from near and far; the wooded steep slopes and the grassy flood plains which protect the water quality of Asylum Run, Paxton Creek and the Susque-hanna River; and a recreational field that serves thousands of the region’s residents.• Historic Building Concentration Area: This is the core of the historic state hospital campus and is officially listed as a National Register Historic District. It is a landmark in social history and a collection of distinctive architectural masterpieces, which offers attractive Federal tax credits for ap-propriate historic preservation and adaptive reuse (possible institutional use, market-rate residential, mixed use, etc.). The historic

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area also boasts The Patton Arboretum of outstanding “heritage” trees.The committee for the Future of Harrisburg State Hospital (CFHSH) includes represen-tatives of Historic Harrisburg Association, Capital Area Greenbelt Association, Harris-burg City Beautiful 2.0, Living Landscape Observer, Bicycle South Central PA and numerous other stakeholder groups. The group continues to work closely with the General Assembly, interested state agencies and affected local governments. “The community recognizes the need to repurpose the property,” said David Mor-rison, who chairs the CFHSH committee, “but we assert that this can be done in a way that offers an opportunity to take advantage of the multiple values on the site for today and for future generations. “ The Committee notes that its recom-mendations provide for allowing the vast majority of the undeveloped acreage (be-yond the Conservation and Historic areas) to be sold, which would place this land -- plus any future improvements -- on the local tax rolls. In addition, it is presumed that the core historic area, once marketed as one or more historic rehab tax credit opportunities, likewise would add local tax revenue for the first time. The historic hospital cam-pus, which features magnificent Colonial revival institutional structures designed by renowned architects and surrounded by a stunning arboretum, could be a mixed-use development, an office park, a senior living community or market-rate housing – in a spectacular setting! Pointing to the successful transition of Philadelphia’s historic Navy Yard into a thriving mixed-use complex of restored buildings, open space and new develop-ment, the committee calls this “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to benefit the local tax rolls, quality of life, economic development, preservation of historic and natural resources – and the Commonwealth’s need to shed unneeded real estate.”

State Hospital continued…Calendar of Events

Saturday, November 15 • 10:00 am to 12:00 noon

Historic Harrisburg Walking Tours “Colorful Shades of Shipoke”Shipoke (hotel parking lot)Speaker/Presenter: David Morrison

Tuesday, November 18 • 6:00 pm “Frank Lloyd Wright: Icon of Modern Architecture”Historic Harrisburg Resource CenterSpeaker/Presenter: Richard Gribble

Friday and Saturday, December 5 and 6Elegant Progressions

Sunday, December 14 • 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm

41st Annual Candlelight House TourFeatures of Bellevue Park and Reservoir Park

Monday, January 26, 2015 • 6:00 pm

An Armchair Stroll through the John Harris Mansion”Historic Harrisburg Resource CenterSpeaker/Presenter: Janet Bowen, curator of the Dauphin County Historical Society

Monday, February 23, 2015 • 6:00 pm

Tanner’s Alley & the Underground RailroadHistoric Harrisburg Community RoomSpeaker/Presenter: Dr. Clem Gilpin & Calobe Jackson

Monday, March 23, 2015 • 6:00 pm

A Woman of Vision: “Mira Lloyd Dock and the City Beautiful”Historic Harrisburg Community RoomSpeaker/Presenter: Louise Morgan

Monday, April 27, 2015 • 6:00 pm

Pennsylvania Governors’ Residences from the 17th to the 21st CenturyHistoric Harrisburg community RoomSpeaker/Presenter: David Morrison

April (TBA)Harrisburg Cemetery Self- Guided TourHarrisburg Cemetery

RSVP is not required for programs but suggested due to limited space. Please RSVP to [email protected] or 717-233-4646




ABC27 WHTMMac and Shirley AicheleAlan Hostetler Insurance Agents & Brokers, Inc.Anne AlsedekArchitecurally SpeakingArt Association Of HarrisburgAshley Furniture Home StoreDonald BarnettBrenda BarrettMichael BartonBrian BereschakLawrence Beyer & Cordell AffeldtBarbara BillmanBNY Mellon Wealth ManagementDrew R. BobincheckRussell A. Boggs and John H. Bookwalter, Jr.Jeb Boyd and Vivi BrondlerJanetta and Rich BrennerBrickbox Enterprises, LTDGloria BrissmanDavid Bronstein, D.O.Donald BrownMelvin BrownoldDavid ButcherMs. Eileen CarsonMichael ChapaloneyCity House Bed and BreakfastMichael and Noel Collanbine

P I L L A R S

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 Bill & Jane Allis

Art Communications Systems, Inc.Patricia Bucek and Sharon Ryan

Patricia CameronRobert Coldren

The Civic Club of HarrisburgJean A. Cutler and Nevin J. Mindlin

Thomas DarrRaymond J. Davis

John EnosMichael Fraser

M. Steven FunkHighland Gardens

Douglas & Amy HillJones Masonry Restoration Corp

Honorable Hannah Leavitt and Jack KrillSteve MacDonald and Mary Warner

Dan Miller and Carl BechdelMillers Mutual Group

Bridget Montgomery & Michael SpanglerDavid J. Morrison

NRG Energy Center

William & Marion Alexander

Anne CameronJohnson & Griffiths

Harriet Kopp

The McInroy-Sheffer People Trust

Peggy A. Grove EnterprisesPinnacleHealth SystemsWilliam and Susannah

Rothman

Honorable Eric Papenfuse and Catherine Lawrence

Charles Peguese & David HoffmanRed Door Consignment GalleryThomas and Marisa Sanntanna

Faye ShannonSimply Stated Architecture, P. C.

Jinny SpringenPeter & Corinna Wilson

Dimitri and Pauline Zozos

Sloan & Susan Auchincloss

Andrew and Audry CarterGeorge and Carol Case

Connor Design-Build LLCGovernor Tom CorbettCordier Auctions & AppraisalsBeth CornellJames Cowden, Esq.Cumberland Stained Glass Inc.J. Michael DavisBob DeiblerJay and Sandee DelozierReuel Deppen & Christine WnukKazim DharsiCarol & Philip Di MartileCarl DicksonCentury 21 At the HelmDauphin County Library SystemChristopher Dietz & Alexander ReberDerek and Erica DilksGina M. DoutyCrystal & David DowningDowntown Daily BreadVincent and Kristen DubeskyKate EarleyJacque’ and Joe EgresitzBrian and Kim ElgartAnn and James ElliottArden and Rebecca EmerickDavid & Jane EnglishJim and Adelle Facinelli

Charles Fetterhoff, Jr. D.M.D.Gavin AdvertisingKathy GatesAndrew & Kristen GiorgioneG.W. Wilson Inc.Hadee MosqueAlan & Julia HairRussell Harr and Brett JohnsonRaymond and Mary Lou HarrisHarris TowerHarrisburg Area YMCA, East Shore BranchHarrisburg Redevelopment AuthorityMaxine HaynesErik HeinJustin HeinlyGeorge and Joan HellmannSue HetrickRobert Hostetter, Jr.Nick and Ellen HughesGary and Edna HutchinsJulia JamesElizabeth Johnson & Dan DeiblerJames and Sandra JonesGuy Kehler and Lindsay MillsBret Keisling, EsqAlan Kennedy-ShafferErnest KepnerKimmel Funeral Home

CORINTHIAN CAPITALS Richard and Trina Gribble

Alex and Kristine Hartzler

Louise Hepschmidt


P I L L A R S c o n t i n u e d …Lee KneppKnight Security Systems, Inc.Louise Reily KunkelNorman & Pat LacasseDonald and Marney LappleyDavid LedermannDavid & Gwen LehmanLois Lehrman GrassKent & Kay LeidThomas Leonard & Janet DayLetum, Inc.Robert LomisonRon MadarPeter and Shirley MarksKathy MarleyCarl Marshall and Michael HarperTed Martin and Dwayne HeckertBill and Dianne MartinMary E. MartindaleRhonda MaysThomas & Alice McGroryVern and Kristen McKissickMark & Jane MendlowMid Penn BankThe Milestone on the RiverLuther Milspaw & Judge Jeannine TurgeonDr. Jose and Cherie MisasJoan V MorrisonBrian and Christa MummauSpencer & Helen NaumanAriel Oravec-Baley and Ryan Baker

Sondra OslerLindabeth ParkerPavone Advertising, Inc.Caitlin PeffleyHava Pell and Michael KlinePenn National InsurancePennsylvania ResearchPennsylvania State System of Higher EducationWilliam S. Pierce, MDFrank and Barbara PintoRuth PrallCorinne RebinskiJohn Reitz and JoAnne RossHelen L. ReplogleHenry RhoadsJefferson Rougeau and Steven R. CrepsPauline RubendallSalem United Church of ChristJoe and Beth SantannaCharles & Margaret SchenckKristen ScofieldJack and Carol ScottMarjorie M. ShermanElizabeth ShevitzPaul ShowalterScott Siciliano and Michael ShafferEllen SiddonsMr. David Skerpon and Mr. Chris BaldrigeAlyce & Morton SpectorLou StarzlThe State Museum Of Pennsylvania

Rob SteinmetzL. Kate StevensRebecca StevensonMichael and Mary Beth StringentPatricia StringerSt. Stephen’s Episcopal CathedralRobin and Jeb StuartKelly SummerfordOlivia SusskindDoug Sutherland and Nancy KramerRosemary C. TatkovskiDean TouloumesMarian TroneKenneth UmbenhauerValk Manufacturing CompanyGregg & Rita WarnerJohn & Susan WesleyMichael and Denise WilliamsWCI Partners, LPWilliam Penn Social AssociationLarry WilsonChristopher WondersAnne YellottLee and Kelly YorkRobert and Eileen YoungRobert R. Zeigler R.A.Zembo ShrineMatthew ZenceyJudith ZerbeDavid A. Zwifka and Kenneth Suter

Name: ________________________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________

Phone: ________________________________________________________________________

E-mail Address: _________________________________________________________________

Historic Harrisburg Membership ApplicationMail to: Historic Harrisburg Association • 1230 N. Third Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102

___ 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 financial 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.

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Non Profit OrganizationU.S. PostageP A I DPermit No. 79

Harrisburg, PA

HISTORIC HARRISBURG ASSOCIATION1230 N. Third StreetHarrisburg, PA 17102

On disPlAy tHrOuGH dEcEmbEr…

“The Broad Street Market: A Tribute to the Legacy of Harrisburg’s Farmers Markets.”

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Hha newslttr fall2104