You Can Tear A Building Down… But You Can’t Erase The Memories
March 9, 2009 | No Comments | Featured, Philadelphia
I’m an admirer of classic “industrial architecture”. Lucky for me, there are literally thousands of examples to find in the Greater Philadelphia region. The problem is, most of the buildings are in a state of serious decline. Once a building is of no use, it is often abandoned. And time is never kind.
After decades of neglect, the innards of these buildings begin to rot and decay from the inside out. Windows are broken, marble floors become stained and crack, steel beams rust, and paint peels like tree bark from the walls. Many times, the buildings are gutted by metal “scrappers” who pilfer copper and other metals that can later be sold for scrap. More often, squatters and addicts begin to inhabit these structures.
Personally, I’m concerned with the preservation of these buildings and the reversing of their degradation. Recently, I have come across two very different groups of people who share that kinship with me.
The first is a small group of photography acquaintances that call themselves Urban Explorers. Though this hobby is illegal (its trespassing basically), what I find interesting is that these “UE-ers” are in fact preserving these buildings in their own way. What do I mean? Well, think of it like this. Each time a “UE-er” takes a photo, a piece of that building is “capsulized” for posterity. And who gets to view these “capsules”? You do of course. On web sites such as Flickr, Photobucket or sites like LostAmerica.
The second group is the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. Their goal is to “actively promote the appreciation, protection, and appropriate use and development of the Philadelphia region’s historic buildings, communities and landscapes.” Not only do they protect the past, they also try to build public good will and support for the distinctive historic character of the city of Philadelphia and the surrounding communities.
Now here is where it gets interesting. Recently, members of the Preservation Alliance have discovered that Urban Explorers are allies that share in their vision to save historic sites.
John Andrew Gallery, executive director of the nonprofit Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, called UE-ers “a pretty cool group” after he visited many of their web sites and message boards. He was quick to realize the “fabulous” potential for collaboration between them and advocacy groups such as the Philadelphia Preservation Alliance. “There are a tremendous number of historical buildings in Philadelphia,” Gallery said. “We need people out there finding these jewels.”
The collaboration seems to be working. UE-ers help project leaders keep aware of dumping, thefts, and vandalism on various properties throughout Philadelphia that the Preservation Alliance monitors. Also, UE-ers are often the first to find and document a building when it becomes abandoned. And when a historic building is razed, UE-ers have been known to offer actual photos and copies of documents that they have previously removed from the buildings they explore. In some cases, the photographs/documents are the only tangible items that are left.
Unfortunately, local buildings will continue to be torn down. But with the help of the Preservation Alliance and UE-ers, you won’t be able to erase the memories.
Addendum… each year the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia publishes its Endangered Properties list to draw attention to significant historic resources threatened by neglect or redevelopment. You can view the list by clicking the link below.
