In college, a friend waxed poetics about the current trend in glass and steel buildings and pointed out that they don't make old buildings anymore.
True, they don't. But they do restore them!
What I'd like to show is some of the restoration, some of the preservation and some of the dilapidation of Broad Street in Philadelphia. There is beauty in the brickwork. My hope is that more people see it.
The Divine Lorraine Hotel
Built between 1892 and 1894, the Lorraine Apartments was a luxury dwelling for the rich who populated North Philadelphia. In 1948, Father Divine purchased the hotel, renaming it the Divine Lorraine Hotel. It was the first racially integrated hotel in America. Although the building was closed in 1999, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. Graffitied and crumbing, the hotel was purchased at a sheriff's sale in 2012. In 2015, the restoration began. Today, it is once again a landmark on Broad Street.
The Metropolitan Opera House
The Philadelphia Opera House, as it was originally called was built in 1908. It was sold and renamed the Metropolitan Opera House. Opera was its primary function in the beginning, but its use broadened to include the showing of silent films, a ballroom, a venue for basketball, boxing and wrestling, and more. In 1954, it became a church. By 1988, the congregation had moved on and the building was judged to be dangerous. Thankfully, it was saved from the wrecking ball and was restored starting in 2012. The Met was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1972.
The Uptown Theater
This is a personal favorite of mine. Built in 1927, The Uptown Theater is a wonderful example of Art Deco. Starting as a movie theater specially built for the talkies, the Uptown would become one the great venues for African American musicians to play. From 1951 into the late 1970s, the Uptown would rival the Apollo Theater in Harlem for quality entertainment. Even comedians like Redd Foxx and Flip Wilson performed there. The building has been in disrepair since the 1980s, however, there is a movement for restoration, with funding coming from varied sources through 2018. The Uptown was named to the Nation Register of Historical Places in 1982.
Freedom Theater
The former residence of actor Edwin Forrest, then the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, then Heritage House, it became the Freedom Theater in 1968, home to the city's African American community theater and a home for instruction in the arts. At Broad and Master Streets.
Rowhomes
Rowhomes dot the street from one end to the other. Now, I've lived in a rowhouse. But it was a bland, two story structure. Along Broad Street, there are many three story houses with gorgeous facades.
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And the sign says...
There are numerous signs along the Street. Some are a reminder of Deco style, like the Animal Hospital
Some are reminders of the neon that once graced the Street.
Some welcome. Some warn.
And some show us what once was.
What could be in the future?
There are two very large buildings that make me wonder if they could be restored and, if so, what would they be. The first is the building that once held the Botony 500 factory at Broad and Lehigh.
Botony 500 Building
The Beury Building
The other is this Deco beauty at Broad and Airdrie. Identified by Google Maps as The Beury Building, this place has been graffitied by many. Some artistic. Some less so. All daredevils. My fear of heights makes me cringe every time I look at it.
The Beury Building, per an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, 22 June 2020, was once the National Bank of North Philadelphia. Currently, it is planned to be redeveloped into a Marriot Hotel. The developers are attempting to keep as much of the graffiti on the building as possible, as it holds the title of the most graffitied building in the city. The Beury Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
The Beury Building
Murals
The street has many a mural. They range from a loving tributes to Grover Washington and State Senator Roxanne Jones to a huge "Rise" and "Shine" that covers multiple stories on each side of the building at Lehigh Avenue, across from the old Botony 500 building. Sadly, many of these are difficult to get a good photo of from the road, due to the presence of trees, billboards and other buildings. Here are some more visible ones.
Actually on Spring Garden Street, but visible from Broad
Broad and Master Sts.
you can see how tough it can be
There are so many other wonderful buildings, murals, and facades that grace Broad Street. Many people are too busy driving to and from work to appreciate them. That does cut down on traffic accidents if you pay attention to the road. But sometimes, it might pay to pull over and give the street some love.
(Thanks to Wikipedia and Google Maps for help with building identification and history. All photos were taken by your's truly, mostly at red lights.)
Great photos!
ReplyDeleteI think The Botony 500 Building could make interesting condos or something.
I really like the look of it.
Thank you! I don't know that there are plans for the Botany 500 Building yet. It would make great condos!
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