Historical answers in Holmesburg

By John Loftus

Times Staff Writer

History is the angle.

Patrons of the Holmesburg branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia hope gaining historical designation for the building, on the 7800 block of Frankford Ave., will prevent recent history from repeating itself.

On Friday, the Philadelphia Historical Commission will consider adding the branch, more properly the Thomas Holme branch, to its register of the city's historic places.

Including the Holmesburg branch along with three other branches built in the early 20th century with money donated by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie would protect the building, said Karen D. Lash, president of the Friends of Holmesburg Library.

Once included in the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, the building, erected in 1907, could not be demolished or substantially altered without the approval of the Philadelphia Historical Commission, Lash said last week.

"Nobody could tear it down or brick up the windows, for example," she said.

But that's just the building. The historic designation could prove another way to prevent the city from ever again considering closing the branch, Lash said.

Late last year, Mayor Michael Nutter ordered Holmesburg and several other library branches closed in order to save money for the city, whose finances were hard hit by Wall Street's woes.

Only a court ruling kept library branches open, and the Friends, the staff and the area residents who use the branch would prefer preventing that threat rather than dodging it again.

Lash said she hopes the people who use the library will e-mail or fax the Philadelphia Historical Commission to register their support for adding the branch to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places.

U.S. Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz did that last month.

In a letter to Jonathan E. Farnham, the historical commission's executive director, Schwartz (D-13th dist.) wrote, "For over one hundred years, the Holmesburg Library has been a valuable asset and invaluable resource to my constituents. When Andrew Carnegie donated the funds for the construction of the library, he did so from the conviction that education is a fundamental right and that all people should have free access to information through a local library. Since its completion in 1907, the Holmesburg Library has served the community in pursuit of Mr. Carnegie's vision.

"The Holmesburg Library building has been every bit as essential to fulfilling that purpose as the books it contains. Its presence on Frankford Avenue beautifies the community. Its reading rooms, with their unique architectural integrity, have provided a place for generations to gather and learn. Given this historic legacy and the structure's historic significance to the community and the Commonwealth, it is fitting that the building be placed on the Register to ensure that future Northeast Philadelphia generations will be able to enjoy this treasured building."

The congresswoman's assessment is similar to that of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, which nominated Holmesburg and three other branches for inclusion in the register on Dec. 22, a little more than a week before the Nutter administration planned to close them.

It was not the first time the 2,000-member non-profit had something to say about the Holmesburg, Haddington, Logan and Kingsessing branches. On two occasions earlier in December, the alliance urged Nutter not to close the branches because of their historical significance.

The alliance is dedicated to preserving and protecting the region's historic buildings.

Closing the branches, wrote the alliance's executive director, John Gallery, "could precipitate a situation where these wonderful historic buildings are themselves threatened by vacancy, neglect and deterioration."

Among the others who already have written to the historical commission to support the library branches are state Sen. Michael Stack (D-5th dist.) and Bruce M. Conner of the Friends of Lower Dublin Academy.

"It has become a living organism," Conner wrote of the Holmesburg branch. "It is more than a school and more than a community center. Its qualities argue not only for historic designation for the exterior of the structure, but for the interior as well."

Holmesburg was once part of the Township of Lower Dublin, which was later incorporated into Philadelphia. William Penn appointed Thomas Holme his "surveyor general" and it was Holme who drafted the first map of Philadelphia in 1683. Based on his will, 1.5 acres were set aside for a schoolhouse that later became Lower Dublin Academy.

The trustees of the Lower Dublin Academy donated the ground for the Holmesburg branch.

In a phone interview Friday, Stack said he had been shocked by the Nutter administration's proposal to close 11 branch libraries, but added he thought the administration probably was shocked by the public's reaction. A demonstration against closing the Holmesburg branch drew a large crowd and extensive news media coverage.

"For nearly 102 years, the Holmesburg library has been the cornerstone of the community," Stack wrote to the historical commission. "It serves over 40,000 families each year and provides over 100,000 items for circulation, review and overall citizen enjoyment including books, DVDs, computer access and much more. This historical treasure deserves recognition on Philadelphia's list of historical sites."

The Philadelphia Historical Commission will consider the alliance's nominations at 9 a.m. Friday in Room 18-029 of 1515 Arch St. (One Parkway).

"I am optimistic," Stack said of the branches' chances of being included in the register. "I have not heard anything negative. I think we've got a good shot."

"It's very rare for the commission to turn down a nomination," Gallery said.

Reporter John Loftus can be reached at 215-354-3110 or jloftus@phillynews.com