Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-06
BY HORACE WELLS SELLERS

Secretary Philadelphia Chapter American Institute OF Architects
VHTHEN the city authorities in 1911 ac-
w cepted the offer of the Philadelphia
Chapter of the American Institute of Archi-
tects to prepare the plans for the restora-
tion of Congress Hall at 9Th and Chestnut
streets, certain improvements to Independ-
ence Square were also contemplated. Later,
when the work at the hall was nearing
completion and the necessity for bettering
the conditions of the square became more
fully appreciated the chapter was called
upon to prepare definite plans for such i'm
provements it might deem essential the
primary object being to remove existing in
congruites and bring the square into closer
harmony with the entire group of historic
buildings for which the ground should con-
stitute an appropriate setting.
After fully considering the past history
traffic and other governing details of the
problem, the Committee Of Architects ap-
pointed by the chapter has finally arrived at
the following general scheme: 1t being obvi-
ously inadvisable to restore the high brick
wall the iron palisade, it was decided to
return to II low wall of brick with marble
copings, and to treat the details entrances,
ETC., in accordance with the practice during
the period of the buildings. in the belief that
such treatment will bring the square into
closer architectural relation to the ancient
structures and produce the harmonious eff
feet now so conspcuously absent.
Modern Requirements
In the general layout of the square no at
tempt will be made to restore II to the exact
conditions existing in the 18th century not
only because full knowledge of these condi-
tions in detail is wanting, but for the reason
that modern requirements of traffic would
make such a restoration inexpedient.
On the south front of the State House,
where the present arrangement of the paths
has created small grass areas frequently
crossed by pedestrians, being in the line of
traffic, the proposed plan calls for an extern
sion of the pavement in front of the building
to eliminate these grass plots and to give a
broader and more interesting setting for the
State House. 1t is proposed also to broaden
the main avenue extending from the State
House tower to the Walnut street entrance
to correspond as closely as possible with the
original conditions, excepting that the at
tractive vista afforded in olden times is now
partially blocked by the statue that has been
placed on this axis.
The brick paving of the arcades on each
side of the State House will be extended for
a sufficient distance to restore what seems
to have been the former condition in this re-
spect or approximate to it, retaining else
where however, the general scheme of flag
stone pavement that now exists in the square.
On the Chestnut street front brick pave
ment will also be introduced from the build
ings to the main line OF trahic along the
street, and where the brick and fiagstone
pavements join line OF low round posts win |
be introduced, such it seems originally
existed on the Chestnut street front and |
which, it is believed, will assist materially |
in separating the State House from the line |
of trafic without interfering with the con-
yenience OF pedestrians,
1t is also suggested that by restoring the
row of trees that formerly existed on this
line the present badness of the unshaded
sidewalk will be relieved, besides still further
creating a feeling OF separation from the
hustle OF the street that 1t is believed so
venerable a structure as the State House
should possess. The proposition to restore
the trees should meet with the same favor
that greeted their introduction in 1921, when
one OF the daily papers commenting on the
improvement stated that 1T will be a sam
brious exchange from the arid bricks that
have been broiling our brains there for 50
years"
The Story Of the Lanterns
The improvements 10 the square yet TO ba
realized include also change in the system
OF lighting After preparing various orieinal
designs for lamp posts the Chapter Commit
tee has decided TO introduce the Form ~
lantern and post that was used IN ne lstb
century After exhaustive research this
original post ana lantern were reproduced
through the examination Of many ancient
prints ana views n this and other cities.