By January 27th, 1927, the concrete forms for the foundation of the PP&L building were in place. Pennsylvania Power and Light wanted to have its headquarters on the southwest corner of Ninth and Hamilton, the former location of the Martin House which can be seen in the upper center of the photo across Hamilton Street. However, Nathan Martin was a reclusive man who lived in the house with his sister that did not want to sell. A friend of Martin was sent to meet him by General Harry Trexler to ask about purchasing his property said that Martin didn't want to sell because "he wouldn't know what to do with the money".