Know Your Neighborhood: Independence National Historic Park  

This week we step outside of our immediate area to another part of Old City and go back in time to look at some interesting buildings that are no longer standing. Today's Independence National Historic Park once was home to many businesses, retail stores and homes. In the mid-20th century, urban planner Edmund Bacon introduced a plan to revitalize deindustrializing Philadelphia. He placed Independence Hall at the center of his plan to cultivate a tourist economy and leveled several blocks of 19th-century (mostly) commercial buildings to open a dramatic vista of the building from Independence Mall.

The Schenck Building, 535 Arch St (1st photo), was built in 1862 and destroyed in 1959. It sat at what is now the S.W. corner of the Constitution Center.(2nd photo).

Alfred M. Collins Manufacturing Company, 527 Arch St. (3rd photo) made paper boxes, cardboard and photographic mounts.

The whole block of Arch St was demolished to make way for the expansion of Independence Mall in 1959 (4th photo taken soon before demolition). Only the Free Quaker Meetinghouse was saved, though it was moved 30 feet to allow widening of 5th St. (5th photo from 1961). 6th photo is the area immediately after demolition. This area remained a grassy, underutilized part of Independence National Historic Park until the National Constitution Center was built, beginning in 2000 and opening in 2003.

Schenck Building, 535 Arch St

 

Alfred M. Collins Manufacturing Company, 527 Arch St.

Arch St between 5th & 6th before demolition

                              Free Quaker Meetinghouse before being moved for widening of 5th St.

Arch St block after demolition