National Historic Landmark Burns!

Early in the morning of February 3, 2002, a 5-alarm fire did major damage to the U.S. Naval Home, an 1827 National Historic Landmark building in Philadelphia’s Gray’s Ferry neighborhood. The Philadelphia fire department has declared the fire to be arson, and the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspection is currently assessing the structural condition of Biddle Hall, the central building at the 20+ acre property.

The fire appears to have severely damaged most of the roof and attic, and caused some damage to the third floor. However, all the exterior and interior bearing walls, the floors, and the exterior architectural details appear to have largely survived.

The buildings at the Naval Home have been vacant since the Navy decommissioned the property in the mid 1970s. It was optioned to Toll Bros., one of the nation’s largest developers of suburban housing, in 1982, and Toll Bros. took full title in 1988. But since then, despite bringing forward several development schemes – including one that was ultimately approved by the city's agencies, the National Park Service, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission – Toll has taken no action to restore the historic buildings and develop the open spaces.

In fact, neighbors report that the owners have allowed the property to deteriorate, and security has been significantly lessened over the last year, to the point that squatters and trespassers were commonly sighted. Despite routine calls for maintenance and security by the Preservation Alliance, the Philadelphia Historical Commission, and Licenses and Inspections, Toll has never consistently maintained the property to a level sufficient to prevent its gradual deterioration.

The Preservation Alliance is joining others in a call to ensure that Biddle Hall is not prematurely demolished. It is the Alliance’s belief that Biddle Hall is salvageable and its structural condition should be assessed by independent engineers who can recommend means to stabilize and protect the damaged building.

The Naval Home was designed by famed Philadelphia architect William Strickland who also designed such other Greek Revival landmarks as the Second Bank of the U. S. and the Merchants’ Exchange.

For additional information about the Naval Home, visit www.pacscl.org/shows/navalhome and www.southofsouth.org.