Lower Merion Conservancy's Annual Watch List is up, and here is Main Line Life's Pete Bannan's slideshow (with sound so pump up the volume):
Look at our history long and hard. This is what we're talking about when we say history is disappearing one brick at a time. This is why all need to get involved in their communities.
They may not be treasures in the traditional sense of the word, but some valuable resources in Lower Merion and Narberth are in danger of disappearing forever, a local conservation group is warning.The Lower Merion Conservancy recently released its 10th annual Preservation Watch List of structures that are both historically important to the area and threatened with demolition.
Topping this year's list is a tie between Lee's Shoddy Mill in Belmont Hills and A. Talone's dry cleaning store in Ardmore.
As has been reported in recent months, both of the buildings face likely dates with wrecking balls. The Talone's site will become an expanded car dealership, and the current owners of Lee's Shoddy Mill believe the building is too run-down to save. It will be demolished for condos.
The township has already issued demolition permits for both buildings.
"Some may ask, 'Why put something on the list that is already approved for demolition?'" said Lori Salganicoff, preservation coordinator of the Lower Merion Conservancy. "First of all, they are still standing, so we can continue to highlight the fact that these buildings are part of our history."
Conservancy officials say both buildings hold important links to Lower Merion's business past.
Talone's is one of the oldest buildings in the Ardmore business district.
Lee's Shoddy Mill is one of only five mill buildings remaining in
Lower Merion and the only mill that is not on Mill Creek. Mill buildings once comprised the backbone of labor and industry in Lower Merion.
Preservationists say it still isn't too late to save both buildings.
"Sometimes, people's plans change, and sometimes, buildings can be saved," said Mike Weilbacher, executive director of the Lower Merion Conservancy. "As long as the buildings are standing, there is always hope."
Weilbacher added that there have been few structures ranked number one that have been demolished.
"Since we started doing the list 10 years ago, we haven't lost many number one buildings," Weilbacher said. "This year, we could lose two of them."
In 2000, the house that famed architect Walter Durham lived in was listed first on the conservancy's list and was demolished a short time later.
Although Durham's house is long gone, several others that he built are listed in a separate category on this year's list. The concern is over hous- es Durham built along Elbow, Cheswold and Grays lanes in Haverford. The Merion Cricket Club has purchased eight of the 12 Durham homes on Elbow Lane. Although club officials have said they wish to preserve the houses, they were ranked as the fifth most threatened properties on this year's list.
A group comprised of historians, architects and others spend several months deciding which buildings should be listed. The criteria include the importance of the property, the nature of the threat and the extent to which the property illustrates a larger preservation issue.
Several years ago, the list was renamed "Preservation Watch List" from "The Top 10 Most Endangered Properties." In doing so, the conservancy has begun adding things that aren't simply one building. In 2004, the historic Lower Merion street signs were placed on the list.
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