Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published in the Spring 2025 issue of Extant, a publication of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia.
The S.S. United States. | Photo: Peter Woodall
S.S. United States
Location: Pier 82
Built: 1952
The S.S. United States, launched in 1952, served as a testament to American innovation and maritime supremacy. Designed by Naval architect William Francis Gibbs, it was the fastest ocean liner ever built, crossing the Atlantic Ocean in just over three days on its maiden voyage. Constructed with U.S. Navy funding, the vessel was a dual-purpose marvel, serving as both a luxury liner and a potential high-speed troop carrier. Gibbs prioritized safety, avoiding flammable materials wherever possible, even commissioning an aluminum piano to ensure fire resistance.
During its heyday, the ship hosted presidents, celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, and countless travelers, embodying postwar American glamour and industrial prowess. However, the rise of jet travel in the late 1960s rendered transatlantic liners obsolete, and the S.S.United States was retired in 1969.
Over subsequent decades, the ship changed hands several times with ambitious plans to transform it into a hotel or museum. Unfortunately, financial and logistical challenges thwarted these efforts, leaving the once-proud vessel languishing at a South Philadelphia pier. In 2024, after years of calls for preservation and advocacy efforts, the ship was sold to Okaloosa County, Florida.
Plans are underway to sink the vessel in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach to create the world’s largest artificial reef. Before this transformation, the ship will undergo extensive preparation to ensure environmental safety. Although controversial, this new role as a marine sanctuary offers the S.S. United States a unique legacy, continuing its service in a new and innovative way.
John Stortz and Son store. | Photo: Michael Bixler
John Stortz and Son Store
Location: 208-12 Vine Street
Built: 208 and 212–1780 | 210–1870
The demolition of 208-12 Vine Street in Old City marks a poignant loss for historic preservation in Philadelphia. Built in 1780 and 1870, these structures were rare surviving examples of 18th century industrial and mercantile architecture in the neighborhood. Since 1853, the complex housed John Stortz and Son, a historic tool manufacturer with roots in ice skate production that evolved into a diverse tool-making enterprise. In the 21st century, the company shifted its focus to e-commerce and distribution of imported tools, leading to a decline in manufacturing at the Vine Street location.
The building’s inclusion in the Old City Historic District provided some measure of protection, but that protection proved insufficient in the face of developer pressure. The Stortz family, struggling to adapt the buildings to their shifting business model, filed a financial hardship application to demolish them in 2023, arguing that rehabilitation was too costly and ill-suited for the interconnected complex. Despite alternative proposals by the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia to integrate the historic structures into redevelopment plans, the Philadelphia Historical Commission approved the demolition in October 2023. The decision came with stipulations requiring secure financing and approvals for a redevelopment proposal before the structures could come down.
In spring 2024, the Historical Commission approved a six-story apartment to be built on the site, erasing a tangible link to Old City’s industrial heritage. This case serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing that preservation requires not only policies, but also active stewardship to ensure that Philadelphia’s architectural heritage endures for future generations.
19th Street Baptist Church. | Photo: Peter Woodall
19th Street Baptist Church
Location: 1253 South 19th Street
Built: 1874
The Memorial Church of the Holy Comforter, later known as 19th Street Baptist Church, was built in 1874 to serve the working-class residents of Point Breeze in South Philadelphia. The church was designed by the renowned firm Furness & Hewitt and featured a unique serpentine stone faccade. In 1944, the dwindling congregation of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, which had founded the Holy Comforter as a mission church, sold the building to the 19th Street Baptist Church. The new congregation thrived in the following decades, becoming a vital part of the community and even hosting prominent figures like Martin Luther King Jr.
However, the church began to face serious maintenance issues due to the deteriorating serpentine stone, which is vulnerable to erosion. Financial struggles were compounded by a failed lawsuit against St. Peter’s Church over a disputed endowment that the 19th Street Baptist Church claimed was intended for the building’s upkeep. Despite emergency repairs and fundraising efforts, the building continued to deteriorate. A loan taken out for repairs led to further financial strain and ultimately fell into the hands of a firm specializing in distressed commercial mortgages.
Multiyear attempts to secure funding for restoration or find a preservation-minded buyer were unsuccessful. The church was ultimately deemed unsafe by the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections and slated for demolition in the interest of public safety. The Historical Commission approved the demolition of the imminently dangerous sanctuary in October 2024, but spared the adjacent fellowship hall, which is in better condition.
