HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM PM&PA!
Dear Friends,
As you will see below, this has been another big year for the Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance! We have many great projects underway but need your support to continue! PLEASE CONSIDER THE PM&PA in your year-end giving plans. Donate via Paypal or by check to 61 Cassatt Ave, Berwyn, PA 19312.
Feel free to forward the PDF of PM&PA accomplishments to others who may be interested.
ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY STUDY COMPLETED In partnership with the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, the nationally-renowned firm Urban Partners undertook an Economic Feasibility Study to see if and how the results of the PM&PA-sponsored 2009-2010 Community Design Collaborative Re-Use Design Study could be implemented on the Pennhurst campus. We were pleased to announce that the study showed that the sensitive, meaningful re-use of 11 historic core buildings is financially viable (Download Urban Partner's report). The Urban Partner's study was affirmed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Pennsylvania, the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, the Chester County Historic Preservation Network, and John Milner Architects.
ZONING CHANGE ADVOCACY The PM&PA and the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia also weighed in on the proposed zoning change to Pennhurst, which could have made implementing the recommendations of the Urban Partner's study more difficult. Work remains to find an interested developmental partner to engage the study results, as well as to counter a false rumor started that the study aims to install low-income housing.
COMMUNITY ACTION AWARD In May the PM&PA and Nathaniel Guest were awarded the Community Action Award by the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia for their advocacy work to save the Pennhurst campus.
ARCHIVES TREASURES PM&PA volunteers led by Senior Vice President Greg Pirmann spent a great deal of time at the State Archives organizing many boxes of heretofore uncatalogued Pennhurst resources. Among the amazing finds was a 1967 WITF documentary narrated by Peter Fonda and Pennhurst "home movies" from the same era. The PM&PA is working with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and WITF to restore and digitize the film.
DISABILITY ADVOCACY MONTH Representative Murt (R-Montgomery County) worked with PM&PA and the Disability Rights Network to introduce and pass Resolution 517 declaring November Disability History Month.
PARTNERSHIP WITH "STORY OF A BEAUTIFUL GIRL" Inspired by the lives of people who lived in Pennhurst and its peer institutions, The Story of Beautiful Girl, written by Rachel Simon, tells the story of two individuals, a deaf man (Homan) and a woman with an intellectual disability (Lynnie), who escape from an institution in Pennsylvania in 1968 with the woman’s newborn daughter. The story unfolds over several decades, and includes many issues familiar to those in the I/DD community: the abuse and dehumanizing conditions in the institution, the advent of deinstitutionalization, the value of dedicated Direct Support Professionals. A portion of the books sold through this website are donated the PM&PA.
TRAVELING EXHIBIT PLANNING The PM&PA worked with renowned exhibition designer Beth Redmond-Jones to begin planning of a Pennhurst-oriented travelling exhibit. Thanks to the efforts of PM&PA Board Member Julie Gannaway, the PM&PA is in communication with numerous entities to be exhibition partners. We also plan to seek a Pew grant and a partnership with a national museum.
PENNHURST BOOK The PM&PA, under the leadership of Advisory Council member Dennis Downey, continues its work on the first comprehensive scholarly work on Pennhurst. We hope to partner with Penn State Press to make the book available in 2013.
UPDATE: Local, state, and national organizations voice their support for our zoning change concerns
Click here to see those letters attached to the PM&PA's letter to the Chester County Planning Commission.
Letters from:
Answering the Call of Conscience: An Economically-Viable Path to a Sensitive Re-Use at Pennhurst
Preliminary Financial Feasibility Analysis, Historic Restoration of Pennhurst, August 2011
The nationally-renowned firm Urban Partners, with the assistance of grant funding from the Bard Foundation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, undertook an Economic Feasibility Study to see if and how the results of the 2009-2010 Community Design Collaborative Re-Use Design Study could be implemented. We are pleased to announce that the study has shown that the sensitive, meaningful re-use of 11 historic core buildings is financially viable. Download Urban Partner's report here.
Pennhurst is currently under consideration for re-zoning. We call on the East Vincent Township Supervisors to allow a residential use in the historic overlay district already existing at Pennhurst, provided that use is conditioned on preservation.
- The Community Design Collaborative study said the current building stock was the site’s greatest asset, and that it could be re-used without precluding a range of other use types on the property;
- The township’s preservation ordinance supports preservation here;
- The area’s most reputable real estate market analysis firm has found a use that could achieve preservation and still allow other types of development on 75% of the rest of the site;
- An investor is willing to provide up-front funding of $15 million, with the net result of a higher-quality end product;
- We are not asking for a residential classification for the entire site, only the historic core and only if conditioned on preservation.
If you agree and want to show your support, attend the Board of Supervisors meetings on NOVEMBER 9, 7:30 PM. East Vincent Township Building, 262 Ridge Road, Spring City, PA 19475.
Call of Conscience: A Video Presentation
This video, produced and directed for the PM&PA by Heath Hofmeister of Electric Machine Productions, culminates the historic significance of the Pennhurst campus with the need for appropriate preservation and rememberance. Please take a moment to view this amazing video.
Notice: Our next Board Meeting will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2011. The meeting will take place at the Center for Outcome Analysis located at 426B Darby Road, Havertown, PA 19083. The meeting will begin at 11:00AM. These meetings are open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend.
The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon
(The Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance receives a 6% contribution through your purchase using the link on the left)
Inspired by the lives of people who lived in Pennhurst and its peer institutions The Story of Beautiful Girl, written by Rachel Simon, tells the story of two individuals, a deaf man (Homan) and a woman with an intellectual disability (Lynnie), who escape from an institution in Pennsylvania in 1968 with the woman’s newborn daughter. The story unfolds over several decades, and includes many issues familiar to those in the I/DD community: the abuse and dehumanizing conditions in the institution, the advent of deinstitutionalization, the value of dedicated Direct Support Professionals.
Rachel Simon wrote about her sister, who has an intellectual disability, in Riding the Bus With My Sister. Her latest book intertwines many issues such as the right to community living, romance and sexuality, self-expression, spirituality and independence.
Visit Rachel's website here to read an excerpt from the book (scroll down the page until you see "About the book" and click on "First chapter excerpt" on the right).
About Pennhurst: A Place of Triumph
The recently unveiled Pennhurst Historical Marker, Spring City
Once called the shame of the nation, Pennhurst was the epicenter of a civil and human rights movement that changed the way the world saw people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The atrocities of neglect at Pennhurst resulted in Supreme Court litigation that sounded the death knell for institutionalization worldwide. Pennhurst stands as a monument not just to the despair of social apathy but more importantly to the bright triumph of an engaged citizenry--and the eternal hope that great change is possible from the cumulative efforts of caring people. For these reasons it must be preserved.
Pennhurst was the battleground in a monumental struggle to secure basic human rights for the last group of Americans to attain privileges assumed to be the natural freedoms of all persons. Pennhurst's historic and beautiful campus is, like Valley Forge and Independence Mall to the east, hallowed ground in the struggle for dignity and self-determination, a western anchor to a freedom corridor, that, though stretching but a few miles, reaches all the way around the world.
Through preservation and adaptive re-use of the historic Pennhurst campus, the Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance seeks to ensure that those achievements won at Pennhurst are neither lost nor forgotten. We seek to reclaim this once painful place as a center of conscience, healing, and outreach. This process is essential in the creation and preservation of a society where, all people are valued and respected, and where all people have the knowledge, opportunity, and power to improve their lives and the lives of others. Join us.
The Results of The Pennhurst Re-Use Design and Feasibility Study
We are pleased to present the results of the Pennhurst Re-Use Design and Feasibility Study. We are awaiting final changes from the owner, but a draft of the final document is presented here. Although the Re-Use Study is nearing completion, we still welcome your ideas. Given Pennhurst's past importance and the tremendous potential impact the development of this large site will have on Pennsylvania in the future, we are hoping you will offer your thoughts about what you would like to see on the Pennhurst property. Our case studies page, as well as http://www.pinelandfarms.o rg/visitors/history.htm, can provide some inspiration for your thoughts. Please share your ideas with us online, or email them to ncg1@cornell.edu. This is your chance to influence Pennhurst's future. The benefits of a good design plan cannot be underestimated in the cause to preserve and remember Pennhurst.
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A Statement Regarding the "Pennhurst Haunted Asylum"
Since PMPA posted its statement regarding the proposed Haunted Asylum at Pennhurst, it has become clear that some people do not understand our position. Our original statement attempted to cover what has been a long and complex process of negotiation with the owner of the Pennhurst property. That detracted from our intent. To be clear, PMPA is completely opposed to the operation of a haunted attraction at Pennhurst that portrays people with disabilities in a demeaning and degrading fashion....
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About our Mission and Board of Directors
The mission of the Pennhurst Memorial & Preservation Alliance is “To honor at Pennhurst the ongoing civil rights struggle of Americans with disabilities.” PM&PA Board members are voluntary participants in this non-profit mission. PM&PA's Board members have not accepted, nor can they accept, payment for activities related to the PM&PA.
Principal drawing by Emily ScaliClick Here for Emily Scali's drawing of Admin, Mayflower & Limerick buildings
Official Statement Regarding Trespassing on the Pennhurst Property