Historic Philly Underground Railroad stop that freed 9,000 slaves is saved from brink of collapse

In a win for historic preservation, a neighborhood group has saved a former Underground Railroad stop from destruction by neglect.

Vital repairs are underway on the old Robert Purvis house at 16th and Mount Vernon streets, where the famous abolitionist helped thousands of people escape slavery to freedom through Philadelphia.

The fresh fixes follow a yearslong legal battle to wrest control away from the historic property’s current owner. Under his absent watch, the monument to African-American history suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage — and was nearly on the brink of collapse.

Credit the Spring Garden Community Development Corporation for taking responsibility and forcing a fix.

A Philadelphia judge recently granted the group’s plea to become the “official conservator” of the Purvis house. That means the property can remain under its current ownership, but the CDC has legal right to fund and enforce much-needed repairs.

Conservatorship is still a highly unusual solution. In the decade since it became a thing in Pennsylvania, only a few Philly civic associations have embarked on the effort.

Why? It’s expensive — and there’s a good chance conservators won’t make back the money they spend on restoration.

In the case of the Purvis house, the historic property was in such bad shape that neighborhood leaders say it was well worth the $100,000 they’ve already spent.

“It would be a shame to only have a plaque out front without preserving what was left inside,” said Barbara Wolf, official conservator and Spring Garden CDC board member. “I think that’s really important.”