The Hickok House (former VFW) at Front and Locust Streets

The Hickok House at 201 Front and Locust Streets in Harrisburg may be proposed for demolition by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), a quasi-government agency.

The home (right) was built in 1903 as a wedding gift. Rare unusual woods were used throughout its interior. This woodwork was shipped from the family's lumber mill operations in Williamsport. The Hickok family was influential in Harrisburg and the Commonwealth. The home remained in the Hickok family until they sold it to the Department of Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in the 1943s. The VFW recently sold it to PHFA, which has expressed interest in demolishing it and expanding their modern building next door.

Read "Housing agency's expansion draws ire" from the Patriot-News, Sunday, March 16, 2008.

PHFA is a quasi government agency with representation from the governor to DCED on its board. PHFA also promotes itself as being a good steward of design, healthy nieghborhoods and revitalization.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) has met with PHFA but appears to have little power or authority to intervene. It seems that, despite PHMC suggestions to preserve the Hickok House, PHFA is unwilling to alter their plans or put into practice some of the same good practices they advocate for other communities.

HHA is working on a strategy to help people who want to preserve this historic building succeed in their efforts. HHA has worked with Capitol Area Neighbors (CAN) and others on other preservation issues, including the proposed demolition of the Dunlap Building at 2nd and Locust Streets — the opposite end of this beautiful Locust Street block. HHA will assist CAN, nearby residents, our members and others in their effort to save the Hickok House.

Local residents also say that PHFA was shopping around for other properties on Locust Street to buy, presumably for futher expansion of its facility on Front Street.

The Hickok Family has indicated they are saddened and appalled at the prospect of the home being lost.

HHA encourages every concerned person to get involved in efforts to preserve this building, which is an anchor of a beautifully preserved street — one of the few remaining downtown. The tree-lined street is a shaded pedestrian thoroughfare from busy 2nd Street to Riverfront Park. It is home to residents and businesses. We need you to voice your desire to have this building saved from demolition so that Locust Street and this part of Front Street can remain preserved and thrive as it has for more than 100 years.

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