“They don’t build them like that anymore….”
November 1, 2012
Ah, it’s an oft-heard phrase — “they don’t build ’em like that anymore” when you ogle a wedding cake of a building like Philadelphia’s City Hall (built 1871-1901, architect John McArthur, Jr. deemed too expensive to tear down), or the gargoyle-encrusted Fisher Fine Arts Library at the University of Pennsylvania (built 1888-1890, architect Frank Furness).
Because it’s Halloween, I’m letting those beasties run amok here for your enjoyment. (Go ahead, say it: “They just don’t build them like that anymore….” Can you believe they were going to tear this building down? I think its interior spaces are among my all-time favorites.)
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Nostalgic for the original Wayback Machine?
My Own Time Machine: Buildings, Places, People & Things 
We should always look upward in a neighborhood of old buildings to see the artistry of the builders. Too many buildings have been razed to make room for the new monstrosities.
I was lucky to go to Penn right after what we called the Furness Library had just been restored. It is really special, and was inspirational to this historic preservation student.