Historic Norristown Prison Key To Skyline, Must Be Saved, Supporters Say

NORRISTOWN, PA — A grassroots movement is underway to stop the planned demolition of a historic prison in Norristown that dates to the 19th century.

The old Airy Street Prison, a castle-like structure built in 1851, is representative of what supporters call a "Golden Age" of vanished architectural thought.

"In a time of prefab and drywall, cold glass and steel rarely are seen such public structures with the depth of character and timeless stark beauty that one sees in such a building as the old prison," said Russell Rubert, the president of the Norristown Preservation Society which is leading calls to protect the prison. "If the Old Airy Street prison is destroyed it will be a shameful, horrific loss to the skyline of Norristown. A gaping wound in its side that can never be healed. "

Rubert wrote a letter to the Montgomery County Commissioners to halt the demolition. He and other supporters cite ongoing revitalization projects that have turned Norristown around in the past several years. Many of these projects take aspects of Norristown's rich history and repurpose them for modern use. The prison is as deserving of such preservation and renovation as any other structure in Norristown, supporters say.

The prison was designed by Napoleon LeBrun, a well-known and influential architect who also designed the Philadelphia Academy of Music and Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.

"While other historic sites on the outlying sections of Montgomery County have received attention, notoriety and funding for renovation, the imposing, iconic, magnificent Old Airy Street Prison in Norristown, right across the street from the court house, has not," Rubert added.

A recently launched Change.org petition had 85 signatures as of Wednesday afternoon.

Montgomery County has slated the prison for demoltion but there is no date yet set.

Editor's note: a recent version of this named the incorrect author of the text of the petition and the letter to the county commissioners. The correct author is Russell Rubert, the president of the Norristown Preservation Society.