Franklin Court and the Graff House

In addition to raising planning questions, Peterson's report dealt briefly with the areas and buildings he thought should be included in the federal park. The Walnut to Chestnut, Fifth to Second Street, area had been generally accepted. Peterson also believed that Franklin Court and the site of the Jefferson (Graff) House should be included. He recommended that Christ Church be given national historic site status as "a detached area of federal reservation" and that the National Park Service should secure land across from Independence Square, after it had been acquired by the state, as a site for a visitors' reception center. Appleman's thoughts on federal acquisition were similar. He agreed with Peterson that the National Park Service should control the block north of Independence Square. Although he was not sure that the specific location for a reception center recommended by Peterson was the ideal site, he too believed that such a facility should be somewhere on that block. Furthermore, he thought it important that the National Park Service control the immediate approach to Independence Hall. In addition, one of the key historic sites was within the block. This was a lot on the north side of Market Street, where the Robert Morris House had stood. As the residence of Presidents Washington and Adams, it deserved recognition.