Knockout! Joe Frazier’s Gym Gets on National Register of Historical Places

It was a bit of a shock last year when the National Trust for Historic Preservation chose Joe Frazier’s old gym on North Broad Street for one of the coveted spots on its annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Local residents who valued Frazier’s mentoring and ceaseless community building at the gym were gratified, as were boxing fans. Though the gym didn’t have local or state preservation status–the building’s architectural worth isn’t profound–the National Trust recognized its value as a part of the country’s African-American history.

Whenever a building is added to the endangered list, it helps bolster an argument for its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. The Philadelphia Preservation Alliance submitted the application for the gym, and it was apparently successful. Though the news is not yet up on the Register’s website, Sen. Pat Toomey told the Philadelphia Business Journal that he got a call to confirm the news this morning.

To which we can only say: smokin’!

• Frazier’s N. Philadelphia gym to get historic recognition [Philadelphia Biz Journal]

Via Philly Post