It is something that has been put out for over 100 years, but every time that structural experts go up there they always come back with the same answer, that the front is stable  and appears to have been built like that.  Knowing them they probably still are using the same Literature from the 70's.

looking in various places there is the story that the porch was built as support, but I'm sure I was told that it isn't true.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.