RoyCroftCampusCorporation

Walter U. Jennings, Original Roycrofter Discovered Elbert Hubbard

          Walter U. Jennings, one of some 400 craftsmen who worked for Elbert Hubbard at the Roycroft Shops, was attracted to East Aurora after reading Elbert Hubbard's popular little magazine, The Philistine.  Walter, well known for his copper craft and jewelry was born in Weston. MA.  He first worked in the textile industry in Boston, later becoming Superintendent of Finishing in a knitting mill in Troy, NY.  It was here in 1906, while in a bookshop, he discovered a copy of Elbert Hubbard's Philistine.  Intrigued with what he read he became a collector and reader of Hubbard's works.  For $10 he even obtained a "life membership" which entitled him to receive the Philistine for life and five $2.00 books. 

          It was this interest in Hubbard that was responsible for his leaving the textile industry in 1908 and joining the many Roycroft workers.  Starting in the bindery, he moved on to work with Karl Kipp in the copper shop and as they say, the rest is history.

          For more about Walter Jennings and his career in copper and jewelry making, and some of the other Roycrofters, read Charles F. Hamilton's Little Journeys to the Homes of Roycrofters.  This small paperback is available at the Roycroft Campus Copper Shop.  Open 10-5 daily, South Grove Street, East Aurora, New York.

Felix Shay, Author of Elbert Hubbard of East Aurora Discovers Western New York Winter

        As the Buffalo, New York area celebrates the 30th anniversary of the  Blizzard of '77 those who remember it can empathize with Felix Shay, then a newcomer to East Aurora and Western New York

          Felix Shay begins his book about Elbert Hubbard, by describing his first meeting with Mr. Hubbard.  He'd come from New Jersey looking for work in those early days of the Roycrofters.  After realizing he wasn't much good at saddling a horse, he wasn't invited to gallop off with Elbert and Alice Hubbard "in a fine flurry of hoof-thrown snow".  Realizing he might have missed his chance to impress the Hubbards and thus employment, he was in a "low state of mind".  Thus, "After dinner it was snowing as it can snow only in Great Lakes Country, while I snuggled up to the roaring hearth fire in the main hall of the Inn.  Presently a group formed, bundled in reefers and scarfs and half-boots, for a walk to the Three-Mile-Camp.  One friendly lady came over to ask if I would care to go along.  I told her I was waiting to see Mr. Hubbard. "Oh, he's busy tonight.  He'll see you tomorrow.  I know you'll enjoy the tramp to the Camp, it's such beautiful snow." Though I had never thought on the artistic side of snow before, I was lonesome, so I went along.  My derby hat, my modish suit and overcoat and thin city shoes were not meant for tramping about in a Northern snow storm.  I was cold, cold.

          'T was a long three miles to the camp.  I anticipated some form of entertainment, but found a bleak board shack on a wooded hillside.  All that we got there was hot coffee.  And a fire had to be built before we had that. Then back...

          I enjoyed the company, and managed to maintain my morale until almost back in the village, when the group stopped for ten minutes in a grove to admire and exclaim over the way the snow had drifted against the tree trunks. Then and there I said to myself, "This is the Nut Family Robinson; they're all crazy."

          Taken from Elbert Hubbard of East Aurora by Felix Shay

Pittsburgh's Post-Gazette Article by Patricia Lowry Discovers Western New York the Wright Restorations and the Roycroft Campus

          Featured in the Sunday, November 19, 2006 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, is an article by Patricia Lowry who gives a detailed and interesting description of the over $35 million restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin D. Martin House in Buffalo.  The story, while primarily about the relationship between Darwin D. Martin and Frank Lloyd Wright and the legacy in architectural gems, they together, left the Buffalo area, she points out that the Buffalo area is worth more than a visitor's quick trip.  In addition to the Martin House in Buffalo, she recognizes other 'Wright Sites'  worth touring, including the Martin's summer home, Graycliff in nearby Derby, designed in 1927, and the Blue Sky Mausoleum in Forest Lawn Cemetery built only recently though designed by Wright for the Martin Family.

          No trip to the area is complete without experiencing East Aurora and the home of Elbert Hubbard, friend of both Dawin D. Martin and Frank Lloyd Wright.  East Aurora, the home of the famous Roycrofters founded by Elbert Hubbard, now in the process of restoring the original campus making it a community of working artisans, "As if Elbert Hubbard had never left".

          Patricia Lowry's suggestions, and ours, "If you go to Buffalo, NY":

          The Roycroft Campus In East Aurora, 20 miles southeast of Buffalo, www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com  Roycroft Inn and Restaurant  www.roycroftinn.com

         Graycliff in Derby, 20 miles from either Buffalo or East Aurora, www.graycliff.bfn.org

          The Martin House in Buffalo, 20 miles from either of the above, www.darwinmartinhouse.org; Walking tours of Buffalo www.walkbuffalo.com; Walking, boat and neighborhood tours www.buffalo.tours; and essays and other information on Buffalo's architecture Campaign for Buffalo History,Architecture and Culture www.cfb.bfn.org

Don't make it "IF" you come to Buffalo,  Derby and East Aurora, make it "WHEN" you come to East Aurora, Derby and Buffalo.

   

         

Felix Shay Author of Elbert Hubbard of East Aurora Meets Hubbard

          Felix Shay, in his Elbert Hubbard of East Aurora, describes the circumstances of his meeting Elbert Hubbard in East Aurora.  Felix Shay was 21 years old when in a reading circle in his New Jersey home town one of the boys brougnt a copy of the "small magazine bound in brown butcher's-paper; it was the Philistine".  "This was a discovery, a whole magazine of discoveries". Felix was greatly impressed with what he read, "a successful business man talking sympathetic language youth could understand, and calling it  commonsense--and offering Opportunity!"

          Felix then wrote to Hubbard and receiving a positive answer took the train to Buffalo then on to East Aurora where he met Mr. Hubbard.  A casual meeting took place and after several days awaiting a decision as to employment Hubbard hired him, offering $10 a week.  Felix had been making $35 a week and felt he was worth more.  He agreed to work for four months if the $10 would pay board and laundry at the Inn. At the end of that time he would ask for what he thought he was worth or leave. Upon receipt of his first paycheck, two weeks later, Hubbard told Felix " see Mrs. Hubbard and tell her what you want." 

          "That's how I discovered Elbert Hubbard for myself".    Felix Shay

           The issue Felix Shay was first impressed with carried the quote "Fences are made for those who can not fly".  Now used by the Roycroft Campus Corporation. 

Discovery of Elbert Hubbard's Roycroft

          It was February 1970, when we first came to Buffalo exploring a job opportunity.  Fortunately we stayed in East Aurora and were delighted with everything we saw and learned about Western New York.   Having decided to move, we spent a day searching for a house, a long morning of not quite right choices then a stop for lunch at the Roycroft Inn. We enjoyed great hamburgers at a table near the fireplace, in the original Roycroft Print Shop, now the lounge.  Later that day we found the perfect house, in Hubbard Park, Roycroft Circle, off Ruskin Road.  None of those names meant a thing then, only the address of the house we'd been looking for. 

          That fall of 1970 I entered State University at Buffalo's (SUNY) School of Information and Library Studies (SILS), now SUNY'S School of Informatics.  One of the early assignments was to do an oral presentation on an early 20th century printer.  Among the suggestions was Elbert Hubbard's Roycrofters, it seemed the appropriate choice for me.  Preparation and presentation for that assignment sparked an interest, at times passion, for Elbert Hubbard and the Roycrofters and what took place here in East Aurora at the turn of the last century. My interest continues.

          It would be interesting to know how others discovered Elbert Hubbard and his Roycrofters.  Check the "comment" box and share your Discovery story.