RoyCroftCampusCorporation

Message from the Executive Director

At a recent Campus Planning Committee meeting (meets monthly to plan restoration, construction, and other like matters), Ken Swanekamp, committee chair, distributed a Status Report on committee activities and accomplishments. In addition, Peter Flynn of architectural firm Flynn Battaglia, distributed a flow chart of projects.

The report revealed that in 2005, the Roycroft Campus Corporation (RCC) had just hired Wendel Duchscherer, architects and engineers, to begin a topographical survey and title searches for Roycroft Campus properties. We had also hired architects Hamilton Houston Lownie to produce a Historic Structures Report (HSR) for the Copper Shop.

In 2006, the Campus survey was completed and the design for a new waterline had begun. The HSR for the Copper Shop was completed and Bero Architects completed one for the Power House. Lastly, architects were interviewed to lead us through all Campus Master Planning, restoration and construction – Flynn Battaglia was selected.

2007 finished with many more reported accomplishments to include:

Copper Shop – installation of a new waterline, exterior block repairs (the block walls, in places, were severely deteriorated and were compromising the buildings structure), removal on non-original interior walls, and schematic design development for future restoration process.

Power House – cleaned-out (suffered a devastating fire in 1997 and lost two exterior walls due to severe winter weather), deconstructed remaining two walls and chimney salvaging architectural elements and reusable blocks, and schematic design completed and construction drawings to be ready shortly for bidding process.

Campus – Master Planning is underway and the process to improve and enhance the grounds from awarded NYSDOT grant is underway.

The goals for 2008 include bidding the re-building of the Power House and beginning construction – if the funds are in place, completing the Master Plan, and beginning the design work for Campus grounds improvements and enhancements.

As you read above, the Power House re-build can only happen if the funds are raised. While the RCC has accomplished much, with monies raised mostly from governmental grant sources, we need the support and assistance from many more local, state, national and world-wide sources and donors, both private and public. If you are interested in finding out more about RCC, our mission, and how you can become a part of preserving the Roycroft Campus, visit us at the Copper Shop in East Aurora, NY or our web site at www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com .

- Christine Peters

The Roycroft Campus was "Granted" a holiday wish

Christine Peters, the Executive Director of the Roycroft Campus Corporation (RCC), recently announced that the RCC was just awarded an Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) grant in the amount of $100,000 for the restoration of the Copper Shop. Governor Spitzer's strong committment to this program has made more than $22 million of grant funds available for distribution this year. This is the second EPF grant that the RCC was awarded. In 2006, a grant in the amount of $300,000 was awarded for the acquisition of the Copper Shop and Power House as well as for the restoration of the Roycroft Campus Stone Wall on South Grove St.

Grants such as this, small and large donations, staff and volunteers help to keep the vision of Elbert Hubbard and the Roycrofters alive. As the end of the year draws near, please consider a donation to the Roycroft Campus. (Donations are tax deducable to the extent of the law).

Check out the "Join" page on the website for a easy way to donate. http://www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com/

Thank you,

Julie

Richard Moe, President of National Trust to Visit Western New York

Monday, March 26, 2007

Save the Date: Tuesday, June 26, 2007

In March the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau submitted a bid to host the 2011 National Trust for Historic Preservation conference in Buffalo. This picture shows a copy of the bid.

It was the culmination of some hard work by Ed Healy and Mike Even at the CVB, backed by representatives from (in no particular order) the Darwin Martin House, Greycliff, Roycroft, the Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier, the Campaign for Greater Buffalo, the Baird Foundation, the Community Preservation Corporation, the University at Buffalo, Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, the Preservation Coalition, and many others. For the purposes of the bid, we named ourselves the Buffalo Niagara Preservation Consortium.

This conference, which draws about 3,000 architects, historians, activists, funders, and preservationists from all over America, is a chance to show off our treasures to people who know and care about historic districts, Richardson Romanesque, downtown loft conversions, Prairie houses, Frederick Law Olmsted, and everything else we cherish about Buffalo's built environment.

As part of the bid process, Buffalo is taking National Trust president Richard Moe to dinner and you're invited. Save the date: Tuesday, June 26, at an historic Buffalo venue to be announced.

We have awards to present and a beautiful city to show off, because regardless of whether we win the 2011 conference, we trust in Buffalo.

posted by Preservation Coalition @ 10:32 PM,

Roycroft Campus Corporation Update from Christine Peters, Executive Director

Message from Christine Peters, Executive Director of Roycroft Campus Corporation (RCC):

"We are quickly approaching the end of still another year and holiday preparations are underway, RCC would like to take this opportunity to inform our supporters of our activities and plans: past, present, and future. The RCC (formerly known as the Roycroft Revitalization Corporation), led the successful effort to restore and reopen the Roycroft Inn. This $9 million investment (not to mention the continuous dollars spent on upkeep) , has resulted in attracting over 150,000 visitors per year, bringing to East Aurora an international audience -  who shop, visit our various attractions, eat in our restaurants, and spend nights enjoying the comforts of the Inn as well as other lodging. The Inn, once again, has become a central part of East Aurora’s life and identity.

The RCC has now embarked on the acquisition and restoration of the Roycroft Campus buildings. We will develop educational and interpretive programming – encouraging the development of a center for creativity and innovation in the decorative arts, fine arts and literature. Furthermore, the project would protect the rich heritage of the Village of East Aurora and build upon tourism-related economic activities appropriate to the Villages’ small town setting. Restoration is vital to this 1986 National Historic Landmark – truly one of America’s treasures. The Roycroft Campus is considered to be a major draw and destination to Western New York, along with the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Darwin Martin House, Graycliff Estates, and the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens.

In 2005, the RCC purchased the Copper Shop and Power House. RCC is committed to reconstructing the Power House, an eye-sore that the community has endured for almost 10 years, to the way it looked when originally built. The Copper Shop has been stabilized and work on the circa 1920 Finishing Room, is in progress, to return the original look of this space. We encourage you to stop by and listen to the wonderful sounds of saws and hammers as we prepare this space to be open for the holidays.

The RCC is developing strategic and business plans to reach our goal of becoming self-sustaining in ten years. To date, the RCC has been successful in fundraising and grant-writing efforts and has raised over $2.5 million from local and out-of-state private sources, as well as from County, State and Federal Government. The entire Campus restoration project will ultimately be in the 10’s of millions. While we are a not-for-profit organization, it doesn’t mean we cannot be profitable - we are a business and understand that we need to make wise business decisions to provide a sustainable product, and to meet the needs of our customers and our community. We too need parking, public restrooms and public spaces. Traffic, managed well, is what will sustain us and other community businesses.

RCC is investing in the community. Our efforts bring economic development benefits to the community: job creation, tourist trade, international notoriety, support to local businesses, protecting a National Historic Landmark, developing the arts, and promoting the general pride of our unique village and town.

It is also RCC’s commitment to encourage and respect the ideas, comments and opinions of the community. Toward this effort, the RCC held a “Growing the Roycroft Pie” interactive meeting on May 3, 2006 to bring together those who continue to work toward securing and promoting Roycroft history. Over 80 people attended and well over 500 ideas were gathered, most of which will be incorporated into our strategic plan. As Elbert Hubbard gathered Roycrofters and world-renowned visitors around him to realize his great successes, the RCC encourages the same involvement. Our motto, that we’ve borrowed from Elbert Hubbard and adopted is, “Fences are only for those who can not fly”. RCC understands the value of this project to the community and invites all to join us in making this all happen.

As the Executive Director of RCC I understand what Elbert Hubbard meant when he said, “Blessed is the man who has found his work”. There have been many people and groups before me that have “found their work” in securing and promoting the history of Elbert Hubbard and the Roycrofters and for this, the RCC and I thank them. I am honored to be joining them and to be a part of this work to continue to carry the word and work of this very worthwhile project."

Christine Peters, Executive Director of the Roycroft Campus Corporation. The RCC and the authentic Roycroft Campus are located in East Aurora, New York. The very location where Elbert Hubbard established the Roycrofters and founded the American Arts and Crafts Movement.

Roycroft Campus Corporation Seeks Federal Funds

     This message from Executive Director Christine Peters to all Bloggers.

Dear Friends,

    We would very much appreciate your assistance in sending a letter (see sample letter below) in support of the Roycroft Campus Corporation's (RCC) pending request for federal funds.  These letters should be sent to the Congressional Members that represent the RCC: U. S. Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Chuck Schumer, as well as Congressman Brian Higgins.

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton

United States Senate

Suite 518 larkin Building

726 Exchange Street

Buffalo, New York 14210

The Honorable Charles Schumer

United States Senate

103 South Elmwood Avenue

Buffalo, New York 14202

The Honorable Brian Higgins

United States House of Representatives

Suite 601, 726 Exchange Street

Buffalo, New York 14210

Many Thanks!

(Suggested Letter follows)

Dear (see above)

I am contacting you to express my strong support of the Roycroft Campus Corporation's (RCC) pending request in the amount of $500,000 to secure a FY 2007 federal transportation appropriation for Phase I improvements of the historic Roycroft Campus.  Knowing of your active interest on behalf of this unique National Historic Landmark, I trust you will continue to take a lead role in securing these critical federal funds for these much needed transportation related improvements of the East Aurora Campus.

As you know, the Roycroft Campus was placed on the "11 most Endangered Places" list by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1989.  Since that time the overall campus setting has continued to deteriorate due to a serious lack of funds for minimum upkeep and basic maintenance requirements.  These federal dollars would fund a much needed comprehensive designs for a modern traffic flow, as well as the installation of a critical drainage system throughout the campus, reconstruction of the historic stone wall along South Grove Street, improved utility distribution and restoration of the landscape areas whe would be severely damaged during the construction period.

I strongly believe that your continuing involvement on behalf of this innovative economic development project will greatly assist the RCC's efforts to preserve and promote the ideals, traditions, architectural legacy and business skills of Elbert Hubbard and the nationally renowned Roycrofters.  Thank you, in advance, for your ongoing assistance to support this unique architectural tourism project which celebrates the distinctive architecture, design and craftsmanship of a growing international arts movement. 

Sincerely,

cc. Western New York Congressional Delegation