RoycroftCampusCorporation

Roycroft Wall

Driving around East Aurora is quite an adventure lately! There is construction just about every way you turn, but the construction I'm excited about is the Roycroft wall resurrection. Here are some pictures of the wall in various states of dismantling and repair. Stay tuned for the final look!

Before:

During:

Almost Done:

 
Stop by the Roycroft Campus to see the most recent stages of the Roycroft wall restoration. It will be completed very soon, see history in the making at 31 Grove St in East Aurora, NY! 

 -Amanda

Roycroft Campus Tours

This is the perfect season to come for a Roycroft Campus Tour.

Don't get me wrong - any time is a great time for a tour but when the Campus is covered in a couple feet of snow, it is a tad more difficult. ("really take my word for it, there is a memorial boulder for Elbert and Alice under than snow pile").

The Roycroft Campus tours guides will soon be getting "tour guide microphones". It will help so much in not having to shout over the occasional traffic noise. The tours guides are looking forward to being very professional in our volunteer position.

You will be confident that all those in your group can clearly hear our great stories from the heyday of the Roycrofters.

Call Clare Root at (716) 655-0261 to make arrangements. We look forward to hearing from you and we hope you look forward to now hearing us.

Julie

 

Hidden Horse shoe on Roycroft Wall

As you know, around the perimeter (plus some) of the Roycroft Campus is a beautiful stone wall.

Did you know there is a horse shoe embedded on one section? I wonder who put it there and why.

 

Those of you who think you know the Roycroft Campus really well...do you know where this is? Come tell us in the Copper Shop. Anyone have more information about this hidden object? Do you know of other objects embedded in the wall? 

Julie

Another Roycroft carved door

A recent blog post talked about the carved door at the Roycroft Inn.

Here is a photo of another Roycroft Campus carved motto door that maybe you haven't seen. It is on the large print shop building ( which currently houses the NYS Cornell Cooperative Extension). The area around the door is surrounded by bushes making it difficult to see clearly. 

It is one of my favorite sights-unseen on the Campus:

 

Come for a Roycroft Campus tour to learn about other hidden gems on the Roycroft Campus. Contact Clare to arrange a tour at (716) 655-0261.

Julie

Roycroft Road Sign

To paraphrase a saying "There are those who do not pay attention to road side historical markers, those that do read them,  and those that make it a point to read them to others"

What kind of historical road sign person are you? Have you seen the sign on the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora, NY?   Currently there is road construction in the area making it difficult to see and read. So...here it is:

 

Come visit Campus and see if you can locate where our historical road side marker is located on this National Historic landmark site.  We encourage you to consider a guided tour and will read the marker for you if you want!   ; )

Beginning in June thru October, regular tours are available to the public on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.  To learn more or to make a reservation, call 716 655-0261 or visit the website at www.roycroftcampuscorp.com

Julie

Riddle: When is a chapel not a church?

 

 

This wonderful asymetrical building on the Roycroft Campus that sits on the corner of Main Street and South Grove is called the Chapel but not because of religious reasons.

So when is a chapel not a church? - When the word is used in reference to printing.

Here is one dictionary's definition of chapel:

Print: a. Formerly, a printing office; -- said to have been so called because printing was first carried on in England in a chapel near Westminster Abbey. b. An association or meeting of the workmen in a printing office, for dealing with matters or questions, affecting their interests.

(So not to confuse you even more but after the Roycroft went bankrupt and the buildings were sold, this building became the Baptist Church of East Aurora. So then the Chapel did become a church!)

Today the building is the Aurora Town Hall.

Curious to learn more bout the Chapel and other buildings on this national historic landmark site?  We would love you to visit East Aurora, New York. Come and rediscover our wonderful Roycroft Campus, get a bite to eat, or pick up a gift.  We may even challenge you with another riddle.

Julie

Is the Roycroft Campus haunted?

Happy Halloween! Yes, it is the time of year for ghosts and goblins.

Not sure if you believe in ghosts or not but some people swear they have heard or seen spirits on the Roycroft Campus.

Spending a lot of time on the campus myself, I have not felt or heard anything. What about you? Have you personally experienced anything while visiting? Use the comment button and tell us about it.

Julie

Roycroft Appian Way Anectdote

The walkway on Campus, across South Grove Street from the Inn running due west to the Copper Shop, was named ‘The Appian Way’ (after the original of the Roman Empire) early in the 20th century, during the Roycroft’s hey day.

     About 90 years later, the Roycrofters At-Large Association initiated a revitalization of this pathway and funded the project by selling bricks, granite blocks or benches on which an honored individual’s name is engraved.

    One group touring the Campus recently took particular interest in the engraved bricks. It was the TypeCon conference attendees on their final day in western NY. The RCC docents naturally expected these visitors to be interested in the Roycroft for its printing presses and graphic designs which they were, but their excitement over the engraved bricks took docents by surprise. Being typeface designers, TypeCon members began naming the font styles in the bricks, moving along the Appian way examining the stones almost as if playing a game. Once again we were shown how the Campus has something unique to offer every group.

     Come see for yourself how intriguing the social history, art and design of the Roycroft is. We offer tours every Sunday at 12:30pm and 2:30pm. Come to the Copper Shop at 31 South Grove Street. The fee is $10.00 per person which all goes to support the Campus restoration efforts of the RCC. And in case you are interested, there are plenty of blank bricks for anyone that may want to become a permanent part of the Campus. Go to www.RALAweb.com for more info on the bricks.

- Sue

Fireplace inside Roycroft Print Shop

The largest building on the Roycroft Campus is the Print Shop. Today it is used as an office building and not very many people have had the opportunity to go inside.

During a recent meeting there I was able to take a photograph of the fireplace in the "demonstration room" on the first floor.

Kitty Turgeon herself told me that these busts were made by Jerome Conner especially for these niches in this fireplace. They are of Emerson and Whitman - two of Elbert Hubbard's heroes.

The rest of the Roycroft Campus has lots of interesting sights and facts that we would love to tell you about.  Guided educational Campus Tours are available every Sunday at 12:30 & 2:30 and by appointment.  Call today and make your reservation (716) 655-0261.

Julie

The Roycroft Bell: Come one, Come all

Do you know where this bell is?   It was used to call Roycroft workers together to hear a lecture or special announcements back in the heyday of the Roycrofters. You knew something special was about to happen if you heard it.

Yes, it is still on the Roycroft Campus in plain view. Know where it is? Give up?  Next time you are in the parking lot on the Campus, look up!

  We would love to give you a tour and tell you more interesting things you did not know about the Campus. It is easy to arrange. Just call the Copper Shop Gallery at (716) 655- 0261.

Julie