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Roycroft Blog / Kandy Kitchen Girls

Kandy Kitchen Girls' Tea-room Opens in the Advertiser, June 25, 1908: “Sunday evening the Kandy Kitchen girls at the Roycroft Inn opened their new tea-room and its leap into immediate popularity was something of a surprise to even those optimistic maidens; and has kept them literally on the jump ever since. The building is a small cottage situated in the rear of the Inn, and is reached by a flight of steps leading from the peristyle. The room is decorated and furnished in the manner of all things Roycroftie, and the dainties served are also “fit for the King.” There is tea in dainty little pots with cream, real cream – or with lemon. There is coffee, and there is lemonade – lemonade which is right. And there are wafers of thin bread and butter to go with these. And, if you are not a tea drinker, then there is ice-cream, with fresh fruit and cake. All of these served in the dainty tea-room; or out upon the balcony, with the stars overhead, and the vines rustling about you.”

In 2015 you can enjoy refreshment on the Inn veranda and hear the vines rustling around you as in days gone by. 

 

- Sue

Roycroft Blog / No Bats for Ballgame?

The June 21, 1900 issue of the Advertiser newspaper had a notice printed: “The game of ball between the Roycrofters & Philistines has been postponed indefinitely on account of lack of timber to manufacture bats.” 

I think this is one of the Fra’s jokes.

- Sue

 

Roycroft Blog / Roycroft Pavilion in Hamlin Park

The Pavilion in East Aurora’s Hamlin Park was built by the Roycrofters as a gift to the town. It was announced in the May 21, 1903 issue of the Advertiser that the pavilion was finished. The structure was described: “The main building is 60 X 30 feet and the wing is about 20 X 51 having a raised band stand and refreshment booth underneath.” Twelve years later, almost to the day, Elbert and Alice Hubbard’s memorial service was held in the Roycroft pavilion. Last weekend (2015), the building hosted the centenary observance of this solemn service.

- Sue

Roycroft Blog / Hubbard's House Becomes Inn Guest Rooms

    As reported in The Advertiser on March 30, 1905, “One of the most beautiful and modern buildings in this Village will be the new structure on Grove Street owned by Mr. Elbert Hubbard and now in the course of reconstruction. The old building, “The Alberta,” has been partially torn down, and is being replaced by a grand salon and about a dozen open air bedrooms, besides a mammoth veranda. About twenty carpenters are now at work on the building. From “The Alberta” proper to the Roycroft Bank, a spacious veranda will be constructed, thus forming a large court between the buildings. The grand salon will be elaborately furnished with Roycroft furniture and valuable oil paintings by Alex Fournier. It is expected that the work will be completed in time for the Roycroft Convention.”

    One hundred ten years later, the restored grand salon, guest rooms, veranda and court of the Roycroft Inn continue to welcome weary travelers, locals, historic preservationists and devotees of the Arts & Crafts Movement. Come to Campus and see what all the fuss is about. 

- Sue  

Roycroft Blog / The Memorial Boulder

A year after Elbert and Alice Hubbard died in the sinking of the Lusitania, Roycrofters hauled a boulder from Hubbard’s beloved Cazenovia Creek up to the Campus grounds and placed a copper plaque on it as a memorial to them. Inscribed on the plaque: “Erected July 2, 1916, to the memory of Elbert & Alice Hubbard. Elbert Hubbard born June 19, 1856 Bloomington, Illinois. Alice Hubbard born June 7, 1861 Wales Center, N.Y. Both lost in the Irish Sea with the Lusitania on May 7, 1915. They lived and died fearlessly.  

This coming May 2015, the Aurora Historical Society will observe the 100 year anniversary of the loss of the Roycroft community’s beloved leader and his soul mate on their fateful voyage aboard the Lusitania. A list of events can be found online at www.aurorahistoricalsociety.com/pages/events. Please join us on Campus as we recognize this important event in our history. 

 

- Sue

RCC Blog / Colored Canadian Concert Co.

Many artists, musicians, actors and writers came to the Roycroft Campus both to meet Elbert Hubbard and to share their talents with the Roycroft and East Aurora community. The September 22, 1904 issue of the East Aurora Advertiser reported that the “celebrated Colored Canadian Concert Co. will give one of its popular concerts for the benefit of the Roycroft band.” 

    This group of African-American singers and musicians, largely from the Hamilton area of Ontario, Canada, was also known as the Canadian Jubilee Singers. Their published song books can be found online and the February 1, 2014 blog post from The Olive Tree Genealogy goes into greater detail about the group with a list of original members.

    The Colored Canadian Concert Co. was first organized in 1878. They later toured Great Britain for five years and the United States for three years. 

- Sue 

Sources: East Aurora Historian's collection of East Aurora Advertisers and The Olive Tree Genealogy blog.