Treasure Sale: Save The Date!
UCHS To Return Architectural Artifacts To Neighborhood Homes

Saturday, April 15, 2000 is the date for our “members only” sale of items from the University City Historical Society collection of architectural artifacts from buildings no longer standing in University City. Over the past two years, our board has had exhaustive discussions about the future of this collection, and has come to the conclusion that the best future is to return the collection back to the community, in the form of a “members only” sale. This is the time to join UCHS! Most people receiving this newsletter are already members, but please tell your friends and neighbors about UCHS, and about this sale. For those of you not familiar with our collection, it consists of architectural elements – mantelpieces, balusters, brackets, tiles, register covers, stained glass door insets, glass shades for electric and gas lights, etc. – salvaged from houses slated for demolition in the late 60’s and through the 70’s. The sale represents an excellent opportunity to get that missing decorative heating grate, or replace those six tiles from the fireplace surround, or to add an over-mantel to the one pillaged from your house by a previous owner. Take measurements, bring cash or your checkbook, and add another piece of University City history to your home.

The sale will take place in our space on the second floor of the Firehouse Farmers Market at 50^th and Baltimore Avenue on Saturday, April 15, 2000 from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm. First come, first served and you must take you purchases with you by the end of the sale. Items left at the end of the day will be purchased by a dealer for resale at undoubtedly higher prices, so this is your last chance to get a good price, and to know that the item you are buying came from a reliable source.

Many people have come to the board and expressed their regret that we cannot keep our collection permanently. UCHS is not ready to start a museum, nor did the board feel that having the collection sitting, unseen and unused, in a basement or attic served any good purpose. Although the collection does represent elements from buildings that have been demolished, and are not here anymore, our neighborhood is fortunate in that many of these elements are still found in the rich building stock that we still have. Certainly we will keep representative samples of everything, and we are keeping some of the more distinctive pieces, but our feeling is that the other items are, fortunately, common enough that it makes more sense that they be re-used in someone’s current home, where they can be appreciated every day. We know that our members will help us find good homes for the pieces in the collection. Our plan is that the money raised from this sale will go towards our new programs in restoration and historic preservation, which will benefit the entire neighborhood.

For more information, call (215) 387-3019 or e-mail UCHS.

See earlier UCHS News Stories.

·         Historic Homeowners Assistance Act, January, 1999

·         UCHS Preservation Awards: Call For Nominations, December, 1998

·         Iron Fence Found, November, 1998

·         Quick Facts: The Economic Benefits of Preservation, November 1998

·         West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb announcement, February , 1998

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