Haverford Architectural Salvage
I’m a big fan of old buildings, and enjoy visiting ‘architectural salvage’ stores that stock old windows, doors, sinks, lamps — stuff that’s been saved from the wrecking ball.
So when the College started renovating the President’s victorian home at 1 College Circle I asked what would become of the many old windows, some of which are (to my eyes at least) just gorgeous. Could they be saved?
Yes, as it turned out, and they have been saved; Facilities put them in cold storage:
Many different shapes & sizes. Question now is, what do we do with them?
Alum Jim Friedman ‘67 points out that it’s very very very very (get it?) difficult to build antique sashes into an existing structure, so I suppose their appeal is more along the lines of the aesthetic and, for us Fords, sentimental. (There, I said it.) Hang a sash on your living room wall and start a conversation. Think of the Presidential eyes that have looked through these windows and over to campus! The Vision Thing!
So how should we dispose of them? First come, first serve? Raffle at Alumni Weekend? Gifts/awards associated with HC annual giving? Dumpster? Sell them?
Also available: the old balustrades from the back of the Morris Infirmary:
To refresh your memory, they used to run along the roof line:
Look forward to your thoughts.
-CM
January 31st, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Chris,
I have a thought to share, but it may seem a bit out of left field.
Compared to my wife’s college (Williams), Haverford appears to be much less inclined to honor (in some sort of formal way) its volunteers. Note — I am not complaining in my personal capacity since I think the college has been very generous in acknowledging Sam’s and my efforts.
Anyway, here is my idea. Why not “dress up” these items so that they could actually be displayed in someone’s home and then have some sort of ceremony to give these items to people who have done great things for the college? Just a thought.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:31 pm
If you drill a hole down the inside of a balustrade (after refinishing it), it could become the body of a lamp? Add a haverford lampshade to it and it can be a nice gift to volunteers, ect…
February 1st, 2008 at 11:37 am
I think the window sashes are natural window frames. Trim the outer edges with something so they look finished, pick beautiful photos of campus scenes to go in all of the panes, add a small brass plaque at the bottom, and you have a great gift for leadership-level donors (or extraordinary volunteers like the 1982 class leaders). The lamps made from balusters could be used the same way.