The Roycroft Campus in East Aurora,
NY was home to a significant cultural movement that influenced the nation.
In the late 1800’s, an artistic revolt emerged in the United States
against the societal changes and restrictions ushered in by the Victorian
Age. Inspired by leaders of the Arts and Crafts movement in England,
William Morris and John Ruskin, the nascent cultural movement that developed
in the United States in part at Roycroft was response to the mass production
of the applied arts. The
Arts and Crafts movement that grew out of this
reaction to the control and mechanization of the workplace was a forerunner
to the workers’ rights movement and a loosening up of society
restrictions in behavior and dress. The Roycroft Campus is the best
preserved and most complete complex of buildings remaining in the United
States of the “guilds” that evolved in the United States
as centers of craftsmanship and philosophy. Roycroft was at the vanguard
of the creation of the uniquely American “Arts and Crafts”
style, a decorative arts design that emphasizes spare, clean lines and
simplicity of design. Author, lecturer, and entrepreneur Elbert Hubbard
began to develop the Roycroft Campus in 1897. The Campus in East Aurora
became a Mecca for master craftsmen and a gathering place for notable
artists, authors, philosophers, and power brokers in U.S. history.
The Campus, designated a National Historic Landmark
district (NHL) in 1986, contains 14 structures including the Inn, the
Chapel, the Print Shop, the Furniture Shop, and the Copper Shop, to
name a few. The Campus began to fall into disrepair over time and by
1989, was placed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation on
its 11 Most Endangered Places list of historic properties that are severely
at risk. The Inn was fully restored and reopened in 1995, but the remainder
of the Campus has continued to deteriorate significantly since that
time. Over the last two decades, one building (the Powerhouse) has been
reduced to a ruin, large portions of two buildings (the Furniture Shop
and the Garages) have been lost, and historic features of other buildings
have been removed or compromised. The threat to the historic integrity
of the campus as a whole is real and imminent.
The Roycroft Campus Corporation (RCC) (formerly known
as the Roycroft Revitalization Corporation), established to preserve
and restore the Campus, led the successful effort to rehabilitate The
Roycroft Inn. The RCC now plans to embark on the acquisition and restoration
of the remainder of the campus with preliminary cost estimates of approximately
$50 million. Its ultimate goal is to preserve the unique architectural
setting of the Campus, but moreover, to bring back to life the Roycroft
community and ideals by re-introducing working artisans on the campus;
developing comprehensive, compelling, and multi-faceted interpretative
and educational programming; and encouraging the development of a center
for creativity and innovation in the decorative arts, fine arts and
literature.
The first Campus building selected by the RCC for
restoration is the Copper Shop, a significant and severely threatened
contributing structure that is a much-beloved icon of the Roycroft Campus.
As the remainder of the Campus redevelopment plan is underway, the restored
Copper Shop will serve multiple purposes as a visitor center and artisan
workshop, gift shop, exhibit space, and office. The long-term plan for
the building is to re-establish it as a working metal smith shop and
copper works museum.
The RCC’s acquisition of the Copper Shop comes
at a critical time. The Copper Shop, built by the Roycrofters themselves
according to Elbert Hubbard’s instructions, is in on the verge
of catastrophic structural failure. Funding for this initial project
will support the appropriate treatments necessary to address severe
structural deficiencies of the Copper Shop and repair, rehabilitate,
and restore other deteriorating elements such as the roof, walls, windows,
and doors. Specifically, restoration funds will be used to re-stabilize
crumbling structural walls compromised by water infiltration and age,
foundations that have shifted over time, a deteriorated roof, and dangerously
inadequate and outdated mechanical systems. A Historic Structures Report
will be prepared to inform RCC and involved agencies. All work will
be done according to a site restoration and management plan that adheres
to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment
of Historic Properties.
The primary public benefits of the project are to
preserve, interpret, and greatly enhance public access to, and understanding
of, a historic place that was the creative center of an influential
cultural and artistic movement that swept the country and resounds today.
Furthermore, the project would protect the rich heritage of the Village
of East Aurora and build upon tourism-related economic activities appropriate
to its small town setting. Restoration is vital to the Roycroft Campus
– truly one of America’s
“treasures” – a place of architectural and artistic
distinction, creative thinking, and entrepreneurship.
The Copper Shop Brief History
Constructed in 1902 of local stone, half-timbered and stuccoed in the style of a small English cottage, the second blacksmith shop initially had a brick interior and a dirt floor. Under the direction of Karl Kipp and Walter Jennings, the blacksmiths created hardware for doors, furniture, lighting fixtures, andirons, and tools for all the buildings on the Campus.
Two additions were added to this building to facilitate the emerging, hammered copper product line and to bottle East Aurora maple syrup and honey. Beginning in 1912, the front room served as Elbert Hubbard’s Roycroft Bank for several years.
Imminent Threats to the Copper Shop:
Deterioration of Supporting Walls – Major sections of the structural, exterior shell of the Copper Shop’s west wing, built in 1912, are on the verge of catastrophic structural failure. In fact, larger portions of the wall have recently broken off from the roof-line to the foundation. Much of the concrete block is severely deteriorated with many loose and hollow sections. The interior half of the blocks in the deteriorated areas is the only element bearing the building’s load. If this condition is allowed to continue, the Roycroft Copper Shop will certainly be lost.
Unstable Foundation – Significant portions of the Copper Shop’s foundations have shifted due to age and frost heaving. This foundation movement is affecting the structural integrity of the building’s concrete block walls.
Deteriorated Roof – The roof of the Copper Shop needs complete restoration. The original terra cotta roof tiles, in one section, are in need of repair. The remaining sections of the roof are covered in asphalt roof shingle that has long exceeded its life cycle. Two modern skylights, causing water infiltration, and over-grown trees close to the building are contributing to the roof’s deterioration.
Potentially Hazardous Mechanical Systems – The interior of the Copper Shop needs complete restoration. All mechanical systems are antiquated and do not meet New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code Act. These systems include the HVAC, electrical, and plumbing. In addition, since the RCC’s goal is to have this building open to the public for educational and cultural activities, it is our intent to make all facilities meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
A Brief History of the Power House
The Power House built in 1909-1910 for $20,000, furnished electricity for the printing industry and the Campus as a whole, together with providing heat, both through and underground piping system. The equipment consisted of two high-speed Ideal engines, direct-connected to generators capable of developing a total of about three hundred horsepower. Steam was generated in a battery of three boilers, all supplied with Jones automatic smoke-consuming stokers. The second floor housed a variety of auxiliary Roycroft groups such as the Roycroft Concert Band, Orchestra, baseball team, and the local drama club.
The Aurora Gospel Tabernacle took over the old Power House and in later years it housed professional offices and apartments. (slide 40: photo of burnt-out Power House) It suffered a devastating fire in February 1997 and in the winter of 2004 lost two exterior walls due to harsh weather conditions
RCC purchases Power House
The RCC purchased this building in October 2005. This building was almost destroyed by fire 9 years ago and the harsh winter of 2004 toppled two exterior walls – this is the result. Because the community has had to put up with this eye-sore for 9 years, RCC feels that we need to focus our immediate attention on this building before we restore the Copper Shop. While there is not much left of this building, we have enough information from a field survey (completed before the building collapsed) to perform a Historic Structures Report. After this report has been completed, RCC will contract with an architect, later this year, to prepare drawings to rebuild the structure. Our plans are to rebuild the building as it looked when first built. Our initial plans for the building include public restrooms, classroom space, flexible meeting and event space, a gift shop, and a tourist center.
Once this building has been rebuilt, we can than focus on the Copper Shop and will not have to concern ourselves with closing down our operations.
Public Benefit
The Roycroft Copper Shop and Power House are included in The Roycroft Campus. The Campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and named a National Historic Landmark in 1986. It is the original and only authentic Arts and Crafts community in the U.S. The mission of the RCC is to operate and maintain the Copper Shop and Power House as part of the working Roycroft Campus. The public will be able to observe, learn and participate in many of the arts-related activities on the Campus. The restoration of the Roycroft Copper Shop and Power House would result in a number of direct and indirect benefits to the public, at both the national and local levels:
Preserve a unique and irreplaceable historic resource of national significance. The project would save the Copper Shop, an integral component and charming structure on the Roycroft Campus, from imminent collapse and would fully restore the building. It would preserve an important place that was at the center of an artistic and cultural movement that swept the country and still has a lasting impact.
Provide public access to the historic resource. Once construction is complete, the RCC would operate and maintain the Copper Shop and Power House. The buildings would be utilized as a fundamental part of a working Roycroft Campus. As the first buildings to be restored, the Copper Shop and Power House will initially serve a critical role as a multi-purpose building while the remainder of the Campus is restored. It is anticipated that the Copper Shop would serve as the visitor center, contain an artisan workshop/demonstration area and exhibit space, and include a retail shop and the administrative offices for the RCC. Initial plans for the Power House include public restrooms, classroom space, flexible meeting and event space, a gift shop, and a tourist center.
Interpret the past. The operating Arts and Crafts center will provide materials and tours that will inform the public and interpret the rich Arts and Crafts legacy that evolved at Roycroft.
Safeguard East Aurora’s community heritage and character. Historic buildings and sites give East Aurora much of its special character and community identity and pride. The project would protect an important piece of the village’s heritage, making it available to future generations.
Serve as a catalyst for economic development that is compatible with the Village of East Aurora’s traditional small town character. The project would reinforce and enhance tourist-related economic activity nationally.
Create another Western New York asset to build on region wide efforts of making this area a major cultural tourism destination.
Educate residents and tourists. Visitors will be able to observe, learn, and participate in many of the Roycroft-related cultural activities on the Campus.
Supporting and Maintaining the Project
The RCC has been involved in the redevelopment and preservation of the Roycroft Inn and Campus since 1989. After restoration, the Inn opened in 1995 as a full service Luxury Inn and Restaurant. The Copper Shop and Power house project is the first step towards our goal of acquiring and restoring all of the remaining Roycroft structures.
The RCC plans to keep part of the Copper Shop open throughout the restoration process. Once the restoration work is complete the entire building will be open to the public with the exception of the administrative offices on the second floor. The first floor will house a Master Roycroft Artisan demonstration and public classroom area, a gallery to display and sell the artisans work, a museum and interpretive center displaying original Roycroft antiques, artifacts and exhibits describing the importance of Elbert Hubbard and his Roycrofters.
The Roycroft Copper Shop has housed a very successful gift shop for the past 50 years. It has become a destination shopping experience and a place for the public to learn more about the history of this one-of-a-kind Arts and Crafts Campus. The RCC intends to maintain the gift shop operation. A well-run shop, artisan gallery, classroom activities and interpretive center will all generate revenue used towards supporting to Corporation’s mission. Several special events are planned for the coming year. These and other fundraising projects will become annual events contributing to our operational budget. The goal of an upcoming capital campaign will cover the costs of the balance of the restoration budget.
The goal of the RCC is to create a self-sustaining operation. What makes this project unique is the fact that we will be restoring a functioning business. Until the Great Depression hit, the Roycroft Shops was a very successful operation, and it is anticipated that it will be successful once again. The RCC plans to interpret the fascinating history of the Roycroft, while bringing much of its operations up to the 21st Century, as if the business had never closed. We also plan to maintain a strong academic base in both the historic interpretation and active classroom learning experiences that are open to the public. The RCC is currently developing ties with The University at Buffalo, Buffalo State College and other private and public schools in order to help develop our curriculum.
The Roycroft Campus in East Aurora,
NY was home to a significant cultural movement that influenced the nation.
In the late 1800’s, an artistic revolt emerged in the United States
against the societal changes and restrictions ushered in by the Victorian
Age. Inspired by leaders of the Arts and Crafts movement in England,
William Morris and John Ruskin, the nascent cultural movement that developed
in the United States in part at Roycroft was response to the mass production
of the applied arts. The
Arts and Crafts movement that grew out of this
reaction to the control and mechanization of the workplace was a forerunner
to the workers’ rights movement and a loosening up of society
restrictions in behavior and dress. The Roycroft Campus is the best
preserved and most complete complex of buildings remaining in the United
States of the “guilds” that evolved in the United States
as centers of craftsmanship and philosophy. Roycroft was at the vanguard
of the creation of the uniquely American
“Arts and Crafts”
style, a decorative arts design that emphasizes spare, clean lines and
simplicity of design. Author, lecturer, and entrepreneur Elbert Hubbard
began to develop the Roycroft Campus in 1897. The Campus in East Aurora
became a Mecca for master craftsmen and a gathering place for notable
artists, authors, philosophers, and power brokers in U.S. history.
The Campus, designated a National Historic Landmark
district (NHL) in 1986, contains 14 structures including the Inn, the
Chapel, the Print Shop, the Furniture Shop, and the Copper Shop, to
name a few. The Campus began to fall into disrepair over time and by
1989, was placed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation on
its 11 Most Endangered Places list of historic properties that are severely
at risk. The Inn was fully restored and reopened in 1995, but the remainder
of the Campus has continued to deteriorate significantly since that
time. Over the last two decades, one building (the Powerhouse) has been
reduced to a ruin, large portions of two buildings (the Furniture Shop
and the Garages) have been lost, and historic features of other buildings
have been removed or compromised. The threat to the historic integrity
of the campus as a whole is real and imminent. 
The first Campus building selected by the RCC for
restoration is the Copper Shop, a significant and severely threatened
contributing structure that is a much-beloved icon of the Roycroft Campus.
As the remainder of the Campus redevelopment plan is underway, the restored
Copper Shop will serve multiple purposes as a visitor center and artisan
workshop, gift shop, exhibit space, and office. The long-term plan for
the building is to re-establish it as a working metal smith shop and
copper works museum.
The primary public benefits of the project are to
preserve, interpret, and greatly enhance public access to, and understanding
of, a historic place that was the creative center of an influential
cultural and artistic movement that swept the country and resounds today.
Furthermore, the project would protect the rich heritage of the Village
of East Aurora and build upon tourism-related economic activities appropriate
to its small town setting. Restoration is vital to the Roycroft Campus
– truly one of America’s
The Power House built in 1909-1910 for $20,000, furnished electricity for the printing industry and the Campus as a whole, together with providing heat, both through and underground piping system. The equipment consisted of two high-speed Ideal engines, direct-connected to generators capable of developing a total of about three hundred horsepower. Steam was generated in a battery of three boilers, all supplied with Jones automatic smoke-consuming stokers. The second floor 
housed a variety of auxiliary Roycroft groups such as the Roycroft Concert Band, Orchestra, baseball team, and the local drama club.
The Aurora Gospel Tabernacle took over the old Power House and in later years it housed professional offices and apartments. (slide 40: photo of burnt-out Power House) It suffered a devastating fire in February 1997 and in the winter of 2004 lost two exterior walls due to harsh weather conditions
had to put up with this eye-sore for 9 years, RCC feels that we need to focus our immediate attention on this building before we restore the Copper Shop. While there is not much left of this building, we have enough information from a field survey (completed before the building collapsed) to perform a Historic Structures Report. After this report has been completed, RCC will contract with an architect, later this year, to prepare drawings to rebuild the structure. Our plans are to rebuild the building as it looked when first built. Our initial plans for the building include public restrooms, classroom space, flexible meeting and event space, a gift shop, and a tourist center.
and Crafts community in the U.S. The mission of the RCC is to operate and maintain the Copper Shop and Power House as part of the working Roycroft Campus. The public will be able to observe, learn and participate in many of the arts-related activities on the Campus. The restoration of the Roycroft Copper Shop and Power House would result in a number of direct and indirect benefits to the public, at both the national and local levels:
special character and community identity and pride. The project would protect an important piece of the village’s heritage, making it available to future generations.
the entire building will be open to the public with the exception of the administrative offices on the second floor. The first floor will house a Master Roycroft Artisan demonstration and public classroom area, a gallery to display and sell the artisans work, a museum and interpretive center displaying original Roycroft antiques, artifacts and exhibits describing the importance of Elbert Hubbard and his Roycrofters.
supporting to Corporation’s mission. Several special events are planned for the coming year. These and other fundraising projects will become annual events contributing to our operational budget. The goal of an upcoming capital campaign will cover the costs of the balance of the restoration budget.
fact that we will be restoring a functioning business. Until the Great Depression hit, the Roycroft Shops was a very successful operation, and it is anticipated that it will be successful once again. The RCC plans to interpret the fascinating history of the Roycroft, while bringing much of its operations up to the 21st Century, as if the business had never closed. We also plan to maintain a strong academic base in both the historic interpretation and active classroom learning experiences that are open to the public. The RCC is currently developing ties with The University at Buffalo, Buffalo State College and other private and public schools in order to help develop our curriculum.