2008 Woodie Awards
Episcopal to leave campus with valued relics
Kristy Banning '09
Issue date: 5/10/08 Section: Features
If you were going to be stranded on an island for the rest of your life, what three items would you want to have with you?
How about an old weather vane, an athletic shield, and a carved stair post?
While it's a stretch to compare a deserted island to Episcopal Academy's swank new campus in Newtown Square, Episcopal officials still have had to engage in tough discussions about meaningful pieces of Episcopal's history to transport to the new campus.
Buildings, phone lines, cable lines, blackboards, furniture, and desks will remain at the Merion campus when Saint Joseph's takes over, said Michael Letts, Episcopal's director of communications,. But hundreds of artifacts-those objects that hold special meaning for the Episcopal community, will go.
The process of deciding which artifacts to bring to the new campus started four years ago, Letts said.
Some of the artifacts date back to the 17th century, when the all-boys academy first opened. The oak doors to the head of school's office, the school's original U.S. flag, Civil War memorial plaques, main entrance gates, a weather vane, and hand carved stair posts will all go to the new campus.
Episcopal Academy will take pieces of its athletic history to its new campus as well. Hall of Fame plaques, trophies, championship banners, and athletic shields will fill the new gym.
Many artifacts in the school's chapel, such as kneelers, choir pews, and stained glass windows are going, too, Letts said. The chapel itself holds significant meaning, but the entire building cannot be moved.
"It's a very special place for our community," said Letts. "It's where we meet in good times and bad. It's where we celebrate and mourn."
Episcopal Academy is also bringing a new artifact to its Newtown Square campus, a sculpture by Philadelphia artist Leo Sewell that was commissioned by the class of 2007. The sculpture features Episcopal Academy's old scraps.
"The sculpture will include things like old signs, old furniture, student work, notebooks, and pens," said Letts. "We'll unveil it once we get there."
At the end of the day, Episcopal will be taking what's most important, said Letts, and those things can't be packed into a moving van.
"Throughout our history it has been our faculty that have meant the most to our alumni hands down," said Letts. "The most important thing we're taking with us now is the people and the teachers."
How about an old weather vane, an athletic shield, and a carved stair post?
While it's a stretch to compare a deserted island to Episcopal Academy's swank new campus in Newtown Square, Episcopal officials still have had to engage in tough discussions about meaningful pieces of Episcopal's history to transport to the new campus.
Buildings, phone lines, cable lines, blackboards, furniture, and desks will remain at the Merion campus when Saint Joseph's takes over, said Michael Letts, Episcopal's director of communications,. But hundreds of artifacts-those objects that hold special meaning for the Episcopal community, will go.
The process of deciding which artifacts to bring to the new campus started four years ago, Letts said.
Some of the artifacts date back to the 17th century, when the all-boys academy first opened. The oak doors to the head of school's office, the school's original U.S. flag, Civil War memorial plaques, main entrance gates, a weather vane, and hand carved stair posts will all go to the new campus.
Episcopal Academy will take pieces of its athletic history to its new campus as well. Hall of Fame plaques, trophies, championship banners, and athletic shields will fill the new gym.
Many artifacts in the school's chapel, such as kneelers, choir pews, and stained glass windows are going, too, Letts said. The chapel itself holds significant meaning, but the entire building cannot be moved.
"It's a very special place for our community," said Letts. "It's where we meet in good times and bad. It's where we celebrate and mourn."
Episcopal Academy is also bringing a new artifact to its Newtown Square campus, a sculpture by Philadelphia artist Leo Sewell that was commissioned by the class of 2007. The sculpture features Episcopal Academy's old scraps.
"The sculpture will include things like old signs, old furniture, student work, notebooks, and pens," said Letts. "We'll unveil it once we get there."
At the end of the day, Episcopal will be taking what's most important, said Letts, and those things can't be packed into a moving van.
"Throughout our history it has been our faculty that have meant the most to our alumni hands down," said Letts. "The most important thing we're taking with us now is the people and the teachers."
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