With the help of a group of PACA volunteers, approximately 200 gothic stone pieces were moved from the basement of Lincoln Hall on August 22nd.  The limestone was stored in Lincoln in 1985 when it was donated to the University of Illinois’ World Heritage Museum from the Art Institute of Chicago.  UIUC transferred ownership to PACA in 2004.

The limestone pieces comprise parts of three Gothic windows, two doorways, two niches, and a column from a fifteenth-century castle or chateau near Poitiers, along the Clain River in west central France.

PACA is working with the UIUC Department of Architecture to find a permanent home for the stone.  If you are interested in helping with this effort, please contact Karen Kummer, pacaexdir@comcast.net.

Two area buildings will be featured in the latest issue of Historic Illinois, a publication of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA).

An historic Mesker facade was moved from a building in Stewardson to one in Arcola after staff from the IHPA were able to connect an enterprising building owner in Arcola seeking to replace a lost Mesker facade with the owners of the soon-to-be-demolished Opera Hall in Stewardson.  The salvaged Mesker facade was installed on the recipient building in Arcola. Source: News-Gazette, 09/21/2009

Lincoln Square Mall located in Urbana’s downtown was the first indoor shopping mall outside the Chicago area.  Lincoln Square saw a steady decline in the 1970s and 1980s; however, a new owner is breathing new life into Lincoln Square by attracting mixed uses for the mall. Source:  News-Gazette, 08/30/2009)

Title:
Date: 2009-08-26

Title: Historic House Research
Location: Urbana Free Library
Description: Learn how to use a variety of resources to document your house and its former residents. This Parkland Non-Credit course will be taught by Ilona Matkovszki. Deadline to register is September 4th.
Start Time: 10:00 AM
Date: 2009-09-12
End Time: 01:00 PM

Volunteers recently helped prep and load library catalog cases at the warehouse.

A recent donation includes five original signs advertising Camel cigarettes.  These are priced at $100 each.

A variety of exterior trim is available at the warehouse.  A recent donation consists of two pilasters and a pediment.  This set is listed at $500.  Columns and other exterior elements are available as marked.