West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-08-08
THE RoYCROFTERs.
Something About Their Work and
Shops Mt East Aurora, New York.

Written Specially for The Argus.
1t is not uncommon for people to
flock to the shrine of some dead
hero, or, one might truly say, idol.
Thousands Of hero-worshipers
annually make the pilgrimage to
Bairenth, the home of the much
loved Wagner and the place where
the Wagnerian music festivals are
held yearly. Concord, Weimar,
and Stratford. on Avon are also
Meccas to which the very core of
the worlds intellect makes pilgrim.
ages. 1t is somewhat unusual,
however, for living man, unless
he be fad, to draw TO himself and
his work such large numbers of
cultured and intellectual visitors as
Ebert Hubbard and the Roycroft
shop at East Aurora, New York,
are daily receiving.
Not even the least friendly of his
contemporaries will now allow that
Fra Elbertus, Gas the Roycrofiers
call him, )is fad. The secret of
the attraction is the fact that Ebert
Hubbard is not so much a man of
words as a man of deeds. He
glories in doing things with his
hands and in teaching others to do
things with their hands.
The town of East Aurora is
seventeen miles from Buffalo and IT
would pay any Pan-American
visitor who loves beautiful things
and is made happy by seeing others
happy to take the trip and see this
merry prosperous community who
call themselves Roycrofters. They
spend their lives making beautiful
things. Some of the beauty of
their work creeps into their natures
and it would be difficult TO find
happier, more peaceful settlement.
Ebert Hubbard always hated
shams of every class and after
visiting William Morris at Ham
mersmith, he became possessed
with an overpowering desire to tell
the world what he thought of it.
He published "chipmunk mag
azlne" and, through it, unburdened
his soul of few of his opinions.
The first issue was printed at the
office of one of East Aurora's
papers, but Hubbard was not
pleased with the quality of the
printing so he bought a printing
outfit of his own, and, with the aid
of boy, did his own printing.
This was the beginning of Roycroft.
Later the boy brought his big
brother to help and finding they
had some extra time they published
a book. They tried to make it
beautiful, using fine English hand
made paper and antique type and
allowing wide margins.
The book sold and they published
another, doing their best to make
it better than the first one. They
set a woman to work illumining the
initials, as the nuns used to do.
Soon it was found she needed help
and another woman came. This is
the way the settlement grew. First
one and then another came and
wanted work and all were given a
chance with no recommendation
but desire for employment"
"The workers." they say, care
mostly boys and girls, but there ave
few who are over 10 years young,
and a man of eighty who draws
salary in consideration of his very
assiduous boycott of the East
Aurora barber"
The first building was put up near
the home of the "1eading spirit"
and was modelled after the old
church at Grasmere where Words
worth lies buried. They made it
bright and homelike and il was
called Roycroft. "Roy means
king and croft means home or rest. !"
As the demand for Roycroft work
grew and they increased in numbers
until it became possible for them
to branch out and work in different
lines They now make books,
pictures, statuary, bent-iron work,
furniture and carpet. They have
very beautiful rag carpet, woven, &"
they say, "by girls seventy years
young"
As the work and workers in
creased it became necessary to
increase the room. Common field
stones, or "hard heads" the Erie
county farms called them, had been
used for an open fireplace in one
room Of the building and had
pleased Fra Elbertson so we'll that
he conceived the idea Of erecting an
entire building ofthem. They look
ordinary enough in the field but