As you may remember, I was one of several people who fought the demolition of Grace Hall, where Orson Welles lived, studied, and pursued his creative endeavors as a student of the Todd School for Boys. Now that the demolition will occur (I'm not sure exactly when), I am trying to find out if Welles enthusiasts would be interested in buying bricks from this Welles-associated building. My suggestion to the building owner and the demolition company is that the price of each brick should cover shipping and handling, as well as contribute to a fund to memorialize Welles's time in Woodstock, Illinois. (This included not only his student days in the late Twenties, but also his activities during many later visits to his mentor, headmaster Roger Hill--among others, the Todd Theatre Festival of 1934, the filming of "Hearts of Age" in Woodstock that year, and the 1934 publication by the Todd Press of "Everybody's Shakespeare" by Roger Hill and Orson Welles.)

Is there any interest in purchasing bricks with the purpose of contributing to a fund to memorialize Welles in Woodstock?

Kathleen Spaltro

Your points are reasonable. These details could be worked out with the demolition company and/or building owner. If WellesNet people could let me know if there is a strong interest, that gives me something to say when I open discussions with them. If there is little or no interest, I will tell them that.

I'd be interested.
I have seen bricks sold in elaborate displays (a piece from Fenway Park afixed to a wood plaque) and bricks from a local historical buidling sold with a simple sticker glued on. It really comes down to the presentation. I agree there mustbe a letter of authenticity from the demolition crew or historical commission to make it marketable.

I would be interested as well, although it's just a damn shame it had to come to this.

I wish I had the money to buy one right now ....

Count me in.

OK--it sounds as if there is a good level of interest. I will report that to the building owner and the demolition company and try to work out details.

WellesNet members were enormously helpful to us as we tried to save Grace Hall from demolition. Your letters to Woodstock City Council and Landmarks Illinois were powerful.

If this attempt to fund something in Woodstock to memorialize Welles/Todd [event/booklet/plaque--whatever the money will support] goes forward, would you help both through buying Grace Hall bricks and by publicizing their availability/purpose to other Welles enthusiasts? I would be very grateful for the help.

I had this idea about the bricks after reading in the "International Herald Tribune" about Poe. Preservationists were unable to save the newspaper building in which Poe began his career, but those bricks were reused to build the Poe Shrine in Richmond, which makes a huge deal of its association with Poe.

Kathy Spaltro

Aww....thank you, Matthew ! I will maintain hope .