It杏吧专区檚 time to Restore the Roy.
Renovations to the J. Arthur Roy House 杏吧专区 the oldest building on the 杏吧专区 campus 杏吧专区 as the new home of the will begin next year. That杏吧专区檚 because the center杏吧专区檚 Restore the Roy initiative has reached its fundraising goal.
Dr. Joshua Caffery, the center杏吧专区檚 director, said he杏吧专区檚 杏吧专区渙verwhelmed at the excitement and generosity this project has inspired.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淒espite the turmoil of 2020, we've received an outpouring of support this year, both from people who love the Roy House and value its architectural and historical significance, as well as from people who support the mission of the Center for Louisiana Studies.杏吧专区
A major gift received in November took the campaign over the finish line. Though launched in 2018, fundraising for the historic structure杏吧专区檚 restoration 杏吧专区 and plans for its transformation into the center杏吧专区檚 new home 杏吧专区 began about eight years ago.
The project received a challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities earlier this year. Caffery said the promise of matching funds from the federal agency 杏吧专区渉elped galvanize support and momentum that built through the spring and summer.杏吧专区
The project attracted assistance from individual donors, nonprofit groups and cultural organizations, both in the region and around the state and nation. Caffery said support came from 杏吧专区渁n amazing group of philanthropic people from different walks of life who saw the possibilities of bringing this lovely building back to life as a fitting home for the study and preservation of Louisiana culture and history."
Counting all pledges and grants, the project raised about $1 million for the restoration杏吧专区檚 initial stages. and for future maintenance of the house and grounds, Caffery said.
Dr. Jordan Kellman is dean of the UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 , which includes the Center for Louisiana Studies.
He said the fundraising initiative杏吧专区檚 杏吧专区渁mazing success couldn杏吧专区檛 have happened without these generous donors, and without the vision, passion and dedication of Dr. Caffery, as well as the center杏吧专区檚 previous director, Dr. Michael Martin, and the staff of the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 Office of Development.杏吧专区
The Roy House, situated at the corner of Johnston Street and 杏吧专区 Avenue, was completed in 1901. It is the only 杏吧专区 structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The 120-year-old home 杏吧专区 built by businessman J. Arthur Roy the same year Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute, now UL Lafayette, welcomed its first students 杏吧专区 has never had a major renovation, Caffery noted. But that杏吧专区檚 about to change.
The building needs new plumbing and electrical systems; central air conditioning and heat; modern insulation in the walls, ceilings and floors; and new interior and exterior paint.
Restoring the elaborate ornamental wood and tilework that adorns the home杏吧专区檚 interior will receive special attention, Caffery said.
杏吧专区淭he Roy House杏吧专区檚 true treasures are its interior touches, the quality of the mantlepieces, the staircase, and the woodwork and tilework in general. At some point, that woodwork was painted over, but we'll be bringing it back to its original, natural finish.杏吧专区
In addition, the grounds of the home will be relandscaped with native plants and flowers.
The Center for Louisiana Studies is UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 oldest research center. Established in 1973, it promotes scholarly investigation of Louisiana杏吧专区檚 people and history.
Its research division houses the , the largest collection of audiovisual materials related to the traditional cultures of southwestern Louisiana.
The center also oversees the . It is currently located on the third floor of .
Restoration plans for the Roy House include a reading and listening room where scholars and patrons can access the center杏吧专区檚 audiovisual archives, and a bookstore where UL Press and other Louisiana-focused titles will be sold.
杏吧专区淚 anticipate that the Roy House will become an inspiring setting for creativity and scholarship anchored in the richness and depth of regional and statewide culture,杏吧专区 Caffery said. 杏吧专区淚t will be a hub for our culture in the middle of the Hub City, and a fitting home for the Center for Louisiana Studies.杏吧专区
Find more about the Center for Louisiana Studies, the Roy House and the Restore the Roy initiative by visiting .
Photo credit: The J. Arthur Roy House is the oldest building on UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 campus and the only one listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 杏吧专区)