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Rose Valley Mill ruins from about 1905 |
Rose Valley Plans
Note. Rose Valley founder, William Price was interviewed twice about his plans for his art community, These two articles are from the Chester Times in the Spring of 1901
William L. Price, of Philadelphia, who has purchased the old
Osborne Mills and tenement houses at Rose Valley, is discussing as to what uses
the property will be put to said: “The plans for the community suggested by me
for the advancement of all forms of fine art are as yet in such an undeveloped
state I would rather not speak in detail upon the subject. “It will be in a general way both
a social and an industrial reform, but we are in no way connected with
socialists, or communists, we are rather an answer to them, although we agree
on several points. “There is
nothing whatever in the charity line about the enterprise. The capital should pay interest and many of
the colonies will make their homes there permanently; the idea of the large
dining room, where all may dine together, is merely a suggestion offered to
simplify housekeeping. “The property purchased by me is nothing
more or less than old ruins and will require a great deal of time and money to
fix up. “Our occupation
will be anything that will promote all forms of fine art, but for goodness’
sake don’t say we are going to manufacture antique furniture, as that is
exactly what we are not going to do.” In
about six months, Mr. Price said, the community would be probably in working
order.
PLANS OF THE ROSE VALLEY COMMUNITY
Settlement for the
Advancement of All Forms of Art – Not Collection of Socialists
The
plans of the purchasers of the Rose Valley tract are gradually being
perfected. The idea of the purchasers is
to establish a community which will work for the advancement of all forms of
fine art. It
will be in a general way a social and industrial community, but will be
connected with no Socialists or Communists.
Nor will it be charitable in design; the capital will pay interest, and
many of the stockholders will make their permanent homes there.
A
CHARTER SOUGHT – An application for a charter has been made in the name of the
Rose Valley Association. It will be
granted in a short time, and then more specific details will be made public. These
Philadelphians compose the central committee, acting for the association: John O. Gilmore, president of the Colonial
Trust Company, president; Edward W. Bok, editor of the Ladies’ Home Journal;
William L. Price, architect; M. Hawley McLanahan of the firm of Whiteside &
McLanahan, real estate, and Howard Stratton, instructor
in the Industrial Art School, Frank Pritchard is legal advisor. Mr.
Price and Mr. McLanahan contemplate homes on the property which is admirably
qualified to supply all needs. Carl McMell,
who recently married Miss Mary Price, is living in Rose Valley, and the
residence there of Francis Day is nearing completion. The character of the country is rolling, and
two mills with accessories are included in the purchase. Sufficient water is available.
NEW
SITE FOR ART SCHOOL – The association has made it possible for Mr. Stratton to
remove his summer art school from its quarters at Fort Washington to one of the
old mills at Rose Valley. The third
floor of the mill has been fitted with three north skylights, many windows and
all the necessary appurtenances for a summer studio. Applied art will be taught in this
studio. Later, it is intended to make
furniture of the substantial hand out variety on the second floor, while the
basement will be devoted to the art of pottery making. Of
the twenty-one students already established there, seventeen reside at the
Guest House, a structure resembling an old English inn.
The
housekeeping in this inn is superintended by Miss Suzanna Price, who boards
students at $5 a week. Large wooden
benches made from a design of Mr. Pierce’s embellish each side of the many
doorways.
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