Skidmore & Associates Donates Festival Tree of Akron Nostalgia
The
Volunteers of Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron
hosted the 21st Annual Holiday Tree Festival November 22 –
December 1, 2002 located at the Quaker Station at Quaker Square.
Businesses, individuals, organizations, artists and designers create
trees, miniatures, wreaths, Christmas art and various other items
to donate to the Festival. The items are auctioned to the highest
bidder and the proceeds go to help the sick and injured children
at Children’s Hospital. The event raises approximately $150,000.00
annually. Anyone who works with sick children knows that the simple
things in their young lives are enjoyed and greatly appreciated.
The smile or gleaming glance of a sick child means the world to
a sleep-deprived parent – to take a break from it all for
just a moment. The auctioning of each item donated to the Holiday
Tree Festival sets forth a small ripple of hope in the diagnosis
and treatment of disease, disorders and injuries that inflict the
most innocent members of our communities – children. The cumulative
effect of each ripple is to provide a tide of progress so children
can depart from Children’s Hospital healthy to approach life’s
challenges under more age appropriate circumstances.
This
year Skidmore & Associates sponsored a tree entitled “Vintage
Akron” and donated it to the Festival. “A prerequisite
to our entry is that the decorations and theme are to be created
by the friends and families of the Firm...we wanted to personalize
this small contribution," said Brian K. Skidmore. A traditional
Christmas afghan was made by Barbara C. Clinefelter, an employee
of the firm, and donated with the tree. The Firm’s primary
tree decorators were Lauran Kunze and Jeanne Jordan. Ms. Kunze,
who was a native of Akron for 28 years, is a homemaker and currently
resides in Mogadore, Ohio. “The original idea for the tree
was to obtain items that were either manufactured or sold in the
early days of Akron and create a memory tree,” said Ms. Kunze.
Ms. Jordan assisted in this collaborative effort. Ms. Jordan is
a graphic designer, born and raised in Akron, and presently resides
with her family in Marietta, Georgia. “Last December I came
home to visit my family during the holidays…my sister [Nancy
Skidmore] and I went downtown to visit my brother-in-law. We walked
through the skywalks, which were decorated with historical pictures
of Akron’s past commemorating Akron’s founding 175 years
ago. The Akron theme was confirmed,” Ms. Jordan said.
Life
long friends, Ms. Kunze and Ms. Jordan commenced work on the tree
last December 2001. They acquired old collectibles, artifacts, antiques
and souvenirs by utilizing a new technology – the Internet.
Items were purchased from all over the world. A Dr. Bob’s
House Token [founder of Alcoholics Anonymous] from 1935 was purchased
from Australia. A Quaker Oats Mug (1970) was acquired from England.
An Indian Head Lucky Penny Postcard (1907) came from Wisconsin.
Over 35 collectible postcards were purchased dating from 1907 through
the 1970’s illustrating various places in and around Akron.
“ The mounting of the postcards was done in a manner to preserve
the collectible integrity of each item to enhance future value,”
said Ms. Kunze. Ms. Kunze added, “I studied numerous Christmas
craft books and borrowed a technique used to seal and protect athletic
trading cards”. Another item of particular interest was the
Akron High School Graduation Program (1896), which listed a graduate
named Anna Spicer who may be linked to one of Akron’s founding
families. Many of the items featured renderings of Children's Hospital
in 1917, 1933 and 1945. Ms. Kunze concluded, " Akron has a
rich and diverse history. We all have wonderful memories of growing
up in this City".
Vintage
Akron won a Special Merit Award and was featured on a local telecast
promoting the Festival.
Photography
compliments of
Mark's Photo & Gallery
Photographer: Mark Christoff
1030 Jefferson Ave., Akron, Ohio 44302 330.867.6101
