Our group chose to investigate the Forum building in downtown Harrisburg. The first thing to do was to find a time when we were all free to go. The weekdays did not look promising and not all of us could make it on Saturday, so Sunday was the day. Yet this would prove to be a big mistake. The Lord commanded us to keep the seventh day holy, but in our eagerness to get the project done we ignored His command. That is the only explanation on why we experienced the problems that we did.
On Sunday morning our trip was delayed by an hour. This was due to sleeping-in late, getting directions that would later prove useless, and eating the stuff that passes for breakfast at Lottie.
An hour into the trip we finally pulled out of Messiah.
The directions served us well in the first five minutes. They led us out of Messiah and onto route 15. After that they actively tried, and succeeded to, get us lost. Seeing a sign claiming to point the way into Harrisburg we followed it into the city. After a time we consulted the directions, and could not find anything even remotely resembling the city in front of us. We decided to take a street leading away from the business section. That was obviously a mistake. As we discussed turning around a sign appeared with an arrow pointing down the road with the word “Forum” on it. “That must be the road!” The road led down under a low bridge to the sort of deserted, empty, and forlorn parking lot that would be at home in a Gangster movies execution scene. We decided that this was not the Forum, and it was time to leave, quick! Driving out we pass through a neighborhood that looked like it could be from a third world country. Piles of trash were stacked on street corners, buildings were boarded up, and huddles of people loitered on their front steps, with apparently nothing else to do on Sunday then sit and look out at the city. After what felt like forever we found ourselves back in the business section of Harrisburg and driving past a large building with columns. We turn left then left again onto the main street and decided if we find the State House, the Forum must be close by.
Seeing signs for the capital we began to drive straight then we saw that the road was closed and this forced us to make a detour. At long last we parked the truck a block from the capital and began to walk around looking for the Forum. Spotting a map of the capital complex we headed over to find it almost unreadable because of age and weather.
When the Forum was finally found, we discovered that we had driven past without recognizing it. The remainder of the trip was uneventful except that two of the cameras that we brought chose this time to run out of battery-power. We learned a lot on this expedition, like remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy!
~Written by Alex Lovelace
Sunday, September 21, 2008
History of the Forum building
The Forum, also known as the Education Building, is one of the most beautiful structures in Harrisburg. The Forum Building is located at 607 South Drive and is part of the Capital complex in downtown Harrisburg. It is constructed of Indiana limestone with wrought iron doors depicting scenes from history and literature. Strange as it may seem, one of these doors portrays a beautiful scene where Medusa’s severed head is displayed next to clowns and magicians.
The Forum was built in the late 1920’s to house the Pennsylvania State Library and Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. It was designed by two architects, William Gehron and Sidney F. Ross, who would later go on to supervise and collaborate the construction of the Finance Building nearby. Under Gehron and Ross, a team of artists, sculptors, and painters labored to make the building a work of art.
Just before the Forum’s completion, some of the oil paint on the ceiling caught fire. The fire consumed most of the Forum—costing over a million dollars in damage and setting back construction for another year. Finally, in November 1931, the Forum was at last completed. It covers over eight acres of floor space and can seat 1,833 people. The Forum cost 5.5 million dollars to complete. Yet despite the cost, Harrisburg now has one of the most beautiful and artistic buildings in the state.
~History compiled by Alex Lovelace ~Sketch completed by Christine Kelly
The Forum was built in the late 1920’s to house the Pennsylvania State Library and Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. It was designed by two architects, William Gehron and Sidney F. Ross, who would later go on to supervise and collaborate the construction of the Finance Building nearby. Under Gehron and Ross, a team of artists, sculptors, and painters labored to make the building a work of art.
Just before the Forum’s completion, some of the oil paint on the ceiling caught fire. The fire consumed most of the Forum—costing over a million dollars in damage and setting back construction for another year. Finally, in November 1931, the Forum was at last completed. It covers over eight acres of floor space and can seat 1,833 people. The Forum cost 5.5 million dollars to complete. Yet despite the cost, Harrisburg now has one of the most beautiful and artistic buildings in the state.
~History compiled by Alex Lovelace ~Sketch completed by Christine Kelly
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
