Six months later, I'm back to blog again! 

It's June in Clarion and the town has quieted down since the end of the Spring semester at Clarion University.  We always miss the students when they go home because, contrary to popular opinion, younger folks DO have an interest in antiques, collectibles, AND books!

However, with the students gone, we look forward to the travelers!  Whether just passing through Western PA, staying in the area to camp, visiting the beautiful Cook Forest, the Clarion River (now on it's own stamp at the USPS), the Allegheny National Forest, or Downtown Clarion - we love our visitors!  Sometimes people just "happen" to find us.  Sometimes we've been "Googled".  Sometime we are a regular annual stop (that makes us feel very special!). Whatever the reason or however they find us, we love helping them to have a great experience in our little town.  Often we are sending them up to our local coffee shop (Michelle's Cafe), or amazing hot dog/burger shop (Daddy's Main St), our very own brew pubs (Clarion River Brewing Company and Mechanistic), and locally owned shops on Main Street (Wein's, FL Crooks, and several others).

We do have visitors year round, but the summer folks are extra special as they help keep  our small local business, and others, open.  Keep us in mind if you are traveling along I-80 in Western PA.  Thank you

I'm sitting here trying to decide on my first blog topic, and a question we often get popped into my head.  Annnndddd decision made!

As you can see in the photo above, our shop is in this great-looking, fun, yellow brick house that is situated a block away from the entrance to Clarion University of Pennsylvania.  My family moved to Clarion in 1979 (though Elisabeth went to college here in the early 60s) and this house was about two blocks away from our house.  By that point, the house had belonged to the Theta Chi fraternity for about 16 years and was already showing that "lived in" look.  Our family spot to watch the annual Autumn Leaf Festival parade was always across 7th Avenue from the house.  The Theta Chi house would have people on the porch, on the second floor roof, and the third floor roof - party time!

When I transferred to Clarion University, I was already a member of Alpha Sigma Tau and I went to one mixer there.  My parents tend to question my "one time" story, but it's true.  Their basement parties were legendary.  The late 90s and early 2000s and stricter drinking rules meant a decline in membership and the eventual loss of their charter.

The house was sitting empty and looking quite sad (If  can ever figure out how to post pictures, I'll show you what I mean.)  I had moved back to Clarion with my husband and daughters after 20 years away and was fixing up an old house down the street for us.  For fun, I was going to a lot of auctions with my parents.  I was finding great things for my new house...but I was also finding that my garage was getting filled up with "auction leftovers"*.  Their's was too.  Uh-oh.  In the meantime, we were concerned about the empty frat house.  Too many old homes were being lost to become parking lots or out-of-place buildings. (We are BIG into old buildings and historical sites - something for another blog, maybe.) In 2005 it was advertised that the National Theta Chi organization was going to be selling the house by submitted bids.  They opened the house for a weekend for prospective buyers (I think they had to pry the front door open with a crowbar). 

Why did we go?  One, we were worried about it being torn down (as the rumors about town mentioned).  Two, we had garages full of fun stuff AND Elisabeth (being a retired English teacher and Librarian) had talked about one day having a used book store.

My first impression when we walked in was "Wow, it doesn't smell like stale beer!".  My second was "Hand me a crowbar so I can tear down these added walls!"  Basically the house looked like you would expect a 40 year old fraternity house to look.  Old couches, beds, graffiti on the walls and ceiling, trash, clothing, and pennies.  Pennies everywhere!  Fortunately, this wasn't the first time we'd seen and old house and seen the possibilities.  We are pretty good at looking past the couches and the graffiti and see What Could Be.  The bones were good.  The structure sound.  We were in love with it and wanted to preserve it.

Bill put his bid in.  He was notified that he wasn't the highest offer - did he want to raise his?  He did and was told he would be notified by a certain date.  The date came and went and no word.  After awhile we figured it wasn't meant to be  when he suddenly got a letter stating they accepted his bid and it would be ours.  We discovered later that we may not have had the highest bid, but the last Chapter President had to sign off on the sale.  The gentleman refused if it was going to be to someone who was going to tear it down.  They knew what we wanted the house for and he wanted it saved.  A win for everyone.  

So, because of a caring CU graduate and Theta Chi brother, we are here - and so is the house.  Alumni love being able to come in and visit and show their families and share their stories (those that can be shared are for another blog). The most common comment is: "My feet don't stick to the floor in the basement anymore!". We even have a book they where can sign in when they visit.  Other fraternities and sororities have started their on pages in the book so they can share in the memories.

Yes, it was a fraternity house.

                                                        Jennifer

*What the heck are "auction leftovers"?  It can be easy to get carried away at local auctions.  There are often box lots or a full table of items and there might be one or two things you want.  So you buy the lot and then you don't want to leave anything behind because, heck, you paid for it, right?  $1 lots are extremely dangerous.

+I must note that Elisabeth (remember - retired English Teacher and Librarian!) has NOT proofread this.  I am preparing myself for the "red pencil" :)