North Office Building
Granite Panels Found!
Granite panel frieze above North Street entrance
Granite panel frieze above Commonwealth Avenue entrance
Seth Gaines located the Fletcher Granite Company panels sought by the Westford Historic Society. The panels form friezes over the entrances to the North Office Building, part of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Seth explains his discovery, which he reported on November 28, 2004:
"I had been following links from another site when I saw the mystery on Art Deco [historic photos of the panels]. I just happened to be in Harrisburg a few weeks later, and I recognized them instantly.
"I am not a professional photographer, but my main hobby is driving around small-town America photographing old buildings, war memorials, etc. Usually I keep my eye out for movie theaters and courthouses, but State Capitols are very nice.
"I had rented a car for the Thanksgiving weekend, done the far NE corner of PA, and been chased down to Harrisburg that day by the rain. So it was just by chance that I even saw them.
"I am a Procurement Specialist for a government contractor in the Metro D.C. area. I've really been into the photography for about two years."
Marilyn Day, from the Westford Historic Society, confirms that these definitely are the panels. She contacted the descendants of one of the stone carvers. "The family was positively thrilled!" She is working to confirm that the brackets and related facade components complete the original 32-piece shipment from the Fletcher Granite Company.
Please post any available information to the ADSW forum.
Commonwealth Avenue center panel at Fletcher Granite Company c. 1927 .
Created Wednesday, December 08, 2004; Modified Saturday, February 17, 2007.