The article below, which appeared in the Journal back on January 19, 2005, tells the story how the Powell family rescued two of the etched windows before the resort was demolished, and found them new homes in Avon Lake.
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Aqua Marine etched glass to be salvaged
By RON VIDIKA, Morning Journal Writer
AVON LAKE – The stunning etched-glass artworks of the late Franc Powell, an Avon Lake native, have found new homes.
Two of Powell’s works, “Sunken Ship” and “King Neptune,” were installed in 1961 into the interior design of the Aqua Marine Resort, 216 Miller Road, Avon Lake.
Local developer Herman “Bucky” Kopf bought the resort recently and is expected to demolish it in order to build upscale condominiums. With that in mind, Powell’s daughters, Shari Bestor, Vermilion, and Jan Mackert, Avon Lake, approached Kopf, a family friend about salvaging the pieces for local historical purposes, Bestor said.
"His plans were that the resort was in disrepair and they were going to tear it down. Bucky has known my parents most of his life and he knew exactly what we were talking about, but he had no place to put them, Bestor said.
The family met with Lisa Meiners, Avon Lake recreation director, and Mary Crehore, director of the Avon Lake Public Library, and showed them the original drawings. Both soon fell in with a plan to preserve a piece of Avon Lake history, Bestor said.
This Saturday, Powell family members will begin the arduous task of removing the etched-glass pieces and storing them until the city and library takes possession of them.
“The city of Avon Lake is taking ‘The Sunken Ship,’ Bestor said. “It’s about 10 feet long and four feet high, made of greenish glass three-eighths of an inch thick.”
“The Sunken Ship” will be housed in the Youth/Senior Center of Avon Lake, 150 Avon Belden Road.
The Avon Lake library, 32649 Electric Blvd., will take possession of “King Neptune.”
“He’s greenish-blue and stands 10 feet high and is four to five feet wide. He’s been there by the (Aqua Marine) pool from day one,” Bestor said.
Bestor said “The Mermaid,” a third piece of etched glass conceived by her father, cannot be found at the Aqua Marine Resort.
“We haven’t been able to find it anywhere in the facility,” Bestor said.
Powell, who died 11 years ago, was a graduate of the former Carnegie-Mellon Technical School (now Carnegie-Mellon University) in Pittsburgh, and was known for his art throughout Avon Lake, Bestor said.
“His real job was designing displays for industrial purposes, like Ridge Tool, for use at trade shows,” she said.
Powell’s wife Betty, who volunteered her time at the Avon Lake Public Library, died last June, Bestor said.
“We’re very pleased that these pieces of art will be preserved and that future generations in Avon Lake will be able to enjoy them,” Mackert said.
“Through the Kiwanis, my father was very instrumental in preserving the old Avon Lake fire station, which is now the Youth/Senior Center, for public meetings, and it’s now used by seniors and as a teen center,” Mackert said.
“We’re privileged,” Meiners said of acquiring Powell’s “Sunken Ship.”
“We feel very good about acquiring this piece. The family thought the community building would be a nice place to display it. It’s nice to be able to preserve history, Meiners said.
After refurbishing of the center’s main kitchen area is done this summer, Meiners said, a “rough estimate” is that the artwork will be in place afterward.
Cathi Fischbach, administrative assistant at the Avon Lake Public Library, said the library is “excited and very pleased” about getting Powell’s “King Neptune.”
Fischbach said tentative plans are to showcase the art in the Discovery Works center of the library after the center undergoes upgrading. No date was available as to when the work would go on public display.
“We’ve always has a sense of pride with both my parents,” Bestor said. “They’re fairly well-known in the community. I have three children and they have children and they can tell their children, “This is what your great-grandfather did. He made this happen.”
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| King Neptune in his new home at the Avon Lake Library |
It's a wonder the corrupt Bucky Kopf didn't try to hold the artwork for ransom.Family friend or not,anybody remember the time Bucky Kopf handed the equally corrupt ex mayor of Avon Lake Vincent Urban an envelope of $2,000.00 of unmarked bills to persuade Vince to pass a business deal that Bucky had pending before the City of Avon Planning Commission.Bucky got caught for lying to the police and a grand jury.And we all know what happened to Vince Urban.Powells family is lucky that Bucky suddenly had a change of heart and didn't destroy the etched glass masterpieces.
ReplyDeleteWell, I think friendship, and the innate goodness of every man, conquers all and I’m glad there was a happy ending to this tale. I hesitate to comment on Avon Lake politics because I think every city has its backroom dealings and few of them end up splashed across the newspaper headlines. I wish Lorain had a developer like Bucky Kopf of its own, whatever you want to say about the man (who I’ve never met), he did a lot for Avon Lake, including keeping the Aqua Marine name alive.
ReplyDeleteBucky has to be old now.90-95?Or has he passed into the great Aqua Marina in the sky?
ReplyDeleteIt's one thing to have a backroom deal with somebody. Like Dan said, it's more common than you think, but it's something entirely different to lie to the Police and Grand Jury about it. Could only imagine what kind of shortcuts that guy took building homes.
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