Notes from the Board of Directors

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to attend an event at the old UCT headquarters at 632 Park St. in Columbus with my wife Mindy and our Communications Director David Knapp. If you are unaware, the building was purchased once UCT moved to their Watermark location by Columbus philanthropist Ron Pizzuti to house part of his extensive art collection and has been renamed The Pizzuti. Mr. Pizzuti has since turned the building over to the Columbus Museum of Art to host travelling art exhibitions.

The building has undergone extensive renovations. The interior has been mostly gutted and the rear portion which housed most of the UCT employee offices has been demolished, but the front façade remains. Those that are familiar with the interior of the former headquarters will recognize the marble staircase inside the front doors, but that is where all the familiarity ends. Although the top level where once Supreme sessions were held has been preserved somewhat to its original glory. The false ceiling that was in place has been removed to display the soaring top of the room with all the detail from years past. The wooden floor is still in place on that level and it is in this room that we listened to a presentation by CMA curator Daniel Marcus and fraternal archivist Heather Calloway of Indiana University that focused on the building itself and fraternal life in the 19th and 20th centuries with a large part devoted to UCT’s part in shaping fraternal life.

Ms. Calloway and Mr. Marcus shared artifacts that have been recovered from the old home office before it closed and UCT items that have been donated directly to the Center for Fraternal Collections and Research at Indiana University. It was very entertaining to hear a discussion that centered on a topic that the three of us are so intertwined. They shared old photographs, convention pins, uniforms and gavels that were all part of UCT regalia in years past. The presentation was well attended with what we estimated to be around 150 in attendance for the evening to listen to their lecture and view the various exhibitions at the museum.

We were able to connect with Ms. Calloway after the lecture and David was able to provide her with more history of both the building and UCT. He is hopeful of connecting with Mr. Marcus soon to transfer more UCT items for exhibit. The Pizzuti is now only open for private exhibitions, but if you find yourself in the Columbus area and want to see the old headquarters, please stop by to see a historical building. And if you have the opportunity to visit the Center for Fraternal Collections and Research at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN please do so. Ms. Calloway has plans to have an entire display of UCT items and memorabilia. The Center has also been awarded a grant that she will use to digitize the complete collection of The Sample Case.

It is very heartwarming to know that the history that we grew up with in UCT is being preserved for future generations, and that we as UCT North America are still carrying on the fraternal traditions for the former Order.

Fraternally,

Dave Van Order

UCT North America Chairman