October 25, 2007 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Local News

Antique Gallery overflows with handpicked goods
by KRISTIN PAZULSKI

Once the overflow of co-owner Gerald Schultz’s private collection, the Antique Gallery has been a Philadelphia landmark for collectors of antiquities for 25 years. (left to right, Schultz’s daughter Susan Shapiro, Schultz and business partner, Barbara Caplen. Photo by Erin Vertreace)

With the amount of knick-knacks, valuable antiques and collectables that cover every inch of shelf and floor space at the Antique Gallery, 8523 Germantown Ave., it is hard to imagine that the store sells anything. But the number of interesting pieces on the store’s shelves doesn’t reflect a lack of sales, but rather a genuine love of beautiful old artifacts by the company’s co-owners, Barbara Caplen and Gerald Schultz.

“He loves anything beautiful,” said Caplen, sitting in the gallery’s back office, with walls that are as covered with family photos and images as the store’s shelves are covered with items.

Ever since the gallery’s beginning — 25 years ago in November — its collection of items have been handpicked by Schultz or Caplen. In fact, when the store opened it was Schultz’s private collection that was for sale.

In 1982, Schultz, formerly a partner in a steel warehouse, decided to sell pieces of a collection that he had been accumulating during his travels around the country. He had collected so many pieces, chosen on the recommendation of a retired museum consultant that he hired as his mentor, that his house was getting too full.

“So I thought, ‘You know what? I’ll open a store!’” said Schultz, who had sold his part of the company and retired.

Commentary: Time to get onboard with zoning reform
by Mark Ueland, AIA

A developer could have replaced Sugarloaf’s green, open space with a handlful of new homes.

On May 15, Philadelphia voted to approve the creation of an independent commission to modernize the city’s zoning code. Except for the periodic addition of minor amendments, the zoning code is essentially the same as the one adopted by City Council and signed by the Mayor in 1962. 

There have been citywide attempts to modernize the code and re-draw the zoning map in the past, but these have failed in City Council. Council has shown a preference for amending the code piecemeal by passing spot zoning bills for specific sites introduced by a district Councilperson acting at the request of a single owner or developer.

Sidewalk sale, costume parade bring tricks and treats to the Avenue
by KRISTIN PAZULSKI

There will be trick-or-treating for both adults and kids along Germantown Avenue this Sunday, Oct. 28. From noon to about 5 p.m., many of the shops along the Avenue from Rex to Southampton avenues will display discounted wares in a sidewalk sale.

Notes from the CHESTNUT HILL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

The annual Chestnut Hill Community Fund Drive is right around the corner. You may not know about all of the wonderful local programs supported each year by the CHCF. This article begins a series of pieces showcasing the various organizations, activities, and praiseworthy volunteers that were supported by the Fund this year.

Celebrating 40 years of service: Founders’ award for Shirley Hanson
A sense of Stewardship.
A column  of the Chestnut Hill Hostorical Society

An example of the fantastic historic architecture that the Historical Society has worked to preserve for the past 40 years.  A wonderful 1917 stone Tudor designed by Walter A. Thomas, this lovely home will be host to this year’s Preservation Potpourri, on Dec. 1.

The Chestnut Hill Historical Society has announced that it will honor Shirley Hanson, a long-time resident of Chestnut Hill and a founder of the Chestnut Hill Historical Society, with the first Founders’ Award. 

The Founders’ Award is a new award established by the Chestnut Hill Historical Society to periodically honor a member of the local community who has shown an outstanding commitment to historic preservation in Chestnut Hill and the surrounding community.  The award was established in 2007 in honor of the Historical Society’s 40th anniversary.