originally posted on 10/12/2019
ACE Archives Update
Close on the heels of returning from Southern California, the euphoria of Coaster Con 42 was dampened by news that the ACE Archives would need to vacate its current location in Allentown, Pennsylvania, by August 31, 2019. ACE was given two months’ notice, which was in our month-to-month agreement with the property management company for the building.
A long conversation with Archives Manager Melinda Gaspari established what the Archives Committee needed to do in the very short time ACE had to pack and move. Gaspari took the lead in finding a suitable site to occupy until a permanent location for the archives could be found. She located a secure, climate-controlled facility that could accommodate the items in the archives. After signing a contract on behalf of ACE, Gaspari wanted to set a moving date that would work best for everyone. The weekend of August 17 was chosen. Cliff Herring, Brad Dutterer and Stacey Smilek spent hours with Gaspari at the Allentown facility a few weeks prior to August 17, preparing items for the move. Arrangements were made for the rental trucks for moving day. As the date approached, committee members reached out to regional ACEers for assistance with the move. As usual ACE members stepped up and volunteered to help.
Photo: Melinda Gaspari. View full-sized image.
On Friday, August 16, Gaspari and ACE President Robert Ulrich went to the new location so Ulrich could pay for the rental fees as well as tour the facility. On Saturday, August 17, volunteers took a big breath of Allentown air and got to work. The archives had been in Allentown for approximately 20 years, so there was quite a bit of material that needed to be moved: back issues of RollerCoaster!, memorabilia, collections and other items, along with shelving, storage units and many file cabinets containing items donated by members.
Photo: Melinda Gaspari. View full-sized image.
With both fully loaded trucks headed to the new facility, the volunteers were prepared to begin unloading the trucks and storing the items. Once accomplished, one truck went back to the Allentown building to finish moving the remaining items. On Sunday the last boxes were loaded and moved to the new location. One item wouldn’t fit through the fire doors of the new facility. Tom Rebbie, CEO of Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. (PTCI) and ACE honorary member, was gracious enough to offer to store it at PTCI, along with other items he has stored for ACE for quite a few years. The Archives Committee thanks Rebbie for everything he does for ACE.
The moving weekend was extremely labor intensive for everyone. The team worked 13 hours on Saturday and an additional 6 hours on Sunday to complete the move. Thanks go to the volunteers: Karen April, Scott Conley, Mark Davidson, Melinda Gaspari, Bryan George, Cliff Herring, Tom Rebbie, Robert Ulrich and Brian Watts.
Photo: Melinda Gaspari. View full-sized image.
Now that the ACE Archives are safe and secured in the new location, members should be reassured that ACE is working toward finding a permanent location. If members have items that they want to donate, those items will still be received and cared for and made ready for our new location. Please see the ACE website for more information regarding donations.
The archives manager, along with the history and preservation director, Archives Committee and members of the Executive Committee will be planning for the archives moving forward. ACE wants to be ready when the next moving day comes around. Any members interested in the Archives Committee, please contact History and Preservation Director David Dragun or Archives Manager Melinda Gaspari.
— David Dragun
ACE History and Preservation Director
Photo: Melinda Gaspari. View full-sized image.
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