Earlier this week, I visited the archives at the University of Pennsylvania to spend time with the papers of Samuel Yellin, one of the great ironworkers of the early 20th century. Known for his uncompromising artistry and devotion to craft, Yellin left behind a body of work that continues to define the visual character of cathedrals, universities, and civic spaces across the country.
What I didn’t expect to find—but did—was a thick file of correspondence between Yellin and John O’Hare, the contractor for the Sacred Heart Church in Jersey City. In over 150 pages of letters, they discussed in fine detail the hardware for doors, windows, and the chapel gates—elements that still grace the space today. Even more remarkably, several original hand drawings were preserved, offering not just technical guidance, but insight into a way of building that valued beauty and permanence as much as function.
This kind of legacy reminds us why we do the work we do.
I was also delighted to find a treasure drove of drawings unrelated to the Sacred Heart that showed Yellin’s whimsical side.
At JARIC, we’re not simply redeveloping historic structures—we’re restoring a continuity of heritage and craft. These archival discoveries aren’t just historical footnotes; they’re blueprints for how we think about design, materials, and community. As we move forward with Sacred Heart and other projects, that sense of intentionality—the conversation between past makers and present stewards—will continue to shape every detail, from the ironwork to the landscaping.
It’s not nostalgia. It’s respect—for the hands that built before us, and for the generations who’ll walk through these doors.