Ayer Building
By Larry Peters, Copper Development Association Project Manager & Architectural Applications Specialist

Walking around older sections of Philadelphia, I expected to find lots of interesting Colonial sites, as well as buildings from the early decades of our country.  After all, Philly?s the home of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.  I actually intended to post a photo of the Liberty Bell (after all, it?s bronze), but I couldn?t get close because of all of the other tourists.
However, I think some of the more interesting gems are ones you?re not really looking for but stumble across.
Just a little to the south of Independence Hall lies Washington Square, one of the original five public squares laid out by city founder William Penn in the 1600s.  It has a nice fountain and lots of trees including one grown from a seed that was taken to the moon.  It?s altogether a pleasant place to spend a cool spring afternoon. To the west of the Square is the Ayer Building, formerly the headquarters of the nation?s first major advertising companies N.W. Ayer & Sons.  Anyone recall the U.S. Army?s ?Be all you can be!? pitch" It?s an art deco masterpiece, fronted with a particularly impressive set of bronze doors.

Pay attention to the scenes depicted on each of the polished bas-relief panels.  They pay tribute to various communications trades and skills associated with the advertising business.

Look closely at the color tone of the second from bottom ...