Town History Award Appraisal

Custom Laminated Newspaper Article Plaque - 'Your Town: A Historic Honor'

This is a rectangular wall plaque featuring a laminated color reproduction of a newspaper article from 'Your Town', titled 'A HISTORIC HONOR'. The article, dated Monday, December 13, 2014, details an award given to Irv Seltzer by the Blair County Historical Society for the restoration of 'The Columns' building in Altoona. The item is constructed with a thick beveled wood-grain base, likely MDF with a mahogany-finish laminate, measuring approximately 12 by 18 inches. The article itself is printed on a gold-toned metallic or high-gloss parchment-style paper, which is then heat-sealed under a protective transparent laminate layer with a thin gold-foil border. The central content includes photos of the historic building interior and Mr. Seltzer, with three columns of serif text. The condition appears fair to good; there is visible spotting or foxing underneath the laminate, particularly on the left side and top of the paper insert, suggesting moisture exposure or adhesive degradation over time. The wood-grained edge shows minor wear consistent with display. This type of commemorative plaque was common in the early 21st century for preserving local news achievements. The craftsmanship is commercial-grade, typical of professional framing or plaque-mounting services like those provided to businesses and award recipients.