25 October 2016
Göran R Buckhorn writes:
The Philadelphia newspapers and some weekly coloured magazines report that Prince Albert II of Monaco has bought the Kelly family home in 3901 Henry Avenue in East Falls, Philadelphia. This is where his mother, Grace Kelly, film star and later Princess of Monaco, grew up. The 2 ½-story, 4,000-square-foot Georgian house was purchased at a price of $754,000, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. When it went on the market in July, it was listed for $1 million.
Prince Albert told the People magazine that he plans to turn the brick house, which is a Pennsylvania historical landmark, into a museum and use parts of the house for the Prince Albert II Foundation.
The house was built in 1929 by Jack Kelly, Snr., Olympic gold medallist in the singles in 1920 and the doubles in 1920 and 1924. He won in the doubles with his cousin, Paul Costello.
From a rowing history point of view, HTBS hopes that parts of the museum in the old Kelly home will be dedicated to the rowing adventures of Jack Kelly, Snr., and Jack ‘Kell’ Kelly, Jnr., Grace Kelly’s brother, a Diamond Challenge Sculls winner in 1947 and 1949. Kell also took a bronze medal in the singles at the 1956 Olympic Games.
Hear The Boat Sing 
Goran,
Perhaps a missive from your good self to HRH might persuade Prince Albert to create such a museum to the sport his maternal family held so dear.
As a matter of fact, Bailey, I do have HSH’s address, as Mystic Seaport, the publisher of Dan Boyne’s book “Kelly: A Father, A Son, An American Quest”, received a very nice note from the Court in Monaco after Prince Albert had received a copy of the book about his grandfather and uncle – I was the editor of the book.