In 1959, Sunny Delo—the wife of The University of Tampa’s then president—was exploring the basement of historic Plant Hall in search of tiles to help restore the ballroom fireplaces. What she uncovered was remarkable: original glass fireplace tiles that had been removed years earlier after being covered in heavy mortar.

Local tile professionals refused the painstaking job of cleaning them, so Sunny took matters into her own hands. She gathered a few friends—Martha Ferman, Bertha Fletcher, and Sue Klintworth—and they got to work. Over lunch and a swim at Bertha’s home, they devised a plan. That afternoon, armed with chisels and muriatic acid, they began the slow process of cleaning the tiles by hand.

What began as a small act of preservation quickly sparked something bigger. Their enthusiasm proved infectious, and more women joined in. These working gatherings became known as B.Y.O.M. parties—Bring Your Own Muriatic Acid. Eventually, the group grew to 27 dedicated volunteers.

At one of these gatherings, Ruth Hendry quipped, “We’re just a bunch of chiselers.” The name stuck—and The Chiselers, Inc. was born. By July 1959, they had formally organized, incorporating just a few months later in October.

What started with a single discovery and a determined spirit has grown into a vibrant organization of over 250 members, all committed to restoring and preserving the architectural treasure that is Plant Hall.