Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation450 The Landmarks BuildingOne Station SquarePittsburgh, PA 15219

Published for the members of thePittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation

No. 109

Spring 1989

Industrial Riverwalk

Tlte present Støtion Squøre.øreø.in tlte early _1890t, Tbe Clinton Fanzøoe, yitlt its sÁìp bridge crossing Cørson Sîreet, is to tlte left.At tbe bottom, cente4 is.ïhe C/iVøy.7eig/r(orlr9911titlt St. Mølaol4's Cl¡urcb, ubiilt stoid øbout tihere the Garewq Clippeirømþ is rou. Betøeen tbem is tlte Clinton lron lYorÁs.

Tlte Sltenøngo ingot naoldlowered into þløce (left)'Below, from left to rìgltt:Charles C. Arensberg, Ibr-rence M. Hunt, Sr., G. lY/tit'ne"t Snvden Donøld C' Ban'ham, ønd Axltzr P. Ziegle4

Jr. døing tbe fudicøtioncerenzorry on Decernber 15.

On December 15, 1988, Pittsburgh MayorSophie Masloff unveiled a 20-ton solidcast-iron ingot mold at Station Square in apublic ceremony to announce Landmarks'Riverside Industrial Walk. Also participat-ing in the ceremony were Mr. JonathanS. Spatz; CEO of Shenango, Inc., donorof the ingot mold, and Mr. ArthurEdmunds, trustee of the PittsburghHistory & Landmarks Foundation.The unveiling took place at the westend of the center parking lot nearthe Sheraton Hotel.

Sited prominently along theMonongahela riverfront of StationSquare and running 3,500 feet fromBessemer Court to the historic Law-rence Paint Building, the IndustrialWalk will display major artifacts ofour region's industrial heritagg in-cluding the iron and steel industry,river transportation, non-ferrousmetals, heavy machinery, and elec-trical manufacturing.

In his remarks on December15, Mr. Spatz said: "ForShenango this presentationdoes more than preservefor posterity a majorartifact of our heri-tage. This is livinghistory. We still makethis product whichhas been used in thesteel industry forover l00years. TÞnyears ago Americaconsumed 3-ll2million tons ofthese things eachyear. This year's consumption will be about2090 ofthat amount as a new technology

- the continuous caster - replaces ourproduct.

"So we have a great history of makingiron and steel products in the Pittsburgharea which is changing before our eyes. Thewaves of immigrants who came to this greatcounty and established the mighty Ameri-can steel industry in the nineteenth centurywould not recognize Allegheny County to-

day. Shenango is one ofthe only two re-maining blast furnace operations in thecounty, down from scores only a few de-cades ago.

" . . We are proud of our past history,proud to be part of a new industrial era in

Pittsburgh, and proud to donate thismold so that future generations of Pitts-burghers will take a strength from our

past to build a new and stronger indus-trial economy in our region."

The Shenango ingot mold is thelatest acquisition of iron and steel ar-tifacts by Landmarks; others includethe "J&L STEEL'sign, blast furnaceand coke oven artifacts from the LTVCompany, and the Bessemer con-verter from the A.M. Byers Companythat is already on display.

Educational programs will be de-veloped to interpret the RiversideIndustrial Walk as well as the his-tory of Station Square itself, whichwas the site of glassworks, roll-ing mills, and iron furnaces prior tobeing the location of the P & L ERailroad Terminal.

Landmarks projects a totalplanning and implementation

budget of $2 million, and aschedule of six years to com-plete the Riverside IndustrialWalk at Station Square.

The Walk is beingplanned under the leader-ship of an advisory com-mittee chaired by G.Whitney Snyder. DonaldC. Burnham, Charles E.Half, Eugene A. March,

and Larry G. Smith serve on the committee.The Walk is a public-private venture, withanticipated funding from the City of Pitts-burgh, the Commonwealth of Pennsylva-nia, and Landmarks. When completed, itwill become a major tourist attraction forPittsburgh and a unique educational fea-ture for Station Square. Landmarks DesignAssociates, master architects for StationSquare, is the consulting architectural firmfor the Riverside Industrial Walk.

. Ingot MoldDonor: Shenango, Inc. Cast-iron r119lds are usedto form the liquid steel from a fur'iace into aningot that can be rolled into whatever shape ishandiest for further rolling.

r 1907 Horizontal Steam Rolting-mill En"gineDonor: USX Corporation. This engine drove aset of rolling-mill stands at the Clairton Worksof U.S. Steel. ' ' :

. Blast Furnace Skip CarsDonor: RIDC. Skip cars, traveling like inclinecars in alternation, feed charges into the top of ablast furnace.

. Slag Car and ThimbleDonor: RIDC. Slag thimbles carry awayliquefied waste that floats on the iron at thebottom of a blast furnace.

. Electric Furnace L¡dlesDonor: RIDC. Such ladles carry hot metal to -

and molten steel from a steelmaking furnace.¡ Steam Forge Hammer

Donor: RIDC. Steam hammers use steam toraise the hammer, which falls by its own weight.Steel plants aimed at self-sufficiency, and forgedtheir own tools.

¡ Firrless l¡comotives (Bottle Engines)Landmarks purchase Fireless locomotivesreceived charges of steam from the plant boilerhouse, This was sometimes more economicalthan raising steam in the locomotive itself. Thesebelonged to the Mesta Machine Company inWest Homestead.

o Saddle-tankl¡comofiveDonor: Fred Okie, Jr. Carrying boiler water in atank set saddle-fashion on the boiler itselfallowed the locomotive to have a small tenderand thus to be quite compact. This locpmotive of1897 was at the Duquesne Works of U.S, Steel.

RIVBRWALKARTIFACTSThe following industriàl artifacts have beenacquired by Landmarks by donation or purchaseand will be part of the Riverwalk. Some have yetto be moved to Station Square.

¡ Bessemer Converfe¡Donors: Gerald Peckish and Arthur Silverman.The Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvaniaalso contributed $25,000 for its reconstruction.The Bessemer converter was typically used tomake steel from molten iron by means of an airblast that burned off impurities. This convertermade wrought iron, however, for the A. M. ByersCompany in Ambridge.

o Hot-metal Car (or Torpedo Car)Hot metal is molten iron, carried from the blastfurnace at about 2700 degrees. The body of thiscar rotated to pour the iron into a ladle thatwould carry it to a steelmaking furnace.

r 1905 Heroult Electric Steel FurnaceDonor: Crucible Steel Company of America.This was the first such steelmaking furnace in theUnited States. It employed the heat of an electricarc passing through the hot metal.

¡ Blasf Furn¡ce Bells and Hopper RingDonor: LIV Steel Corporation. Blast furnacebells at the top and bottom of the hopper ringadmit the charge of iron org limestong and coketo the top of the furnace without releasing itsheat and gases.

. Coke Oven Buckstay and DoorsDonor: LTV Steel Corporation. Coke ovensrefined coal into blast-furnace fuel at about2000-degree heat in the absence of oxygen. Thedoor slid upward to release the finished cokeafter 16 to 24 hours.

. 'T&L STEEII'SignDonor: LIV Steel Corporation. This sign stoodon a rooftop of the South Side Plant of theJones & Laughlin Pittsburgh Works.

o ltrot Strip Rolling Mill StandDonor: Weirton Steel Corporation. A row ofsuch stands gradually squeeze an orange-hot slabinto sheet steel.

. Vertical Blowing Stearn EngineDonor: Shenango, Inc. Blowing engines supplythe air blast that, after heating in stoves, is forcedinto the lower part of a blast furnace. The lV. P.Snyder Charitable Fund has provided a grant forthe purpose of dismantling and moving theblowing engine from Sharpsburg to StationSquare.

IPage2 PHLF News Spring 1989

ffiNIEV/S

We/corne New MembersMrs. W. C. AdamsJeffrey AuldDavid BaumbachMichael J. Berna¡dMs. Elizabeth BookerMr. & M¡s. Howard En DeanDonald K. FelsingMrs. Esther D. HartmanMr. & Mrs. George Herwig & Family

Featuríng Píttsburgh architecture, hístory, gardens, neíghborhoods, and índustry.Mark your calendars now and plan to attend all of Landmarks' specíal events. Themember who manøges to øttend the most 1989 events wíll receíve a free membershípin 1990.

General Fund ContributorsWe are grateful to the following members who generously contributedto our 1988 year-end appeal in support ofLandmarks'General Fund:Mrs. M.L. AaronC.L. Albright, Jr.Mrs. W. Harry ArcherCharles Covert ArensbergMrs. Robert F. BarmoreMiss Ethel E. BelcherMrs. Jeanne B. BerdikMrs. Kenneth S. BoeselCharles H. Booth, Jr.Ms. Elizabeth R. BradleyJ. Judson BrooksAnthony J. BryanPaul A. CrouchJohn P. Davis, Jr.M¡s. James K. EbbertArthur EdmundsMr. & Mrs. Richard EdwardsMrs. Iæonore R. ElkusMrs. James A. FisherCharles H. FletcherMrs. David GenterMrs. A. Douglas HannahMrs. Jean H. HarperRoy J. HeinsbergMrs. Robert F. HenningerMiss Judy Hoffmann

DonationsLandmarks wishes to thank the following for their gifts:Gannon University, Erig for five books relating to Pittsburgh-area historyand industry.Varina Craig McGowan and Maryjane Craig Cook of Bossier City,Louisiana, for a copy ofthe Roto Section ofthe Pittsburgh Press coveringthe Flood of 1936.David Brentzel of Pittsburgh, for a bronze plaque representing an industrialplant.

GOALS

LAh[DMARKSTo preserve the historic architectural fabric of greater Pittsburgh.

¡ Individual buildings. Neighborhoods. Historic commercial areas¡ Parks and public sculpture

To preserve major artifacts that contributed to the industrialdevelopment of the region.

. The Steel Heritage Task Force¡ The Riverside Industrial Walk at Station Squarer The Transportation Museum

To preserve major engineering monuments.

To educate the public about the history, the historíc architecture,and engineering of the region.

¡ Educational programs for students and for teachersr Publications. Tours, lectures, and exhibitso Visual media

To contribute to the new economy of greater Pittsburgh bydeveloping tourism based on our architectural, engineering, andindustrial history, and on the development of our histo¡ic riverfronts.

To continue a well managed, soundly financed organization toimplement these goals on a long-range basis.

PHLF News is a quarterly publication of the Pittsburgh History &Inndmarks Foundation.

Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr. . . . .PresidentLouise KingFerguson .....Editor/Executi'r'eDirectorMary Lu Denny . . . .Director of Membership ServicesEarl D. James . . .Director of Preservation Programs &. ServicesWalterC.Kidney. ......ArchitecturalHistorianandArchivistStanley A. l¡we . . .Director of the Preservation FundSusan K. Donley. . . . .Education ConsultantJeanHodak ......Artist

Ms. Peggy HuberHarry D. læClere & FamilyMr. & Mrs. Theodore MerrickE. J. PowellMs. Cynthia J. RussellMrs. Lois ScherderMs. Melinda SchnapR. Stewart Scott & FamilyJack R. Zierden

Thomas O. HornsteinPaul R. JenkinsStanley Karas, Jr.Mrs. Kenneth K. KearneyDavid KleerMrs- Alan IæhmanGordon MacVeanEugene A. MarchMr. & Mrs. John L. McCainGrant McCargoDeCourcy E. MclntoshMr. & Mrs. William B. MillardPhillip F. MuckRobert F. PattonMrs. Evelyn B. PearsonMrs. Nathan W. PearsonMrs. S. Raymond RackoffDan RooneyRichard M. ScaifeMs. Frieda G. ShapiraMr. & Mrs. Steven J. SmithG. Whitney SnyderMs. Jean L. SommerFurman South, IIIMrs. Ellen Carroll WaltonM¡s. Alan Wohleber

Sunday, March 122pmto4pm

DISTINGUISHEDLECTUREMr. Jonathan S. Lane, AIA, AICP, prin-cipal of Lanq Frenchman and Associates,and Associate Professor of Urban Designand Planning at the Harvard GraduateSchool of Design, will present an illustratedslide lecture on the highly successfulLowell, Massachusetts heritage preserva-tion project. The lecture will be co-sponsored by the Mon Valley Initiative andwill be held in the music hall of theCarnegie Library of Homestead. Prior tothe lecture, Landmarks will present its 1989

"awards of merit" to deserving individualsand organizations.

Søturday, April lSl0amto4pm

HANDS.ON HISTORYFESTIVALHistory comes to life at our grandestfestival ofthe year, where hundreds ofstudents from more than 60 area schoolsdisplay projects featuring Pittsburgh's his-tory and architecture.

There will be special events for the wholefamily to enjoy: you can ride in antique carsor on a horse-drawn carriage; build a strawtower, construct a gargoyle mask, or draw abuilding and add it to our "mainstreetmural'1 Try to identify some mysteryartifacts; join guitarist Frank Cappelli in asing-along of Pittsburgh folk-songs; watcha play about legendary steelman JoeMagarac; talk with student actors andactresses who are dressed up as famousPittsburghers from the past; and admire themany bridges entered in the "Great Pitts-burgh Bridge-Building Contestl' Allâctivities are free.

Saturday, May 62 pmto 5 pm

NEVILLE ISLANDA bus tour will bring us near the iron-smelting, foundry, and coking operations atShenango, Inc., and to a lock-and-damcontrol building planned for adaptive useand other places in this often-seen butlittle-visited island.

Wednesday, Msy 246pmtoSpm

LANDMARKS OF THET\ilENTY.FIRST CENTURYWhat new Pittsburgh buildings may becalled landmarks in the next century? Thisearly-evening stroll, led by Walter Kidney,will assess the chances of artistic immor-tality for some of our latest downtownbuildings. The opinions will be personal,and not all will agree.

Sunday, June 4I0am to 5 pm

NEVILLE HOUSEANTIQUES SHOWCome browse through antiques and collect-ibles displayed by 30 antique dealers fromWestern Pennsylvania, tour the historichouse in Collier Township . . . and buy,buy, buy!

Saturday, June 17l0amto4pm

AUTO FESTIVALJoin in the fun at the Station Square Trans-portation Museum Auto Festival. See theannual challenge "race" among some of thearea's best one-cylinder cars built in thevery early 1900s by Cadillac, Oldsmobile,and a few European manufacturers. Browsethrough the transportation memorabilia onsale under the train shed then climb aboardan antique automobile and don goggles andduster to have your photograph taken as

a souvenir!

Saturday, June 249:30 am to I pm

FLORA AND EAUNAJoin Richard Libertq Station Square land-scape supervisor, for an in-depth review ofthe plantings on-site. Then hop aboard ourbus for a visit to the Biblical Garden atRodef Shalom Temple in Shadyside and atour of the newly-designed natural habitatsat the Pittsburghz¡,o.

Wednesdøy, July 196pmtoSpmMURDOCK EARMSJoin tWalter Kidney for a sunset walkthrough the gracious residential neighbor-hood of Murdock Farms in Squirrel Hill.Here the homes are constructed of brick orstone ranging through Ceorgian to Tl¡dorRevival styles of architecture, dating fromthe 1910s and 1920s. We will enjoy lightrefreshments at dusk on the patio of one ofthe more picturesque houses in the area.

Sunday, September 32pmto5pm

UNCONVENTIONALVIEWS OF PITTSBURGHA city so picturesque in its terrain hasstartling outlooks and little-visited places,and here is a chance to see some of them.Topography, not architecture, is the subjectofthis bus tour: the hillsides, the valleys,the places passed above or beneath, per-haps never noticed, perhaps idly wonderedabout, perhaps unsuspected.

Sunday, September 172pmtoSpm

25 YEARS OFLANDMARKS HTSTORYThe Pittsburgh History & LandmarksFoundation has accomplished much in its25-year history. Join us on a bus and walk-ing tour reviewing where we werg where weare, and where we hope to be in the year2000. Visit Manchester with its ornateLiverpool Street houses, the Mexican WarStreets with 100-year old renovated rowhouses, Station Square, Carson Street, andseveral historic properties currently beingrestored through the Preservation Fund.

Sunday, October 152pmtoSpm

HOMESTEADRemembered for a giant steel plant and abitter labor dispute, West Homestead,Homestead, and Munhall are also places ofvivid commercial architecture and pros-perous residential neighborhoods withmany churches. A remarkable communitystood outside the Works' gates, and we willexplore it on a walking tour with staffmembers of the Mon Valley InitiativeGroup, the Homestead Economic Revitali-zation Committee, and the Steel IndustryTask Force.

November 10, 11, ønd 12

ANTIQUES SHOWThirty-one dealers from more than l0 stateswill display a fine selection of antiquefurniture, silver, china, and artwork atLandmarks' twelfth annual show.

Sunday, December 3I:45 pm to 10 pm

BARNESVILLE, OHIOVisit the Belmont County Museum, a23-room Richardson Romanesque man-sion, that will be regally decorated in tradi-tional Victorian splendor.

All members will be mailed invita-tions wíth complete detøils andtour/event fees. Call Møry LuDenny (471-580Ð for rcservøtions.

or

Lg64-LgïgT\ryENTY FIVE YEARS OFHISTORIC PRESERVATION

IN PITTSBURGH

Spring 1989 PHLF News Page 3

The Eørly Yeørs:

Re c o ll e cti o n s o f LÐndm ùrk sThis year mørks the 25th anniversøryof the Pittsburgh History & LandmarksFoundation. Chørles Arensb erg,our chairman, recalls the eørly days:

I remember a few things about the earlydays in the 1960s: Barbara Hoffstot'slaunching party at the Harvard-Yale-Princeton Club; Helen Frick's gift so thatJamie could write the Liverpool Streetmonographs and get us to a start on savingthat street; Dick Scaifg ArthurZiegler, and me walking throughthe doomed North SidePost Office, cold as ice inthe winter, water drippingthrough the magnificentdome. Dick Scaife and manyother contributors saved itfrom the bulldozer.

In those days it was alwayscrisis time. This old house wasto be torn down. This buildingdestroyed. Pittsburgh of thenineteenth century was dis-appearing before our eyes.Arthur wrote letters, proposedordinances, talked to Congressmen,Chuck Shane took photographs,Ellis Schmidlapp drew sketchesand plans and finally the news-papers got behind the wholePittsburgh movement. After allthere's nothing so appalling tomany as the thought of the Big BadBulldozer smashing an old landmark intodust and stone!

Arthur was so successful in creating thedrama and the scene that we were fullylaunched by the mid-1960s and actuallybecame a power in the city. We showed ourgratitude by renting a small space in theTriangle Building, hiring a secretary andpaying Arthur and Jamie a small stipend of$300 a month to continue the work!

The later years are another story foranother day, perhaps: Station Square andDick Scaife's generosity and the MexicanWar Streets, the Neville House and Walker-Ewing. Jamie continued to wield his penwhich in time became our sword. WalterKidney has followed his example. We con-tinued to follow Barbara Hoffstot's advice:"When in trouble or you need something,go to the top!"

I recall especially the "Ladies of Stone"and the Burtner House, two episodes in theearly story of Landmarks.

Ladies of StoneStanding on top of the

old Post Office and Fed-eral Courts on Smith-field Street at FourthAvenue were three heroicgroups of three ladieseach, sculpted by a little-known federal sculptor[Eugenio Pedon]. Each

group, 90 feet above the street, two onSmithfield Street and one on Cherry Way,consisted from left to right of the Spirit ofRailroad Transportation, for she carried asteam engine in her hand; in the middle thestanding lady representing Water Transpor-tation, for she carried a ship's rudder in herhand; and to the right a seated lady with anopen cylinder in her hand representing theSteam Engine.

The statues were not carved in muchdetail, since they were to look down on theplebs from 90 feet in the air, but theycarried a brooding sense of authorityand history.

It was clear in 1966 that the old buildingwas irretrievably doomed as a federal build-ing and so our attention turnþd to saving

Tlte lødies of Stone on aPost Office þedinaent

(below) ønd loøered ìnfroxt oftlte røined Post

Office øtriam (rig/tt).

the Ladies of Stong for what purpose wedidn't yet know

While we were pondering, the wreckingcrews were already at work: they toppledone set of three ladies into the rubble below,smashing them into bits of arms, legs, andheads. Congressman Fulton, we learned,had taken some heads for his collection inMt. Iæbanon. Vy'e got in touch with himand Mr. Gray of the GSA in Washington.Jim Fulton and Mr. Gray were very eagerand cooperative. Yes, they would allow us todispose of the remaining ladies, but it wasour responsibility to deal with the wreckerand the cranes to lower and transport thestatues. We made a contract with the Edgerestaurant on Mt. Washington to take oneset, and they did, installing one lady in adeep open well of the building and theother two on the street outside their restau-rant. One of the ladies lost her foot fromcontact with an errant automobile, but thethree remained at the Edge for years untilthe enterprise failed, at which time Land-marks offered to take two of them back toStation Square. They are now standing atthe Station Square entrance on CarsonStreet, happy at last in what will probablybe a permanent resting place. The ship's-rudder lady is still as far as we know atthe Edge.

We lowered the other remaining set to theground. We transported the lady with theopen steam cylinder to the HYP Club'scourtyard wall, and we moved the other twoto our sculpture garden at the Old PostOffice on the North Side, where they stillremain. The cost for this lowering andmoving was as I remember some $7,000.

The lady at the HYP Club had an inter-esting history. I started a solicitation ofmembers to defray partial cost of transpor-tation and installation in the courtyard.The members responded generously tomove her, soon naming her "Charley'sAunt." At one time the wrecker came to usand said he was going to take it from usbecause he had a contract to remove andkeep all artifacts and we had thwarted hispurpose. We outstared him however, andnothing came of his threats.

She sat for many years in the courtyard.While she was at the HYP Club one

winter's eve at Christmas time Miss Olliffe,

Tlte Steørn Engine Iød1 in tbe HYP cot¿rt!ørd.

the manager of the Club, observed abedraggled street figurg perhaps weaving abit from some seasonal imbibition, comeinto the courtyard, go to the statug kneeldown before her, pray a moment, crosshimself and leave, depositing the sum oftwenty-five cents at her base. The Madonnaof William Penn Place.

Finally, a more practical administrationin the Club decided they needed a smallfountain to replace her, and she was takenback by Landmarks. She sits now in lonereverie opposite the entrance to the GrandConcourse Restaurant at Station Square.Someday she and her two sisters should bereunited; they are at the Old Post Office onthe North Side, now the location of thePittsburgh Children's Museum.

The only remaining mark of the lady'sreign at the Club is a photograph of herwith a snow cap on her head, just inside thefront door.

Cbørles Arensberg øgbt) solicits øoneg îo san îl¡eLødie¡.

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Send Us Your MemoriesIn theføllíssue ofPH,Lß Nevrs, we plan to ínclude a specíal sectíon commernoratingLøndmarks' 25 years. We invíte our trustees, members, andfríends to wríte downtheir memoríes of Løndmarks and to maíl them to Louîse Fergusott" pHLF News,450 The Landmarks Buíldíng, One Station Squørq Píttsburgh, PA IS21g.

The Burtner House and rlte roads.

The Burtner HouseThe Burtner House in Harrison Town-

ship near Natrona Heights is a handsomePennsylvania stone house built about l82lby Philip Burtner and his wife, born AnnaNaegele (Americanized to Negley). One oftheir daughters became the wife of JudgeThomas Mellon, founder of the bankingfamily.

In 1968 the house stood on Burtner Roadjust off Route 28, which was being rebuilt.The engineers had in their final plansdecided that an off-ramp must go rightthrough the site of the house. When wearrived on the scene they had alreadydemolished a charming stone outdoor bakeoven on the grounds. Next to go in a weekor so was the house itself.

Responding to a call for help from anembattled group of preservationists in thearea, we called for a meeting with PennDotofficials; Arthur Ziegler led the fight to geta delay of demolition, and after muchdiscussion with the PennDot officials ("goto the top," says Barbara) he convincedthem that their plans were not set inconcrete, that the ramp could be relocated,and the house was saved. It is now beingmeticulously restored and maintained bythe same group of dedicated citizens whofought for it from the beginning.

Such are two incidents from the earlycrisis times. Several more I will recountfor our readers in the fall issue of thisnewsletter.

'ht'-.1'-,'f A'---¿l-'-,

Charles Covert llr"n"b"rg /

w

Chaírman

Page 4 PI{LF News Spring 1989

CarnegieLibrary

Preservation Scene

Braddock

I

The Braddock Carnegie Library of 1988was the first Carnegie Library in the worldto be dedicated. One of the less vivid worksof the individualistic William HalseyWood, it received in 1893 an annex bylongfellow, Alden & Harlow that createdthe first of three such institutions AndrewCarnegie built near his steel works: library,concert hall, and club in one package. Toeach of these three he gave an endowment,supposed to ensure the future. They did notsuffice; the Duquesne Library came downin the 1960s, the Homestead survivesthough with money problems, and theBraddock Library, without money andmuch-deteriorated, was closed by the mid-1970s. In 1975 the County requested thatLandmarks do a feasibility study; this con-cluded that the building could succeed,adaptively used for various communityfunctions.

The advent of the Braddock's FieldHistorical Society in I983 marked a turningpoint. The library section has been kept atIeast partly open since then, and contribu-tions for the ultimate rehabilitation of thewhole library have been coming in at an ac-celerated rate, so that by this January

$257,000 in grantsand donations hadbeen received, alongwith $22,000 worth ofdonated labor andmaterials.

The work is beingdone in three phases,of which Phase I is in

progress. This includes reconditioning theinterior apart from the music hall; much ofthis work is done already. Phase II will beexterior cleaning and repairs, and Phase IIIwill be renovation of the music hall.

On November 10, 1988 the Trustees ofLandmarks visited the Library. ThergRichard Mellon Scaife announced a chal-lenge grant of $35,000 from the AlleghenyFoundation, to be met equally from othersources, as well as grants totaling $2,500from two Trusteçs from Landmarks forrestoration in the main reading room.

Landmarks is not forgetting the othersurvivo¡ the Carnegie Library of Home-stead. It has not been as close to extinctionas the Braddock Library, yet it needs mon-ey, and Landmarks is working with its man-agement at fund raising.

Fourth AvenueHistoric DistrictAt the beginning of the year, nothingfurther had been heard of the proposedshopping mall between Grant and WoodStreets and Forbes and Fourth Avenues. Atthe end of December, Landmarks nomi-nated for a City Historic District an area,centered on the remarkable Fourth Avenuebank buildings, that has been a NationalRegister District since 1985. The effect ofsuch a City District designation would be tocreate a new protected area contiguous withthe present Market Square City HistoricDistrict. The National Register designationobligates the Historic Review Commissionto declare reasonable cause for consideringthe nomination valid as presented. This, inturn, freezes the issuance of demolitionpermits and permits for exterior construc-tion until the City Council can considerdesignation. In the meantime, propertyowners are notified.

The ordinance protects only exteriors,howevern and at most compels buildingowners, including the mall developers, toincorporate old facades within thèir newconstruction. Various urbanistic problems

- the heavy bridging-over of SmithfieldStreet, the presence or absence of street-level shops - thus remain.

St. Stephen'sEpiscopal ChurchAfter several postponements, Landmarkswas scheduled to testify on the question ofa large new church building on the propertyof St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Sewick-ley. Our position was that, from what weknow, we cannot support the buildingproject. Our primary concern was thatSewickley remain primarily a town ofhomes, and that its desirability as such notbe lessened by traffic and parking prob-lems, as they might be in the vicinity of theChurch, Furthermore, we were made awareof complaints about noise from within theSt. Stephen's property as a result ofitsactive schedule of youth programs. Wewould have to be reassured on all thesematters, we said, before we could supportan enlargement of the present facilities.

f we could be reassured, we stated thatan architectural solution might be found tomitigate the visual impact of this bulkyinstitutional structure on what is stillprimarily a residential street. We stated,however, that we would prefer to see reten-tion and rehabilitation ofthe 1890s doublehouse that now fronts on Broad Street andwhose demolition is called for in the plans.

Sewickley Parking GarageThere is controversy over Sewickley ValleyHospital's project to build a parking garageat the corner of Hill Street and BlackburnRoad. This would require the removal of l0early 2Oth-century houses, none of themdistinguished architecture but a very pleas-ant and well-kept ensemble. Thus far thetall Neo-Georgian hospital has coexistedvery well, visually at least, with an environ-ment consisting mainly of small houses.Even the parking garage in the next blockof Hill Street is as agreeable-looking as it ispossible for a parking garage to bg suggest-ing a readiness to be a good neighbor. Adouble block front ofgarages, however,would undoubtedly be a forbidding affairregardless of brickwork and planting. Thetrouble is that the hospital is in the wrongplacg and there is presumably nothing tobe done about it. Those who remember thehospital area of Oakland some 40 years agowill have been through the scenario before:hospitals coexisting with houses, residentialstreets their only means of access, housesyielding to one expansion after another,and - in Oakland's case at Ieast - a bleakand soulless cluster of big boxes where onecan remember homes. It is hard to deny ahospital the facilities it needs, but such aninherently expansive institution should notbe put among homes. In Sewickley's casethis garage should be rigorously proven tobe necessary for the proper functioning ofthe Hospital, with due regard for trafficand parking conditions in the neigh-borhood. Taninglimitations will seeminglystop Hospital expansion once a new wing isadded, assuming the garage is built. If so,there will at least be the consolation ofknowing that the end has come.

Immaculate Heart of MaChurchA fire in the main dome of the ImmacrHeart of Mary Church on Polish Hillcaused minor damage that was quicklyrepaired. The long-range condition oflcopper plating of the dome is unlikely,however, to be satisfactory. It has had twaterproofed with an outer coating thzdoes not respond well to the expansioncontraction ofthe copper, and is thus ¡very durable.

Mandated DrabnessFrank Lucchino, Allegheny County Cotroller, published a thoughtful article ilPost-Gazettq on August 27, on how brin this area are being marred visually þPennDOT and Federal Highway Admirtration requirements. Concrete barrierscyclone fences are mechanically imposeolder bridges in place of handsome,individually-designed pylons and balustrades, and while the bold superstructu:of the bridges remain inspiring from adistance the close-up view is dreary. Itappears that any deviation from thisutilitarian norm cuts off State or federafunding, and that imaginative solutionsthough compatible with safety standarcare not encouraged.

Kaufmann WarehouseReymer BuildingThe 1900-period Kaufmann WarehouseReymer Buiding, in the 1400 block ofForbes Avenue, have been carefully rem<deled as the Forbes Med-Tþch Center. Msha Berger's detailing within the openin¡tactful, and the fronts ofthe two brickbuildings are clean and handsome again

Smithfield Street BridgeThe recent closing and re-opening of theSmithfield Street Bridge has cast inevitabdoubts on the usefulness of the bridge,especially for a direct bus route out of thtTriangle. We notq though, that it was thenewer aluminum deck structure, not theoriginal steel trusswork, that led to theemergency closing and the subsequentimposition of a three-ton weight limit. Wtsuggest that the bridge be strengthened tofull capacity as soon as possible; thatconversion of the trolley side to a third ro¡lane be soeeded up; and that the bridge btsuitably painted to show up its structurallines and decorative portals.

The strengthened bridge with a third larmay serve to overcome a long-standingproblem of bus access from town to StaticSquare. When buses came over the Smith-field Street Bridge, the stop in front of theLandmarks Building was inoperativebetween 4:00 and 6:00 pm on weekdays. Apresent, the nearest outbound bus stop isabout 700 feet away from our corner onEast Carson Street. With a third lane wemight be able to have bus service from towat our door at all times.

As to painting the bridge: the aluminumpaint long in use never did the bridge visuejustice, and the present coat is in decidedlyshabby condition. Ifthe structure weregiven a positive color - not the ineffectuaAztec Gold so much in use around here bua positive color such as a medium blue-graor a reddish-brown, and if the portal detailwere painted in appropriate colors, this, thrcity's oldest bridge, would be a gorgeoussight. Right now it looks like a pauperorphan among our bridges.

400 Roup AvenueLast July, members of Landmarks touredthe Friendship area and many of us wereparticularly attracted to an uninhabited butwell-kept house of the 1900 period at 400Roup Avenue. At the timg the neighboringBaum Boulevard Dodge and ShadysideFord were looking for space for a parkinglot and had their eyes on the property forthe purpose, though it was zoned residentialand had houses near by. In August thedealerships bought the housg and accord-ing to residents stripped the house of itsdecorative work and boarded it up. Early inDecember, Frank H. McKean of ShadysideFord responded to an article in 1nPittsburgh, making the following points: l)the dealerships needed employee parkingspace; 2) the "run-down" house was of nospecial architectural or historic interest; 3)the mature trees on the lot would be kept;4) the nice new parking lot, once land-scaped, would look better than the house;5) it would be well to improve the neighbor-hood with even more landscaped parkinglots in place of rundown houses. Be that asit may, demolition of the house went onfrom late November through mid-December.

State HistoricPreservation ConferenceLandmarks will be a major participant inthis year's State Historic preservation Con-ference, to be held in Pittsburgh in April.Co-sponsored by the American FundofPennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Histori-cal and Museum Commission, the l9g9conference topic will be pennsylvania'sIndustrial Heritage.

All of our staff will be involved in lead-ing regional tours and moderating panels,and on the opening evening of the confer-ence, April 27th,Landmarks will host areception aboard a Gateway Clipper Fleetriverboat.

McDonald's on Main Street?South Siders are worried about theproposed construction of a McDonald's atCarson and 23rd Streets just east of theBirmingham Bridge. The Sourh Side'sChamber of Commerce, local Develop-ment Corporation, and planning Forumhave objected to a number of features:appearance; effect on neighboring homes;traffic congestion; and pedestrian hazards.The Zoning Board of Adjustment allowedthe project to go through last November,subject to 15 specified conditions, but theSSLDC and three individuals have filed anappeal, claiming that the ZBlfs granting ofan exception was wrong.

Byers HallOn December 13, the Community Collegeof Allegheny County hosted a party tocelebrate the reopening of Byers Hall, theByers-Lyon house of 1898 at Ridge andGalveston Avenues. This, one of the lastand greatest of the Ridge Avenue mansions,has been fully restored on the exterior andpartly restored inside, in the latter instanceparticularly on the ground floor. On theexterior, the arcaded porches were com-pletely rebuilt, and cast-stone detailing,whose color is expected to darken suitably,was installed to replace badly-weatheredbrownstone. Byers is to be used as a studentactivities' cente¡ and some dropped ceil-ings upstairs were necessary to accommo-date air conditioning, but the social roomson the ground floor were authenticallvrestored. Landmarks Design Associatåsadvised on colors and finishes for the entireground flooi and the upstairs stair andcorridor areas. A mantelpiece and furniturefrom our organization are on loan to thehouse. We appreciate the efforts of Dr.Frances Holland, a trustee of both theCommunity College and Landmarks, whoensured an effective role for our foundationin this restoration project.

n

Spring 1989 PHLF News Page 5

Neville HouseThe Neville House Auxiliary, with the helpof some very talented friends, has created a

hand-made quilt in an original designcalled Amelia's Garden. The full,/queen-size quilt, in pastel shades will be raffled as

a fund raiser for further restoration of theNational Historic Landmark house in Col-lier Township. Tickets for the raffle can be

obtained from Carol Bernabei (221-5797).

The drawing will be held at the Fourth An-nual Antiques Show at the Neville Houseon Sunday, June 4 (see page 3 for show de-tails).

The Neville House will be open to thepublic each weekend in June with membersof the Auxiliary and the Western Pennsyl-vania Committee of the National Society ofColonial Dames of America on hand topresent guided tours. Using the 1794 inven-torf the house will be furnished with as

much authenticity as possible using decora-tive arts borrowed from antique dealers,The Historical Society of Western Pennsyl-vania, and friends.

Old St. Luke's ChurchInterior restorations are complete at Old St.

Lukds Church in Scott Township, and therestoration committee hopes to begin workthis year in the cemetery where some of thetombstones are in need of cleaning and re-pair. Plans include the creation of a

Memorial Garden which will accommodatenew cremation burials.

Landmarks' members are invited to theannual Easter Sunday Sunrise Service atOld St. Lukds on March 26 at 6 a.m. Alsoremember that the church is available forweddings, baptisms, special services, andprivate tours. Contact Edward Reno (373-

2184) for details.

Burtner HouseRestoration plans for 1989 at the BurtnerHouse in Natrona Heights include re-framing and re-caulking the windows andreplacement of the bedroom floor. TheBurtner House Society also hopes to re-build the spring house in time for the An-nual Strawberry Festival, scheduled forSaturday, June 17. The festival will includea sheep-petting zoo, a blacksmith, spin-ning, weaving, and Colonial craft demon-strations . . and home-made strawberryshortcake!

Rachel Carson HomesteadThe Rachel Carson Homestead Associationhas reorganized its board of directors andrecruited over 12 new board members, un-der the energetic direction of its new chair-man, Dr. Joseph R. Panza. Highlights ofthe board's plans include the establishmentof a corporate membership program, therestoration of the Homestead of the 1907-

27 period of Rachel Carson's residency, anda wide variety of environmental programs.

8)2 Beech Aaenae, Allegbery lYest

Good Neighbor PolicyAllegheny General Hospital, 13 North

Side neighborhoods, and LandmarksPreservation Fund staff have been negotiat-ing with AGH to resolve several issues thatare of a major concern to North Side resi-dents regarding the Hospital's plans forfuture development, expansion, and growthon the North Side. A working agreementsigned on January 17 calls for the Hospitalto establish a board to investigate residents'concerns regarding new construction,height of new buildings, long-term space/land needs, a North Side EducationalProgram, a residential mortgage program,health assistance program for seniorcitizens, and neighborhood employment.The Hospital is thus instituting a good-neighbor policy with implications for therevitalization of nearby historic districts.

Our work with Allegheny County neigh-borhoods continues with success, helpingthe citizens and assisting currently in thepreservation of several dozen buildingsfrom modest houses to places ofdistinction.

Creative Preservation: Ensuring the Good Life of a CommunityOne ofthe useful, though dangerous, func-tions of historic preservation is to set up aninertia toward undesirable changes within acommunity. At its best, such inertia keepsbuildings and neighborhoods that we longhave known, though perhaps in a better,fresher state than we have grown ac-customed to. At its worst, such inertiaopens the preservationist to accusations offreezing the history of a place at some ar-bitrary bygone date, denying the naturalhistorical process and inhibiting desirableor necessary new development.

It is important to see historic preserva-tion as one special aspect of a whole proc-ess of ensuring the good life of a communi-ty. We need to understand more deeplywhat is good about the place where we live,its physical environment not least of all,and continue this good into the future. Topreserve a building, a block front, or aneighborhood is sometimes "indicated," touse medical jargon. But change will occtr,whether on the scale of an industrial parkor of a new business in a small shop. It isthe adaptation of a community to new de-mands or the seizure of a chance to improvethings. To control change, make it a posi-tive contribution to the community as agood and distinctive place to inhabit, is

preservation also. The public needs to havea sense of what will and will not contributein this way, and make itself heard. One un-precedented building, like the Cathedral ofIæarning, may dominate the skyline, standaloof, yet be accepted as part of the city.Another, like the large downtown mall ofwhich we have heard so much and so littlgmay prove to be an oppressive presencehowever many standard commercial ameni-ties it packages; if this is apt to be so, weshould sense it in time to protest, but at thispoint we approach it with an open mind.

Our educational courses, our tours, oûrpublications look largely to the remoterpast, and in any case depend mainly on ex-tant places for their illustrative content.They can serve though to impart a sense ofwhat a new building or other place can be:not by presenting an architectural vocabu-lary never more to be deviated from, but byshowing what architects and other design-ers have done for our community, the stan-dards they established and met. It is up tous to see that such standards will be main-tained, in whatever specific terms, in the fu-ture. This is, so to speak, creative preserva-tion, looking forward as well as backward,looking for permanent values to maintain.

Preservation Loan Fund ActivityCurrently, Landmarks ß involved innine møjor projects through its Preser-vatìon Laan Fund. A bríef desuþtíonof each is given here; îor fufther detailscontøct Stønley Inwe (471-5808).

Mechanic's Retreat ParkOn January 18, Arthur Ziegler an'd

Stanley Lowe of Landmarks presentedrepresentatives of the Mexican War StreetsSociety with a $2,500 check to establish amaintenance fund for Mechanids RetreatPark. The park, at the corner of BuenaVista and Jacksonia Streets, bears the origi-nal name of the neighborhood. It was laidout, to a design by local residents, on thesite of a demolished house donated byCharles Arensberg, Charles Arensberg, Jr.,and Walter D. Toole. In mid-January theplan was not fully executed, though trees

and shrubs had been planted, and the foun-dations for the brick walks, making an X inplan, had been laid. The City hasundertaken to light the park and installbrick walks within and around it. Formaldedication is to be scheduled on completionof the work.

l4l7 E. Carson StreetThe South Side t ocal Development

Company's historic office buildin g at l4l7East Carson Street underwent renovationfor commercial and apartment rentals witha $39,500 Preservation Fund loan. Thebuilding has been completely renovated,and the loan has been repaid.

901-05 Western AvenueWestern Avenue Development, a joint

venture of the Allegheny West Civic Coun-cil, the North Side Civic DevelopmentCouncil, and architect Joe Kranich, isrestoring three of the oldest buildings inAllegheny West's National Register HistoricDistrict, at 901-05 Western Avenue, forretail and office use. Property acquisitionwas obtained through an $80,000 Preserva-tion Fund loan. Restoration work is sched-uled to commence in the near future.

852 Beech AvenueManchester Citizens Corporation, with

the assistance and cooperation of theAllegheny West Civic Council, purchasedand is restoring a vacant National Registerproperty at 852 Beech Avenue for single-family home ownership. Restoration andacquisition funds of $40,000 were providedby the Preservation Fund loan . The restor-ation is 30 percent completg and the loanhas been repaid.

Federal Street and North AvenueThe renovation of commercial properties

in the Federal Street area of the North Side

was begun with a Preservation Fund loanof $100,000 to the North Side CivicDevelopment Council. The loan was usedto acquire the Masonic Temple at2-08,North Avenue.

Allequippa Place, OaklandOakland Planning and Development

Corporation received a $150,000 Preser-vation Fund loan to help write downmortgage interest and construction devel-opment for the restoration of 24 low-income housing units at Allequippa andRobinson Streets, known as AllequippaPlace. This $1.4 million development is alsoreceiving assistance from Union NationalBank and the Vira I. Heinz Endowment.

Braddock Carnegie LibraryBraddock's Field Historical Society

received a $2,500 pledge from the Preserva-tion Fund to help develop a fund-raisingstrategy and brochure for restoration of theold Braddock Carnegie Library.

Brighton Road, North SideLandmarks' Home Ownership for

Working People Program has expanded toinclude home ownership through housingcooperatives for low-income tenants. ThePreservation Fund will support the NorthSide Tþnants Reorganization, InCs plan torehabilitate buildings located on BrightonRoad and Brighton Place. These restoredbuildings will contain units of low-incomehousing cooperatives. Ms. Harriet Henson,NSTR executive director, explains that theproposed development cost will be approxi-mately $3.8 million, with predevelopmentcosts of $110,000 being provided by thePreservation Loan Fund.

Mechanic\ Retreøt inJønuøy. Bric6 sideualþ¡ ønd liglttitzg uere let to be in¡tølled.

Tlte Catbedrøl oflzørning fron Pantber Hollou.

Page 6 PHLF News Spring 1989

Education News

o Inservice Course OfferingsThis spring Inndmorks will be offeringExploring Architecture, a four-day, two-credit teacher inservice course taught forthe Allegheny Intermediate Unit by SusanDonley, on April I, 8, 15, and 22, 1989.

Susan Neff will be teaching the three-credit teacher inseryice coarse PittsburghHeritage agøin this summerfor Landmarksfrom June 2l-30. Susan Donley will leadthe three-credi¡ Hands-On History: AnIntroduction to Research Methods in LocalHistory teacher institute from July 12-21.Interested teachers can register for any ofthese three courses by calling the AlleghenyIntermediate Unit at 394-5761.

o Woolslaír ElementøryGìfted CenterPit tsburgh Public Schools' LVoolslairElementary Gifted Center continued ítst rad i l i o n of inv i t ing Land marks' educat ionconsultant Susan Donley to conduct work-shops on local history and architecture thisyear for a record 20 days! So far thís schoolyear Sue has helped afifth-grade class learnoral-history interviewing skills and createdil I us t ra t io ns of ne ighb or ho od architecturefor their annual local history magaTine,The Woolslair. For a third-grade classstudying archaeology, she led a workshopon "Interviewing an Artifact." Fi.fth-graders studying the future of transporta-tion looked back at the transportationsystems that shaped Pittsburgh's past.Finally, Sue presenfed Portable Pittsburghto firsl- and second-grade classes as inspira-tion for their Pittsburgh time-line mural -a one hundredth-birthday gift to EquitableGas Company, the school's businesspartner.

o Banksvílle Gifted CenterEighth grade students at the PittsburghPublic School's Banksville Gifted Centerare creating a school museum on the themeof energy in Pittsburgh- Susan Donley isassisting them with this project on behalf ofLandmarks. The students are toking amultïdisciplinary look at how Pittsburghhas affected and been affected by variousmethods of tapping all the sources ofenergy at its disposal throughout the years.Science and history themes will be inves-tigated in their reseørch and sciencecourses, and the results will be communïcated as part of their writing and art classesin the form of museum exhibits. Sue isvisiting the school three times during theyear-long project to teach research andmuseu m exh i b i t techniques.

o Archítecture ApprenticeshipFor the seventh year, Landmarks has beenspo ns o ríng ø¿ Architecture Apprenticeshipfor the Gifted and Tolented Education(GATE) program of the Allegheny Inter-mediate Unit. This year 20 tenth, eleventh,and tueAú grade students with career aspi-rations in architecture are taking advøntøgeof the opportunity this program provides toIearn basic principles of design, talk witharchitects on the job, visit important land-marks in Pittsburgh, attend undergraduatearc hit ec ture c I øsses a t Ca rne gie- Me I lo n,ønd solye such problems as designing abuilding to fill øn empty lot downtown anddetermining a plan for using vacant land atStation Square. The goal of the program isto help students decide if architecture is anappropriate career choice for them.

o Majesty Wins AwardJames D. Van Trump's öooÉ Majesty of theLaw has received a "Best of Category"oward from the ll'estern PennsylvaniaPrinting Industry Association, the categorybeing that of case-bound books in three orfewer colors and judgement being based onverbal content, graphics, and press work.The book was entered by Hoechstetter, Inc.,its printer.

o Thønk You Gay KowølLandmarks extends its sincere thanks tophotographer Gay Kowal, who has volun-teered her time and talents to Landmarkssince Septembef 1988. She has photo-graphed our tours, aritiques show, andmany of our preseryation loanfundprojects. Thank you, Gay.

tnnüÛnnúnüi]

lïolch the opening parade of antique cars ând school bands

See hundreds of student exhibits featuring Pittsburgh's history and architeçture

Tolk to student actors and actresses dressed as famous Pittsburghers from the past

Ride in antique cars or on a horse-drawn carriage

Build a straw tower

Construcl a gargoyle mask

Drow a building and add it to our "mainstreet mural"

ldenfify mystery artifacts

Join guitarist Frank Cappelli in a sing-along of Pittsburgh folk-songs

lTofch a play about legendary steelman Joe Magarac

Admire the many bridges entered in the "Great Pittsburgh Bridge-Building Contest

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Station Squäre Festival TentAdmission donation:$1.00 per person

AII activities free

Bríng the Whole Famíly

Festival n89

The 1989 Hands-On History Festival will bea day filled with fun for the whole family,celebrating Pittsburgh's history and archi-tecture. More than 60 area schools havealready signed up to exhibit studentprojects, and dozens of students are atwork building bridges that will be judged inthe "Great Pittsburgh Bridge-BuildingContest."

Members of Landmarks are encouragedto come to the Festival. Our staff can uselots of volunteer help throughout the day,so please cáll Mary Lu Denny (471-5808) ifyou are interested in lending a hand. CallCathy Broucek (471-5808) for exhibit regis-tration or bridge-building details.

t

, , ' "nïïliï,liii,Ijå'i,'îi|ìiå;i:l#':i,fr{iîi::î,:i,proiects that enrích the study of art, history, socíal studies, ønd

\',, literature , . . and generate lots of student, teacher, snd community' enthusiasm. The høndsomely íllustrated l6-page booklet ís íntended far elementøryúnd secondary school teachers, and mdy be ordered by cøllíng Shirlcy Kemmler (471-5808).

The projects feøtured in the booklet were developed by teachers and created by theír studentsfor the 1986 and 1988 Hands-On Hßtory Festivals sponsored by Løndmørks. There are recipes for

cørvíng øpple-head dolls; "readìng" arlîfacts, old photographs, and documents; creatíng timelínes;touring Allegheny Cemetery and "rubbing" tombstones; ínterviewíng cornmuníty resídents and

publíshíng oral hístoríesî creating a Monopoly game out of your.communíty; and lots more.Hands-On Hßtory Inspiration was funded by the Allegheny Conference on Communíty

Development and by Landmarks' Revolvíng Fund for Mucatiob establìshed through a grant fromthe Claude lVorthíngton Benedum Foundatíon.

Saturday, April 15

Spring 1989 PHLF News Page 7

tsburghTn.r. photos showLandmarks docent SusanMead delivering 200 yearsof Pittsburgh history in onehour, as she presentsPortable Pittsburgh.

Since Portable Pítts-burgh's debut in November1988, students, teaehers,and parents have receivedthe educational programwith enthusiæm. PortablePittsburgh has alreadytraveled to more than 40elementary schools in thePittsburgh area, andMaryLu Denny continues to receive phone inquiúesand reservations daily.

Portable Pittsburgh consists of an antique trunkpacked with artifacts representing six eras in Pitts-burgh's history: Forks of the Ohio; Fort Pitt; Gatewayto the lVest; Iron City; Steel City; and RenaissanceCity. The artifacts include dried corn, a rush lamp,potato masher, steamboat life saver, lump of coal,electric toaster, fireman's hat, and a computer chip.Thereis also a lfi)-foot scrolling timeline that vividlyillustrates how brief the white man's stay has been inthis region in comparison with that of the Indian.Teachers are provided with a guide that suggests ac-tivities with students before and after the docent'svisit, and students are given an outline of the Pitts-burgh Point at the conclusion of the program . . .and encouraged to draw their city in the year 2050.

You may reserve Portøble Pittsburgh for yourschool or community group by calling MaryluDenny (471-5808); the fee for the program is $35 persession, and there is a class limit of 35 people. Thereis no better way to pack in a lesson on Pittsburgh.

8:00 pm

2pm

7:30 pm

2pm

Docents for Landmarks'tour program andfor Portable Pittsburgh met in February toreview plans for the new year. Although noteveryone was able to attend the meeting, weare proud to acknowledge our 14 hardwork-ing docents who lead bus and walking toursof the city for convention groups, women'sclubs, schools, etc., and our eight loyaldocents who present Portable Pittsburgh toschool children.

Our tour docents are: Regina BellgMarion Campbell, Genie Ferrell, ConstanceFox, Mary Ann Graf, Frances HardigCarol King, Marianne Martin, AudreyMenke, Jean O'Hara; Francie Robb, Susan

2pm

Rosenberg, Albina Senko, and Helen Simpson.Docents for Portable Pittsburgh are:.

Maryanne Barnes, Jean Davis, RobertJacob, Alina Lao Keebler, Susan Mead,Lois Scherder, Art Weixel, and DorothyYounkins.

Our staff offers docent training pro-grams each fall, so if any of our membersare interested in presenting tours of the cityor Portable Pittsburgh, call MaryLu Denny(471-5808). All you need is a love of Pitts-burgh, a bit of time, a car, and we will helpyou become a Pittsburgh historian, archi-tectural critic, and confident speaker infront of any age group!

Artifux, docam¿nts, and þ botogrøp hs reþresenting200 yørs ofPittsbørgh's history are þacÁed in tbistreøsure cùe¡Í ønd then anþøcâed for tl¡e Por¡ablePittsbur gh s c /t o o / þ re t e ø t ø, i o ü.

Izft: Tlte six eras in Pittsburgh\200-year ltistoty tøAe øþ øboøt fourfeet of tlte 100-foot serolling timz'line, ønd tlte other 96 feet represent10,000 yeørs oflndian life in tltisregion. Below: Docent noles forPonable Pittsburgh.

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Events at the Historical Society oflVestern Pennsylvania

SATURDA" APRIL 1Donald R. Sack, dealer in fine Americanantiques, will present "Fakes and Forgeries" atthe Fourth Annual Museum Benefit.Admission by ticket only

WEDNESDAI' APRIL 5 7:30 pmMichael P. Weber will discuss "The Mellon-Lawrence Liaison" in the Spring læcture Series'.A Board Room with a Viewl'Admission: free tomembers of the Historical Society; $2 fornon-members

SUNDA" APRIL 9Film Series "Industrial Heritage of the Region"

SATURDAI' APRIL 29National History Day Regional Judging ofstudent projects

WEDNESDAI' MAY 3Richard O'Connor will discuss the glass industryof Western Pennsylvania in the Spring IæctureSeries 'A Board Room with a View" Admission:free to members of the Historical Society; $2 fornon-members

SUNDAI' MAY 7Film Series "Industrial Heritage of the Region"

SATURDAI' MAY27Monongahela River Cruise

SUNDA" JUNE 4Film series "Industrial Heritage of the Region"includes a panel discussion and clips ofdocumentaries in the making.

All lectures will be held !n the Historical Societybuilding at 433E Bigelow Boulevard in Oakland,Reserv¡tions may be made by calling 681-5533.

Yolunteers for Landmarks

Toar docents and Ponable Pitæbwgh docents fromleft to rigltt: Carol Kirg, Møriønne Mønin, HelenSimþson, BobJacoþ Albiøø Senâo, AødreyMenâe, Susøn Mead, Lois Sclterùr Art lI/eixel, øndMøryønne Børnet.

Plonning Your SummerVacatîon Alreody?Then sign up for Piffsåurgh Heri-toge, on eight-doy odventure inPifisburgh ?hol is repeotedlydescribed þ porticiponts os osummer wcotion in the cily.

Pîtlsburgh Heritage is offered toelemenlory ond secondory teocherseoch June. Sludenßrond theirporenls in grodes 4 lhrough I moysign-up îor Pít:lsburgh Heriloge eochJuþ There is o registrolion fee.

Coll londmods (412) 47r-58O8

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Page 8 PHLF News Spring 1989

Landmarks has receìved a matchíng grant of 85,300from the pennsylvaniø Hß-toricøl and Museum commíssíon for work towørd nomination of areas of westHomestead, Homesteød, and Munhall as ø Natíonat Regßter Historic Dístrìct.- ,yilf the exceptíon of the original Mesta Machíne company buìIdings, the

pløces of the Distríct wíll be non-ìndustrial; stores, civic buiîdìngs, pørksl ihurches,and houses of all kinds from mansions to símple worker,s homõs. iandmarks and-the steel Industry Heritage Task Force are attempting the preservøtíon of øn ímpor-tønt portion olthe U.S.S. Homestead Works as welL

The Dìstrict høs an irregular outline whose final boundaries are yet to be deter-mìned, but ít runs, very generølly, from seventh Avenue close to the llorkssoutheastward and uphíll to include the oldest parts of the three boroughs that havenot been too greøtly altered. In this area øre about 875 buítdíngs, ofwhtctt about 600øre expected to he found to be of a period ønd in ø condition tó contrìbute to thehisturtc and architectural character of the Distríct.

status as a Natíonal Regíster Dìstrtú would benefít the boroughs ín both tan-gìble and íntøngíble ways. Owners of commercial propertìes who r-enovøted hístoricbuíldíngs so as to maintaín or restore theìr characier iould be eligiblefor ínvest-m:!t try credíts of up to 20 percent. The Eighth Avenue merchønts might ølso beable-to benefit from the Nøtìonal rþust's Maín street program, whìch møkes avøríety of consultíng servíces avaìIable to commerciøl sfiõeß of hístoríc character. Inaddìtion, the effeú on the regutøtí9n and príde of the town should be very benefi-cial creatíng both a natíonal and local aiarenesi of thìs area as something remark-abþ a place to seq a place to live in.

Homesîeød, tlte Homesteød ll/orLs, ønd the Higlt Izael Bridge, c.

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The Homestead National llistoric DistrictThe Architectural lægacy

Should the Homestead National RegisterHistoric District come into being, it willframe and label a generally pleasant but notquite true picture. The houses, churches,and stores suggest a time of prosperity, butthe source of the prosperity, the HomesteadWorks, will very largely have vanished, andthe prosperity itself, for tlie time being, hasas well.

Yet, with suitable interpretation, the Dis-trict will be history in concrete form. Notmuch will survive from the pre-1892 period,the time before the lockout and strike; onlythe Bost Building, union headquartersduring the strikg will represent that earliertime and that traumatic event forcefully,aided we hope by preserved remains withinthe Works.

Rather, what is preserved will suggest thepaternalism and the stability of the lateryears, when a Carnegie Library, a SchwabIndustrial School, and even a Frick Parkwere donated to a more docile community,and the churches, first Protestant, laterethnig arose on the hillside.

Out of the prosperity, and out of theaccumulated savings of the not-so-prosperous, came some remarkable archi-tecture. In 1893 a horse drowned in the mudon Eighth Avenue, the main street of thethree boroughs; but, shortly thereaftercame paving, trolley service from Pitts-burgh, and a busy mercantile life expressedin the fashionable succession of architectur-al styles, of which Romanesque is mostnotable. The streets further uphill are inmany cases middle-class, with TenthAvenue a special surprise for its numerouschurches, some imposing, some little largerthan the adjacent houses. Here are a few:

St. Mary Magdalene Church, fronting onFrick Park, began in 1893 as a large exam-ple of the humdrum art of Frederick Sauer.It burned badly in 1932, however, and aninspired architect - the name is remem-bered at the church as Graves - took theold design as a basis'for a handsome recon-

St, Mary Magdølene Cúørclt, Homesteød.

struction with detailing in mellow red brick,red terra cotta, and sandstone: Victorian ineffect but with a richness and vividnesslacking in the original.

A short distance down Tenth Avenug atAnn Street, is St. Anthony's Church, toosmall to be conspicuous and a little too newto be a landmark, having been built in theearly 1940s. It is however a very refined andcharming Gothic work in dark red brickwith pantile roofs, probably by LamontButton.

At Dickson Street and Tenth Avenue inMunhall is St. John's Byzantine CatholicCathedral, built in 1903. Since a remodelingthe inside is extremely plain, but the exter-ior is the most intriguing work of themeteoric Titus de Bobula, who designed itin a blocky Art Nouveau of the kind fav-ored in Italy and Central Europe. It is amost extraordinary building for the Pitts-burgh area. The rectory down DicksonStreet, though simple and domestic besidethe Cathedral's towered facadg is a worthycompanion.

Further east, at Ninth Avenue andLibrary Place, is the St. Michael ArchangelChurch of 1927 by Comes, Perry &McMullen, a mixture of Italian Roman-esque and Moderne whose tower is crownedby Frank Vittor's statue of St. Joseph theWorker. This account by no means exhauststhe number of churches on or near TenthAvenug set among houses ofthe 1900period.

The District begins and ends on notes oflavishness. \il'est Homestead has the GeorgeMesta housq sprawling white ColonialRevival by an unknown architect: not themost sophisticated design imaginable but asumptuous housg looking down from itsDoyle Avenue perch, in the old industrialisttradition, on the yellow-brick MestaMachine Company.

At the Munhall end, the HomesteadCarnegie Library rises benignly over a littlehillside park. A building of 1896-98 byAlden & Harlow, its golden-brown exteriorhalf-conceals, half-reveals its triple functionof concert hall, library, and communityclub behind a facade not quite symmetrical.It is a gravely charming building, a work ofgentle architecture that for 90 years haslooked outward to the raw, crashing prag-matism of the Homestead Works. Beside it,once, was the Plant Superintendent'sHouse, a kind of chateau, but that went in1961. Tko division superintendent's houses,Shingle Style more or less, remain behindthe Library. This northerly part of Munhallwas owned almost totally by the CarnegieLand Company, which besides these pres-

tige dwellings built worker's houses re-garded as superior for their price.

The District will be not so much a text-book example of an industrial town as asmall town that developed on a vigorouseconomic base, and that expressed itsprosperity in architecture that in some casesis distinguished. A future in commerce andlight industry will gradually seem more of areality than the heroic industrial past,which will survive in a few preserved struc-tures, artifacts, and displays, and in fadingmemories. The District will be judged on itsmerits as a present-day commercial andresidential area. As such it should be attrac-tivg particularly if investment tax creditsand the appeal of District status stimulaterestoration and preservation activity.

:: I *,i'åF r3\ll'

Bost Bailding Manbøtl.

Steel Task ForceThe Steel Industry Heritage Task Force hasselected Ms. Jo L. Harper as its new chair-woman, following David Bergholz's moveto Cleveland to head the Gund Foundation.Ms. Harper is director of the Mon ValleyInitiativg a Homestead-based, non-profitorganization which focuses on assisting lo-cal community development corporationsand municipalities in the Mon Valley intheir economic revitalization efforts.

Tilsk Force priorities for the new chair-woman and members include negotiationswith the Park Corporation, owners of thehistoric Homestead Works, to allow TaskForce consultants and committee membersto condr.rct formal feasibility studies for thepotential reuse of portions of the CarrieFurnaces and Homestead Works as a

historic site; expanded community liaisonactivities to inform citizens, borough andcounty officials, state and federal legisla-tors of the values of the project to thecommunity; and extensive fundraising.

The current federal fiscal year appropria-tion of $350,000 to the Task Force will beused to support:

¡ architectural/engineering analysis ofstructures and buildings, which will be car-ried out by Landmarks Design Associates;. historical research and photographicdocumentation of the Homestead Worksand numerous other historic steel sites inthe region, to be carried out by the HistoricAmerican Engineering Record (NPS); and

¡ financial and marketing analysis of theproposed historic site.