Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand...

24
Published for the members of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation No. 180 January 2015 Nonprofit Org. U. S. Postage PAID Pittsburgh, PA Permit No. 598 Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation 100 West Station Square Drive, Suite 450 Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1134 www.phlf.org Address Service Requested P H L F N ews Renewing Communities; Building Pride In this issue 6 Creating a Vital, Distinctive Downtown 12 Moments in a Fifty-Year Story 24 Events in 2015 Editor’s Note So much was accomplished in 2014 through the work of PHLF and its subsidiaries as a result of the involvement and dedication of our trustees, staff, volunteers, and members. Highlights of 2014 include securing tax credits from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency in support of The Landmarks Development Corporation’s $10.5 million Falconhurst Neighborhood Restoration Development Program in Wilkinsburg (cover story); obtaining a grant of $700,000 from the U.S. Treasury Department to augment Landmarks Community Capital Corporation’s loan fund (page 3); assisting with key renovation projects in Manchester and Bloomfield-Garfield (pages 3 and 4) and with Neighborhood Partnership Programs in Manchester, Wilkinsburg (page 3) and the City of Butler (page 5); continuing our work in Downtown Pittsburgh to restore façades and to adapt the former Thompson’s Building to house an urban market (pages 6 and 7); bringing the leaders of five nationally recognized preservation groups to Pittsburgh to meet with our trustees (page 9); awarding $95,710 in matching grants to twelve historic religious properties (pages 14 and 15); awarding Historic Landmark plaques to seventeen architecturally significant sites (pages 16 and 17); hosting a memorable Scholarship Celebration and raising nearly $84,000 (pages 18 and 19); and involving more than 12,800 people in educational programs, including the Landmarks Preservation Resource Center attendance (pages 20 and 24). We begin the new year with energy, enthusiasm, and a firm belief in our ability to improve the lives of people by renewing communities and building pride throughout the Pittsburgh region. The Landmarks Development Corporation (LDC), a for-profit subsidiary of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation (PHLF), is undertaking a new development initia- tive in Wilkinsburg, after successfully completing the renovation of the Crescent Apartments and Wilson House in December 2011. The Crescent and Wilson, with their twenty-seven apartments fully occupied—and seven renovated single-family houses, new com- munity gardens and greenspaces, and the Landmarks Preservation Resource Center––have transformed Wilkinsburg’s National-Register-listed Hamnett Place neighborhood into a lively, desirable place to live. “This new development program in Wilkinsburg will create a total of thirty- three more affordable housing units in restored and newly constructed build- ings,” said LDC President Michael Sriprasert. The Falconhurst apartment building at 724 Kelly Avenue, adjacent to the Crescent Apartments and vacant for more than fifteen years, will be renovated, along with 520 Jeanette Street, 855 Rebecca Avenue, and 608 Mulberry Street. Two new townhouses will be constructed at 604 and 606 Mulberry Street. “The $10.5 million development will utilize low-income housing tax credits, awarded to LDC in June 2014 by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), and federal historic rehabilita- tion tax credits,” said Michael. “We were pleased to win this competitive tax-credit project for the continued restoration of this Wilkinsburg neigh- borhood,” he added. “These low-income housing tax credits are the best investment tool available to us to support the construction of affordable rental housing across Pennsylvania,” said PHFA Executive Director Brian A. Hudson, Sr. “We are pleased that PHFA is funding a second major development by PHLF/LDC in Wilkinsburg.” Funding for this development is complex. LDC is grateful to the many agencies that support its work in a variety of ways, and in particular to Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Economic Development Director Dennis Davin and his team. “This award recognizes the signifi- cance of our historic architecture as an anchor for community revitalization,” said Wilkinsburg Mayor John Thompson. “PHLF and LDC are committed to achieving economic development by combining restoration and new construction to strengthen historic neighborhoods,” said Jason Cohn, a Wilkinsburg resident. “Their investment is a big billboard to the outside world Built in 1904 as the Star Apartments, the Falconhurst at 724 Kelly Avenue will be resurrected from a state of near-collapse to house eighteen afford- able apartments, as part ofThe Landmarks Development Corporation’s $10.5 million restoration and development program in Wilkinsburg. LDC Awarded Tax Credits for Falconhurst Neighborhood Restoration Development Program in Wilkinsburg (Continued on page 2) An interior view (left) and rear view (above) of the Falconhurst in the fall of 2014 The Crescent, from Kelly Avenue

Transcript of Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand...

Page 1: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

Published for the members of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation No. 180 January 2015

Nonprofit Org.

U. S. Postage

PA I D

Pittsburgh, PA

Permit No. 598

Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation100 West Station Square Drive, Suite 450Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1134www.phlf.org

Address Service Requested

PHLF NewsRenewing Communities; Building Pride

In this issue6 Creating a Vital, Distinctive

Downtown

12 Moments in a Fifty-Year Story

24 Events in 2015

Editor’s NoteSo much was accomplished in 2014through the work of PHLF and itssubsidiaries as a result of the involvementand dedication of our trustees, staff,volunteers, and members. Highlights of2014 include securing tax credits from thePennsylvania Housing Finance Agency insupport of The Landmarks DevelopmentCorporation’s $10.5 million FalconhurstNeighborhood Restoration DevelopmentProgram inWilkinsburg (cover story);obtaining a grant of $700,000 from theU.S. Treasury Department to augmentLandmarks Community CapitalCorporation’s loan fund (page 3);assisting with key renovation projectsin Manchester and Bloomfield-Garfield(pages 3 and 4) and with NeighborhoodPartnership Programs in Manchester,Wilkinsburg (page 3) and the City ofButler (page 5); continuing our work inDowntown Pittsburgh to restore façadesand to adapt the former Thompson’sBuilding to house an urban market(pages 6 and 7); bringing the leaders offive nationally recognized preservationgroups to Pittsburgh to meet with ourtrustees (page 9); awarding $95,710in matching grants to twelve historicreligious properties (pages 14 and 15);awarding Historic Landmark plaques toseventeen architecturally significant sites(pages 16 and 17); hosting a memorableScholarship Celebration and raisingnearly $84,000 (pages 18 and 19); andinvolving more than 12,800 people ineducational programs, including theLandmarks Preservation ResourceCenter attendance (pages 20 and 24).We begin the new year with energy,

enthusiasm, and a firm belief in ourability to improve the lives of peopleby renewing communities and buildingpride throughout the Pittsburgh region.

The Landmarks DevelopmentCorporation (LDC), a for-profitsubsidiary of the Pittsburgh History& Landmarks Foundation (PHLF), isundertaking a new development initia-tive in Wilkinsburg, after successfullycompleting the renovation of theCrescent Apartments and Wilson Housein December 2011. The Crescent and

Wilson, with theirtwenty-sevenapartments fullyoccupied—andseven renovatedsingle-familyhouses, new com-munity gardens andgreenspaces, andthe LandmarksPreservation

Resource Center––have transformedWilkinsburg’s National-Register-listedHamnett Place neighborhood into alively, desirable place to live.

“This new development program inWilkinsburg will create a total of thirty-three more affordable housing units inrestored and newly constructed build-ings,” said LDC President MichaelSriprasert. The Falconhurst apartmentbuilding at 724 Kelly Avenue, adjacentto the Crescent Apartments and vacantfor more than fifteen years, will berenovated, along with 520 JeanetteStreet, 855 Rebecca Avenue, and 608Mulberry Street. Two new townhouseswill be constructed at 604 and 606Mulberry Street.

“The $10.5 million development willutilize low-income housing tax credits,awarded to LDC in June 2014 by thePennsylvania Housing Finance Agency(PHFA), and federal historic rehabilita-tion tax credits,” said Michael. “Wewere pleased to win this competitivetax-credit project for the continuedrestoration of this Wilkinsburg neigh-borhood,” he added.

“These low-income housing tax creditsare the best investment tool availableto us to support the construction ofaffordable rental housing acrossPennsylvania,” said PHFA ExecutiveDirector Brian A. Hudson, Sr. “We arepleased that PHFA is funding a second

major development by PHLF/LDC inWilkinsburg.”

Funding for this development iscomplex. LDC is grateful to the manyagencies that support its work in avariety of ways, and in particular toAllegheny County Executive RichFitzgerald and Economic DevelopmentDirector Dennis Davin and his team.

“This award recognizes the signifi-cance of our historic architecture as ananchor for community revitalization,”said Wilkinsburg Mayor JohnThompson.

“PHLF and LDC are committedto achieving economic developmentby combining restoration and newconstruction to strengthen historicneighborhoods,” said Jason Cohn, aWilkinsburg resident. “Their investmentis a big billboard to the outside world

Built in 1904 as the Star Apartments, the Falconhurst at 724 Kelly Avenue will be resurrected from a state of near-collapse to house eighteen afford-able apartments, as part of The Landmarks Development Corporation’s $10.5 million restoration and development program in Wilkinsburg.

LDC Awarded Tax Credits for FalconhurstNeighborhood Restoration DevelopmentProgram inWilkinsburg

(Continued on page 2)

An interior view (left) and rear view (above)of the Falconhurst in the fall of 2014

The Crescent, fromKelly Avenue

Page 2: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

that this neighborhood is safe anda place to be. This next phase ofwork will solidify the great invest-ment that has already been madeby PHLF, LDC, PHFA, AlleghenyCounty, TriState Capital Bank,and many others, and will pushrevitalization efforts further intothe Borough,” he added.

With this new developmentprogram, PHLF’s total investmentin Wilkinsburg will exceed $23million. The Falconhurst Neigh-borhood Restoration DevelopmentProgram will take at least fifteenmonths to complete. “Work in2015 will proceed on all sites butmay need to be phased accordingto labor and material deliveries,”said Tom Keffer, Property andConstruction Manager atPHLF/LDC. LDA Architectsis the project architect and SotaConstruction Services will be thegeneral contractor.

PHLF. . .• is governed by a board of 25community leaders;

• has had a balanced budget in each yearof operation since its founding in 1964;

• provides leadership and assistance tolocal, state, national, and internationalorganizations;

• provides financing and technicalassistance through a nonprofitsubsidiary, Landmarks CommunityCapital Corporation (LCCC); and

• provides consulting services anddevelops real estate through a for-profitsubsidiary, The Landmarks DevelopmentCorporation (LDC), and throughvarious limited partnerships.

Continue GivingYour money is put to good use and theneed is great. Contributions in 2015will help PHLF:

• continue neighborhood and downtownrevitalization efforts;

• continue our Historic ReligiousProperties program;

• offer educational programs to morethan 10,000 people;

• offer programs at the LandmarksPreservation Resource Center inWilkinsburg;

• underwrite PHLF News and monthlyE-newsletters.

Pittsburgh History &Landmarks FoundationRenewing Communities; Building Pride

Through the place, we renewthe spirit of the people.Historic preservation

can be the underlying basisof community renewal,human renewal,

and economic renewal.Preservation is not some isolated

cultural benefit.—Arthur Ziegler, PHLF President

PHLF’s MissionThe Pittsburgh History & LandmarksFoundation (PHLF) works withina 250-mile radius of Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania, to identify and savehistorically significant places; renewhistoric neighborhoods, towns, andurban areas; preserve historic farmsand historic designed landscapes; andeducate people about the Pittsburghregion’s rich architectural heritage.

Visit PHLF’s offices and two librarieson the fourth floor of The LandmarksBuilding at Station Square.

2 PHLF News January 2015 ADVOCACY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EASEMENTS EDUCATION & RESEARCH RURAL PRESERVATION

Site map for the FalconhurstNeighborhood RestorationDevelopment Program

LDC Awarded Tax Credits for Falconhurst NeighborhoodRestoration Development Program inWilkinsburg (Continued from page 1)

520 Jeanette Street (center) willbe renovated to house two familyapartments. PHLF renovated516, 522, and 524 Jeanette in2008 and 517 Jeanette in 2011.

A grand brick building withwrought-iron balconies,855 Rebecca Avenue will berenovated to house eightapartments.

608 MulberryStreet (left) will berenovated to housethree family apart-ments. Two newtownhouses willbe constructed inthe vacant lots at604–06 MulberryStreet, across fromSt. James RomanCatholic Church.

PHLF President Arthur Ziegler lead a tour of JeanetteStreet inWilkinsburg during the Preservation Forum(see page 9).

PHLF continues to have a major impact on Wilkinsburg.We appreciate your input and investment in all areas,

from bricks and mortar to education.––Ralph Yearick, Board President,

Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation(October 26, 2014)

Page 3: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

HISTORIC LANDMARK PLAQUES HISTORIC RELIGIOUS PROPERTIES MEMBERSHIP & GIVING SPECIAL PROJECTS PHLF News January 2015 3

The preservation loan fund administeredby Landmarks Community CapitalCorporation (LCCC), a nonprofitlending subsidiary of PHLF, received abig boost in September 2014 when theU.S. Treasury Department awarded ita $700,000 grant. “This is a great voteof confidence in our work,” said LCCCPresident Michael Sriprasert. “Only38.2% of the funds requested wereawarded in this national competitionand our application was funded in full.”

Designated a Community DevelopmentFinancial Institution (CDFI) by the U.S.Treasury Department in 2012, LCCC

is able to provide credit and technicalassistance to borrowers in underservedand distressed target markets. LCCCfocuses primarily on providing realestate funding to historic preservation-related projects throughout thePittsburgh region.

Established in 2007, LCCC buildsupon the experience and strength ofPHLF, which has lent over $18 millionto real estate development projectsin the Pittsburgh region since 1985.“We have the entire process in placefor preservation,” said Michael, “fromworking with residents and community

U.S. Treasury Awards LCCCEconomic Development Grant

PNC FoundationFunds LandmarksFellows ProgramFor the fourth consecutive year, PNCFoundation is funding the LandmarksFellows Program. “This allows severalgraduate students from CarnegieMellon University’s Heinz Schoolof Public Policy & Management tointern with PHLF during the academicyear or summer,” said Project ManagerKaramagi Rujumba.Yanjun Dong, Vita Ismael,

Julianna Zhuxin Jia, Tulsi Lakhwani,Jiajing Mo, and Tyler Poliquin, whointerned at various times betweenSeptember 2013 and May 2015,helped PHLF create programming forthe Landmarks Preservation ResourceCenter (see page 24) and helpedLCCC develop the next steps in arestoration plan for Manchester bymapping tax delinquent and vacantproperties and analyzing marketstrengths.“Since the program’s inception

in 2011–12, sixteen graduate studentshave interned here,” said Karamagi,“and our organization has beenenriched by their intelligence,technical and analytical skills, anddiverse, youthful points of view.”

ManchesterThe cover story of the December 2013issue of PHLF News announced thelaunch of “Manchester Renaissance II,”a neighborhood renewal program initi-ated by Manchester Citizens Corporation(MCC) that included the renovationof 1401 Columbus Avenue and 1109Liverpool Street as mixed-use propertiesoffering office and residential space.

Landmarks Community CapitalCorporation (LCCC), a nonprofitlending subsidiary of PHLF, provideda $292,000 loan and an $80,000 grantto assist in Renaissance II. “The $80,000grant was made possible by TriStateCapital Bank,” said LCCC PresidentMichael Sriprasert, “who is partneringwith us in both Manchester andWilkinsburg through the NeighborhoodPartnership Program (NPP) of thePennsylvania Department of Communityand Economic Development.” PNCBank, The Heinz Endowments, NorthsideLeadership Conference, and RiversCasino are also providing essentialfunding support to the Renaissance IIinitiative.

1109 Liverpool Street and 1401Columbus Avenue now includelive/work spaces on the first floor

and quality residentialunits on the upper floors.Both will be occupiedby February 2015.

At the end of December2014, MCC ExecutiveDirector LaShawnBurton-Falk announcedthat 1109 Liverpool Streetwas to be sold to twoengineers who are movingfrom Albany, New York,to Pittsburgh. They willhave an office on the firstfloor of the building,

live on the second floor, and rent thethird floor.

Courtney Centner and NathanDavidson, who live in the MexicanWar Streets, purchased 1401 ColumbusAvenue from MCC on December 5,2014. Their design firm, Little Kelpie,will occupy the first floor and they willbe renting the upper-story apartments.“The building is a natural fit for us andwe are able to walk to work,” Courtneysaid. “With its commanding position onthe corner and so many of its originalarchitectural details, we loved it imme-diately. The renovation has modernizedthe interior spaces but left the historiccharacter intact.”

“The Renaissance II program isshowing that young professionals areeager to purchase renovated propertiesin Manchester at market rates for officeand residential use,” said LaShawn. “Thisprogram is strengthening our neighbor-hood and bringing businesses back.”

Downtown PittsburghThe Centennial Building at 241 FourthAvenue in Downtown Pittsburgh hasa new owner and is being renovated,thanks to two loans from LCCC.

As a result of LCCC’s $295,000 loanmade in December 2013, Tesla RealEstate Holdings refinanced an existingmortgage and renovated the interior ofthe three-story building for its tenant,University Bound, Inc., a rapidly grow-ing on-line marketing firm. The tinceilings were restored, new glass anddoors were installed, the mechanicaland electrical systems were upgraded,and a new bathroom was added.LCCC partnered with the UrbanRedevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh,who provided second-mortgage financingfor $250,000, in addition to LCCC’sfirst mortgage.

LCCC’s $50,000 loan, to be fundedin the first quarter of 2015, will be usedto clean and restore the façade.

The Centennial Building is includedin the Fourth Avenue National RegisterHistoric District. In Pittsburgh’sLandmark Architecture (PHLF 1997),Walter Kidney writes: “The upper storieshave a delicacy unusual in Mid-Victorianarchitecture. Flat surfaces advance fromthe wall plane but are themselves incised,so that though the whole composition isof sandstone there is a cameo-like effectof layer upon layer of materials, cutaway to produce the design.”

(Continued on page 4)

1401 Columbus Avenue (all) in Pittsburgh’sManchester neighborhood.

1109 LiverpoolStreet, Manchester

The Centennial Building on Fourth Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh was constructed in 1876.

MarilynWhitelock, Administrative Assistantfor Real Estate Services, and LCCC PresidentMichael Sriprasert were instrumental incompiling the 2014 CDFI application.

LCCC Loans Aid Regional RestorationWork

leaders to define the vision, to securingthe funding, to managing the bricks-and-mortar work, to creating theeducational programs.”

Page 4: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

4 PHLF News January 2015 ADVOCACY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EASEMENTS EDUCATION & RESEARCH RURAL PRESERVATION

Bloomfield-GarfieldLCCC closed on a $99,000 constructionloan to the Bloomfield-GarfieldCorporation (BGC) in September 2014.The loan is providing rehabilitationfunds for BGC’s community center,located in a former Methodist churchof 1898 on North Pacific Avenue inGarfield. The first phase of work includesdeveloping a long-term master plan,upgrading the HVAC system, installingnew flooring in the main hall, replacingwindows and entry doors, painting,and improving the lighting.

“This loan is a vote of confidencein our work and in the role we playin strengthening our community,” saidExecutive Director Rick Swartz. Servingthe Bloomfield, Garfield, and Friendshipneighborhoods since 1975, BGC’s

programs include home constructionand renovation, public safety, youthafter-school programs, and businessdistrict revitalization.

Washington, PAMarket House Holdings, LLC, acquiredand is renovating the former WashingtonReporter building at 143 South MainStreet in Washington, Pennsylvania,thanks to a $142,000 loan from LCCCin November 2014. Restoration workincludes removing an inappropriatemetal facing from the c. 1860 building;improving lighting; painting and carpen-try work; and improving the entrance.Interior improvements include HVACand electrical.

“The opportunity to tap into theexpertise of LCCC and PHLF will allow

us to economically restore a significantlandmark in the heart of Washington’shistoric downtown business district,”said Tripp Kline, a partner in MarketHouse Holdings, “and set an examplehere that others will follow.”

LCCC’s MissionThrough its loan program, LCCCinitiates and expands communityrevitalization by providing creativefinancing and technical assistancein historic low- to moderate-incomeneighborhoods and urban centersthroughout western Pennsylvania,eastern Ohio, and West Virginia.For more information, contactSenior Loan Officer Rob Wagner([email protected]; 412-471-5808, ext. 538).

Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation’s community center at 113 North PacificAvenue in Pittsburgh’s Garfield neighborhood occupies the former PacificAvenue United Methodist Church of 1898.

Saving Federal Tax CreditsThe National Trust for HistoricPreservation, National Trust CommunityInvestment Corporation, and PHLFare working together to educate theUnited States Congress about the criticalimportance of the Federal RehabilitationHistoric Tax Credit in making therestoration and adaptive use ofhistoric buildings financially feasiblefor developers.

The Historic Tax Credit is a 20%credit for the rehabilitation of certifiedhistoric income-producing structures.The National Park Service administersthe program in partnership with theInternal Revenue Service and the State

Historic PreservationOffices.

A number ofinnovative historicrestoration projectsin Pittsburgh haveutilized the tax credit,including PHLF’sMarket at Fifth, aLEED-Gold mixed-

use development with men’s retail andseven apartments in Market Square;Market Square Place, also in the Fifth-Forbes Downtown area; the Heinz Loftson the North Side; and The CorkFactory Lofts in the Strip District.

Mt. Lebanon Is Listed onthe National Register“After fourteen years of work by a lotof committed people, the Mt. LebanonHistoric District is listed on the NationalRegister of Historic Places,” said SusanFleming Morgans, Public InformationOfficer for the Municipality. ThePennsylvania Historical and MuseumCommission (PHMC), which administersthe federal program at the state level,notified the municipality of this honorarydesignation on October 14, 2014.

“The designation does not place anyrestrictions on private property owners,but it does promote economic develop-ment by making federal tax credits avail-able to developers for the rehabilitationof certified historic income-producingproperties and it creates a positivecommunity impact by promoting anauthenticity of place that attracts people

and increases the taxbase,” said Bill Callahan,Western PennsylvaniaCommunity PreservationCoordinator for thePHMC.

Laura Rickettsof Skelly & Loy worked with theMt. Lebanon Historic PreservationBoard to complete the National Registernomination. Mt. Lebanon’s historicdistrict encompasses two square milesand includes more than 4,000 propertiesconstructed before 1945 that define oneof the best-preserved early-automobilesuburbs in the nation. “Of those proper-ties,” reported Laurie Bailey of thePittsburgh Post-Gazette, “96% areresidential, displaying a variety ofarchitectural styles … . The districtalso contains Mt. Lebanon Cemetery,which was established in 1874. … twocommercial areas … 38 subdivisions;nine churches; six public schools; andtwo parks … .”

The National Register of HistoricPlaces is the nation’s official list ofproperties recognized for their significancein American history, architecture,

archeology, engineering, and culture.The program was established by theNational Historic Preservation Act of1966 to coordinate and support publicand private efforts to identify, evaluate,and protect our historic and archeologi-cal resources. The National Registerincludes 231 listings in AlleghenyCounty as of January 2015.

Strip District Is Listed TooPHLF’s nomination of a portion of theStrip District to the National Register ofHistoric Places was approved on May 2,2014. The district encompasses thirteenblocks between 15th and 22nd streetsand Railroad Street and Liberty Avenueand includes sixty-six contributing sites.Two have been demolished since designa-tion: the Fort Pitt Candy Company andBanana Company buildings.

Advocacy More than 350 Mt. Lebanonstudents participate eachyear in an award-winningeducational program basedon their community, offeredby PHLF and The HistoricalSociety of Mount Lebanon.

Market at Fifth

More than 500 students from throughoutAllegheny County participate each year inPHLF’s Strip District Stroll.

LCCC Loans Aid RegionalRestorationWork (Continued from page 3)

143 South Main Street inWashington, Pa. (right) anchors the block with the historic BradfordHouse (below). In 2011–12, The Landmarks Development Corporation was hired to manage therepointing of the stone work, replacement of the wooden shake roof, and painting of the trim.

Page 5: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

The Neville House Associates (NHA),Allegheny County Committee of theNational Society of Colonial Dames ofAmerica, and PHLF continue to partnerin the ongoing restoration and operationof Woodville Plantation as a historichouse museum. “For decades theColonial Dames, under the leadershipof PHLF Trustee Emeritus Anne Genter,has raised funds to ensure that criticalrestoration work could be completed andthat appropriate furniture and artworkcould be acquired for Woodville,” saidPHLF President Arthur Ziegler.

“Woodville is a successful house museumlargely because of their commitment.”

The wood-frame National HistoricLandmark is southwestern Pennsylvania’sprincipal link to the late eighteenth cen-tury, interpreting the time period of 1780to 1825 and documenting the lives of thethree families that resided there from1775 through 1975: the Nevilles, Cowans,and Wrenshalls. PHLF acquired the housein 1976 to save it from demolition.

In 2007, PHLF transferred ownershipof the house to NHA, but retained aperpetual conservation easement on thehouse, grounds, and the ancillary build-ing and agreed to provide funds for thebasic operation of the house (reasonableutilities and maintenance costs) until atleast 2017.

Major restoration work was completedat Woodville in 2014, thanks in large partto funding provided by the Dames and tothe leadership of its President Gez Ebbert,and to NHA President Rob Windhorstand Vice-President Jim Galbraith.

Allegheny Restoration (Morgantown,West Virginia) and Sunshine PaintingCompany (Collier Township) restoredand painted the porches in accordancewith the original color scheme: sky bluefor the porch ceiling and dark brownfor the porch deck. The contractorsdiscovered some artifacts and remnantsof the original stoop to the front doorthat preceded the building of the porchesin the early 1800s. The exterior woodfaçade was repaired and repainted anda local boy scout troop reinstalled andrepainted the garden fence.

The windows in the main house willbe restored and stabilized in 2015-16,thanks to a Keystone Grant from thePennsylvania Historical and MuseumCommission.

Visit Woodville in the new year.The house is beautifully furnished insideand there is always an engaging outdoorreenactment or activity. PHLF membersare admitted free to Woodville: it is oneof the benefits.

HISTORIC LANDMARK PLAQUES HISTORIC RELIGIOUS PROPERTIES MEMBERSHIP & GIVING SPECIAL PROJECTS PHLF News January 2015 5

WWooooddvviillllee,, llooccaatteedd aatt 11337755 WWaasshhiinnggttoonn PPiikkee iinn BBrriiddggeevviillllee,, iiss ooppeenn ttoo tthhee ppuubblliicc oonn SSuunnddaayyssffoorr ssppeecciiaall eevveennttss,, ffrroomm FFeebbrruuaarryy 1155 tthhrroouugghh DDeecceemmbbeerr 66.. TToo sscchheedduullee aa pprriivvaattee ggrroouupp ttoouurraannyyttiimmee,, vviissiitt:: www.woodvilleplantation.org.

Good News from Woodville Plantation:Restoration Work Completed; Keystone Grant Awarded

PHLF has been working with theNatrona Comes Together Association(NCTA) on two building restoration projects to reinvigorate historic sectionsof Natrona. This community, once hometo the Pennsylvania Salt ManufacturingCompany and now the site of an ATIAllegheny Ludlum plant, has a historythat is manifest in its buildings. Brick rowhouses and Gothic-Revival-style cottages,originally built for Pennsylvania SaltCompany workers in the 1850s, still lineseveral streets and provide homes forcommunity members. NCTA purchasedthe cottage located at 34 Federal Streetfrom the Redevelopment Authority ofAllegheny County in August of 2012.NCTA and PHLF have been workingtogether to restore this one-and-a-half-story board-and-batten cottage, which is within the Pennsalt Historic District,

an area listed on the National Register ofHistoric Places. Federal Street originallyhad sixteen such cottages and a more spacious foreman’s house.

Funding acquired through StateSenator Jim Ferlo and PHLF allowedPHLF and NCTA to create a more acces-sible front entrance at 34 Federal Streetwith a ramp, railings, and new door.Other completed work includes a handicap-accessible restroom and newwindows. Bill Godfrey, President ofNCTA’s board, says the cottage will be used to “invest in the future of our history.” As work continues on the cottage’s interior and exterior restoration,NCTA will consult with preservation andmuseum professionals to seek ideas forcreating a museum or working classroomin the former residential space. NCTA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will also continueto seek funding for future work.

PHLF also has been the project man-ager for the stabilization of the formerNatrona Bank building located at 46–48Chestnut Street. PHLF helped NCTAobtain this historic structure in April of 2008. A $100,000 grant from theAllegheny County Economic Develop-ment Community Infrastructure andTourism Fund, obtained with help fromSenator Jim Ferlo, allowed PHLF to complete the first phase of buildingrestoration. This includes a new roof,repairs to exterior woodwork, and

repointing ofbrickwork. Atthe suggestionof Senator JimFerlo, NCTAhas formed ateam to find a business forthe building. If interested in this space,contact Mr.Godfrey: 724-226-9353 [email protected].

Natrona’s revitalization has stretchedbeyond these buildings. A crime watchwith an anonymous reporting system,developed with support from HarrisonTownship Police Chief Michael Klein, has helped increase neighborhood safety.An abandoned field along River Roadhas become a park and playground withhelp from Senator Jim Ferlo, The GrableFoundation, and the PennsylvaniaCouncil on the Arts. Park mosaics in theform of a Colonnade of History remindNatrona residents of their community’spast; other mosaic work features nativebirds and butterflies. What was once thePennsalt company store along GreenwichStreet has become a community garden.Each project has stimulated more work,promising continued revival in this historic community. Sign up for PHLF’stour to Tarentum and Natrona on April25 (see page 24) and you’ll be able to seeall this and more.

Progress and Opportunity in Natrona

34 Federal Street, Natrona

Former Natrona Bank,originally the SweeneyHotel and Saloon (1900)

Butler NPP WorkBrings More People to Main StreetMain Street buildings and surroundingstreetscapes continue to be the focus ofPHLF’s work in the City of Butler inButler County, Pennsylvania. “We aregrateful to Armstrong and HuntingtonBank,” said PHLF President ArthurZiegler, “whose five-year funding commitment through the state’sNeighborhood Partnership Program(NPP) is allowing us to energize thedowntown business district. Our workin Butler began in 2011 and will continue through June 2016.”PHLF completed a range of

physical improvements in 2014 aimedat increasing pedestrian activity toMain Street––and, as a result, morepeople are coming to Main Street andare patronizing the local businesses.New landscaping (trees and nativeplants) and new curbs and sidewalkshave made the primary parking lot servicing Downtown Butler a safer,more welcoming place. Our work also includes developing

plans to restore and reuse the Art DecoPenn Theaterof 1938 onMain Street.After years ofneglect andvacancy, thiskey building is receiving its first capitalinvestments in decades. PHLF is working with the City of ButlerRedevelopment Authority, which purchased the theater with a loan fromLandmarks Community CapitalCorporation, to restore the marqueeand procure a buyer/tenant. Updates on the theater and on

our work in the City of Butler will bereported in PHLF’s monthly E-news;or for further information, contactDavid Farkas, Associate Director ofReal Estate Programs ([email protected];412-471-5808, ext. 516).

Page 6: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

6 PHLF News January 2015 ADVOCACY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EASEMENTS EDUCATION & RESEARCH RURAL PRESERVATION

“It’s remarkableto see all thepreservationwork beingaccomplished in DowntownPittsburgh,” saidPHLF ChairmanJack Norris.“Private develop-ers, the City of Pittsburgh, the UrbanRedevelopmentAuthority ofPittsburgh (URA),Commonwealthof Pennsylvania,nonprofit organi-zations, andsmall-businessowners are allcontributing to a burst of reno-vation activitythat is creating a stimulating andeconomicallyvital downtownwith nationalarchitectural distinction.”

For example,the façade of the Verizon Building atSeventh Avenue and William Penn Placeis being carefully repointed and is lookingspectacular. Mellon Square has beenrestored and the historic buildings

surrounding it––the Union Trust and former Alcoa, James H. Reed, and Henry W. Oliver buildings––are all beingrenovated. PNC has opened a servicecenter in the former Mellon Bank build-ing, whose interior was destroyed by theshort-lived Lord & Taylor departmentstore. In the Market Square area, MarketSquare Place and Market at Fifth haveresulted in the LEED-Gold renovation of ten historic buildings, and Point ParkUniversity has acquired or is leasingnumerous historic properties for educa-tional purposes. Activity has extendedinto downtown’s newest NationalRegister Historic District––theRenaissance Historic District––with therenovation of the former Bell TelephoneCompany Building and State OfficeBuilding for residential use. The Penn-Liberty Cultural District, comprised ofmany blocks of historic buildings, drawsmore than two million people each yearto about 3,000 performances, exhibits,and events; the economic impact of all that activity is estimated to be $250 million.

“This is tremendous progress and amajor shift in attitude from the days ofthe Murphy administration,” said PHLFPresident Arthur Ziegler. “I believe ourrelationships with others and the way we are working together is unique in the

nation. Mayor Peduto’s administrationunderstands that historic preservation isa critical economic-development tool.”

PHLF’s Work Continues inthe Market Square Area“In the beginning of the new year, wewill complete work on a major façaderestoration program in DowntownPittsburgh,” said Tom Keffer, Propertyand Construction Manager at PHLF.“Once we remove the scaffolding fromthe Skinny Building and former RobertsBuilding, we will have restored thefaçades of ten buildings, through aunique partnership with the UrbanRedevelopment Authority of Pittsburghand a $4,000,000 grant to the City ofPittsburgh from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s RedevelopmentAssistance Capital Program.” (Fordetails on the façade restoration of theother eight buildings on Wood Street andFifth Avenue, see the December 2013issue of PHLF News, pages 10 and 11.)

The Skinny Building was designed in1926 on a long narrow strip of land thatwas created after Forbes Avenue waswidened in 1903. The adjacent building,now occupied by 7-Eleven, was con-structed in 1925 by George M. Rowlandfor John M. Roberts & Son Company, a family-operated jewelry store that wasin business for more than a century.

“Restoring these two building façadeshas been especially challenging,” saidTom, “because we had to design the scaffolding to make sure that people had access to the stores, since they stayedopen during the whole process. We alsohad to orchestrate road closings so asnot to interfere with the flow of pedestri-ans or with the activity occurring acrossboth streets due to the construction ofThe Tower at PNC and The Gardens atMarket Square.” The Skinny Building is being repainted, new upper-floor windows are being installed, and thearchitectural details are being restored.

Creating a Vital, Distinctive Downtown

Eat’n Park HospitalityGroup opened a HelloBistro in the first floorof the Italian Sons andDaughters of America(ISDA) Building at 419Wood Street (above andbelow). PHLF restoredthe façade of the ISDAbuilding in 2013through its partnershipwith the URA.

Members of PHLF’s Landmarks HeritageSociety (donors of $1,000 or more in anyone year) and Community Advisory Boardtoured the Market Square area on July 9,2014.

Only in PittsburghOnly in Pittsburgh, can you: (1) visit the newly restored MellonSquare and end up as a movie extrain a scene with Michael Caine; (2) wander the Hill District withyour PHLF August Wilson guide-book and get invited to the ribboncutting for a new community center; (3) unannounced, knock onthe door of a rectory in Wilkinsburgand get a private tour by FatherMetzler of Saint James RomanCatholic Church and its magnifi-cent stained glass windows; (4) talk with a security guard at the Carnegie Museum and find outthat she lived within one-half mileof your childhood home; and (5) share advice on local books at the Pitt bookstore with a fellow customer who is yet another personwho lived within one-half mile ofyour childhood home.In other cities, people may

think these are strange coincidences.In Pittsburgh, they’re just the waythings are. And they all happened to me during a one-week visit in October 2014 to my belovedhometown.

––Ray Pendro

A PHLF member since 1986, Ray is an urban planner, living in Alameda,California, the hometown ofWillie Stargell.

The stone facing and cornice on the 7-Eleven Building are being cleaned andrestored and the large 7-Eleven signageon the marquee will be removed andreplaced with more appropriate signage.LDA Architects and Waller Corporation(Washington, Pennsylvania) are carryingout the work.

Catercorner to the Skinny Buildingare three handsome buildings on WoodStreet with cast-iron façades. PHLFrestored those three façades in 2013.The Landmarks Development Corpora-tion (LDC), a for-profit subsidiary ofPHLF, acquired two of the three build-ings––420 and 422 Wood Street––fromthe URA in 2014. Architect MiltonOgot and Repal Construction (NorthHuntingdon, Pennsylvania) renovatedthe first-floor space in 2014 and Katie’s

Historic façades: the Smithfield Street façade of the Henry W. Oliver building (1907–10) is reflected in the William Penn Place façade of the Union Trust Building (1915–17). Both buildings are being renovated.

Page 7: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

HISTORIC LANDMARK PLAQUES HISTORIC RELIGIOUS PROPERTIES MEMBERSHIP & GIVING SPECIAL PROJECTS PHLF News January 2015 7

Kandy opened on November 17. Theupper floors are being redesigned foroffice space. According to Milton:

The space had served a number of different tenants over the years, mostrecently, a convenience store and anoptometrist’s office. Our first task was to strip away all the existing interiorflooring, wall coverings, and ceilings to expose the structural elements. We repaired and replaced damaged andmissing wood beams, and created open-ings in the masonry dividing walls tocombine the two first-floor spaces. Allthe existing mechanical, electrical, andplumbing systems were replaced with

new systems that meet current energycodes. New fire alarm and sprinkler systems were also installed. We created a bright, open, and flexible space to meetthe tenant’s requirements. They can noweasily display their merchandise andrearrange the fixtures as the season dictates.

On Market Street near Fifth Avenue,LDA Architects and Repal Constructionare working with LDC to renovate the Thompson’s Building. “Work will be completed on the first floor by earlyspring,” said LDC President MichaelSriprasert. “We are excited that RalphFalbo, a local real estate developer, and

the proprietors of Vallozzi’s Pittsburgh,will be opening an upscale urban marketon the first floor,” he added. The base-ment floor of the Thompson’s Buildingwas lowered about one foot in 2014 to accommodate the full kitchen neededto support the urban market. The upperfloors will house either offices or resi-dences. Once work is completed on theThompson’s Building, PHLF/LDC willhave saved four historic buildings onMarket Street that anchor the northernentrance to Market Square. The otherthree comprise Market at Fifth, a mixed-use development with two men’s storesand seven market-rate apartments.

Just writing to commend PHLFon providing such wonderfullyinformative tours. … I knowPHLF is instrumental in providing the base for PNC,

Point Park University, and otherdevelopers when considering renovation and restoration. How lucky am I to live in thisarea and watch the beauty growand develop. … Thank you forall your hard work and dedica-tion in bringing beauty, dignity,and preservation back to our city.

––John and Angela Johnston(June 20, 2014)

I lived in Pittsburgh my whole life and never noticed

any of these buildings or knew these facts.––Jabari Anderson,

The Heinz Endowments Intern (June 25, 2014)

It’s amazing how we have visited downtown all our lives and have missed seeing

many interesting places because we just don’t pay attention.

This was our third walking tour and we look forward to attendingmore in the summer of 2015.

––Donna and Terry Tressler(September 12, 2014)

Looking at photographs of the Katie’s Kandy space,before the renovation, helps me appreciate theopportunity to restore these

historic structures. I’ve watched with dismay astoo many similar buildingsare torn down, when theycould just as easily

have been restored andadapted for new uses.

Milton Ogot, RA(December 19, 2014)

The Skinny Building at Forbes Avenue and WoodStreet is 5 feet 2 inches wide and 80 feet long.Adjacent to it is the former Roberts Building at 429 Wood Street, now occupied by 7-Eleven.

The 1907 building at 435 Market Street was remodeled for Thompson’s Restaurant in 1926.PHLF cleaned and restored the distinctive white-glazed terra cotta façade in 2013, in partner-ship with the URA. PHLF members toured the first floor and upper stories on July 9, 2014.

Katie’s Kandy is open for business at 422 Wood Street, on the first floor of one of two cast-iron buildings owned by The Landmarks Development Corporation, PHLF’s for-profit subsidiary. The store interior is shown during renovation (right) and after.

Free Downtown Walking ToursEvery Friday, Noon to 1:00 P.M.May through OctoberOffered in cooperation with VisitPittsburghReservations are appreciated (see below)

Each month features a different section of Downtown Pittsburgh• May: Grant Street & Mellon Square• June: Market Square Area• July: Penn-Liberty Cultural District• Aug.: Bridges & River Shores• Sept.: Fourth Avenue & PPG Place• Oct.: Renaissance Historic District

Downtown’s BestEvery Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to NoonJune through August$20 per person, including PHLF’sWhirlwind Walk guidebookAdvance paid reservations are required

Explore more than 25 architecturallandmarks and significant urban spaces.Learn the story of Pittsburgh, developan “eye” for architecture, and discusskey concepts in making a city livable.

Special Membership Tour:Mellon Square to Market Square Saturday afternoon, Oct. 24Advance paid reservations are required.

You’ll hear about––and see inside whenpossible––some of the new spaces beingcreated in the historic places surroundingMellon and Market squares.

For reservations for all tours: [email protected]; 412-471-5808, ext. 527

Walk with Us

Page 8: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

8 PHLF News January 2015 ADVOCACY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EASEMENTS EDUCATION & RESEARCH RURAL PRESERVATION

Wilpen Hall, Sewickley HeightsBorough, was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places onApril 20, 2011. The National Registernomination form states: “the estate easily retains the integrity––especiallythe aspects of setting, design, workman-ship and feeling––necessary to reflect its significance.” PHLF completed theacquisition of a preservation easementin 2014, thus protecting the façade ofthe historic house and more than thirtyacres of surrounding gardens andgrounds.

Wilpen Hall is an outstanding exam-ple of the Shingle Style, which historianVincent Scully called in The Architectureof the American Summer: The Floweringof the Shingle Style (1989) “the liveliestmanifestation” of the Colonial Revivalin the post-Civil-War era. Scully, whocoined the name “Shingle Style” in1949, notes some characteristics of theexterior of these buildings, beginning

with “the shingled surface, from whichthe name was derived. This was a trueskin … subordinating the inner structureof the building to … a varied range ofsurface effects [and] a varied repertoryof decorative details”—such as “plasterpanels, mullioned windows, sunflowers,scrolls, screens.” The interior of a typical Shingle-Style house exhibits “a flexible and varied set of schemes for living spaces … . It all added up toan eloquent architectural language, free and easy but with its depths, atonce rational enough and endlesslyresourceful in fancy.”

Wilpen Hall was commissioned byWilliam Penn Snyder (1862–1921), a prominent Pittsburgh steel industryexecutive and a descendant ofPennsylvania’s third governor, German-born Simon Snyder, who served from1808 to 1817. Pittsburgh architectGeorge S. Orth (1851–1918), who practiced with his brothers Henry and

Alexander in the architectural firm ofGeorge S. Orth & Brothers, designedWilpen Hall. The house was erected in 1899–1900; an addition was made to the west end of the house in 1925. As noted in the National Register nomination form: “Wilpen Hall is theonly remaining estate in SewickleyHeights … continuously owned by the family who commissioned it.”

Wilpen Hall was the first in a series of designs by George Orth for theSnyder family. In 1900 the familymoved into one of the houses that Orthdesigned in 1898 on Colonial Place inShadyside; it became their winter homeuntil 1911, when Orth designed theirnew house at 852 Ridge Avenue on theNorth Side. A prominent architect of his era, Orth was the first president ofthe Pittsburgh Chapter of the AmericanInstitute of Architects. His other extant buildings include the WesternPennsylvania School for Blind Children(1893–94) in Oakland and WestinghouseHigh School in Homewood, completedafter his death.

Here is a big, informal stone-and-shingle house, built as the country residenceof William Penn Snyder… . Here a measured relaxation is the theme. … The big roof and the chimneys speak of shelter and comfort, the necessities of life well accommodated.

Walter C. Kidney, Pittsburgh’s Landmark Architecture (PHLF 1997)

What is aPreservationEasement?A preservation easementis a legal agreementbetween a property ownerand PHLF that placespermanent, mutuallyagreed to restrictions on ahistoric property to protectit from inappropriatealteration, development,and destruction.Generally, the legal agreement states that no changes will be madeto the historic propertythat are contrary to theU.S. Secretary of theInterior’s Standards forRehabilitation, withoutthe prior written consentof PHLF.The legal agreement

is recorded in the local recorder ofdeeds office and binds both the currentowners and all future owners. PHLFinspects its preservation easements on at least an annual basis by visitingeach property. It also has a responsibilityto defend and enforce the preservationeasement as may be necessary.PHLF is a “qualified organization”

as defined by Section 170 of the InternalRevenue Code to accept donations of preservation easements. Since 1979,PHLF has accepted thirty-nine easements on properties in Allegheny,Bedford, Butler, Greene, Washington,and Westmoreland counties. Propertiesprotected by PHLF easements areshown in the April 2012 issue of PHLF News (pages 18–21); it is accessible at www.phlf.org. For further information on

PHLF’s easement program and process,please contact General Counsel Donald Kortlandt ([email protected]; 412-471-5808, ext. 545).

Easement Donated on900 Penn AvenueOn December 31, 2014, 900 PennAvenue, L.P., donated a façade ease-ment to PHLF for 900 Penn Avenue, a mixed-use building in Pittsburgh’sCultural District. “This easement helpsus protect in perpetuity another keyhistoric corner in DowntownPittsburgh,” said PHLF PresidentArthur Ziegler.The six-story red-brick building,

built in 1885 for Wm. G. Johnston &Company, now houses the restaurant,Nine on Nine, and upper-floor apart-ments. 900 Penn Avenue is included in the Penn-Liberty National RegisterHistoric District and in the City-designated Penn-Liberty HistoricDistrict.

The east elevation of Wilpen Hall in 1996. According to theNational Register nominationform, this elevation “is the mostinteresting architecturally as itclearly shows Orth’s originalintention” and remains verymuch as it was in 1900 when the house was completed. (Twooriginal second-floor windows on either side of the balcony have become French doors.) The shingled gambrel roof––a roof with two flat surfaces oneach side of a central ridge––and the first-floor stone work are characteristic of Shingle-Stylehouses.

The west elevation of Wilpen Hall, as shown in a photo of 1901. By 1903, a balcony had been added to the second floor. Photo courtesy of the Snyder family

Wilpen Hall Protected Through Easement Donation

Page 9: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

HISTORIC LANDMARK PLAQUES HISTORIC RELIGIOUS PROPERTIES MEMBERSHIP & GIVING SPECIAL PROJECTS PHLF News January 2015 9

PHLF was incorporated fifty years agoon September 30, 1964. On September

23, 2014, we sponsored a PreservationForum featuring speakers from five preservation organizations from Indiana,Louisiana, New York, North Carolina,and Ohio. “The purpose of the forum,”said PHLF President Arthur Ziegler, “was to begin evaluating the state ofpreservation in the United States and therole of each of our organizations in ourcommunities. We learn so much from eachother and, as a result, are able to bench-mark our own organization against ourpeers and think creatively about the paththat we will take in the next fifty years.”

Our guests were Peg Breen, Presidentof The New York Landmarks Conservancy(founded in 1973); Kathleen Crowther,President, and Bracy Lewis, HonoraryLife Trustee, of the Cleveland RestorationSociety (founded 1972); Marsh Davis,President of Indiana Landmarks(founded 1960); Patricia Gay, ExecutiveDirector of the Preservation ResourceCenter of New Orleans (founded 1974);and Myrick Howard, President ofPreservation North Carolina (founded1939). All have been steady leaders oftheir organizations for years.

Following a morning tour ofWilkinsburg and a brief meeting of thePHLF Board, each preservationist sharedhis/her experiences, concerns, and hopeswith PHLF trustees and staff. They discussed their major programs, howthey finance their work, the size of theirstaffs and Boards, and their relationshipswith members, volunteers, and the com-munity, among other topics. The finalhour was a question-and-answer sessionwith PHLF trustees.

While each organization has distinctareas of excellence and is committed tocertain programs, everyone agreed that it is imperative to retain a high level offlexibility since the work of preservationcan be unpredictable. As Arthur noted,“Preservationists are constant adaptersbecause it is the only way to survive andadvance your mission in a constantlychanging environment.”

We were inspired and energized by the support and encouragement of ourguests, and believe the following com-ments are important to keep in mind as we move forward.

Peg Breen reminded us that: “Onceyou get involved in the world of preser-vation, you just can’t get away from it.”She emphasized that a vast number ofpeople support preservation and that we need to show that voters care aboutpreservation. We need to be relevantpolitically.

“Through our work, we are not only preserving houses and buildings,”Kathleen Crowther added, “but neigh-borhoods and people. We preserve neighborhoods for the people who live there.” The three founders of theCleveland Restoration Society wereJewish, Irish, and African-American andtheir goals were focused on improvingthe lives of people in inner-city neighbor-hoods. Kathleen noted that Ohio is fortunate to have both a state and federaltax credit to aid developers in renovatinghistoric landmarks. In advocacy, shesaid, “our goal is to build bridges, notburn bridges.” She recommended usingthe Geographic Information System(GIS) of mapping and data to help identify preservation opportunities. She suggested that we develop visual representations of preservation accom-plishments (rather than written reports)since that method of communication has a greater public impact, and sheadvocated for more flexible standardswith the federal tax-credit program to help stall the widespread demolitionof vacant housing in historic neighbor-hoods.

Marsh Davis, who manages a state-wide organization that serves vast ruralareas as well as major urban centers,noted that: “We as organizations arealways strongest when we take on

challenges. We are best when we stretchand take on projects that most other people would not touch.”

Myrick Howard also manages astatewide organization, PreservationNorth Carolina, which mainly usesoptions and donations to save endangeredproperties. “Gifts of property are a greatpreservation opportunity,” he said. A new program will focus on preservingsmall homes. “Our goal is to see how we can turn the small house into thegreat asset.”

Patricia Gay emphasized that herPreservation Resource Center is all aboutmaking New Orleans livable. She said:

Preservationists are one of the mainreasons why cities are coming back––and there is much more to be done.Fortunately, and remarkably, preserva-tion programs have been successful inreversing the massive urban exodus ofthe second half of the twentieth centuryand the resulting inner-city decline.Downtowns and urban neighborhoodshave come alive as a result of preserva-tion tax incentives, the Main Street program, and local historic district designations. We planted the seeds inreversing the negative images of ourcities––yet urban pioneers are stillneeded. Incentives are still needed.Education and outreach about how to finance and restore are still needed.Marketing efforts through tours, events,and publications are still needed!

If more money was available forpreservation, Peg Breen and KathleenCrowther would increase assistance tosacred sites. Patty Gay would expandeducational programs in order to increasecivic awareness about the benefits ofpreservation. Myrick Howard wouldexpand programs in working-class neighborhoods and fund more and betterreal estate work. Marsh Davis would“ramp up” real estate programs, usingPHLF’s subsidiaries as a model.

We will continue the conversation that we have begun,” said Arthur. “The Preservation Forum was inspiringand encouraging. We are all dedicated to expanding our work throughout ourregions, with broad public support.”

Celebrating Fifty with a Preservation Forum

Pittsburgh from Mt. Washingtonon the evening of September 23,2014, almost fifty years to the day from the founding of PHLF.The Landmarks Building atStation Square, pictured in thebottom right of the photo, housesPHLF’s offices and two libraries on the fourth floor.

Time ran out and not all of us got to answer the last question about what it would take for the

preservation movement to makea quantum leap. I would haveanswered that if every major city and every state had anequivalent of PHLF, our

movement would be dynamic,relevant, and taken seriously as a force for progress.

Something to aspire toward! ––Marsh Davis, President, Indiana Landmarks (October 2, 2014)

From left: Patricia Gay, Myrick Howard,Marsh Davis, Peg Breen, Kathleen Crowther,and Arthur Ziegler

Bracy Lewis (third from left), Honorary LifeTrustee of the Cleveland Restoration Society,and PHLF staff members (from left) SarahWalker, Marie Miller, and Marilyn Whitelock

I n M e m o r i a mAlbert C. Van Dusen (1915–2014)Known simply as “Van” to many, Dr.Albert C. Van Dusendied on December 18,2014, after living a longlife of service to hisnation, to his adoptedhometown, Pittsburgh,and to PHLF. A native of Tampa,

Florida, and naval officerin World War II, Van came toPittsburgh in 1957 to work for theUniversity of Pittsburgh as assistantchancellor of planning and develop-ment. During his twenty-four-yearcareer with Pitt, he traveled the world,creating international partnerships for Pitt’s programs. Following hisretirement in 1981, he helped developthe African, Armenian, and IsraelNationality Rooms in the Cathedral of Learning. “In spite of his great intelligence

and experience, Van was one of themost humble, kind, and thoughtfulpeople I have ever known,” said PHLFPresident Arthur Ziegler. “He was alsowitty, artistic, charismatic, and a greatsupporter of our work in preservationand education.”A PHLF member for forty-six years

and a board member for decades, Vansucceeded Charles Covert Arensberg to become PHLF’s second Board Chairin 1994. During his four years asChairman, Van guided PHLF throughthe sale of Station Square. He workedwith trustees and staff to increase theassets of the Preservation Loan Fund,establish the Historic ReligiousProperties program, complete acounty-wide survey of historic parksand gardens, expand the Named Fundprogram, implement the popular“Downtown Dragons” walking tourfor school children, and publish fourmajor books, including Pittsburgh’sLandmark Architecture, by Walter C. Kidney. In 2004, Van was elected Chairman

Emeritus of PHLF. He and his wife,Margaret, generously supported ourwork for another decade. At age ninety,Van wrote that PHLF “wisely and caringly” fills “a critical role in ourcity—and our world.”We extend our deepest sympathy

to Margaret and her family at thistime. We benefited greatly from Van’ssound advice and effective leadershipand were honored to have him as partof the PHLF family.

Page 10: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

10 PHLF News January 2015 ADVOCACY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EASEMENTS EDUCATION & RESEARCH RURAL PRESERVATION

Agnes Dodds Kinard(1914–2014)

Rachel Carson’sbirthplace inSpringdale standstoday largely as a result of AgnesKinard’s persis-tence and leader-ship. Aftersuccessfully battling variouslegal and politicalissues, she co-

founded the Rachel Carson HomesteadAssociation in 1975, in cooperationwith PHLF and others. She envisionedadapting Rachel Carson’s childhoodhome for use as a nature and educationcenter––and that mission is being fulfilled today by the Association.

During her nearly 100-year-life,Agnes was a real estate broker, an attorney––the first female lawyer hired

by ReedSmith—theauthor offive books,and an activesupporter ofthe arts andpreservation.A woman of greatintelligence,conviction,

and grace, Agnes was precise in mannerand speech, and adroit at building aconvincing case to encourage supportfor any cause in which she believed.

“Agnes realized that the relationshipbetween people and the buildings theycreate, utilize, and inhabit is whatpreservation is all about,” said PHLFPresident Arthur Ziegler. “She regularlyurged PHLF to do preservation work on behalf of our western Pennsylvaniacommunity; she devoted her energies toassimilating and articulating the historyand the events that influenced her familyand the people she knew.”

One of her goals in life was to publishher autobiography, and she succeeded in releasing a limited edition in February2014. She donated copies of her book,At Home with History: What Did I Dowith My Life, to major area institutionsand libraries, including PHLF’s James D. Van Trump Library. The nearly 500-page book is an incredible production,full of information and illustrations

documenting her career, community involvement, and world travels. In herconcluding paragraph she writes: “When I wasborn, the atom had yetto be split, outer spacewas inviolate, and theMan in the Moon was

poetic imagery. One can onlystand in awe at what will be the mysteries, discoveries, and inventions of the next millennium.”

Agnes set a standard of excellence in all that she did, and she inspired the organizations with which she wasassociated to do the same.

Mary M. Wohleber(1916–2014)Mary lived life to the fullest. Her various professions andavocations duringher ninety-eightyears includedbeing a kinder-garten teacher,tour guide andadmissions person at PHLF’sOld Post Office Museum, salesperson at PHLF’s former gift shop at StationSquare, author, historian, lecturer,preservationist, community activist, and world traveler.

Yet the place she loved most was herTroy Hill neighborhood on Pittsburgh’sNorth Side. She lived next door toVoegtly Cemetery and had a wonderfulview from the hilltop to the AlleghenyRiver and Downtown Pittsburgh below.Featured in The Women of Troy Hill:The Back-Fence Virtues of Faith andFriendship, by Clare Ansberry, and in Rick Sebak’s WQED documentary,North Side Story,Mary achievedcelebrity status inher hometown, butalways took thingsin stride withhumor, humility,and a twinkle in her eye.

Whether itwas raising funds in the 1970s torestore St. Anthony’s Chapel on TroyHill, or gathering support to keep theTroy Hill fire station open, or entertain-ing children at the Old Post OfficeMuseum, Mary shared her love of history, of tradition, and especially ofTroy Hill and Pittsburgh with others.

We will always admire Mary for her commitment to our mission and forher energy, enthusiasm, and indomitablespirit in converting others to the causeof preservation. “Loyal and devoted toour preservation principles, Mary wasan anchor for decades,” said PHLFPresident Arthur Ziegler.

Richard M. Scaife:Three ExperiencesSampled from Forty-Eight Years Arthur Ziegler

Richard Mellon Scaife (1932–2014)shared PHLF’s belief in the ability of historic preservation to improve thequality of life for our citizens. Throughhis generosity and engagement in ourwork as a trustee, he provided essentialfunding support for our most innovative(and risky) programs in historic neigh-borhoods and downtown redevelopment.As I look back over our many experi-ences together, three stand out as illustrations of Mr. Scaife’s foresight,extraordinary commitment, and willingness to take risks on behalf of our community.

ManchesterOne of these occurred at our first meeting. PHLF, just launched in 1964,submitted an application to one of hisfoundations for a grant of $50,000 torestore an historic log house. Mr. Scaifeasked me to come to his office to discussthe grant. He told me that he did notfeel it was a major priority, “but,” headded, “I hear you might want to dosome good things in Manchester and I would like to tour the neighborhoodwith you.”

The following week, we drove andwalked the streets of Manchester, looking at block after block of historichouses, largely occupied by African-Americans, many owned by absenteelandlords, and the majority in deterio-rating condition. Mr. Scaife consideredthe area to be an architectural treasure,and asked me to submit a proposal tothe Sarah Scaife Foundation for funds to begin work there. We submitted arequest to establish a real estate revolv-ing fund that would enable us to workwith the residents to restore the housesfor them, rather than trying to gentrifythe neighborhood. The neighborhoodrenewal work we began in Manchesterturned out to be the first historic preser-vation project in the United States to be carried out with and for a minoritycommunity.

Following our initial work inManchester, the Sarah Scaife Foundationgranted similar revolving funds for theMexican War Streets area and for SouthSide, all then high-risk, innovativeundertakings. The grants that resultedfrom Mr. Scaife’s insight and concerntriggered grants from other foundationsand governmental entities and empow-ered the work of many residents andneighborhood development corpora-tions, resulting in millions and millionsof dollars of investment in our historicneighborhoods. Without his initial commitments, the City’s plans to demolish all of the North Side andSouth Side might well have been carried out.

Mary Wohleber (dressed as a Pilgrim) and PHLF Co-founder James D. Van Trump (dressed as Santa, seated at right) entertained visitors at the Old Post Office Museum on Pittsburgh’s North Side on December 8, 1974.

Agnes Kinard and Mary Wohleber were leaders in Pittsburgh’s preservationmovement through their involvement with PHLF. Both were among PHLF’searliest members and were honored as trustee emeriti in 2010.

PHLF worked with the residents inManchester to restore the homes for them.

I n M e m o r i a m

Liverpool Street in Manchester on August24, 1964: the proposed demolition of theseNorth Side buildings inspired the formationof PHLF.

Page 11: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

HISTORIC LANDMARK PLAQUES HISTORIC RELIGIOUS PROPERTIES MEMBERSHIP & GIVING SPECIAL PROJECTS PHLF News January 2015 11

Station SquareThe second experience related to thebirth of Station Square. After returningfrom a trip to California, Mr. Scaifeasked, “Why is PHLF not working to create a Ghirardelli Square forPittsburgh?” I responded that indeed we were studying the feasibility of developing a major mixed-use urbanproject. We initially considered and thenchose not to pursue a possible projectthat came to be known as The BankCenter, shifting our focus instead to the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad(P&LERR) terminus on the south shoreof the Monongahela River, oppositeDowntown Pittsburgh.

Mr. Scaife’s Allegheny Foundationprovided funds for studies necessary to formulate the program, but we couldnot get the attention of the railroad officials. I asked Mr. Scaife if he wouldbe willing to reveal his interest in theproject. He agreed to meet with thepresident of the P&LERR. From that

point on, the lines of communicationwere open and we were able to reach a deal to acquire and develop whatbecame known as Station Square.

As remarkable as all of Mr. Scaife’sinitial help was, I will remember alwayshis advice to me when I told him that Icould not find any sources of traditionalfinancing from lenders in the local community for the Station Square project and I did not see how it could go forward. He said: “Do what you didin the neighborhoods; start work and allthe rest will follow. We will make an initial capital risk grant available.” With Allegheny Foundation’s grant, we started working. Without an advancecommitment from a single tenant, we began building a road, installing utilities, restoring the Express House,and launching the Grand ConcourseRestaurant (now thirty-seven years incontinuous service), and The FreightHouse Shops.

The rest did indeed follow with $103million (1970-80 dollars) of investmentby PHLF and sub-developers, the loca-tion of 134 businesses, the creation of3,000 jobs, the generation of $4 millionof annual parking and real estate tax

revenue for our governments (in additionto sales, income, and business taxes),and the creation of the first riverfronttrail and display of industrial artifacts.We opened a downtown riverfront forpeople to enjoy, and created a place forshopping, working, dining, and enter-tainment, within and around a complexof handsomely renovated, historicallysignificant buildings. In a city that once lacked any significant tourism,3,000,000 people a year visited StationSquare, which for a number of yearswas the most sought-after attraction in western Pennsylvania.

Braddock LibraryI could cite many other instances of Mr. Scaife’s unique commitment, butwill add only one other. On a winter day in 1987, I asked Mr. Scaife to comewith me to look at the BraddockCarnegie Library, the first CarnegieLibrary completed in the nation.Braddock was facing hard times, havinglost its industry, most of its businesses,and many of its residents. Through theyears, PHLF had tried unsuccessfully

to restore the library building utilizinggovernment programs. Mr. Scaife and I drove the streets of decaying architec-ture on a cold, bleak day and arrived at

the magnificent but decay-ing building that had oncebeen the civic center forthe area with a concerthall, swimming pool,shower rooms, bowlingalley, basketball court, andlibrary. On that cold dayonly one room was open,attended to by volunteerswho were heating it withkerosene heaters. In spiteof the tough conditions,the residents of Braddock,adults and children alike,came to that historicalplace to enjoy books andperiodicals.

Once again, Mr. Scaifetook a daring lead and the Allegheny Foundationawarded a grant to beginthe restoration of thebuilding, not only because

of its architectural magnificence, but also because of its meaning toBraddock. Other foundations followedand, today, the Braddock CarnegieLibrary has made significant progressand is functioning well on behalf of the many people who use it.

Seeing a future for that building on that grim day epitomizes the uniqueability that Mr. Scaife had in under-standing how people, no matter theirsituation, and even entire communities,could achieve renewal and a sense ofhope if a familiar, cherished landmarkcould be restored as a new center of life and activity.

In GratitudeWith his willingness to personallyaddress the difficult problems of oursociety, to provide lead grants that couldbe leveraged again and again, and tomake commitments without waiting for the studies of consultants, RichardScaife created enormous benefits for ourpeople and our region that otherwisewould not have occurred. He believed in the importance of cultural values forall people and expected success whereothers expected only failure.

From our experience, Mr. Scaifestands out for his intellectual leadershipand willingness to be the “first in” for innovative and risky projects. Hisinvolvement was not filtered throughothers; it was personal. He walked ourstreets, met our neighbors, observedtheir communities, and personally madethe decision to support initiatives (someof which he was the first to suggest) to restore those communities. He didnot request consulting reports and third-party reassurance. He relied on his ownability to gather the necessary informa-tion and commit to what he thoughtshould and could be done. Through his thoughtful and targeted support of PHLF, Mr. Scaife imparted greatmomentum to our organization and to the preservation movement in theUnited States.

April 16, 2008: Richard Scaife (third from left) meets with Wilkinsburg Mayor JohnThompson, new homeowners, and others to celebrate the restoration of four single-familyhomes in the Hamnett Place neighborhood. PHLF, in partnership with Allegheny County,restored the vacant houses, thanks to a lead grant from the Sarah Scaife Foundation.

The Braddock Carnegie Library at 419Library Street in the 1970s, before the sand-stone façade was cleaned in the late 1990s

A group of PHLF members visited theBraddock Carnegie Library on April 5,2014. Major portions of the NationalHistoric Landmark have been restored, providing places for reading and computerbrowsing, T-shirt designing, and clay-potmanufacturing.

The Grand Concourse Restaurant in StationSquare is one of Pittsburgh’s most spectacu-lar settings for dining and celebrations.Photo by Pytlik Design Associates, Inc.

I have given to universities and playgrounds; museums and wildflower meadows; … .

But if I had to pick a single tangibleachievement, it would be

Station Square in Pittsburgh’s South Side. Think of a

big railroad property in decay, such as the 19th century left in the

hearts of many cities. Tear it down, build it over is what most “redevelopers”

would say. Instead, a big patch of blight was recycled better than before.

And without timely private funding, nothing goodwould have happened.

––Richard M. Scaife, A Richly Conservative Life, Personal Memoirs of Richard M. Scaife

Page 12: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

12 PHLF News January 2015 ADVOCACY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EASEMENTS EDUCATION & RESEARCH RURAL PRESERVATION

How do you distill fifty years in the life of an organization in a two-page spread, in a meaningful way, especially knowing the background of all that has beenaccomplished and written? PHLF pub-lished a major book by Walter C. Kidney in 1989, A Past Still Alive, to celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary. In three beautifully illustrated chapters, Walter succinctly describes the purpose and valueof historic preservation and concludes withan extensive chronology of our work thatwe continued to update through 1994. For our thirtieth anniversary in 1994,PHLF published a sixteen-page issue ofPHLF News by Albert Tannler focusing onthe unique character of our organization.In the October 2006 issue of PHLF News,an illustrated article focused on “What’sWorked in 42 Years” and described the“Early Years and Successes,” “StationSquare,” “Current Work and Priorities”and “What’s Ahead.” The answer for this issue is to share with

you the personal accounts from four people.Their stories will remind many of our read-ers of their own memories and experienceswith PHLF. In that case, please e-mailyour story to me ([email protected]) so I can include it in our fiftieth-anniversarycollection of “moments.” We begin our personal accounts with

a “ramble” from Charles Covert Arensberg(1913-2001), who devotedly served asPHLF’s chairman from 1964 to 1994.

The Next Ten Years1974-1984By Charles Covert ArensbergFrom the January-February 1974 issue of PHLF News (No. 48), page 2

Our first grant from Miss Helen ClayFrick and another from the A. W. MellonEducational & Charitable Trust allowedus to begin our work. Our first majorstudy of a Pittsburgh area to be pre-served coincided with the establishmentof our Foundation in 1964. It was thesecond number of a series, “The Stonesof Pittsburgh,” and James Van Trumpwrote it. It dealt with that extraordinaryblock of Victorian houses on LiverpoolStreet in “Manchester Old Allegheny”and was entitled, “A Study with a ViewToward Preservation.”

The block still stands, an embattledarea that refuses to acknowledge defeat.Funds to begin restorations and achievefaçade easements wound up in the end-less red tape of HUD in Washington,D.C. Perhaps soon that dream will beginto take final shape. We have bought and still own three of the key structuresthere. We will continue to try to achievethat dream.

In the meantime like most aspiringAmerican institutions we have prosperedin a material sense. Our friends havebeen good to us. We own the Old PostOffice lock stock and barrel (except for the mortgage) and we are about tocomplete the Sculpture Court. We ownhouses in the Mexican War Streets andthe South Side, including an old marketwith apartments above on Carson Street.We think we have turned the corner inthe “Mexican War Streets.” Their futureas a pleasant and integrated human-scaled area is irreversible.

We have 2200 members who arestaunch in their devotion to the feelingthat for a city to survive as a good placeto live, its architecture must be protected,its landmarks must be safeguarded, andits past must lead us to a good future.

What is that future? We have prob-lems now we never dreamed of when westarted. Benefits have flowed to us fromsources we never knew existed. In orderto save the Post Office from destructionwe bought it ourselves and learned therudiments of museum keeping. …

But our Museum, although importantnow for us and we hope to the City,remains in a small sense an avocation. …We have many things to do: TheRotunda of the Pennsylvania RailroadStation, The Pittsburgh & Lake ErieStation interior, the South Side MarketSquare, Lawrenceville, the Neill LogHouse, the Walker Log House in CollierTownship, yes, and always LiverpoolStreet and Manchester.

We need to spark the restoration ofPittsburgh’s remarkable slope housing,those incredible “clingers” which lendsuch a picturesque air to the City, andwith the disappearance of the dirty steamengine in the valley below, become agree-able and viable dwelling places. We needto worry perhaps about the Union TrustBuilding, Motor Square Garden, thePresley Neville house and St. Luke’s inWoodville, St. Anthony’s Shrine on Mt.Troy, even the Court House and Jail.

We applaud mightily Heinz Hall andAlcoa for saving a theatre and a grandpalace hotel. We point to the phenome-nal success of both as hard-headed prac-ticalities. City Council has given us apreservation ordinance allowing preciousbreathing time from the bulldozer. …

A hundred other emergencies will arisein the next ten years. We cannot be toonarrow and we cannot spread ourselvestoo thin. Buildings can be refurbishedand remodeled downtown to enhancePittsburgh’s in-city excitement, ware-houses on the rivers can be fashionedinto apartments overlooking the waterwith access to shops and boat travel.Arcades of smaller scale than shoppingmalls can be formed to impart an inti-macy to urban life which is so often lack-ing in downtown areas such as Detroit,Los Angeles, Dallas, and Cleveland.Pittsburgh, with is stunning triangle ofrivers and close-knit land and hills, canremain one of the most intriguing citiesin North America. All it needs is the willand the vision of the friends we havenow and those we hope to gain in thenext ten years.

Pittsburgh in 1964, the year that PHLF, Pittsburgh’s first nonprofit historic preservation organization, was established. In the midst of urban renewal policies that called for massive demolition and the displacement of thousands of people and small businesses, PHLF introduced a new vision for rebuilding and renewing the region based on restoration and reuse.

Moments in a Fifty-Year Story Louise Sturgess

Liverpool Street, Manchester: December 2014

The Allegheny Post Office (1897) served as PHLF’s headquarters from the fall of 1971 to 1985. PHLF then relocated to theLandmarks Building at Station Square andthe Pittsburgh Children’s Museum fullyoccupied the North Side landmark.

Page 13: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

Become Part of PHLF’s Story––

How You Can Help• Contribute to our Fiftieth

Anniversary Fundto build a base of support

for our preservation services and educational programs in the

next fifty years.

• Create a Named Fundat PHLF, include PHLF in your

will or estate plan, or benefit froma charitable gift annuity or

retained life estate.

• Renew your annual membershipdues and participate in our tours

and programs (see page 24)

Visit www.phlf.org or contactMary Lu Denny for details

([email protected]; 412-471-5808,ext. 527). Thank you!

HISTORIC LANDMARK PLAQUES HISTORIC RELIGIOUS PROPERTIES MEMBERSHIP & GIVING SPECIAL PROJECTS PHLF News January 2015 13

Let us continue our personal accounts byreprinting recent letters from PHLF TrusteeEmeritus Anne S. Genter and from PHLFTrustee David Kleer.

Louise Sturgess suggested that I reflect on my long and very gratifying

involvement with PHLF. It was probably 1969 when I first

encountered Arthur Ziegler and it wasindeed a seminal moment. He spoke eloquently and passionately about theneed for revitalization of The MexicanWar Streets. I would have followed himto the moon but only had to go as far as 1219 Monterey Street to find an irresistible project––the renovation of a derelict row house with its wreck of a carriage house. Two friends––PHLFboard members Louise Boesel andConnie Oliver––had pioneered in theneighborhood a year before. I had commented to my husband, David, thatthis would be an adventure, and it was.The restoration went well, and we rentedthe apartments until 1975, when we sold1219 Monterey to Louise Boesel.

My next project was with the OldPost Office, a handsome landmark thatlent itself to displaying a collection ofartifacts, as well as offering interestingoffice space. It soon became a repositoryfor wonderful architectural material,

nineteenth-century antiques,and an out-standing collec-tion of periodclothing fromPittsburgh’smost well-known families.Eventually, wewere knee-deepin running amuseum andstarted to question if ourmission wasbeing muddled.

This conundrum was resolved whenthe Station Square property became anirresistible temptation. The Old PostOffice was deeded over, eventually, to the Children’s Museum and the lasthurrah for the costume collection was a celebratory fashion show and luncheonat the Grand Concourse. I was chairman and reveled in it!

It took a few years for the EastWarehouse to be built out and rented, so we took advantage of the space with

several successful fund-raising antiqueshows. They, too, were my responsibility.

In 1973, Woodville, the General JohnNeville house in Collier Township, wasin danger of being torn down to becomethe site of a gas station. With a hue andcry heard all over Allegheny County,PHLF stepped in and saved it. Theimportance of this historic property, dating to 1775, cannot be overstated.General Neville had been commandantat the British Fort Pitt and was also a target in the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794.

The Allegheny County Committee ofthe National Society of Colonial Damesof America had furnished a room at theOld Post Office and were an obviouschoice for involvement in a house of thisperiod. I was beyond enthusiastic andbecame the chairman for both the Damesand PHLF for the interpretation and foracquiring the collection. The house isnow owned by the Neville HouseAssociates and is open to the public on Sundays and special-event days.

This recitation covers forty-five unforgettable years with what is, in myestimation, the most prestigious preser-vation group in America because of theleadership of Arthur Ziegler, a man ofvision and character. I began by saying I would follow Arthur to the moon, and it’s true!

My first awareness of PHLF occurredin the winter of 1977 or 1978. I was

home from college and, while coming intotown from the South Hills via the trolley, I noticed that there was fencing and othersigns of construction near the old trainbuildings on the south end of theSmithfield Street Bridge. A large signannounced a development named StationSquare. I realized immediately that thiswas not a demolition and replacement project––the wording or the project rendering gave the impression that these old buildings were to be saved, renovated, and brought back to life, rather than to be destroyed.

My passion for PHLF started at thatmoment. I had an immediate sense thatthis was an important project, eventhough I had never been inside any of the P&LERR buildings. I became a dues-paying member upon graduation fromcollege in 1979 and have remained amember since then.

My work path took me away from thecity for long stretches––to Washington,D.C., Chicago, Kansas City, and nowNew York City. This gave me the oppor-tunity to compare historic preservationefforts in these other cities to those ofPHLF––and time after time I realizedthat PHLF stood alone. The breadth ofits operations continues to astound me:not only the advocacy and awarding ofplaques, but the involvement in actualdemonstration projects, the easementwork in rural western Pennsylvania, the educational efforts in the schools aswell as the tours geared toward the adultpublic, the Getty-funded campus surveys,and so much more.

What continues to impress me aboutPHLF is this constant evolution. It reactsto the real work, does what is necessary,and does it smartly: loudly activist whenthat is required, but much more often at the table and naturally part of the discussion. I have seen in my own familya growing realization that preservation––whether of a building or a neighbor-hood––is now automatically on the tablewhen discussing what should be done.For a long time that was not the case.

In summary, I am passionate aboutPHLF because it does good and necessarywork in a great way. This organizationhas opened (and continues to open) theeyes of skeptical and doubting westernPennsylvanians to the possibilities of saving and renovating their history. It is an amazing organization.

We will end with a storyand photo that Rick Berardisent to Arthur Ziegler on October 14, 2014. Rick knows of Arthur from reading Pittsburgh newspapers over the pasttwenty years. “Since I appreciate the architecture of the area and its history, I usually end up readingthose stories first,” he said. The photo showsa plaque that Rick noticed hanging in theoffice complex of revered Sri LankanArchitect Geoffrey Bawa. Rick wrote the following in his e-mail to Arthur:

Pittsburgh in 2014. As we look back over fifty years, we know that PHLF has improved the quality of life for people in this region and succeeded in showing thathistoric preservation can be the key to achieving economic, social, and cultural renewal. Our work remains relevant and the need for our programs and services continues to grow as more historic religious properties, buildings, bridges, parks, main streets, and communities age––and as new generations of people are born.

My family and I just returned from atrip to Sri Lanka. During our travels

we enjoyed a day visiting Geoffrey Bawa’soffices and home. … I thought it wasimportant to share with you your influence on the other side of the world (in addition to Pittsburgh).

1219 Monterey Street:December 2014

Page 14: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

14 PHLF News January 2015 ADVOCACY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EASEMENTS EDUCATION & RESEARCH RURAL PRESERVATION

Donations from the followingPHLF members and friends in2013 helped make the 2014Historic Religious Properties program possible.

Leadership Gift ($10,000)Katherine Mabis McKennaFoundation

Keystone Gifts ($1,000 or more)George and Eileen DormanRichard D. FlinnDavid A. KleerGordon and Kate MacVean Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation

Kathy and Lou Testoni

Cornerstone Gifts (up to $500)Sandy AitkenAnonymous Esther BarazzoneNewt BlairSusan BrandtCarrie ButlerThomas C. CamardaJae and Bob CannonMr. & Mrs. Randall W. CasciolaFrancis J. CoyleJoan P. DaileyMary and John DavisLoretta Denny, in memory of Dominick Magasano

James K. Donnell

Dormont Historical SocietyJudith and Jonathon ErlenRoseann and George ErnyJames FerloPhyllis HamiltonMr. & Mrs. John Campbell HarmonCatherine A. HebertJoyce HochardMaureen Hogel, in honor of Michael Hogel

Michael HogelEd and Helen HoranDolores and Jay JarrellVirginia and William KeckTom and Pam KefferKathleen and Lawrence KonsinJanice and John KreutzmanRobert M. LavelleMartha LazarevicMiguel Llinas

Alfred ManciniAngela and Doug MarvinDavid and Cecelia McKibbenMelissa M. McSwiganDr. & Mrs. William J. McVayMary Anne and William MistickMuriel MorelandJack NorrisJohn S. OehrlePauline and James ParkerRay PendroMark T. PhillisMarirose and John RadeletMatthew J. RaganRonald W. RaganDr. & Mrs. Wilfred T. RouleauAnn Fay RubenColleen and Timothy SauvainVirginia W. SchatzPat and Bill Schultz

Florence SchwartzEugene SederHarton SempleLaurie Graham ShearerSally SmileyLouise and Martin SturgessMary Ann Stuart TempletonEileen and Bruce TenenbaumDavid J. VaterMollie WeinertElaine E. WertheimRoger C. WestmanDr. Marilyn WhitmoreWilkinsburg Historical SocietyFrances H. WilsonHelen A. WilsonArthur Ziegler

Religious buildings are familiar, cherished sights in our lives. They areplaces where artistry and personal and collective memories and cultural

traditions have survived. In recent years, however, the survival of these historicstructures has become a great public concern. To help address this need, PHLFcreated a Historic Religious Properties (HRP) program in 1997 that continuesto operate today, thanks to the generosity of our members and friends.

$95,710 in MatchingGrants Awarded in 2014Thanks to contributions received in2013 from many people and privatefoundations, PHLF was able to award a total of $95,710 in 2014 to twelve historic religious properties in AlleghenyCounty. “Our matching grants ofbetween $2,000 and $10,000 give aneeded boost to these congregations thatare critical in the lives of their communi-ties,” said HRP Committee Chair DavidVater. “We try to give as big a grant as possible so we push forward neededexterior restoration projects and get asmuch work accomplished as possible.”

As a result of the 2014 grant awards,endangered stained glass windows wererepaired, worn-out roofs and frontdoors were replaced, masonry wasrepointed, and trim was repainted. Byaddressing these critical building needs,each historic religious property is betterable to serve as a place of worship andcenter for community services––and as a familiar, cherished architectural land-mark. Award recipients in 2014 were:

1. All Saints Polish National Catholic Church, Carnegie

2. Central Presbyterian Church,Tarentum

3. Congregation Poale Zedeck,Squirrel Hill

4. Fairhaven Methodist Church,Overbrook

5. Islamic Center of Pittsburgh,Oakland

6. Jerusalem Baptist Church,West End7. Lamb of God Christian Ministries,

Homestead8. Pittsburgh Mennonite Church,

Swissvale9. Pittsburgh Northside Church of

God,Manchester10. Sacred Heart Parish, Shadyside11. St. John the Baptist Ukrainian

Catholic Church, South Side12. St. Paul of the Cross Monastery,

South Side Slopes

PHLF’s Historic Religious Properties Program:

Restoring Beauty and Value to Our Neighborhoods

Thank You Donors 2013

St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church at 109 South 7th Street, South Side, was constructed in 1895 and enlarged in 1917. Masonry repairs to the dome bases will be completed in 2015. A place of worship and center of Ukrainian culture, the church is also a place where many Pittsburghers go to buy homemade pyrohi.

Pastor Reverend Pugh (left) and VerzellOwens (right) hold up photos showing how the inappropriate modern metal doors of Jerusalem Baptist Church (left)have been replaced with more historicallyaccurate wooden doors, with leaded glassand a handsome red finish. Thanks toPHLF’s matching grant, the West End landmark at 123 Steuben Street has a more welcoming appearance.

Page 15: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

2015 Awards Will BeAnnounced in FebruaryNineteen historic religious properties in Allegheny County submitted grantapplications by the December 1, 2014deadline, requesting a total of $153,659in funding assistance from PHLF in2015. “We are very grateful to Georgeand Eileen Dorman and to the Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation for theirgenerous gifts that, when combined with those from others, will help pro-vide the financial resources that PHLFneeds to fund the 2015 HRP program,”said HRP Committee Vice-Chair Kathy Testoni.

“Our HRP committee makes theawards based upon the architecturalmerit of the religious building and theservices provided to the neighborhood in which it is located,” said PHLFPresident Arthur Ziegler. “Not only do these historic religious properties represent significant cultural and architectural values, but they anchorneighborhoods with the free facilitiesthey provide for service agencies, regard-less of religious affiliation. By openingtheir doors to the community, historicreligious properties actually save thenonprofit sector a great deal of moneythat would otherwise have to be raisedto house these services.” Arthur added.

After the January committee meeting,PHLF will announce the grant and tech-nical assistance awards for 2015 inFebruary. New PHLF members will beinvited to attend an afternoon receptionhonoring the award recipients. “Thereception is always a marvelous

HISTORIC LANDMARK PLAQUES HISTORIC RELIGIOUS PROPERTIES MEMBERSHIP & GIVING SPECIAL PROJECTS PHLF News January 2015 15

Donations from the followingPHLF members and friends in2014 will help make the 2015Historic Religious Propertiesprogram possible.

Leadership Gift ($15,000)

George and Eileen Dorman

Major Gift ($10,000)

Katherine Mabis McKennaFoundation

Keystone Gifts ($1,000 or more)

Anonymous David M. Brashear, in honor of Louise Sturgess

George and Eileen DormanNamed Fund

Richard D. FlinnDavid A. KleerGordon and Kate MacVean Fundof The Pittsburgh Foundation

Suella Pipal

Marguerite O. StandishKathy and Lou Testoni

Cornerstone Gifts (up to $500)

Esther BarazzoneNewt BlairM. Mildred BosilevacSusan BrandtHelen M. BraunSuzanne Broughton and Richard Margerum

Arlene Carbone-WileyMr. & Mrs. Randall W. CasciolaJanet S. CleverMarcia and Robert Coleman Francis J. CoyleJoan P. DaileyMary and John DavisLoretta Denny, in memory of Dominick Magasano

Keith DormanRoseann and George ErnyJames Ferlo

Joanna and Paul FittingPatrick GallagherMichael F. GoldeMr. & Mrs. John CampbellHarmon

Ed and Helen HoranKate HornsteinDolores and Jay JarrellVirginia and William KeckTom and Pam KefferKathleen and Lawrence KonsinJanice and John KreutzmanCharlotte LangRobert M. LavelleMartha LazarevicAngela and Doug MarvinRobert E. McCue, M.D.Melissa M. McSwiganJack MillerMary Anne and William MistickSuzan MohneyRona Moody and Derek StuartMuriel MorelandJohn S. OehrlePauline R. ParkerRay Pendro

James W. Perrin, Jr.Mark T. PhillisMarirose and John RadeletDr. Herman L. Reid, Jr.Anne RobbDr. & Mrs. Wilfred T. RouleauAnn Fay RubenSaint Nicholas Roman CatholicParish

Pat and Bill SchultzSally SmileyEmily SwanMary Ann Stuart TempletonEileen and Bruce TenenbaumVilma TuryDavid J. VaterSue and Ell VinesThe Walden TrustKimberly and Robert WalshMollie WeinertRoger C. WestmanFrances H. WilsonHelen, Jesse, and Todd WilsonEmma Ziegler Named Fund

Historic ReligiousProperty TOURSFor Private Groups• Contact Mary Lu Denny([email protected]; 412-471-5808,ext. 527) if you have a group of tenor more people who want to exploresome of the region’s most significanthistoric religious properties. We offerboth bus and walking tours––youhire the bus and we do the rest––andtours can be a half day or full day.

For PHLF Members• On April 25, PHLF members are invited to tour Central PresbyterianChurch, during atour of Tarentumand Natrona (seepage 24). DavidRankin and CindyHomburg ofTarentum (right) will be our guides.

• Also in 2015, PHLFis planning a bustour to severalchurches designed by John T. Comes(1873-1922). A prolific architect,writer, and activist, Comes foundedthe Pittsburgh Architectural Club in1896 and designed more than fiftyreligious buildings for the CatholicDiocese. For details, contact MaryLu Denny, or visit www.phlf.org.

occasion,” said HRP Committee ChairDavid Vater, “because we are able tomeet the people who are dedicated tocaring for and using these historic placesof worship. Last year, recipients thankedus for our generosity, emphasized theimportance of their work to the commu-nity, and, in one case, said our grant was the ‘beginning of a dream.’”

Since the program’s inception in1997, PHLF has awarded 247 matchinggrants totaling more than $1 million andsixty technical assistance consultations.

For the past seven years, CaroleMalakoff efficiently managed PHLF’sHRP program. “Carole helped developa strong network of communicationamong the historic religious propertyowners and made sure that everyonehad the knowledge they needed to worksuccessfully with contractors on buildingprojects,” said Kathy. “We thank her forher commitment to the HRP programand sound advice on preservation matters.”

David Farkas, Associate Director of PHLF’s Real Estate Programs, nowoversees the HRP program with the goal of increasing funding support.“Every dollar that people give,” saidDavid, “goes out in the form of match-ing grants to fund restoration work.Each gift is an investment in the futureof significant historic structures that addbeauty and value to our neighborhoods.”

For further information about theHRP program, please contact DavidFarkas ([email protected]; 412-471-5808,ext. 516). To contribute, visitwww.phlf.org.

Thank You Donors 2014

PHLF hosted a technical assistance workshop on September 30, 2014 at Calvary UnitedMethodist Church in Pittsburgh’s Allegheny West for owners of historic religious properties.

Fairhaven Methodist Church (above, both),St. Paul of the Cross Monastery (below), andCentral Presbyterian Church (bottom) usedHRP matching funds in 2014 to restorestained glass windows.

The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh replaced its roof in 2014, with help from PHLF’sHRP matching grant.

Congregation Poale Zedeck will completeroof repairs in 2015.

(through December 31)

Page 16: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

The seventeen buildings awardedplaques in 2014 cover a span of 157 years, from the National HistoricLandmark Bedford Springs Hotel andGolf Course to the Squirrel Hill housethat Pittsburgh native A. James Speyerdesigned for his mother, Tillie, in 1963.Speyer was Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’sfirst American graduate student; hebecame an architect, a professor ofarchitecture, and the curator of architec-ture at the Art Institute of Chicago.Three other residences were awardedHistoric Landmark plaques in 2014: a Victorian Italianate house of 1872; an early-twentieth-century Austro-Germanic house of 1914; and a c. 1949–50 Usonian house designed by Peter Berndtson and Cornelia Brierly,apprentices of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Frank Rutan and Frederick Russell,two architects trained in H. H.Richardson’s office, designed a 1907–08commercial clothing and dry goodsstore that is now an apartment building.The Pennsylvania Railroad Station inGreensburg (now PNC Train Station) of 1911 maintains its original function;however, the future of the PennsylvaniaRailroad Fruit Auction & Sales Building(1929/1930) in the Strip and the CaptainAlfred E. Hunt Armory (1909–11, 1916,1919) in Shadyside have yet to be determined.

Two former school buildings havebeen adapted to new uses: St. JamesSchool (1916) in the West End is nowPittsburgh Musical Theater and SouthHills High School (1916–24) is nowSouth Hills Retirement Residence.

Two government buildings are recog-nized: the East Pittsburgh U.S. PostOffice (1916) remains a post office,

while the Carnegie U.S. Post Office(1916) is now the Carnegie CoffeeCompany.

Two of Pittsburgh’s finest ArtModerne/Art Deco buildings are listed:the former New Brighton Theatre(1927–28), North Side, is now theLetter Carriers’ Local 84 Union Hall,and the former G. C. Murphy Store No. 12 (1930), Downtown, is now a portion of Market Square Place.

Twentieth-century masterpiecesinclude Four Gateway Center (1958-60)and The Plaza at Gateway Center (originally Equitable Plaza, 1961-62)and the former IBM Building at FiveGateway Center, now the UnitedSteelworkers Building (1961-63).

“All the sites are remarkable works of architecture. Whether fulfilling theiroriginal use, a new use, or awaiting a new use, these historic places are worthy of public attention and care.Our Historic Landmark Plaque programbrings recognition to each,” said Selene Davis, Chair of the HistoricPlaque Designation Committee.

The seventeen “Historic Landmark”sites designated in 2014 are (in chrono-logical order):

1. Bedford Springs Hotel and GolfCourse. 2138 Business 220, Bedford.C. 1806 and after. Solomon Filler,architect of Colonial Building, 1829.Golf course redesign by Donald Ross,1923. Restored by The Ferchill Group,developer; Corgan Associates, Inc.,architects, 2006–09.

2. The Four Sisters’ House. 310 PeeblesStreet, Sewickley. 1872. Zehu P.Smith, builder.

3. The Brix at 26 (Pittsburgh MercantileCompany). 2600–10 East CarsonStreet, South Side. 1907–08. Rutan & Russell, architects.

4. Captain Alfred E. Hunt Armory.324 Emerson Street, Shadyside.1909–11, 1916, 1919. Joseph F. Kuntz,architect for W. G. Wilkins Company.

5. PNC Train Station at Greensburg(Greensburg Railroad Station,Pennsylvania Railroad). 101 EhaltStreet, Greensburg. 1911. William H. Cookman, engineer.

6. Lydia A. Riesmeyer house. 5818Aylesboro Avenue, Squirrel Hill.1914. Richard Kiehnel, Kiehnel & Elliott, architects.

7. Pittsburgh Musical Theater (St. James School). 327 South MainStreet, West End. 1916.

8. Carnegie Coffee Company (CarnegieU.S. Post Office). 132 East MainStreet, Carnegie. 1916. OscarWinderoth, architect. Closed 2008;renovated 2013.

9. East Pittsburgh U.S. Post Office.701 Linden Avenue, East Pittsburgh.1916. James A. Wetmore, architect.

10. South Hills Retirement Residence(South Hills High School). 125 RuthStreet, Mt. Washington. 1916–24.Howard K. Jones, designer forAlden & Harlow, architects. Closed 1986. Renovations by a.m. Rodriguez Associates, Inc.,2008–11.

11. Letter Carriers’ Local 84 Union Hall (New Brighton Theatre).841 California Avenue, California-Kirkbride. 1927–28. Rubin &VeShancey, architects. Renovationsby Brenenborg Brown GroupArchitects, 1997.

12. Pennsylvania Railroad Fruit Auction& Sales Building. 2018–2100 16thStreet, Strip District. 1929. Office of Division Engineer (Pittsburgh),Pennsylvania Railroad Company.Addition in 1930.

13. portion of Market Square Place (G. C. Murphy Store No. 12).219 Forbes Avenue, Downtown.1930, Harold E. Crosby, architect.Renovations by MillcraftInvestments, developer; StradaArchitecture, LLC, 2006–09.

14. Fay Bear house. 125 Lutz Lane,West Mifflin. c. 1949–50. PeterBerndtson and Cornelia Brierly,architects.

15. Four Gateway Center and The Plaza at Gateway Center(Equitable Plaza). 444 LibertyAvenue, Downtown. 1958–60.Harrison & Abramovitz, architects.1961–62. Schell & Deeter, archi-tects, and Simonds & Simonds,landscape architects for Plaza.

16. United Steelworkers Building (Five Gateway Center, IBMBuilding). 60 Boulevard of theAllies, Downtown. 1961–63. Curtis & Davis, architects.

17. Tillie S. Speyer house. 1500Wightman Street, Squirrel Hill.1963. A. James Speyer, architect.

16 PHLF News January 2015 ADVOCACY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EASEMENTS EDUCATION & RESEARCH RURAL PRESERVATION

Plaque Process andCriteriaPHLF created the Historic LandmarkPlaque program in 1968 to identifyarchitecturally significant structures anddesigned landscapes throughout thePittsburgh region that maintain theirintegrity and are fifty years old or more.A Historic Landmark plaque does notprotect a building from alteration ordemolition. To date, 579 plaques havebeen awarded to significant buildings,districts, landscapes, and structuresthroughout the Pittsburgh region.PHLF reserves the right to remove the plaque if an owner alters a structurein a way that harms the architecturalintegrity. Candidates for PHLF Historic

Landmark Plaque designation comeprimarily from two sources: applica-tions from building owners and staffrecommendations. Plaque ProgramAdministrator Frank Stroker andHistorical Collections Director Al Tannler present an illustratedPowerPoint to Historic LandmarkPlaque committee members who discuss and vote on each applicant.Building owners who have not person-ally applied for a plaque are informedthat the committee has nominated theirbuilding and are asked if they wish toaccept or decline a plaque. If a buildinghas historical merit but does not meetPHLF’s criteria, the owner may bedirected to another agency, such as thePennsylvania Historical and MuseumCommission or the City of PittsburghHistoric Review Commission.For further information, or

to download a plaque application, please visit www.phlf.org or contact Frank Stroker: [email protected]; 412-471-5808, ext. 525.

Historic Landmark Plaques Awarded to Seventeen Buildings

All the sites are remarkableworks of architecture.Whether fulfilling their original use, a new use, orawaiting a new use, these historic places are worthy of public attention and care. Our Historic LandmarkPlaque program brings recognition to each.––Selene Davis, PHLF Trustee and Chair of the Historic PlaqueDesignation Committee

This book lists the 579 plaques thatPHLF has awarded since 1968.

1

Page 17: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

HISTORIC LANDMARK PLAQUES HISTORIC RELIGIOUS PROPERTIES MEMBERSHIP & GIVING SPECIAL PROJECTS PHLF News January 2015 17

Colcom GrantUnderwrites Assessmentand Refurbishment of PHLF PlaquesThanks to a $19,750 grant from theColcom Foundation, awarded in May2014, PHLF is assessing the condition of more than 500 Historic Landmarkplaques located on buildings throughoutAllegheny County and refurbishing up to fifty weathered and deterioratedplaques so they are in good conditiononce again. “As we tour Allegheny County

to assess the condition of our plaquesinstalled by property owners since 1968,”said Frank Stroker, Plaque ProgramAdministrator at PHLF, “we are notingthe problems that we see and we areworking with Matthews International,manufacturers of our plaques, to developa list of recommendations for propertyowners.” For example, it is important toregularly clean a plaque that is placed onthe exterior of a building since the saltspray from street plowing can cause thealuminum plaque to oxidize and cancorrode the paint over time. If steelscrews are improperly used to mount a plaque, then rust begins to tarnish the base finish. Once PHLF’s Historic Plaque

Designation Committee awards aplaque, the property owner pays for the cost of the 18" x 12" plaque andis responsible for properly installing it.Typically, bronze plaques cost $425; aluminum plaques cost $250. “Our program of assessment and

refurbishment will be completed by May2015,” said Frank. “We are grateful tothe Colcom Foundation for providing us with this grant that is enabling us to assess, refurbish, and document the location of all our Historic Landmarkplaques and create recommendationsthat will help property owners maintainthese plaques for years to come. Since so many people come to know about the mission and work of PHLF by firstseeing one of our Historic Landmarkplaques, it is important to have them in excellent condition.”

Before-and-after photos show the refur-bished plaque for the Stevenson Buildingat South Highland and Centre avenuesin East Liberty. The plaque, awarded in 1977, looks new again, thanks to theColcom Foundation grant and the skillof Matthews International.

Photo courtesy of Westmoreland Cultural Trust

5

2 3 4

6 7 8

9 10 11

12 13 14

15 16 17

Page 18: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

18 PHLF News January 2015 ADVOCACY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EASEMENTS EDUCATION & RESEARCH RURAL PRESERVATION

2014 LandmarksScholarship Fund

Leadership Gift ($15,000)David and Janet Brashear

Platinum ($10,000)Gailliot Family FoundationHighmark Blue Cross Blue ShieldHoward & Nell E. Miller Foundation

Gold ($5,000)AnonymousCohen & Grigsby, P.C.McSwigan Family Foundation Merging Media, Inc. (in-kind contribution)

Silver ($2,500)Dollar Bank Foundation

Bronze ($1,000 or more)Nadine E. BognarJames and Judith BrashearSylvia DallasLu and E. J. DonnellyMary McDonoughAlfred M. Oppenheimer Memorial Fundof The Pittsburgh Foundation

St. Brendan’s Crossing, Eileen ManningSnow Capital Management, L.P.Louise and Martin SturgessAlbert M. TannlerKathy and Lou Testoni

Crystal (up to $999)Robert and Ann Albert*Steven and Rachel AlbertAnonymousRobert and Judith BernardiniMichael and Carol BleierDaniel and Elizabeth Boyarski*Matthew Boyas*Gregory and Meghan BykowskiMarco Cardamone (Merging Media, Inc.)Kasey ConnorsMarian W. CookSuzanne S. CurranDebra and William DemchakMary DeWinter Named FundGeorge and Eileen DormanNancy Krulac FaustAndrew B. FergusonRobert C. FergusonLee FischbachNora Barry Fischer and Erin Fischer, Esq.Rev. James W. GarveyLarry Glasco Jack GoldsmithCarolyn E. GraffamMary Louise GreenPhilip B. HallenMr. & Mrs. William C. King*William KnappDonald Kortlandt and Anna SingerMichael and Jane LouikSara McGuire*Anna MurnaneMary Beth PastoriusRay Pendro*Emily Sullivan PetrinaMatthew J. RaganDavid RankinDorothy and Nicholas RescherLouis and Laurie RosenbergBetti RottschaeferMatthew and Melissa Sanfilippo*Breanna SmithCindy and Al StanishNorrine TaylorCynthia Pearson Turich*James P. WashabaughElaine Wertheim*Terri L. White*Eric C. Wise

* Scholarship Recipient

“Thanks to contributions received as a result of the Landmarks ScholarshipCelebration and fund-raising effort in2014, we are increasing our scholarshipaward from $4,000 to $6,000 in 2015,payable over a four-year period,” saidDavid Brashear, PHLF Trustee and Chairof the Scholarship Committee. A recipi-ent will receive $1,500 for his/her firstyear of undergraduate study to help paytuition and book expenses. The scholar-ship award will be renewed each year if the student maintains good academicstanding and demonstrates involvementin campus activities.

Initiated in 1999 by David Brashearand his family, the LandmarksScholarship Program has connectedPHLF with fifty-six high-achievingyoung people who care deeply about the Pittsburgh region. “Out staff stays in touch with each recipient duringhis/her college years; often provides letters of recommendation for intern-ships, jobs, or graduate school; andreconnects through annual luncheonsand special events,” said LouiseSturgess, Executive Director.

Two scholarship alumni are nowtrustees of PHLF––Todd Wilson andKezia Ellison––and nearly half of thealumni are living and working inPittsburgh. Steven Albert, WilliamKnapp, Paul Steidl, and James

Washabaugh, who work with architec-tural/engineering firms in the Pittsburgharea, often assist with our educationalprograms. Twenty-three of the fifty-sixwinners since 1999 were able to attendthe Landmarks Scholarship Celebrationin 2014, and three more were featuredin video clips produced by MarcoCardamone of Merging Media, Inc.

Marie Mrvos, a teacher fromPittsburgh Beechwood who attended the event, said: “After hearing the scholarship recipients speak, it is evidentthat a lot of thought goes into the scholarship selection process and thateach recipient was well-deserving of the scholarship and put it to great use.The PHLF financial support given topast recipients helped to put each andevery recipient on the road to success.”

The Landmarks Scholarship Programis the culmination of PHLF’s award-winning educational programs for students (pre-K through high school)and the beginning of its educational programs for adults. Sylvia Dallas, amember of the Scholarship Committee,noted that the June 2 celebration showed“the wide range of ages touched byPHLF’s educational programs.”

“We thank all those who recentlydonated to the Landmarks ScholarshipFund,” said David, “and encourage others to contribute at any time.

With $83,700 in hand, we are close toachieving our goal of raising $100,000for this worthy program.” If you wouldlike to contribute to the ScholarshipFund in 2015, please contact ExecutiveDirector Louise Sturgess ([email protected])or visit www.phlf.org. Thank you!

Twenty-three of PHLF’s fifty-six scholarship winners and several committee members were among the 138 guests who attended the Landmarks Scholarship Celebration on June 2, 2014 at Fairmont Pittsburgh. Photos on pages 18 and 19 by Jim Judkis

David Brashear, Scholarship CommitteeChair, and Mary Anne Papale of HighmarkBlue Cross Blue Shield applauded PHLF’s2014 scholarship recipients during the June2 celebration. From left: Natalie Morrissey,who is studying chemical engineering atPenn State University; Marissa C. Marks,who is studying engineering at PurdueUniversity; Jordan Maben, who is studyingBiology and Health Sciences at DickinsonCollege; and Andrew Hyatt, who is studyingArchitectural History/Historic Preservationat Savannah College of Art & Design.

Fifty-Six Winners Since 1999: Scholarship Award Increases to $6,000

Page 19: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

HISTORIC LANDMARK PLAQUES HISTORIC RELIGIOUS PROPERTIES MEMBERSHIP & GIVING SPECIAL PROJECTS PHLF News January 2015 19

Third-grade students from PittsburghDilworth opened the ScholarshipCelebration on June 2, 2014 by singingPHLF’s “trolley tour” song. AlexisWilliams from Pittsburgh Obama andSteve Perekiszka from Pittsburgh Phillipsread poems they wrote while participatingin PHLF’s summer camp and “BuildingPride Building Character” program.Third-grade students from PittsburghBeechwood displayed models they craftedafter touring the Strip District with PHLF.

My Home, PittsburghPittsburgh, you’re old and reliable,strong and dependable.You are called home by 310,000 Americans.You are shelter and comfort,friend and my own.

But the place that stands out the mostin you for meIs the North Side,the place where I attend CampDEC.

We explore your history and surroundings.We design, inspired by your bridgesand buildings,And create the new tomorrow for Pittsburgh.

You leave your legacy in our hands,the children of the future,To continue the strong bondof generations and generations.

––Alexis Williams, Pittsburgh Obama, Grade 8 (July 2012)

Pittsburgh Is AwesomeI am small but I am strong,not very tall,been here for 75 years,through pride and tears.I saw the mills and city change.I used to see horses, but now I see cars.I’m very small,but have a huge heart.I love Pittsburgh and many others do.Pittsburghers respect meand I respect them, too.

––Steve Perekiszka, Pittsburgh Phillips, Grade 5(March 2014)

Using personification,Steve imagined he wasthe City shield above theentrance to the SouthSide Ormsby RecreationCenter.

2015Scholarship Deadline

College-bound high school studentswho live in Allegheny County, have a 3.25 grade point average or above, care deeply about the

Pittsburgh region, and are interested in building a relationship with PHLF, are invited to apply to the

Landmarks Scholarship program. The application deadline is Wednesday, April 22.

Visit www.phlf.org to download an application or call

Marie Miller (412-471-5808, ext. 526) and she will mail one to you.

Above: Scholarship recipients Anna Murnane (left) and Marissa Getty (right) are majoring in architecture at Syracuse University and Penn State, respectively.Below: Marilyn Whitelock welcomes Karamagi Rujumba, both PHLF staffmembers, to the Scholarship Celebration on June 2, 2014 at FairmontPittsburgh.

Page 20: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

20 PHLF News January 2015 ADVOCACY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EASEMENTS EDUCATION & RESEARCH RURAL PRESERVATION

Affecting Lives“As a Pittsburgh Public Schoolteacher, I have participated with mystudents in PHLF’s Building PrideBuilding Character educational program since 2008. The field trips,Poetry and Art books, and careerawareness programs have benefitedmy students greatly––and have influenced me personally, in ways I did not anticipate at first.“After seeing how engaged my

students became in architecture-based programs, my husband and I enrolled our daughter in a summerarchitecture course offered by theCarnegie Museum. Recently we purchased and renovated a Victorianhome in Brookline, a historic cityneighborhood. Since 1996, my family has owned and operatedChristos Mediterranean Grille,Downtown in the Penn-LibertyCultural District. We are stronglyrooted in Pittsburgh’s life and appre-ciate the impact that historic placeshave in creating a distinctive, meaningful, livable city.”

––Alea Melacrinos, Pittsburgh Banksville (December 11, 2014)

2014 Stats: EducationMore than 12,000 people wereinvolved in PHLF’s educational pro-grams in 2014. Trustees, CommunityAdvisory board members, staff, anddocents presented 90 school tours(for grades 2–12), 77 walking toursand special events for our membersand general public, 50 private grouptours, 30 lectures, 6 career awarenesssessions, and 4 professional develop-ment classes or tours for teachers. In addition, 13 schools borrowedPHLF’s Portable Pittsburgh ArtifactKits to use in their classrooms.Plus, PHLF produced a video,

“Thank You, Dunfermline,”connecting Pittsburgh Public Schoolstudents with their peers in Scotland; published 8 Poetry and Art booksfeaturing student and teacher workand created 2 Poetry and Art E-books; hosted architectural designchallenges, after-school enrichmentprograms, and an ArchitecturalApprenticeship; awarded $4,000scholarships to 4 more college-bound students; participated in 6 major conference and communityevents, including the City ofPittsburgh Wellness Fairs, the Pro Walk/Pro Bike/Pro PlaceConference, and the 16th AnnualConference of the Modernist Studies Association. PHLF has distributed 1,355

copies of Al Tannler’s guidebook,Pittsburgh Architecture in theTwentieth Century, since its release in December 2013. August Wilson:Pittsburgh Places in His Life andPlays, by Laurence Glasco andChristopher Rawson (PHLF 2011),was sold out in 2014, but a secondedition will be released in the fall of 2015, thanks to funding supportfrom BNY Mellon Foundation ofSouthwestern Pennsylvania.

Year-round, PHLF offers a variety of educational programs that bring the city’s rich history and architecture to life to people of all ages and abilities.Through guidebooks, illustrated lectures,artifact kits, tours, poetry and art work-shops, architectural design challenges,career awareness programs, after-schoolenrichment, an Architecture Apprentice-ship, and special events, PHLF involvesmore than 12,000 people in learningabout the Pittsburgh region’s significantarchitectural heritage so they can partnerwith us to protect architecturally significant places.

In the process, participants develop a sense of hometown pride, learn tovalue diversity (because it’s the differentstyles and ages of buildings that make a city distinctive), and have the chanceto imagine, inquire, investigate, explore,create, and share.

“We are able to offer a full-range of meaningful, relevant educational programs because of the generous contributions we receive from manyfoundations and donors (please see page 23),” said Executive Director

Louise Sturgess, “and because we have a terrific group of docents who aid ourstaff by volunteering more than 2,000hours each year to lead tours and present lectures.”

A Pittsburgh Public School teachersummed up the satisfaction that manythousands of people feel after participat-ing in one of PHLF’s educational programs: “A million thank-yous. The knowledge that my students and I acquired today will last a lifetime.”

Meaningful,Relevant,EducationalPrograms

Page 21: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

HISTORIC LANDMARK PLAQUES HISTORIC RELIGIOUS PROPERTIES MEMBERSHIP & GIVING SPECIAL PROJECTS PHLF News January 2015 21

James D.Van Trump Library:

Database ofRegional ArchitectsIs Being Created For more than two decades, Al Tannler,Historical Collections Director at PHLF,has been researching the lives and workof architects who practiced in thePittsburgh area and designed theregion’s most significant architecturallandmarks. The 115 architect profilesthat Al has written are now beingentered into a digital database that willbe available for use in the James D.VanTrump Library in the fall of 2015.

Julianna Zhuxin Jia, a LandmarksFellow from the Heinz School of PublicPolicy & Management at CarnegieMellon University, created the databaseformat in 2014. She modeled it on theAmerican Architects and Buildings data-base (originally Philadelphia Architectsand Buildings), established by theAthenaeum of Philadelphia. Juliannacreated several main categories––Biography, Selected Works, Bibliography,Associate Architects––and preparedintroductory text outlining the characterof the site and its contents.

James Halttunen, a graduate ofDuquesne University’s master’s programin Public History and the acting curatorof the Fort Pitt Block House, beganentering the architect profiles in the

database in the summer of 2014. Hecontinues to volunteer a portion of histime to this project. When completed,this searchable database will documentand consolidate fifty years of researchby PHLF, including the work of Co-founder James D.Van Trump, Walter C. Kidney, and Al.

The James D.Van Trump (JVT)Library is open by appointment, Mondaythrough Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Use of the library is free

to members; non-members are assesseda $10.00 per person use fee, althoughresearchers, including students, may usethe library at no charge. Members whowish to visit or support the JVT Librarythrough volunteer or financial help areencouraged to contact Al Tannler:[email protected]; 412-471-5808.

Thank You Corporate Benefactors

Covington Investment Advisors, Inc.

Ellwood Group, Inc.

Fifth Third Bank

Huntington Bank

Just Ducky Tours/Molly’s Trolleys

Millcraft Investments

Omni William Penn Hotel

Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

Pittsburgh Steelers Sports

Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel

TriState Capital Bank

By the fall of 2015, visitors to the James D. Van Trump Library will be able to access information on many of the architects shown in this 1910 photograph.

There are over 3,000 slides, plus manyphotographs, among the thousands of items in the original donation fromFrank B. Fairbanks, Jr. (1930–2005)that form the Fairbanks Rail Transpor-tation Archive on the fourth floor ofThe Landmarks Building at StationSquare. Mr. Fairbanks took most of these slides in the 1950s and 1960s,with lesser numbers in the 1970sthrough 1990s. As he traveled through-out western Pennsylvania and the world,he documented rail transportation meth-ods and everyday scenes. His collectionof images shows trains, trolleys, trams,inclines, funiculars, and cog and cablecars. He also saved all his tickets, stubs,schedules, and literature relating to theimages. All of this material is catalogedand preserved for the patron to access in a hands-on experience.

Western Pennsylvania rail transporta-tion enthusiasts can come to the archiveto view 378 slides taken in this regionbetween 1948 and 1993, and read theprinted memorabilia associated withmany of them. The images include slidesof the Knoxville, Castle Shannon, andMt. Washington inclines; both slidesand photographs of the West PennRailways; and slides of large and smallbusiness railroads, such as the DuquesneSlag and Gulf Mobile & Ohio. (These 378 images also can be viewedon the Historic Pittsburgh web site[http://historicpittsburgh.org] and high-resolution images can be purchased.)

For the researcher, these images illustrate and document transportation history. For natives of the region, theyare a wonderful memory trip, recordinga time that seemed so ordinary and away of life that people never imaginedwould change. Western Pennsylvaniawas rail oriented. Wonderful train

depots, large and small, were builteverywhere. So many of these are gonenow, or are in disrepair. For example,the Coudersport depot in Potter County,Pennsylvania, began to deteriorate whenrail transportation declined in the 1960sand was abandoned in 1970. Today, it isthrilling to see how the 1899 structure,

now listed on the National Register ofHistoric Places, has been transformed to house the town offices of the City of Coudersport.

The Fairbanks Archive is open byappointment on Wednesdays, 10:00a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Use of the archive is free to PHLF members; non-membersare assessed a $10.00 per person use fee. To make an appointment, e-mail Librarian Judith Harvey at [email protected] or contact Al Tannler at PHLF (412-471-5808).

Memory and Reality:

Images from the Frank B. Fairbanks Rail Transportation Archive

SAVED: The P&LE depot, shown here in1963. This 1901 landmark, the crown jewelin PHLF’s development of Station Square,now houses the Grand Concourse andGandy Dancer (opened in 1978) and a variety of office tenants, including PHLF’sfourth-floor offices and Fairbanks Archive.

Frank Fairbanks’ 1959 slide shows the private right of way between Chislett and Jancey streetsin Pittsburgh’s Morningside neighborhood. This was “just the way it was,” and probably noone was overly concerned.

Mr. Fairbanks photographed the Coudersportand Port Allegany Train Depot in 1963.

LOST: The former shed of the B&O station, shown here in 1957 at the corner of Smithfield and Water Street in DowntownPittsburgh, was demolished for the construc-tion of the Penn-Lincoln Parkway.

Page 22: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

22 PHLF News January 2015 ADVOCACY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EASEMENTS EDUCATION & RESEARCH RURAL PRESERVATION

Feedback from Members

Pittsburgh is so blessed to have such a wonderful Foundation as the PHLF. It certainly makesPittsburghers proud, and the

programs you offer are outstanding. ––Phyllis Franks, December 1, 2014

What a great resource PHLF is, for young and old alike! Thanks

so much for all you do. ––Christina Lee Sarson, October 2, 2014

One of the groups that has my highest recommendation is PHLF.We’ve belonged since 1996, and have taken dozens of tours. What I really recommend is joining theorganization. Membership is

extremely reasonable. You’ll receivea monthly e-newsletter, a yearly (terrific!) 24-page

newsletter, and discounts on tours,books, etc. An added incentive: at the bottom of every month’s e-newsletter, there’s a “mysteryphoto.” If you can identify it,

you get a free year’s membership.My husband and

I have been on many tours, so we have recognized many of the mystery photos.

We’ve extended our membership until 2035!

––Angela Marvin, July 18, 2014

Twenty years ago I joined PHLFbecause I care about

preserving buildings, and the people I’ve gotten to know havebeen every bit as important

and pleasurable as the buildings I’ve come to know and love.––Philip Maye, May 30, 2014

It is an honor and a joy to be associated with PHLF.

This membership has paid dividendsthat far exceed the cost.

––Nancy Schaefer, December 12, 2013

1861 Minersville CemeteryGary AblaufGeorgia AbrahamDiane AikenAnn and Robert AlbertDona and David AlbertJudith and John ArchThe Art Institute of PittsburghJames Dillion Asher, Jr. and Lisa Ann Brignoni

Nina BabiarzBrendan BaginEmily BallingerCaitlin BeerChris BendelJudy and Bob BernardiniDennis BerryClarence BetzlerGinny and Byron BowmanJudith and James BrashearLizabeth and John BuckwalterHerb BurgerKeith BurleighCandace Cain and Fred R. NeneDebra A. CallahanCarnegie Mellon University AmericanInstitute of Architecture Students

Alexander CashmanJudy CasturoKathy and Mark ChirdonStephanie and Dan CiprianiCity Connections —PittsburghKatherine A. ClausenPam and Jason CohnSally and H. Scott CunninghamDebra and William DemchakPatricia DiamondJean L. DomicoDouglas DuerrJoann and Wally EdsallDeborah EdwardsRenee and Kevin EllwoodThe Episcopal Church of the RedeemerFalk Laboratory SchoolCarla FalkensteinFamily Instructors of the South Hills (FISH)

Lori FeelyJean T. Ferrante and familyNora FischerDiane and Jim FlaniganLorraine ForsterJerome FrankJay GamzeLynne Glover and familyJack GoldsmithSheila GoodworthEoin GormleyGreater Allen AME ChurchJeremy S. GuttmanHamnett Place Community GardenJoseph A. Hardy IIIBill and Linda HartVirginia HartNozomi HatakeyamaEleanor and Marshall HershbergDale HersheyHillfield Strathallan CollegeHoly Trinity School

Cindy HomburgIslamic Center of PittsburghJerusalem Baptist ChurchBonnie KatzKaren and Michael KleerDiane Koch and Adam BeanYuet KomisarsAzusa Kondo-SuggsLisa KotcheyMaria KyriacopoulosLamb of God Christian MinistriesSarah and Blaine LamperskiEric LidjiJane and Michael LouikChris MakrinosMichael William MarinoDavid MaxwellBernard J. McCroryMcKnight Elementary SchoolMargaret L. MooreJames H. MorrisKhrys MyrddinJean Marie NemethLinda NewbergBrandon NicholsonCyndi and Steve ObenrederAngela and Sam OnuskaBob PascarellaBonnie L. PiercePittsburgh-Tarentum CampmeetingAssociation

Renee PolliceJanet PotterPresentation of Christ Greek OrthodoxChurch

David M. RankinRedeemer Lutheran Church and SchoolShawn ReedRiverview Children’s CenterLaurie and Lou RosenbergDale K. RossChris RudzkiMillie and Gary RyanRyerson University School of Urban Planning

Elaine K. SackSaint Philip ChurchMichele Sandoe and familyTimothy SeidelCatherine Serventi and Eugene WilsonDawnelle K. ShrawderPeter SmerdMarie SmithSnow Capital Management, L.P.South Park Historical SocietyJanet and Jerry StephensonBarbara and Roy SternerDavid StifflerTemple SinaiCynthia Pearson Turich and Tom Turich

Susan TusickJames Weddell and Sandra FaulkVirginia M. Wellman Consultant ServicesMark WellsSmith M. WilsonPeggy and Jim Wojcik

Corporate MembersBenefactors Covington Investment Advisors, Inc.Ellwood Group, Inc.Fifth Third BankHuntington BankJust Ducky Tours/Molly’s TrolleysMillcraft InvestmentsOmni William Penn HotelPittsburgh Downtown PartnershipPittsburgh Steelers SportsRenaissance Pittsburgh HotelTriState Capital Bank

PatronsDollar BankEat’n Park Hospitality GroupGraham Realty CompanyGreater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce

VisitPittsburgh

Partners AHRCOAlco Parking Corporationbit-x-bit, LLCBognar and Company, Inc.The Buncher CompanyThe Burrell Group, Inc.Chatham Village Homes, Inc.Crossgates, Inc.Duquesne Heights InclineE Properties Development, Inc.ESB BankFerry Electric CompanyHall Industries, Inc.Heinz Healey’sHighmark Blue Cross Blue ShieldHilbish McGee Lighting DesignHorty Springer & Mattern, P.C.IKM, IncorporatedK&L Gates, LLPKelly Art Glass CompanyLDA ArchitectsManchester Citizens CorporationMerging Media, Inc.Michael Baker CorporationPittsburgh Cultural TrustPittsburgh Transportation GroupPNC BankReal Estate Enterprises.com Inc.South Side Chamber of CommerceSterling Contracting, LLCUrban Design Associates

AssociatesFor Wood GroupGreen Building Alliance

By Lucas Yero, second grade, Washington Elementary School, Mt. Lebanon

Welcome New Members (September 13, 2013 – November 30, 2014)

Members are vital to the work and growth of PHLF. Many members volunteer their time to help with programs and office work. By joining, each person demonstrates his/her belief in our mission. We thank you.

Page 23: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

HISTORIC LANDMARK PLAQUES HISTORIC RELIGIOUS PROPERTIES MEMBERSHIP & GIVING SPECIAL PROJECTS PHLF News January 2015 23

Corporate Matching Gifts• BNY Mellon Community Partnership,for matching gifts from Barrie H. Athol,Mary Ann Celio, Clifford Mull, C.Stewart Agreen, and Eileen Tenenbaum

• The Buhl Foundation, for matching a giftfrom Lara Washington

• IBM International Foundation, formatching a gift from P. J. Martin

• Norfolk Southern Foundation, formatching gifts from Allen T. Bankson

Easements• 900 Penn Avenue• Amore Limited Partnership

Educational Improvement TaxCredit Program (2013–14)• BNY Mellon• Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, Inc.• ESB Bank• First National Bank of Pennsylvania• Hefren-Tillotson, Inc.• Huntington Bank• Maher Duessel CPA (8-15-2013) • PNC Bank (9-5-2013)

Educational Improvement TaxCredit Program (2014–15)• Allegheny Technologies Incorporated• American Eagle Outfitters• BNY Mellon• Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, Inc.• ESB Bank• First National Bank of Pennsylvania• Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale Company• Hefren-Tillotson, Inc. • Huntington Bank• Maher Duessel CPA• Pickands Mather Lake Services, Inc., on behalf of Susan and Scott F. Brown

• PNC Bank • UPMC

Educational Programs • Barbara and Marcus Aaron Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation

• BNY Mellon Foundation ofSouthwestern Pennsylvania

• The Anne L. & George H. ClappCharitable and Educational Trust

• Laurie Cohen• Barbara P. Cooper• The Fine Foundation• Anne and David Genter• Grambrindi Davies Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation

• International Seminar Design, Inc.• Barbara and Robin Levine-Ritterman,for a Father’s Day gift in honor of Larry Levine

• Gordon and Kate MacVean Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation

• Matthews Educational & Charitable Trust• McSwigan Family Foundation• Audrey and Kenneth Menke NamedFund for Education

• Muriel Moreland• Alfred M. Oppenheimer Memorial Fundof The Pittsburgh Foundation

• Mary Beth Pastorius• Else Schiller

• Judy A. Sigal• Darcy Smith• Squirrel Hill Historical Society• Ed Stockton• Peg Stouffer, in memory of her husbandS. William Stouffer, her parents Mr. &Mrs. George V. Moore, and her grand-parents Mr. & Mrs. John P. Moore andThe Rev. & Mrs. William A. Jones

• Cynthia Pearson Turich• Tawnya Zemka

Frank B. Fairbanks RailTransportation Archive(for financial gifts and library donations)• Joseph D. Dury, Jr.• Joan Fairbanks• Don Harper• Judith Harvey• Jeffrey Mora

Gift Memberships• Thomas Betzler, for a gift membershipfor Clarence Betzler

• Kristy Carnahan, for a gift membershipfor Dawnelle K. Shrawder

• Kasey Connors, for gift memberships for Suzie and Mike Ament, Brad Ayers,Carla Braham, Ada and Rob Brandegee,Emma Davison, Jim Denova, ElizabethQuinn, Nancy Reese, and Jon andDebbie West

• Sandra Danko, for a gift membership for John Danzak

• Janice and Richard Kaufman, for a giftmembership for Justin B. Kaufman andPaige Cornman

• David A. Kleer, for a gift membershipfor Michael and Karen Kleer

• Jack and Donna Miller, for gift memberships for Melody Miller and Mr. & Mrs. John C. Miller III

• Pamela Nakajima, for a gift membershipfor Mark Bier

• Shirley Phillis, for gift memberships forMark Phillis

• Brittany and Debbie Platts, for a giftmembership for Jo-Ann Travis

• Dr. & Mrs. Bernard L. Rottschaefer, for a gift membership for Joann andWally Edsall

• Kate Sansing, for a gift membership for Brendan Bagin

• Pat and Bill Schultz, for gift membershipsfor Lori and Eric Schultz

• Dana Spriggs, for gift memberships for Dorothy Stenzel and Mary Weise

• Peg Stouffer, for gift memberships forMr. & Mrs. Jack Kleman, Elaine andBen Wertheim, and Concordia of theSouth Hills

• Helen Wilson, for a gift membership for the Mary S. Brown Memorial-AmesUnited Methodist Church

• Scott Wise, for gift memberships for Robert Moore

Historic Religious Properties (see pages 14 and 15)

James D. Van Trump Library• Anonymous

Landmarks Fellows• PNC Foundation

Landmarks PreservationResource Center• Barbara and Lee Hicks• Vartan Tchekmeian• TriState Capital Bank

Landmarks Scholarship(see page 18)

Memorial Gifts• Marylou Mele and Daniele Gilbert Pod,for a gift in memory of Furman South III

• Ann Fay Ruben, for a gift in memory ofMary Bordt

Named Funds• Jamini Vincent Davies and theGrambrindi Davies Fund of ThePittsburgh Foundation, for gifts to the Jamini and Greg Davies Fund

• George and Eileen Dorman, for a gift tothe George and Eileen Dorman Fund

• Thomas O. Hornstein Charitable Fundof The Pittsburgh Foundation, for a giftto the Thomas O. Hornstein Fund

• Audrey and Ken Menke, for a gift to theAudrey and Kenneth Menke Fund forEducation

Neighborhood Revitalizationand Preservation Services• Allegheny County EconomicDevelopment Community Infrastructureand Tourism Fund

• Anonymous• The Armstrong Group of Companies• David Bevilacqua• H. M. Bitner Charitable Trust• BNY Mellon• David M. Brashear• Michael Cardinale• Mr. & Mrs. Randall W. Casciola• Mary Ann Celio• Sally Hillman Childs• Clark Hunter Foundation• Colcom Foundation• Barbara Mary Deriso• Fair Oaks Foundation• Matthew Falcone• Mark S. Gleeson• Ellen Handel• Hardy Family Trust• Huntington Bank• Jewish Community Foundation of theJewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

• David A. Kleer• Muriel Moreland• Gary and Sharran Novak• Ray Novak• Kevin O’Donnell• Mary Beth Pastorius • Pittsburgh Steelers, LLC• PPG Foundation, for gifts in honor of Mark S. Gleeson

• Matthew Ragan• Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County Gaming Economic Development Fund

• Daniel M. and Patricia R. Rooney• J.T. Thomas• Tippins Foundation• TriState Capital Bank• U.S. Treasury Department

Gifts to Others Twenty-two Named Funds have beenestablished by members and staff to support PHLF’s work. On occasion, contributions are made to support preservation projects throughout theregion. Robert Z. Fierst, Chairman of The Duquesne Heights Incline, sent the following letter of thanks to PHLF President Arthur Ziegler onNovember 25, 2014, as a result of PHLF’s recent contribution to the incline through the Emma Ziegler Named Fund.

Your continued support helps us to fund ongoing expenses and operationof the Duquesne Incline. This year, in addition to routine maintenance, we concentrated on several mid-sized projects. We replaced the deterioratedfront siding on the upper station,installed a new security system … andinstalled a back-up electrical generatorat the lower station. We are in the processof getting bids to replace the wheels onthe cars … .

W hen I think of PHLF I remember pictures of the

early days on Liverpool Street, where my grandfather lived, and the time you spent in the Old Post Office on theNorth Side. My family’s business wasoriginally located next door to that magnificent building prior to the rede-velopment of the area. I also restored several buildings in Allegheny West and used the resources of PHLF duringthis period. Although PHLF was notalways successful in saving meaningfulstructures from demolition, in my opinion, the organization has done aremarkable job and the character of thePittsburgh area has benefited greatly.

Educational Programs (cont.)

Students from Pittsburgh Fulton (top)and Pittsburgh Beechwood (bottom)rode the Duquesne Incline duringPHLF’s “Building Pride BuildingCharacter” tour, underwritten by businesses that contribute to PHLFthrough Pennsylvania’s EducationalImprovement Tax Credit Program.

Thank You for Contributing Your gifts support historic preservation programs and services throughout the Pittsburgh region and make possible so much of the work featured in this newsletter. PHLF and its subsidiary LCCC received the following gifts and grantsbetween September 13, 2013 and December 31, 2014, unless otherwise noted.Donors to PHLF’s 50th Anniversary Fund will be listed in the next newsletter.

• Greg Pytlik• Mary Iris Ragan• Matthew J. Ragan• Jean Woods

Page 24: Renewing Communities; Building Pride PHLFNews · thatthisneighborhoodissafeand aplacetobe.Thisnextphaseof workwillsolidifythegreatinvest-mentthathasalreadybeenmade byPHLF,LDC,PHFA,Allegheny

Jack Norris, Chairman

Our Staff Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr., President

Michael Sriprasert, President,Landmarks Community CapitalCorporation; President, LandmarksDevelopment Corporation

Louise Sturgess, Executive Director; Editor, PHLF News

Matthew J. Ragan, PreservationDirector; Finance Director

Preservation ServicesDavid A. Farkas, Associate Director, Real Estate Programs

Umer Humayun, Project Manager

Thomas Keffer, Property &Construction Manager

Karamagi Rujumba, Project Manager

Robert E. Wagner, Senior Loan Officer

Sarah J. Walker, AdministrativeAssistant to the President; Office Manager

Marilyn Whitelock, AdministrativeAssistant for Real Estate Services

Gregory C. Yochum, Horticulturist

Ronald C. Yochum, Jr., Chief Information Officer

Educational Programs & Research*Karen B. Cahall, Ed.M., Education Coordinator

Mary Lu Denny, Director ofMembership Services

*Judith Harvey, Fairbanks Archive Librarian

Marie Miller, Education &Administrative Assistant

Frank Stroker, Assistant Archivist; Sales Manager

Albert M. Tannler, Historical Collections Director

LegalDonald Kortlandt, Esq., General Counsel

FinanceNancy Krulac Faust, CPA,Controller

A. J. Marks, Staff Accountant

Linda Mitry, Senior Accountant

*Part-time

Plus Volunteers!More than 100 people volunteer to lead tours and help with educational programs, special events, and office work.

Become Involved: Contact UsPhone: 412-471-5808, ext. [email protected]

PHLF News is published for the members of the Pittsburgh History& Landmarks Foundation.

© 2015 Pittsburgh History & LandmarksFoundation. Designed by Pytlik DesignAssociates, Inc., with assistance from Haley Walker. Photographs by PHLF unless otherwise noted.

24 PHLF News January 2015

Bus and Walking ToursTours in 2015 include PHLF’s freeFriday Downtown Walking Tours,always at Noon, May through October;the free Jail Museum Tours onMondays, anytime between 11:30 a.m.and 1:00 p.m., February throughOctober; Downtown’s Best ($20 per person, including a guidebook), on anyThursday, from 10:00 a.m. to Noon, in June, July, and August; a variety ofprivate group tours; and a series of busand walking tours specially designed forPHLF members, including the following:

• April 25: Tarentum (including lunch at the train station) and Natrona;

• July 25: Oakland Landmarks, includ-ing a tour of Mellon Institute

• September 12: Andrew Carnegie FreeLibrary, Main Street, and Food Tasting

• September 26: Chatham Village, Mt. Washington

• October 10: Behind-the-Scenes at the Mattress Factory

• October 24: Mellon Square to MarketSquare (with visits to new interiors in historic landmarks)

• November 7: John ComesChurches––Lawrenceville, Etna, and Oakland

More than 4,800 peopleattended PHLF’s freeDowntown walking tours,membership events, privategroup tours, and presenta-tions in 2014. Membershiptours included visits toChatham University’s EdenHall campus, Millvale,Shadyside, the Isaac LightnerHouse in Glenshaw,Modernist Landmarks onPittsburgh’s North Side, and urban gardens inWilkinsburg, Braddock, and Homewood.

EVENTS IN 2015

Please remember that space is limited; reservations are accepted by phone or e-mail. For reservations or further details, contact: [email protected]; 412-471-5808, ext. 527. Event details listed below are subject to change. Visit www.phlf.org for up-to-date information or read our monthly E-news. If you are not receiving those, please send your e-mail to [email protected]. If you do not have e-mail and would like to receive the E-news, please call Mary Lu and she can mail them to you.

LPRC Workshops & Special ProgramsThe following programs are free to PHLFmembers. PHLF thanks TriState CapitalBank for underwriting these programs aspart of Wilkinsburg’s NeighborhoodPartnership Program.

Panel Discussion: National Register & Local Historic District DesignationsThursday, January 156:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Presenters: Bill Callahan, PennsylvaniaHistorical and Museum Commission; SarahQuinn, City of Pittsburgh; Jesse Belfast,Michael Baker, Jr., Inc.; and PittsburghHistory & Landmarks Foundation staff

DIY Workshop: Basics of CarpentrySaturday, January 1710:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.Instructor: Regis Will

Workshop: Painting Your Old HouseSaturday, January 2410:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.Presenter: Markantone Painting

Film Screening: Frederick LawOlmsted––Designing AmericaTuesday, February 106:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Lecture: A New Deal for Old KeyWest––A Case Study of Preservationand PopulismTuesday, February 176:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Presenter: Matthew Hyland, Department of History, Duquesne University

Lecture: The History of MasonryTuesday, March 36:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Presenter: Stephen Shelton, Shelton Masonry + Contracting�

Seminar: Public Art 101Commissioning Works of Art for Community SettingsSaturday, March 710:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.Presenter: Pittsburgh Office of Public Art

DIY Workshop: Introduction to Home ImprovementThursday, March 126:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Presenter: Michael Wetmiller, DIY Pittsburgh

DIY Workshop: Wall FramingTuesday, March 176:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.�Presenter: Michael Wetmiller, DIY Pittsburgh

DIY Workshop: Finishing CarpentryMoldings and TrimSaturday, March 2110:00 a.m. – NoonPresenter: Michael Wetmiller, DIY Pittsburgh

DIY Workshop: Drywall 101Tuesday, March 246:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Presenter: Michael Wetmiller, DIY Pittsburgh

DIY Workshop: Basics ofCarpentry––Interior Trim Thursday, March 266:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Presenter: Michael Wetmiller, DIY Pittsburgh

The Landmarks Preservation Resource Center(LPRC) is located at 744 Rebecca Avenue inWilkinsburg. PHLF offered 65 workshops, seminars, and presentations at the LPRC in2014. Total attendance topped 800 people from throughout the Pittsburgh region.