PITTSBURGH HISTORY & LANDMARKS FOLINDATION 1 STATIONSQ STE45O PITTSBURGH P A 15219-II]O

Address Correction Requested

Published for the members of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation No. 129 May 1993 a Revisiting Burtner House a Hands-on History Festival a Shaightening Out East Liberty a Pittsburgh Architecture: New Ways of Seeing

Nation aL Trust President Visits Landmarks

"Leadership seems to be the key factor." On March 9, Natíonal Trust Midway through his dayJong visit to presídert Rirhnrd Moe wrote Pittsburgh on March 8, National Trust for Historic Preservation president tlæfoilouting lctter to tlæ Pitts- Richard Moe offered that answer to a bnrgh Hßøry & Iand,marlæ question he had himself raised a moment before: "Why is there more Fotndnrinn: successful historic-preservation activity in Pittsburgh than anywhere else in this I can't tell you how much I country?" appreciate the day you put Richard Moe lawyer, Civil War preservationist, and- former White together for me yesterday. It House offrcial became National was a truly exhilarating ex- Trust president- in January ofthis year. perience. Now I know why the Accompanied by vice-president Peter entire preservation comrnunity Brink and joined by the Trust's Mid- Atlantic Regional Office director looks to you with such admira- Patricia Wilson from Philadelphia, Mr. tion and awe. I found in the Moe left Washington, D.C. to visit schedule you put together exact- Pittsburgh for the first "field trip" of his ly the experience was looking tenure. "I was right," he noted several I times during the course of his visit, "to for. There really is more going come to Pittsburgh first." on in those neighborhoods in During the morning, Landmarks' Pittsbwgh than anywhere else in president Arthur Ziegler and former Preservation Fund director Stanley the nation. This is a direct result Lowe led a tour of projects and pro- ofthe decades ofwork that grams sponsored by Landmarks. The you've put in to practical pres- joined Trust officials were by members ervation. I came away truly of the New York Landmarks Conser- vancy and Landmarks Harlem, whose inspired and energized and independent visit to study Landmarks' determined to take the word far programs and policies happily coincided and wide of what you are doing with Mr. Moe's visit. The itinerary in Pittsburgh. This is preserva- reviewed past projects inner-city neighborhood housing -restoration on tion as it should be practiced Manchester's Liverpool Street, Alle- and I am committed to further- gheny West, and the Mexican War ing it in eYery way that I can. Streets, and commercial developments such as the Brewery and the Priory in Many thanks again, Arthur.I the Troy Hill and Allegheny East sec- am most grateful and I hope you tions of the city. will let me know whenever I can Of particular interest to the Washing- be of assistance to you. ton off,rcials were the current activities receiving funding and technical assis- \üarmest regards. tance from Landmarks' Preservation Sincerely, Nøtinna,I Thtst president Richard Moe tøIks with Inndmarks' trustee Eaelyn Hirtl.e d,urin6 Fund. Rhonda Brandon and Betty Jane th.e morning bus tour of Pitæburgh's hßøric Northside neþhborhoods a,nd com,merciøI Contínued on page 12 restora,tian projects.

Richard Moe

Far left: Richard. Moe andPeter Brink of the Na,tiona.l Trust ønd. Arthur Ziegler of Iandmarlæ nlkwith Sønl,q Lau¡e on Liuerpool Street in Manchesten Wt: Once scheduledþr demolitinn, the nine' identi¿til d,ouble houses on Liaerpool Street nous form th.e most impressiue hnuse røw ín Pitæburgh. Phnøs by BilL Rydberg, PHAION Page 2 PHLF Nars . May 1993 ffiNEV/S

Welcomn l{euu Membert The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation welcomes the following new members who recently joined Landmarks. We look forward to their participation in our work and special events. Bloomfield Preservation & Mrs. Alina Lao Keebler Heritage Society, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. William M. Kelly Daniel L. Bonk V/illiam Keyes Mrs. Fred C. Brady Ms. Kathryn Leahy Todd D. Brant Richard J. LttÍz Joel T. Camp Miss Evalyne L. Miller Mrs. Edward W. Campbell Ms. Marie R. Miller Ms. Charlotte Cohen Ms. Deborah L. Myers Robert L. Critchlow Ms. Esther S. Persky Phillip Daquila Stephen A. Pfouts & Family Matthew J. Deluliis Real Estate Enterprises Ms. Joanne Devereaux Veronica M. Rocks, Esq. Mr. & Mrs. Harold J. Dom Bernd P. Rose & Family Charles L. Rosenblum Ms. Constance M. Dougherty Ms. Alison Rushford Lauren & John Durain Stephen J. Salmon Robert M. Eppinger Mr. & Mrs. PaulW. Mrs. Elda Eureka Schaughency Andy J. Fortna Ms. LuAnn Sokolowski Mark & Ida Gleeson Jay F. Steele Roland R. Graham, Jr. John E. Stevenson, Jr. Ms. Evelyn Granieri Ted & Beth Stevenson Robert L. Harland & Family Greg Turner Boolætnre and Librøry Oprn Hou,se Ms. Jennifer C. Haugen Robert Washington Ms. Eileen M. Hilko Gregory A. Weimerskirch On April 18, Landmarks'members and Holiday Park School George Whitmer friends visited The Landmarks Store in William & Janet Holtz Ms. Nancy L. Zagorac The Shops at Station Square, and the Robert S. Johnston Valeriano C. Zarro, Ph.D., RA James D. Van Trump Library, on the Ms. Cheryl Johovich Dr. & Mrs. David Zontine fourth floor of The Landmarks Build- ing, at an Open House held between Corporate Members 2:30 and 4:00 p.m. Attendees at The Landmarks Store The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation welcomes the browsed through the expanded stock of following corporate members: architecture and design books, looked over new and unusual gift items, and Benefactors Partners (Continued) gladly took advantage of a special 20o/o PNC Bank Tu:o ilhstrations from our Library's Dynamet Foundation discount in honor of the occasion. ooþndhurst," TCI Cable of Pennsylvania Metals boolæ: an øûerior of the Elkem At The Landmarks Building, guests Gateway Engineers Thau¡ hause on Beechwood Bouleuard, toured the library and staffoffices, and Patrons L.B. Foster Company and a coræt¡'u¿tian shatfrom the Inrhner Armstrong Group of Companies West Penn Hospiial chatted with staff members. Visitors project, August 21, 7911. Integra Bank were able to examine some of the more Auenue Bridge Associates interesting and unusual books in the Partners Delta International Machinery Library before moving on to explore Bank Corporation Allegheny Valley ofhces and work areas. The final full- Bobby Rubino's Place for Ribs rendered plans Oehme, Van tage, and a strong, activist involvement Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania color of Community Savings Sweden & Associates' design for the in the preservation ofthese resources, CTR Systems Station Square Riverpark were laid out from the neighborhoods to the national in the Arensberg Conference Room and level. A1 characterized the Library as drew particular interest. "not a full-service public or academic Almnndßr l{ørufih At 3:00 p.m., archivist Al Tannler library, in the usual sense, but a private, spoke briefly about Jamie Van Trump, even, one might say, a'family'library Alexander Kanuth is just completing a six- who was present at the Open House. which serves as a resource for members month internship with Landmarks. Alex The Library was dedicated in Jamie's and staff." He noted that the Open came to Landmarks on a year break from honor. Al noted that Jamie was Pitts- House represented a'tommencement," Bowdoin, intent on getting a diverse exposure burgh's preeminent architectural not a completion, and that much to historic preservation activities and trying historian who had written first about remained to be done in our job to to decide on a career. He has been auditing, myriad aspects of the city's character organize and arrange books and assisting, and gaining skill with a good many and environment, and had done so archival materials. of us, always willingly and energetically, and "with elegance, passion, and a breadth Delectable refreshments from the feels that he has learned a lot. Alex has unlikely to be matched." He further Grand Concourse were served in the worked particularly closely with our Preservation Fund and observed that Landmarks, as an organi- main hallway. Many who attended were neighborhood programs supported by local lending institutions. zalion, has been characterized from its overheard to say that this was their first He is going to be looking forward to real estate development founding by two equally important visit to Landmarks'offices and library. andlor f,rnance for his life's work. endeavors: thoughtful exploration of We look forward to future such events Alex is 21 years old. He was born in Askeq near Oslo in the Pittsburgh area's resources and heri- and repeated visits by our members. Norway, but moved as a small child to Australia, and at the age of nine to the United States. Home, at present, is Palm Beach. Orr Arrn,cHBNv ta Innùnnrles Landmarks Cifß VrcroRrAN The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation gratefully Welcomes acknowledges donations by: GenDEN Toun o Genevieve Hachmeister McCain, of the South Hills, for several survey maps of c. 1930 for the Boulevard of the Allies, and for Saturday and Sunday, July 10 and 1 1 rough specihcations c.l9l4 for an industrial building. PNC BANK AND 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Allegheny'West ¡ Margaret Berry, of Conway, Massachusetts, for a book of TCI C¡gLe Pittsburgh views from 1895. Over a dozen gardens in this historic OF PENNSYTVANIA district on Pittsburgh's No¡th Side will be on display. Refreshments will be available a in a patio cafe, and unusual plants will be for sale. PHLF News ís publishedfive t¡mes each year for the members of the Pittsburgh as Corporate tuterrr¡"r Benefactors The tour is sponsored by the Allegheny History &. Landmarks Foundation. It is supported through membership dollars, West Civic Council, which is celebrating its proceeds Station Square, and advertßing revenue. of the Pittsburgh History & from 25th year of support for urban renewal and Landmæks Foundation ArthurP. Ziegler,Jr. ....PresÌdent histo¡ic preservation. Louise Sturgess . ..Editor/Executive Director For information call: Cathy Broucek . Director of Marketing, Station Square lnndmarks appreciates th¿ co¡wnitment @rzl34-8884 Mary Lu Denny . . . . Director of Membership Services of PNC BankandTCI Cable of EricF.Dickerson...... AdvertisingSalesManager Tickets: Pennsylvania in helping w create afuture Mary Ann Eubanks . Education Coordinator $5.oo per person AlexKanuth ...... PreservationFundAdminßtrator for Pittsburgh by preserving its past. (may be purchased Walter C. Kidney . . . Architeclural Historian on site on tour days) Albert M. Tannler ...... Archivisl GrcgPytlik. ...Designer May 1993 . PHI,F News Page 3

o P H & N L T FS J o I n Coll Londmorks, lvlondoy lhrough Friday befween 9 o.m. ond 5 p.m., at (412) 471-5808, for further informofion LA N D A KI on the events listed below, or lo make reservofíons. Support the Pftrsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation in Mon. thru Fri., June 14-18 Bring a picnic lunch because we all will its work to: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. eat in Mellon Square Park. Exploring Architeclure Tour fare (including incline and subway Preserve architectural landmarks, Through lectures, slide shows, hands-on fees): members: $15 per family; $25 non- historic neighborhoods, and industrial activities, and walking tours of Station members sites and artifacts in Allegheny County Square and downtown Pittsburgh, Create tours, lectures, publications, an, Wed., September 22 6-8 p.m. teachers will learn about this region's educational programs featuring the his architectural heritage. Gillian Cannell, AspinwollWolking Tour tory, architecture, and culture ofPitts- an art history instructor at the Univer- Join members the burgh and Allegheny County; The.þrm.er Marine HospítøI on the of Aspinwall Centen- sity of Pittsburgh, will be the course nial Committee for an evening stroll Continue the development of Station Arsenal grounds leader for Landmarks. Elementary or through this vibrant neighborhood Square, the S}-acre riverfront site wher secondary teachers may register for this grounds territory, including the Marine along the Allegheny River, with its Landmarks' principles of historic preservation, two-credit in-service course by calling Hospital where Doctor Spock did his stately, well-kept homes, majestic trees, adaptive use, and urban the Allegheny Intermediate Unit at research, the powder magazíne, Arsenal and flowering gardens. Aspinwall was planning are creating a lively atlraclior (412) 394-5761. The course will be held Middle School, the cannon, and sites of laid out in 1890 by Henry Warner, for Pittsburgh. in Landmarks' offices at Station famous legends involving the Allegheny superintendent of the Allegheny County Square. Arsenal. Please wear walking shoes and Workhouse, on a plot of 155 pastoral Membership Beneffts be prepared for the rolling terrain. The acres purchased from Mrs. George tour will end near the Washington (Annie) Aspinwall, who was then living Free subscription to PHLF News, our Crossing Bridge at the Allegheny River in New York. Aspinwall was incorpo- membership newsletter published five below Butler Street. You can park on rated as a borough Ln1892. Tour details times each year. the street either near the beginning of will be forthcoming. Free subscription to All Aboard!, the the tour or near the end. Tour fare: $2 members; 55 non- Station Square newsletter published Tour fare: $2 members; $5 non- members four times a yeaî. members Many rewarding volunteer opportuni- Sun., September 26 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. ties. Sat., July 24 l0 a.m.-I:30 p.m. Historic Johnsfown ond Al0% discount at The Landmarks Highs qnd lows of Pitfsburgh the South Fork Fishing Store in The Shops at Station Square. Free initial consultation on landmark grandparents, & Hunting Club Attention moms, dads, designation and preservation advice fo and kids! Join Landmarks' instructor Join local Johnstown historians and your historic property. Sue Neff on an adventure through our Landmarks' staff on this all-day bus o Free access to our historical and city up the Monongahela Incline, trip to Johnstown and the nearby South architectural reference library in The into -downtown Pittsburgh via the Fork Fishing & Hunting Club. We will Landmarks Building at Station Square The Singer hausg Willdræburg subway, underground through office visit the Johnstown Flood Museum, ¡ Discounts on, or free use of, all educa- building tunnels, to the top of a ride the incline, and Wed., June 23 6-8 p.m. tour South Fork tional resources. skyscraper, and to a church graveyard. and some interesting Johnstown neigh- ¡ Reduced rates on tours, and invitationr Wilkinsburg Wolking Tìour There will be gargoyles to search for borhoods. Lunch and dinner are in- to lectures, seminars and special events Join Leon Haynes of Hosanna House along the way, and lots of Pittsburgh cluded. Details and fares will be mailed and members of Landmarks' staff for a trivia and architectural facts to learn- to members closer to the tour date. walk through Wilkinsburg, a suburb of Membership Categories modest suff,rciency, with historic homes and churches. We will visit Covenant Please enroll me as a member of the Church of Pittsburgh, the Wilkinsburg Pittsburgh History & Landmarks business district and school complex, Foundation. I have enclosed a tax- deductible and the Singer House of 1865, a fanciful THp LnNDMARKS SroRE contribution in the amount Romantic Gothic design. of ( check appropriate category ) : The Book and Gift Shop of the Pittsburgh History Ec Landmarks Foundation Tour fare: members; non- $2 $5 n Individual $20 or more members n Family $25 or more n School and Non-Profit $25 Mon., July 12 thru Wed., July 2l ¿Ë* n Senior Citizen $10 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m. .t n Corporate Supporter $50 or more Pittsburgh Heritoge: o summer n Corporate Member $250 or more workshop for teochers n Life Benefactor $5,000 (one-time gift' Landmarks' instructor Sue Neff will conduct Pittsburgh Heritage, a three- "A copy ofthe official registration & fìnancial credit summer workshop for teachers at information of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation may be obtained from the Pennsylvania the Allegheny Intermediate Unit in Department ofstate by calling toll free, within Station Square. Teachers will spend Pennsylvmia l-800-732-0999. Registration does not eight summer days exploring Pitts- imply endorsement." (as required by PA Act 202) burgh's past through its architecture. In ooaaaaaaaaoa addition to attending workshops designed especially for them, teachers Please enroll me as a member of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks will participate in art activities, treasure TnB DurE oF Groucpsrpn Foundation. hunts, incline and Gateway Clipper The jewel in Colonial lflilliamsburg's collection tours, and walking I enclose my check for $ tours of Station of fine English ceramics is a platter from a dinner Square, the Mexican War Streets, the service commissioned by llilliam Henry, Duke of Name Golden Triangle, and the ethnic Gloucester, circa t770. churches of McKees Rocks. When they This platter, with its naturalisric fruit cluster TÞlephone return to the classroom the in fall, surrounded by butterflies and berries all framed in teachers will be able to enrich Street tradi- gold, is a superb example of the sophisticated tional classroom curricula with their enamalling prevalent in 18th-century English City new-found knowledge. To register call porcelain. the AIU at (412) 394-5761. State Zio The antique is on display at The Dewitt .!Øallace Decorative Arts Gallery at Colonial Iled., July 14 6-8 p.m. W or ld-r eno rune d r epr o du cti ons '$lilliamsburg. Send check or money order to: rare antique originals H istoric Allegheny Arsenol from These reproductions are available by special Membership ond Grounds order only for Landmarks' members at a20o/" Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundatio Jim Wudarczyk of the Lawrenceville discount. One Station Square, Suite 450 Historical Society will guide us through Tnp LnNounnrs Stonr Pittsburgh, P A L5219 -ll7 0 the historic Allegheny Arsenal and BercoNy Lnvrr, Tu¡ SHops er SrerroN Squenn grounds. Our tour will begin at the cor- Creating a Fuhrre PtrrsnuncH,PA,t5zrg-n7o 4rz-765-ro4z ner of40th Street and Penn Avenue and for Pittsburgh by will explore the entire lower and upper Preserving its Past Page 4 PHLF News . May 1993 Education News THp LNNDMARKS SroRE Welcome New Docents Bookmarks Available V/ith April and May the busiest months Landmarks recently printed two new for Portable Pittsburgh, Landmarks is bookmarks, now available in quantity, The Book and Gift Shop of the most pleased to welcome five new free to members. One, promoting docents. After a ten-week, 3O-hour interest in The Landmarks Store at Pittsburgh History Bc Landmarks training program, Judy Mclntyre, Bob Station Square, contrasts an aerial view Foundation Bennett, Heather Maier, Pat Bilock, of Pittsburgh today with a view of and Eloise Badertscher are "taking Pittsburgh in 1891. The second, promot- Pittsburgh on the road" and into the ing an interest in the Pittsburgh History classrooms of Allegheny County. & Landmarks Foundation and its edu- Posrnns cational programs, features legendary steelman Joe Magarac. Both book- Tucked into the left rear corner of The "fleroic Effortso' marks are handsomely printed in two Landmarks Store is an area devoted to Through the Pitt Informal program, colors. If you are a member of a com- munity group interested in Pittsburgh photographs and prints of Pittsburgh Portøble Pittsburgh Landmarks' instructor Sue Neff intro- buildings, panoramic views-old and duced22 students to the "Interior history or in Landmarks'work and Now in its sixth yea4 Portable Architecture of Pittsburgh Landmarks" would like to give either bookmark to new---of Downtown, and posters. The Pittsburgh is becoming an ever-more on Thursday evening, March 11. But the your members, please call Mary Lu due to poster section, while not large popular program for both teachers and Blizzard of '93 discouraged all but four Denny at(4I2) 471-5808. The book- space constraints, has nonetheless been students. During the 1992-93 school students from the Saturday walking marks are great gifts for students or growing. Some recent additions (as well year, volunteers trained by Landmarks' tour on March 13 led by architectural adults. as limited editions of some fine older staffpresented 164 one-hour sessions of historian Walter Kidney, through the Portable Pittsburgh to more than items) offer handsome and interesting !800 interiors of some of Pittsburgh's f,rnest Events at the Neville students. The students learned how and architecture on Grant Street. One of the Summer images, suitable for framing, at very why Pittsburgh has changed over its class participants described the Satur- House in Collier Township reasonable prices. long history. Teacher evaluations of day tour as "heroic efforts under excep- June 6: House tours and Festival Day Por t ab le P it tsburgh compliment the tionally difficult circumstances." (spinning-wheel demonstra- Photographs of 30 stylistically different, enthusiasm of the docents and the Landmarks will offer the class again tions) importance of the many historical brightly colored doorways are displayed next year hopefully without snow! June 13: House tours and German artifacts used in the program. - Pittsburgh" (30" paper-cutting demonstrations in "The Doors of x22"). Portable Pittsburgh is mainly offered June 20: House tours and a video on Architectural photographer Michael E. Exploring Your to grades 3 through ( but the program City "Dress of the l8th Century" has captured 22 whimsical, Haritan can easily be adapted to suit adult As part of Landmarks on-going associ- June2iTz "Let's Talk About Herbs" fearsome, serene human and animal groups. Ifyou are interested in schedul- ation with the Allegheny Intermediate July 4: "Ben Franklin" and "Betsy sculptural countenances which peer over ing a presentation, or if you would like Unit, Anne-Marie Lubenau, an archi- Ross" tell about the Declara- more information on Portable the streetscape in "The Faces of Fourth tect with Landmarks Design Associates, tion of Independence Pittsburgh, call Mary Ann Eubanks at taught "Exploring Your City" to 21 Avenue" (22" x28"). July 11: House tours and a video on (412) 471-s808. teachers in March and April. This the l8th-century woman in-service program offered an intensive 'SØork July 18: Whiskey Rebellion Celebra- by two distinguished Pittsburgh Call Docents! 16-hour (over four Mondays) workshop tion, free house tours, and a painters is reproduced in several posters. þr on Pittsburgh's past and present. The puppet show: "The Burning Many of our members have expresscd Vincent Nesbert's Allegheny County knowledge teachers gained will be of Bower Hill" an interest in becoming a docent for shared with students in a classroom Courthouse murals are shown on the July 25: House tours, a video on Landmarks. Here is your chance! setting to inspire interest in Pittsburgh "Early American Cookery," Allegheny County "Bicentennial 1.7 88- Landmarks is now recruiting docents and their neighborhood, and to enrich and an l8th-century bake sale L988" poster (33" x 24").There are still for its highly successful school outreach the traditional social studies curriculum For times, events, costs, and details call several copies of Henry Koerner's a program, Portable Pittsburgh, now in the schools. year Hazel Peters af. 921-4728. centennial commemoration of the "1893- entering its sixth ofoperation. If you are enthusiastic about Pittsburgh's 1983 Smithfield Street Bridge" (3L" x23") past and enjoy talking to elementary FT. COUCH TOWER and, at this writing, one numbered and school children, this is a wonderful oward signed copy of his "Cultural Picturesque opportunity for you to help fill a great 180 FT COUCH RD. Pittsburgh" (28" x 20"). need in the schools. annar PITTSBURGH, PA L524L Landmarks'staff will train you with the knowledge you need to know about (4L2) 833-3600 A Pittsburgh performance, rather than a Real Estate Services Pittsburgh, and the skills you need to Pittsburgh artist, is the occasion for the effectively communicate that knowledge FOR ARCHITECTURAL PUR'STS, . . , first poster commissioned by the Pittsburgh to kids. Training sessions are planned - Opera, a subtly colorful, computer-aided for Tuesdays in September, October, HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT design based on an Aubrey Beardsley and November. Docents will be ex- pected to complete some outside $299,900 1893 drawing, created for the Opera's Finest example of Greek Revival reading, and to conduct at least two (12515). 1,992 production of Wagner's Tristan Àrchitecture avail. in P¡ttsburgh today! Sensilively in-school visits per month during the restored mansion on high acreage in prominent und Isolde (26" x20"). 1993-94 school year. Docents also will South Hills location. "Period Correct" updates' need to be able to pick up the boxes of Family room & sludy. 4 bedrooms, 2-'ll2 balhs' 2 car garage. A true classic property updated to artifacts at Station Square and drive to AII of the aboue are priced from $15 accommodate a variely of 1990's lifestyles! And the (We do reimburse docents to $35; Landmarks members saue an schools. simply glorious... for gas mileage.) Dan Whalen 833-3600 additional 10"/". Interested in accepting the challenge? HOWARD HANNA CO. 833-3600 If so, complete the form below, or call Mary Ann Eubanks at (412) 471-5808. Tr"rE LeNou¡nxs Sronp We hope to hear from you soon! BercoNv Lnvsr Tns SHops er StRtror.l Squene

Prrrssuncn, P A r 5 zr9- rr7 o Povtøble Pittsbargh Docent Registration 4rz-765-to4z YES! I am interested in being a Portable Pittsburgh docent. Send me more infor- mation abouf Portable Pittsburgh and the docent-training schedule.

Name Address

Phone (O4OO8). Coke-Garrett inspired Williamsburg Colonial with authentic deta¡ling throughout. Formal parlor, planked familyroom (Keeping Room) w/open beams & 'Walk Mail to: Mary Ann Eubanks, EducatÌon in" fireplace. Tavern style billiard room. 4 bedrooms, 4 baths. ln USC's most prestigious Department, Pittsburgh History & area of classic residences.On just under an acre of award winning grounds! Landmarks Foundation, One Station Elaine Soroka 833-3600 Square, Suite 450, Pittsburgh, PA HOWARD HANNA CO. 833-3600 15219-1170 May 1993 o PHLF l,{ews Page 5

Archiæctrual Notes Revisiting Burtner House: The Burtner House was placed on Thn Second, in a Seri,es About the Hßnric Properti,es Affiiøæd with Innd,mnrlts the National Register in 1972; the nomination form states: "Architec- Albert Tannler turally the house is an unusually good example of early 19th- A one drives northeast on century western Pennsylvania vernacular stone construcúon. At Ï,1; il Jltii.'ilåiî.il; the time it was buih, a structure of 7\ S such scale and material would between the relentless, even ominous have been unusual, and its size Allegheny Valley Expressway (through- and elemental simplicity are still lanes become exits) with the suddenly impressive today when such build- perhaps needful, certainly tacky ings are becoming rare." commercial spread at its edges, and the Initial restoration has been still-strong, still greatly to be savored beauty of the hills along the Allegheny appropriately basic: the two-foot- River. Some kind of truce, or at least thick rubble walls, braced by t Il, stalemate, seems to have been achieved deep quoins stand solid, and later between predatory pavement and sylvan doorways have been reconverted to landscape. Nowhere does one feel more windows with the help of new acutely both the danger and the hope of stone. The roof frame is solid. A its containment than at Exit 15, where concrete-block annex beneath the the convoluted exit ramp coils and porch area has been cleared away undulates away from the main highway to reveal the original basement and meets the hill on which the Burtner The Burnter House, beset by roads and uithout iæ porch,es. wall. In back, the second-floor House proudly stands, as it has since windows are 616 sash such as the 1821, some 20 miles from the city of Visitors to Burtner House will also like to join the Burtner Society, send a Pittsburgh. find in addition to a variety of gift check for $5.00, Contributing Member; house must have had at fi¡st. Philip Burtner, co-owner of the items- an impressive collection of $10.00, Sustaining Member; $25.00, The ongoing life of the house Negley Mill founded in Tarentum in moderately- priced pamphlets and books Family; $50.00, Professional or Busi- through four generations of 179Ç drew up plans for his home in 1815 about the house and the surrounding ness; or more, to Mrs. Pauline Arnold, Burtner family ownership has been and laid the cornerstone in 1818. One area; perhaps the most useful of these Box 35, R.D. 2, Tarentum, PA 15084. respected - in the great majority hundred and f,rfty-one years later in are Vera Ferree's various pamphlets on Some of the Burtner House gifts - of the windows Victorian 212 sash 1969, the Pennsylvania Highway Burtner House and its immediate vicin- postcards, notecards, the Burtner remain and a l90O-period front Department announced imminent ity, and Francis Harbison's stories of House magnet, and the Burtner House porch has been replaced by a con- the Allegheny Valley in Flood Tides cookbook are available at The demolition of the building. Local resi- jectural replica ofthe original. dents, Burtner and Negley descendants Along the Allegheny, while the most Landmarks- Store. But to acquire a copy Nonetheless, there are desirable among them, organized a successful intriguing is Dear Viola: A Collection of of Viola's love letters, you will have to interior restoration tasks vet to be campaign to save the house; Burtner Love Letters in which Jane Mason go to Exit 15 of the Allegheny Valley House Restoration, Inc. was estab- presents 64 love letters written to her Expressway and you should. completed. lished, the house was placed on the Natrona grandmother in the 1880s. - National Register of Historic Places, Apart from the two yearly festivals, and the Burtner House Society was visitors to the house are usually school founded to restore and maintain the children from the area and those who structure and its contents as a museum stop by the house to see it decorated at oflocal history. Christmas time. Burtner House has been preserved; but the battle to maintain it is a strenuous one. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ferree served as the frontline leaders to save the house, and now Mrs. Arnold and Mrs. Johnson provide as energetic and enthusiastic leadership as anyone could hope for; yet the membership of the Burtner House Society is only 20, with about eight members actively involved in the day-to-day needs of the site. There is not enough manpower in this all-volunteer group to commit to The house c. 1905. uniform visiting hours, thus disqualify- ing Burtner House, I was told, from Recently and paid Walter Kidney I a state-funded erection of a highway visit to Burtner House. Fortunately we marker to attract passing visitors. knew where we were going; it is easy to sail past Exit 15 since nothing alerts you to the house before it suddenly appears on the hillside. We met Pauline Arnold and Alice Johnson, Burtner House president and vice-president respective- ly, toured the house and grounds, and talked about the current program and future plans. Burtner House serves as the focal Preserve a Part of Historv point and embodiment of the late l8th- t and early l9th-century pioneer heritage of the surrounding communities of W¡th lntegra Bank. Tarentum and Natrona Heights. Activi- ties at the house are centered on the The hnuse in recent yeørs. Buy and renovate the home of your dreams Harvest Festival in October and the w¡th our Historic Rehabilitation Mortgage. Strawberry Festival in June, when crafts Although the festivals are well- You admired the beautiful woodwork, PLUS, there's no Private Mortgage are displayed, weaving and lace-making attended, Burtner House is looking for the marble fireplace, the old-world lnsurance required, and you cãn are demonstrated, the Herbal Times ways to enlarge its constituency and charm. Now you can take pride in your borrow up to 95% of the rehabilitated city's rich heritage by owning a part of value Garden Club shows the many uses of hnancial base so that funding can be it. of the home. the herbs grown in the kitchen herb gar- increased to survey and clarify property Our Historic Rehabilitation Mortgage To receive more information on our den, and seasonal foods are dispensed boundaries, and keep aged textiles, fix- makes buying a historic home easier by Historic Rehabilitation Mortgage, and consumed. combining a home mortgage with a call 644-6254 for details. The interior of the tures, and the property and grounds in home improvement loan. The interest house contains many items furniture, good repair. rate and points are lower than utensils, clothing, and other- personal If you would like to visit Burtner you might expect. belongings of four generations of the House, call Pauline Arnold at (412) Member FDIC lntegra @ Burtner family, as well as items in com- 224-7999; notices ofthe dates ofthe Ê mon use in the region during the l9th Harvest and Strawberry Festivals will LENDER century. appear inthe PHLF ly'ews. If you would Page 6 PHLF l{ens . May 1993 \993 HANDs-oN Hrs

Over 5OO people teachers, students, theÍr parents snd frÍends partÍcÍpated- - in the síxth "Hands-on Hístory FestÍval"- - sponsored by Landmarks on May I at the Festíval Tent a¡ S¡a¡Íon Square. The Festíval opened aÍ IO d.m. wÍ¡h a parade led by bagpÍper JÍm Harland, followed by PA PIn, øntique cqrs, ond partÍcÍpotÍng students ond teachers. Stage performances by Shady Side Academy, Junior School, South Síde Area Elementary (Beaver County), the PÍttsburgh InternatÍonal Folk Thealre, folk sÍnger Bob HulchÍnson, and the South HÍlls JunÍor Orchestra Brass Ensemble made for a lÍvely day. VÍsÍtors met and talked wÍth WÍlbur and Nancy Stewart, who demonslrqted píoneer tools and kí¡chen íIems, and BÍll SulonowskÍ, a steelworker who brought the ¡ools of hís trade to shqre wÍth all. Representatíves from the Rachel Corson Home- stead, the Washíngton County HÍstorÍcal SocÍety, Bushy Run Battlefíeld, and fhe PÍttsburgh AvÍary partÍcÍpaled ín the FestÍval. Landmqrks grøtefully qcknowledges the AmerÍcqn SocÍety of Civíl Engíneers, PÍttsburgh SectÍon, for spon- sorÍng the "Greqt PÍttsburgh BrÍdge-BuÍldÍng Contest." Forty-fíve students entered theÍr hqnd-made ond personclly designed brídges Ín thÍs ingeníous snd creatÍve conlest. DÍck ZdÍnak AssocÍales and Ray SÍgns conlríbu¡ed theÍr expertíse wíth sÍgnage for the FestÍval. Jenny Lee Bøkery grøcÍously donaled Íhe treals awarded to partÍcípatíng students. The 1993 "Hqnds-on Hístory FestÍval" was a wonderful event featurÍng Píttsburgh's hÍstory and archÍtecture, and student creatÍvÍty. Landmarks thanks all the partícipants, who contributed theír tÍme, talent, and energy to make the Festívol such d success. In the next Íssue of PHLF News, we wÍll mone fully descríbe ¡he school exhÍbÍts. May 1993 . PHLF News PageT

Festivql I]RY FESTI\AL Porticiponts The Pittsburgh History & Londmorks Foundotion thonks the following schools for exhibiting proiects ot the 1993 Festivol:

Exhibirors Blackhawk School District Central Elementary, North Allegheny Dorseyville Middle, Fox Chapel Duquesne Catholic, Diocese of Pittsburgh East Allegheny Schools Linden Elementary, PPS Markham Elementary, Mt. Lebanon McCleary Elementary, PPS New Brighton Elementary, Beaver County St. Agatha, Diocese of Pittsburgh St. Aloysius, Diocese of Pittsburgh Shady Side Academy, Junior School South Side Area Elementary, Beaver County

Bridge-Builders Forty-five students entered the "Greot Pittsburgh Bridge-Building Contest," sponsored by the Ameri- con Sociefy of Civil Engineers, Pittsburgh Section. The students were from the following schools:

Brookline Elementary, PPS Clayton Traditional Academy, PPS Dorseyville Elementary, Fox Chapel East Allegheny High School, East Allegheny Edgeworth Elementary, Quaker Valley $ Forest Grove Elementary, k#; Montour Greater Works Academy, Franklin Hoover Elementary, Mt. Lebanon @ Howe School, Mt. Lebanon Liberty Elementary, PPS t Linden Elementary, PPS Marshall Elementary, North Allegheny McKnight Elementary, North Allegheny Minadeo Elementary, PPS Mother of Sorrows, Diocese of Greensburg Mt. Lebanon Junior High School, Mt. Lebanon Northwestern Elementary, Blackhawk Perry Traditional Academy, PPS St. Edmund's Academy St. Stephen, Diocese of Pittsburgh Shaler Elementary, Shaler Area A.E. Stevenson Elementary, Plum The University School

HisforicqllGommunity Groups Lqndmorks olso would like to thonk the following historicol ond community orgonizotions for porticipoting: Bushy Run Battlefield Rachel Carson Homestead Association The Pittsburgh Aviary V/ashington County Historical Society

Phnøs by Bill Rydberg, PHOMN Page 8 PHLF l'{ews . May 1993 Preservat Io Scene

the beginning of the year. The blocked The Schenley Park Bridges streets were not the only cause of In our March 1993 issue, Landmarks decline, but they were the most visible commented on the plan to erect Jersey of a multitude of adverse forces, and the barriers on the Panther Hollow and official attitude was more or less, Well, Schenley Bridges, and cyclone fencing it seemed like a good idea at the time. along the latter (see "Mandated Deface- Mitigation of the street arrangement ment," page 7). As the issue was being began in the late 1970s, with Highland printed, an Ad Hoc Committee for the and Penn Avenues, and Broad Street Bridges of Schenley Park sent a letter reopened to cars, and preparations with 12 signatories, including Arthur under way to offer on-street parking Ziegler, president of Landmarks, to the againat the expense of the mall's federal Advisory Council on Historic pedestrian areas. Preservation and the State's Bureau for The work being done next year Close ø Hammerschlag will HalI Historic Preservation to protest these eliminate the in-and-out curbs of such aspects of the reconstruction. Schenley areas, remove the shelters, set up new Park is a National Register District, lamps and trees, and replace road pave- and ifthe current federal and State f,ind- ments on Highland Avenue. The result ing of "no adverse effect" from the new will be a vehicular commercial street of plans is changed permanently, it will the conventional type, pleasant to see make it hard if not impossible to use but in a way not suggesting its recent Straightening Out East Liberty any federal or State money in the work, pasl. PHLF l{ews wrote of the accom- A newspaper and a very substantial amount is said to article this February panying architectural rehabilitation in announced be involved. In mid-March, the Penn- that the last traces of East its last issue ('A Look at East Liberty," Liberty's pedestrian sylvania Historical and Museum mall of the late March 1993). 1960s will disappear in the summer of Commission did indeed withdraw its 1994. With them will disappear three The HRC inl992 No Adverse Effect finding, and the look decades oftheories. hopes. ruin, of the bridges may be saved yet. The Pittsburgh's Historic Review Commis- revision, and money. Committee has been meeting with the sion, with John DeSantis as chair and The basic idea, implemented in 1968, City's engineers. Michael Eversmeyer as staff, has a mul- was for Highland and Penn Avenues, The Inst Neþhborhaod titude of responsibilities. At present, Duquesne near their intersection, to become Heights Incline along with other duties, it oversees Junction Hollow pedestrian malls, with some limitations, Early in 1963, it looked as if this about 1,700 buildings in seven legally- Landmarks paid as well as Broad Street near its intersec- a visit to Junction remarkable way of getting up a hill was protected City Historic Districts, 30 tion with Highland. Highland Mall, Hollow at the beginning of April, to be obliterated. Gone, it seemed, City Historic Landmark buildings, and prompted four short blocks long, was partly open by a March 14 Post-Gazette would be the cars with their Eastlake in- one historic site, the Allegheny article (which called place to traffic, as was Penn Mall, five blocks the Panther teriors (painted gray back then), the Commons. It has to review any State- long. These were to be connected Hollow). We have always thought that wooden-teethed gears, the wrought-iron by or federally-funded project affecting Penn Circle the view across the Hollow near the track structure, the graceless but West, North, East, and National Register or NR-eligible Schenley Bridge, where it is about 600 characterful lower station and the upper South, an irregular auto ring road with properties in Pittsburgh, of which there feet 7 which Broad Street was also connected. wide and 5 feet deep, is one of the station that was like a folk museum: all are about 6,000. It also makes recom- peculiarly It was a plan Landmarks opposed and romantic places of Pitts- gone. mendations to City Council on new pomp feit was cioomed for failure. It took only burgh: that the of the two Car- Now, on Saturday, June 2Ç 1993, Landmark or District designations. negie institutions till January 1969 for everyone to realize overlooking a wild those most concerned with its preserva- Some outstanding items on the ravine with traces that motorists were being repulsed from of industry and the tion, restoration, and operation will HRC's 1992 report are these: "Lost Neighborhood" the malls, which were supposed to be of Michael celebrate what the Incline has become. ¡ the first entire year of work on the Pitts- Chabon's describing relaxed and inviting, by the ring roads. have constituted a The next day, fares will be $0.25, back to burgh Register of Historic Places a condensation Drivers found them confusing and of Pittsburgh's old the 1963 level, with light refreshments in list of buildings, structures, and sites- frightening (the City Traffic Engineer character. the upper station. important for architectural, historical, Many, though, have said that the drivers would just have seen Junction The Incline is looking for more tour- to archaeological, and cultural reasons. learn how to drive them), the promised Hollow as an offense to the tidy utilitar- ist traffic these days, and is looking (This should allow for afaîer and more ian mind, a mere void public parking had not been built, to be f,illed with ahead to the new busway, which will lucid designation process, since it puts productive pavement. and promised policing of the malls was floors and Such have an Incline stop. owners and buyers on notice that cer- still inadequate. yearnings for productivity have gone tain properties could be proposed for thus years, A Pittsburgh Press article of later in far in the last few beneath designation, and that the proposal the Schenley the year praised the fountain, the rather Bridge that may or may would probably be found to have merit. not get cute shelters, the signage program of its utilitarian cyclone fences and On the other hand, the neglected gem Jersey barriers: Peter Muller-Munk, and observed that the Carnegie Institute belatedly discovered and the good has built a parking structure that 2,000 off-street parking units and 1,500 looks design a little too recent at first would like quite a housing units had been built in the lot of not very much as seen demand occasional updates.) from Boundary development areaneat the malls. Street. CMU has built a . recornmendations to City Council to rather nice Mellon Bank, in 1970,had no misgiv- white-brick building, designate the following as Districts or fronting in the Hollow just north of ings about showing a 1920-period aerial Landmarks: view of Penn Avenue toward Hammerschlag Hall, and is to build an the Liberty Civic Center (done, with Theater and East Electronic Materials Technology Liberty Station, then -Oaklandsome modifications) the "beautiful new East Liberty pic- Building design as yet unseen at Lowenhill Street (done) the very foot- of Hammerschlag (this- tured above" plain, boxy new stuff, -311 Estate (done) will require respectful treatment of the parking lots, cleared- ground, and a few -King House No. I (done) bow scrollwork distinguished remnants from the past. -Engine from the armored V/oodland Road (rejected) cruiser Pittsburgh, mounted on a In 1975, the Equitable Gas house organ -ll8 o presentation of its annual awards for concrete ram prow still saw a bright present replacing a in front of outstanding preservation projects (num- Hammerschlag shabby past, the fulfillment of yearnings since 1909). At the bering l7 inl992) north corner ofJoncaire the East Liberty Chamber of Commerce and Boundary Emmanuel Church Fund ¡ collaboration with Landmarks and the Streets is a private parking raised had expressedin1949. But 1979 the lot, in Allegheny Historic Preservation Soci- As our readers know, Emmanuel Chamber was vehemently denying that above the street level andjust another ety on the "Saving Religious Proper- lot. Cater-cornered Episcopal Church in Allegheny West is East Liberty was economically dead: a from the simple ties" conference, held in May wood, brick, and stone houses in need of repairs. Its situation is not supposition supported by 18 store of the ¡ issuance of 83 Certif,rcates of Appropri- Lost Neighborhood, dire. but repairs and renovation now to closings in a three-month period around which up close has ateness permitting demolitions or alter- a trim, contented look, is a tactfully- the roof, the masonry and other parts ations. (Median number of business landscaped parking lot for the lJniver- of the construction will prevent later days between receipt of application and sity of Pittsburgh. Beyond this area of emergencies. H.H. Richardson's eco- issuance of certificate: two days.) homes the land is rather seedy, sunk nomical church, built in 1886 for The HRC's future effectiveness still beneath a railroad embankment and $25,000, now requires $390,500. The depends on the outcome of the long- ending in debris and a private parking Church campaign is for a total of $1.5 undecided Boyd Theater case (see "This lot reached by a little blue-and-white million: a rounded-off $400,000 for the [Strange] Year in Presen¿ation:' PHLF shuttle bus from Oakland's main level. repairs, $600,000 for a trust fund to ìy'ews, December 1991), at least as maintain "infrastructure," and 5500,000 We could imagine this sunken terrain regards designation of individual to continue its missionlike "outreach tidied up a little, but hate the thought of properties without owners' consent. But program." Checks may be sent to; it as a mere depository for cars, gârages, the Pittsburgh Register of Historic Emmanuel Episcopal Church; 957 West and offices. Junction Hollow is on the Places is bound to have a moral force in North Avenue; Pittsburgh, PA 15233. way to becoming the back yard of preservation controversies even should For further information, telephone: Oakland, where the dumpsters go, and no legal force exist to back any given (4t2) 23t-04s4. this should not happen. designation. Mav 1993 o PHLF Neuts Page 9

MCC Fire and Reconstruction Monongahela River History Landmarks' relations with Manchester The Mon River Buffs Association (P.O. Citizens Corporation go back a long Box 401, Monongahela, PA 15063) is way;we helped found MCC in196l, seeking money to raise two Penn- helped in the marketing campaign that sylvania Historical and Museum attracted new residents, and assisted it Commission post-mounted historical through our Preservation Fund, whose markers, the cast-metal blue-and-yellow director Stanley Lowe was once MCC's ones familiar by the roadsides. One, to president. be erected at California, Pa., is to Vy'e were grieved, then, to hear of the celebrate the town's 1852-79 career as a fire on February 19, which gutted the in- steamboat-building center. The other is terior and destroyed historical archives to go by the Light Rail bridge across and current operative files. Some of the the river from Station Square, and will material is irreplaceable, but MCC's celebrate the 1811 launching there ofthe future is in no doubt. It will rebuild New Orleans, first steamboat on the a new plan Rivers. Landmarks' St. Mary's mainfront, on Locltlnrt Street. within the existing walls to Western On by Landmarks Design Associates. Riverwalk of Industrial Artifacts, we Money has yet to be raised, but plan to point across to the old Suke's reopening is expected with a year's time. Run area, where the subway now begins, and commemorate its industrial Filling the Void history: Ihe New Orleans launching; a The Courthouse stair in Vi.ctarian times, shipyard by Benjamin Latrobe for Those who remember the short-lived at the present third-floor leuel. The Bank Center between Forbes and Robert Fulton; the Pennsylvania Canal corri.dors here mtst be secured, but this Fourth Avenues, closed in 1988, recall terminus and Charles Dickens' arrival spa,ce mtrst retnøin undíuided and its interior abundance of veined marble in1842; and the Pennsylvania Railroad and leaded glass, of Corinthian capitals tunnel ofthe 1860s and the first unma,rred,. and occasional fine metalwork: and emergency application just outside of The County Buildings: the Westinghouse air brake in 1869: a recall too, no doubt, the complicated What Future? multilevel plan that was the Bank remarkable history for a small area A meeting held in mid-March enunci- Center's undoing. Within ayeaÍ, never noticed. ated the need for security measures in though, it is to reopen as library space the courtrooms of the Allegheny for Point Park College and for the County Courthouse, designed by H.H. Carnegie Library's Downtown and Ñmn f.,hødtn, PI¿æbüry, Pû. Richardson, especially of the criminal Business Branches; the two institutions courts, such as already exist in the City- will share some space and divide the County Building's domestic courts. The remainder about half-and-half. Three judges are aftaid of violence to them- former buildings are involved: the selves and others, and a prospect of Colonial Trust Company of 1902 and ever-sealed doors and metal detectors in 1926, a vast T-shaped space by Freder- the Courthouse stands ahead ofus. ick J. Osterling onto Forbes, Fourth, How appalling security expedients can The courtyard behtseen the hpo build.ir6s. and Wood; the Freehold Real Estate get is shown in the March 1993 issue of Company of about 1890; and its Fourth St. Mary's Problem Resolved PHLF News ("Mandated Defacement," Avenue neighbor the Land Trust p. 7). The only economical plan would Late February brought with it the news Company of 1897 by Alden & Harlow. have closed the and Ross Street that the deconsecrated St. Mary's The architects for the new conversion, Grant entrances permanently, and would have Roman Catholic Church, attached to Damianos Brown Andrews Inc., will made those entering Katy's Park pass the Priory inn on Pressley Street in leave the exterior virtually unchanged through a metal detector, blocked Deutschtown, was deteriorating and and retain the principal architecture off the grand stair below the third floor, would have had to be demolished if its and decorative work of the exterior, projected and so on the stuff oflnightmare. career as arenfal hall were demolishing however some of the delayed Visions of -bars, of cyclone fencing, of much longer. In mid-May, the construction of the 1970s. crucial parking casual visitors and architecturelovers situation was resolved A few years ago there was a much- whole tour groups made to shed with the obtaining of a satisfactory celebrated proposal to carry an Iease for a lot from the -and replace the metal - on their persons: city. enclosed mall into this block as well as architecture defaced, alienated. Loss of the adjoining one toward Grant Street, a sense of freedom, some residual bridging Smithfield Street in the feeling of confidence in people. Ugly in process. The Bank Center facades, if Ni.xan Theatre, 1900s. Demolßh.ed 1950 every way. kept at all, would have been mere masks in But obviously, Landmarks and a applied to the new graceless bulk. The for the construction of the Alcoa Build,ir6. number of other organizations will be present outcome is much more Pittsburgh Postcards watching these security plans with fortunate. Greetings from Pittsburgh: A Picture intent eyes, demanding that the security Three Rivers Heritage Trail Postcard History. Ralph Ashworth. Ves- barrier be placed to secure only the tal, N.Y.: Vestal Press, 1992. I04 pp, necessary spaces, and that their design Friends of the Riverfront reports that about 200 ills. $11.95 be as worthy as possible of the building. the Trail, one element of which will be The County Commissioners, the Landmarks' Riverwalk of Industrial The city, as it was between around 1900 Department of Property, the Judges, the Artifacts at Station Square, has received and around 1915, is presented in post- Sheriffs office, as well as the County two generous grants: $71,000 from the card views. The variety is good, and the Administrator all share the same Vira I. Heinz Endowment for the next caption material abundant. There are aesthetic concerns. phase in its development plan, and numerous small errors of fact, and a few The County has also hired IKM, Inc. $340,000 in federal money, under the other facts might have been added, yet to produce preliminary plans to make Intermodal Surface Transportation the book is full of information and gives over the old Jail interior as courtrooms Efficiency Act, to acquire the Trail's an idea of how many aspects there can and office space. Such a remodeling North Shore section from Washington's be to a city's history, what an accumu- would leave the exterior untouched and Landing to Clemente Park. lation of notable events and curious afford necessâry space in a ready-made complexities can pile up over the building shell. At the security meeting, decades. it was suggested that criminal courts might allgo into the Jail, a place meant from the start to be secured. Ifonly this could happen! Whatever does happen, however, will happen over a period of several years, so there is still time for an Decorator Furnished Studio, One or uninhibited walk through the Court- .¡, Two Bedroom Suites Beautif ully Acces- house doors and along its corridors. sorized and includes equipped krtchen, Free local phone, VCR. . everything! Call Us with Preservation News sHoRT TERM FLExTBLE LEAsE * Our staff wants to hear from you if you 10 Minutes f rom Downtown. 5 Minutes see or know of any historic buildings * to Hospitals & Universrtres. 1)¿ Blocks f rom Walnut Street's Fashionable Shops that are threatened with demolition or 5405 Fifth Avenue and Fine Restaurants that have recently been demolished. V/e 682-2300 * MAJoR cREDrr cARDS need your help in covering the County. The Suite Life... at an Affordable Rate Please call Walter Kidney (412147I-5808) and report what you know Page 10 PHLF News . May 1993

PITTSBT]RCH ARCHITECTT]RE:

Walter C. Kidney

Pittsburgh tends to be an architec- turally conservative town. importing rather than engendering progressive or trendy design, and then only on occasion. Still, toward 1900, new construction in the city visibly abandoned mid-Victori an charac- teristics for more modern ideas of form and materials.

Right: Mid-l/ictt¡rian ørchitectu,re uaß opt to be a.n affair of accumuløæd,fea,tures ro,thcr thnn of strong, dominant design, and it liked its colnrs darhßh and iæ tøúltres de-ernphasized,. In Erewer's Bloclt of c. 7860, once on Fifth Auenue dawn- town, Barr & Moser has giuen each uindnu¡ iæ trwnframe aboae an itæubsta,ntial iron arcad.q thcn øpped the u¡h,ole with a lørge, elaborate corni.ce. A shallow centralbreak and cable moldings at thc ends of theføcød.e dn not really ímpose much orgønízøtinn.

Rþht: In the Courthause a,nd, JaiI, Henry Hobson Ri.chardson showed Pitæburgh a uhole neu aßion of a,rchíæcture. The County Commissioners had insßæd on graniæ føcad.es, and Richa.rdson specified' a Massachusetæ graniæ of pa'le, sliqhtly pinhßh gray - Iþhtín colorfor the pla.ce and. the tirne, ønd. rnuch more soot- resista,nt thnn sandstone or brick. Thß lightness, approaching whiteness, was to be preuølent 75 years øfær the Courthause compl.etinn in 1888. The tøturing and Aboue: George Ortlt's Spencer house of patterning of the søneuork, a,re aery 1886 on Amberson Aaenu.e has a general carefully tlØught out, a.s opposed n the Abtvue: Thn nea.r synanefiy and' ni'cely- quality Qu,een Anne styling. The style itself u)as rather rnechanical, høbituøI of shaped Marxard roofs of th'e B.F. Jones oVíctorian" foirþ up-ø-dnæ though iæ peak TDas tuer, ' mdsonry. Furtherrnore, hausg c. 1880 and once on Bri'ghnn but this ß stíll quiæ ø "Victorian" buíId,- Richardson shnwed hau a buildirry Roc,d, giae it a bosíc order that ß ing in íæ air of chance accurnuløtion of d,esi.gn could,, euen in a lørge and, emphøsiz,ed by the sandsøne ca'ntorls a't as fea,tures gables, bals, ø chimnq, etc. elaborate buildíng, be d.esigned a the corners. Yet the wind.outs loolt - around a center in this case a drutb, great, domina,nt shnpe uith decorøtítse attnched n the usall rather than being - c ommonsensi.cal r e d.-brirk mas s. deníls subord.ina.ted. b and. integral integralfeatures. The briÆlr ß cL stronB uíth it. uniþnn red,, the joinæ are thin as possible, and tæture ß suppressed. Thc ra,ther dark,bri,ck. a'nd' sandstone colnrs are absoluæIy stand.ardfor the time.

Left: The Shingle Style hnuse øt Left: D.H. Burnh.arn & Co.'s Fríclt Morew oo d Aaenue q.nd. Vallingford' Street, Build,ing of 1902 aaoi.ds the ruged probably of thn early 1890s, sh.ows a tøú,tres of the Courthouse but has ø sirnilar wøy of subord.irutting detøils ø a similar pale-grøy graniæfacin6. h uas as uell-thnught uhnle. The house is ntvw dis- if the old Pitæburgh problem of soot were being shrugged off at thß point. Grønite, figured. with grøy paint, but underneath uiII be afi.rstfloor of red or buff briclt, whiæ glazed terro cottn, limestone, creøm- and. aboue brou¡n creosoæd shingles, colnred briclt, a,nd, increasingly, bri.clt maldng a gentle rippling tæturø The arfully tætured and toned uere entcring porch is d,rannn into the build,íng mass, th.e archíæct's palettc ín the 1900s, and only thefornter entrance cør'wpy has uhether or not th.ese rnatcrials allotaed an added-on look. easy cleanin6. Næt door ß InngþIlm4 Ald.en & Harlow's Carnegi.e Building (now-gone) of a decad.e before: darltcr than the FrickBuild,ín6 and, while not fircsy, Iacking iæ grønd sírnplicity. May 1993 o PHLF News Page ll

[Yats Wryt Seeing "f

Aboue: Sacred Hea.rt Church at Valnut and, Sfuidy, begun ín 1924 n desiqns by Carløn Strong and fi.nßhed in the 7950s, shows th.e succinct, refined Gothic thatRalph Adøms Crarn had introduced to Pítæburgh in Calaa,ry Episcopal Church, and hß partner Bertram Grosaenor Goodhue in First Ba,ptßt Church. Massing ß stron6, usíth nn pinnacles orfi;nials to dßturb the s$íne Detailing ß rich but i^rt*U contaíned by the masses. T7æ stonework pattcrnirry ß random a.nd íæ tøture has ntggedness thrtt asserts the dercity of the søne u:ithout challenging thc building's røther simple geomefiy.

Aboue: St. Paul's Cathcdra.I, designed around. 1902 by Egan & Prind.euille, ß ø trøditinnal building. Iæfacirg ß uery up-to-date limestone, but iæfeøtures stíII haae an ad.d.ithte I/icnrian looh pinnacles, niches, tLnoers, euen the seuera,I sides of th.e towers looking half-denchedfrom all thc rest.

Abotse: Ednaard Weber d.esigned this house on Amberson Place around 7973, modeling ít someushat afær Englßh fannhouses. The bþ roof, iæ eaues rolled. to stggest thntch, sits fi.nnly on the stuccoed ualls and theír muhiplicity of openíngs. The air of quaintness and cozy domesticity ß so cuhiuated that the building seems almost a picture wíth an architectural theme røther than a building uith abstract compo sitional uah.æs - thaush it ß an a,ttra,ctiue usorlt haweuer interpreted.

The preuious house, in its whiteness, echoed the preuailing lþhtening of tane in build,ings of euery sort. Yet in domestic architecture th.ere uøs ø growinq interest in conscintn quaintness thøt uent beyond the Weber qpe of design inø utildfannsy. This house of the late 1920s Qeft), on Cordnaa Roa.d. in Hþhland, has nat only d, strange entrørlce turret and a roofthat seems to haue sagged. with age, but u:illfuIly ragged slatíng ønd briclrusork so crazy that one cdnnot speak of a bond,. The nemesß of Modern architechre folkmed close on such øæesses. Page L2 PHI,F Nens . May 1993

National Trust President Visits Landmarks

Continued from pøge I

Ralph showed Mr. Moe through a re- stored Victorian townhouse, one of 96 low- and moderate-income units being Richard. Moe and. MidAtlantic Regiana.I by the Manchester rehabilitated direcør Pøtriciø D. Wilson. Citizens Corporation. Harriet Henson ffice talk$ about the programs of the North Side þnants Reorganization and led a walkiþg tour of Brighton Place where 34 turþ-of-the-century townhouses are being þstored and converted into afford{ble housing, and where two Left ø ri6ht: Peter Brink, Richørd Mog Arthur Ziegler, Anthorry Wood (chief prograrn previor.Sly notorious taverns have been ffirer of the !.M. Køplan Fund in New Yorlt), ønd Stønley Inwe on Liaerpool Street in purchaded and closed, to reopen as day- Manchesten care and offlrce facilities. The morning tour concluded in a stop at the offices question, "Is historic preservation rele- occasion was perhaps best captured by of the Pittsburgh Community Rein- vant to the realities of everyday life?," one of the participants who observed vestment Group (PCRG) where the Mr. Moe asked the group how they that it was "nice to go to a meeting of successful relationship established by thought preservationists, and the Trust people who are doing things rather than Møry Ann Grøf ælls abouth.er success in this coalition of 26 neighborhood as an organization, could help shape a meeting where people tqlk about organizations with Pittsburgh's banks federal policies. Mr. Moe took notes on people who are doing things." renoaøting St. Mary's Priory as a'ocity was reviewed. what he heard: for example, the desire After lunch, Mr. Moe toured Station ínn." A working lunch followed at Station of neighborhood leaders to have more Square, met with Arthur Ziegler for a Square. Participants in the morning Trust programs available to people of private discussion of issues, and had tour - both neighborhood presenters modest means, the importance of lob- some time to himself after a full day of and visitors - were joined by pres- bying for a raising ofthe Federal Invest- excursions and conversation. ervationists, educators, officers of ment Tax Credit, and the linking of The visit concluded after dinner, Pittsburgh's major lending institutions National Register Districts and City preceded by a reception in the Grand that are targeting loan funds to neigh- Historic Districts with the ideal that the Concourse hosted by Landmarks and borhoods represented by the PCRG, creation of the former will eventuate in PNC Bank where Mr. Moe met govern- foundation trustees, and Landmarks the creation of the latter. The lunch also ment leaders, representatives of Pitts- staff to discuss preservation practice gave individuals on the morning tour a burgh's cultural, civic, and lending and policy, nationally as well as locally. chance to supplement their earlier institutions, and members of the his- c^- +L^^^ +L^ +^,,- R.ecaiiirrg ihai ihe iirerile oitiie i992 Içlll4lñ5,4ltu-^--.,-1.- ^.-l lul Lrlusç ttuL-^r ulr^- ttrç tuul toricai and preservation communiries. National Trust Convention posed the to explain their work. The spirit of the

Thomas Bess, uecutiue d,írecør of I-øndmarlts Harlem. Thß Brþhton Place bar, purchased uith the aid of La.ndrnørlts' Presensøtion Fund' Harriet Henson of the Northsi.de Tena.nts Reorgani.zatian ælls Guests a,t th.e Grand Concourse reception, hosæd by Innd,rna.rlts will become a døy-cøre center. the group about Brþhøn Place. and,PNC Bank.

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Resøred Brþhøn Plnce øwnhouses seen from the rean

TO I.]R \Ørrr PowBn with Landmarks Preserve our region's history . arch¡tectural landmarks and landmarks for future . corporate skyscrapers generations. Add . restored rowhouses and mansions Tun SocrETY FoR the Pittsburgh History & . ethnic neighborhoods and churches Landmarks Foundation as a . public parks and sculpture THE PRESERVATION OF . inclinesr bridges, steel mills...and beneficiary under your'Wiil. lofs more! If you would like to discuss this giving option, please call Eric Dickerson (412) Call 471-5808 to schedule a bus or at (41,2) 471,-5808. walking tour. Our tours are "tailor-madel' DU0UE$IE iltcliltt for from fìve to any number ofpeople, suiting your interests, time schedule, and Dedicated to the preservation of budgel Tour fees vary according to group size and program forma| We serve that which cannot be replaced tourists, convention and community groups, and schools. A converted church For a membership serving award-winning cu isine. olease ohone 381-1665 Reservations call 682-1 879 We'll sltow yott the town T_T