20 Pittsburgh Public Schools Designated As City of Pittsburgh Historic Structures Albert M

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PublishedP forH the membersL of the PittsburghF History &N Landmarks Foundationews No. 159 March 2001

The Two-Year Process and the Buildings 20 Pittsburgh Public Schools Designated as City of Pittsburgh Historic Structures Albert M. Tannler

One of the discoveries made during the vote not to designate the remaining Allegheny County Historic Site Survey 18. Council chose to do the former, undertaken by the Pittsburgh History & but not the latter. Satisfactory Landmarks Foundation from 1979 “Guidelines” had not yet been pre- through 1984 was the large pared by the HRC and the number of architecturally and School administration for culturally significant public Council review; in addition, school buildings in the City of several members of Council Pittsburgh. In 1986 Landmarks objected to the omission of staff members Lu Donnelly some of the buildings from the and Martin Aurand prepared a list of nominees. National Register of Historic In any event, on December 8, 1999, Places nomination of what was 20 Pittsburgh public school buildings, called the Pittsburgh Public Schools 18 of which are on the National Thematic Group. As a result 49 Register of Historic Places, were desig- public school buildings dating from nated City of Pittsburgh Historic 1850 to 1939 were placed on the Structures. This designation provides National Register in 1986 and 1987. These protection only for the building (Please see the listing on page 2.) These 20 schools facades. Some of the most architec- are City of buildings account for about one third of turally distinguished features are Pittsburgh Historic interior ones, and these have no protec- all Pittsburgh buildings on the Register. Structures. The Historic Not all of the 49 designated buildings Review Commission will tion. The guidelines covering exterior are currently owned by the Board of review and approve any alterations to 16 schools were finally Public Education, nor were they in proposed changes to the exteriors. completed in 2000. Although the guide- 1986. One building (Oakland School) lines are comprehensive, they will be was subsequently demolished and 12 Ultimately, 38 school buildings owned existing building facades and additions beneficial only to the extent that the have been sold to private developers; for by the Board of Public Education were be submitted to and approved by the School Board chooses to follow them; example, the oldest school building, the nominated as City Historic Structures. HRC. The Board initially agreed to the they do not carry the force of law. Bedford School of 1850 on the South Several buildings on the Register, designation of 16 buildings but opposed City-designated schools need not be Side, is now condominiums. Park Place including three owned by the Board of designating the remaining 22. limited to 20. Other public school build- School (1903) in Point Breeze is also Education—South Side, Schenley, and After months of testimony by ings may be nominated in the future, as condominiums, while Morse School Conroy—were not nominated because Landmarks and others, a compromise well as the privately owned buildings (1874) on the South Side houses senior they were located within City Historic was proposed by HRC chairman John that were formerly schools. Two public citizens, and Latimer School (1898) on Districts and presumed to have the DeSantis. According to his proposal, schools in the Hill District may be the North Side is an apartment building. same status as individually designated HRC would recommend to City Council worthy candidates: Miller School, (Please see the illustrations below.) structures. In view of the City Law that 20 buildings become City Historic designed in 1905 by John Blair Elliott In 1998 the Board of Public Department’s intervention in a bed-and- Structures; 12 buildings would be subject and enlarged by M. M. Steen, and Education released a ten-year report breakfast application in Schenley Farms to renovation “Guidelines/Standards” McKelvy School, designed in 1911 by that predicted the possible closing of and the Historic Review Commission approved by HRC and Landmarks; Carlton Strong. numerous school buildings listed on (HRC) vote to un-designate the Market and four of the remaining six buildings ur story continues on the follow- the National Register. In response, Square City Historic District, both in which the Board intended to sell, would Oing pages, with comments about Landmarks initiated a process of nomi- 2000, such presumptions should be be offered to Landmarks first in order each public school building now designating school buildings, including some reviewed. to find an appropriate buyer; the other nated as a City Historic Structure. The in private hands, as City of Pittsburgh In 1986, the Board of Public two would be cut adrift. Otherwise, the information is derived in large part from Historic Structures, hoping thereby to Education did not object to the designa- Board of Education would oppose the the National Register and City Historic increase the level of protection available tion of school buildings it owned as designation of all of the school buildings, Structure nomination forms written by to these historic buildings. An additional National Register buildings. In 1999, requiring a City Council majority of six Lu Donnelly, Martin Aurand, Walter five schools, either overlooked in 1986 however, there was ambivalence regard- of nine votes in favor of designation. Kidney, Barry Hannegan, and myself. or too new to qualify, were added to the ing City Historic Structure status, which In due course City Council was asked The schools are described in chronologi- cal order, so the progression of design is list of nominees. would require that proposed changes to to vote to designate 20 buildings and evident.

Privately-owned former school buildings: Latimer is a City Historic Structure and the others may be nominated in the future.

Bedford School (1850) on the South Park Place School (1903) in Point Morse School (1874) on the South Side Latimer School (1898) on the North Side now houses condominiums. Breeze is also condominiums. is home to senior citizens. Side is an apartment building. Page 2 PHLF News • March 2001

Pittsburgh Public School Buildings Placed on the National Register of Historic Places September 30, 1986 and February 3, 1987 Eighteen city-designated structures (noted by asteriks) are among 49 Pittsburgh public school buildings entered on the National Register of Woolslair, Fortieth Street and Historic Places. Buildings currently owned by the Board of Education are Liberty Avenue, Bloomfield. shown in boldface. Samuel T. McClarren, 1897

* 1. Allegheny 33. Morrow * 2. Arsenal 34. Morse 3. Baxter-Brushton 35. Oakland (demolished) 4. Bayard * 36. Oliver 5. Bedford (located in the East 37. Park Place Carson Street Historic District) * 38. Perry 6. Beechwood 39. Prospect * 7. Beltzhoover 40. Schenley (located in the Oakland 8. Birmingham Civic Center City of Pittsburgh 9. Boggs Avenue Historic District) * 10. Colfax * 41. Schiller 11. Connelley 42. South Side (located in the East Carson Street Historic District) 12. Conroy (located in the Manchester City Historic District) 43. Springfield * 13. Dilworth * 44. Sterrett 14. Fifth Avenue 45. Taylor Allderdice 15. Fort Pitt 46. Washington 16. Foster * 47. Westinghouse WOOLSLAIR School is design vocabulary of Longfellow, 17. Frick 48. Wightman a warm golden brick building in a Alden & Harlow. * 18. Friendship * 49. Woolslair Romanesque-style modified by Classical Samuel Thornburg McClarren’s 19. Fulton details: oval oculus and Palladian win- (b. 1862) primary known contributions * 20. Greenfield Public school buildings omitted or dows and Renaissance balconies are to regional architecture include two too new to meet National Register 21. Knoxville placed over Romanesque-arched Pittsburgh public schools (and an criteria in 1986 and subsequently * 22. Langley entrances or at the center of rows of addition to the Thornburg School); nominated by Landmarks for City Romanesque arched windows. several churches; the Husler Building 23. Larimer Historic Structure status: Woolslair resembles Samuel T. in Carnegie, now the Historical Society 24. Latimer 1. Concord (M.M. Steen, 1939) 25. Lawrence McClarren’s other Pittsburgh school of Carnegie, PA; and preeminently the 2. Rogers (Janssen & Abbott, commission, the National Register houses he designed c. 1900–1912 * 26. Lemington 1914) 27. Letsche John Morrow School in Brighton in suburban Thornburg for his cousin, 3. South Hills (Alden & Harlow, Heights, and both buildings evoke the Frank Thornburg. * 28. Lincoln 1916–24) 29. Linden 4. Stevens (M.M. Steen, 1940) * 30. Madison 5. Weil (M.M. Steen, 1942) 31. McCleary Only Concord and Stevens were * 32. Mifflin designated City Historic Structures.

None of the public school buildings on the National Register of Historic Places will be affected by Pittsburgh Public School Superintendent John Thompson’s recent statement recommending that 11 schools be closed. Pittsburgh is most fortunate in having such a handsome collection of public school buildings, many recognized nationally, and some now designated as city landmarks. We encourage the School Board and its Facilities Department to continue to maintain these buildings in ways appropriate to their status as unique regional treasures.

A GIFT of appreciated securities or real estate can create lifetime income for you and provide the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation with much-needed resources to restore historic houses, churches, schools, parks, and gardens in the Pittsburgh region. You can help revitalize a main street in one of our neighborhoods, Sterrett, 7100 Reynolds Street, Squirrel Hill. Edward J. Carlisle, 1898 provide restored housing for low- to moderate-income residents, or put an empty church or school back into use. STERRETT School is a stained glass Landmarks can put your assets to good work while bringing you: Classically inspired school building (much of interesting not only for its turn-of- which has • Lifetime income from your gift; the-century architectural features but been • Public acknowledgment of your gift; also for the patronage of its wealthy removed), • Federal and estate tax savings; neighbors. Andrew Carnegie’s sons and for the (Will, Andrew, and Frank) attended uniquely • Avoidance of probate costs; Sterrett as did Henry Clay Frick’s only progressive • Disposition of real estate and elimination of owner- son and oldest child, Childs Frick. H.C. elements it ship costs and liability (minimum value required); Frick donated library books, a telescope contained: • The satisfaction of making a significant gift to fabricated by noted astronomer John A. an observatory, an auditorium with full preserve our Western Pennsylvania heritage; Brashear, and athletic equipment to the stage, and a drill room in the basement • Honorary life membership in Landmarks school. The library was one of the most staffed by a special instructor. The (minimum contribution required). complete school libraries in America at second-story auditorium is characteristic Contact Jack Miller to discuss these donor options. the turn of the century. of the late nineteenth century; schools Sterrett is also noteworthy for the designed after 1910 had their audi- Phone: (412) 471-5808 ext. 538 fine natural illumination provided by toriums on the first story for easier E-mail: [email protected] the large windows of its design, for its public access.

Protecting the Places that Make Pittsburgh Home P ITTSBURGH H ISTORY & L ANDMARKS F OUNDATION One Station Square • Suite 450 Pittsburgh, PA • 15219-1134 www.phlf.org PHLF News • March 2001 Page 3

Friendship, 5501 Friendship Avenue, Friendship. Charles M. Bartberger, 1899 (Historic Landmark plaque, 1998)

Allegheny, 810 Arch Street, North Side. Frederick J. Osterling, 1904; RIENDSHIP School is a sketch states that C. M. Bartberger F M. M. Steen, 1936 (Historic Landmark Plaque, 1992) grand Beaux-Arts building, unique in “specialized in school houses, and the city for the elaborateness of its among others which owe their symme- moldings and the splendor of its portico. try and practical convenience to his ALLEGHENY School was Steen added to and enlarged many This exuberant design creates a dignified designs are the Friendship School, the first high school in Allegheny City. older school buildings during his tenure: impression and forms a neighborhood Margaretta School (now embedded in The 1904 building was built as an three outstanding examples are the new focal point. The architect was Charles Peabody High School), and Fort Pitt annex to the original (now demolished) auditorium and gymnasium at Prospect Mathias Bartberger (1850–1939). He School.” He is also credited with the 1888 building. Both were designed by School (1936); the auditorium at the was born in Pittsburgh and studied Fulton School. (Fort Pitt and Fulton Frederick J. Osterling (1865–1934), a 1905 Miller School at 61 Reed Street architecture in Germany from 1870 to Schools are on the National Register.) prominent Pittsburgh architect known (1939); and the gymnasium/auditorium 1873. In 1880 he joined his father, Of all the schools designed by for expanding H. H. Richardson’s at the 1905 Letsche School at 1701–05 Charles Bartberger, Sr., who had orga- Bartberger, Friendship is his most Allegheny County Jail, creating Bedford Avenue (1941). The latter two nized an architectural firm in Pittsburgh elaborate and interesting design. “Clayton” for Henry Clay Frick, and schools are in the Lower Hill. Steen hired in the 1840s. A 1922 biographical designing landmark downtown com- Edward J. Weber to design Lemington mercial buildings such as the Union and Schiller Schools (see pages 6 and 7). Trust, Arrott, Colonial Trust, and Times M. M. Steen’s Art Deco school build- Buildings. He also designed industrial ings include Burgwin, 5401 Glenwood complexes (Armstrong Cork Company), Avenue, Hazelwood (1937); Carmalt, institutional buildings (Dixmont and 1583 Breining Street, Brookline (1937); Woodville State Hospitals), and the Thaddeus Stevens, 822 Crucible Street, Washington County Courthouse. Elliott (1940); and A. Leo Weil in the Osterling designed many schools, Hill (1942). but this building is Weil was M. M. Steen’s last school the sole survivor. design as Board architect, although he The 1936 held that position until 1954. He then annex—a separate joined theatre architect Victor A. yet adjacent build- Rigaumont (1889–1983) in a partner- ing—was designed ship that lasted until Steen’s death; by Marion M. Steen Rigaumont & Steen designed Minadeo (1886–1966) School at 6502 Lilac Street in Squirrel shortly after he was Hill (1957), and Phillips School at 1901 appointed Board of Sarah Street in the South Side (1958). Education architect Seven of the 20 designated school in 1935. Steen was Annex detail buildings were either designed by, had born in Pittsburgh, additions designed by, or had design and the youngest son of architect James T. construction supervised by M. M. Steen. Madison, 3401 Milwaukee Avenue, Hill District. U. J. L. Peoples, 1902; Steen who had established his firm in Pringle & Robling, 1929 Pittsburgh in 1864. M. M. Steen studied architecture at MADISON School is located 1893 Columbian Exposition. Peoples the Carnegie Institute of Technology. on a corner site leveled out of sloping also made extensive use of terra cotta in After graduation in 1908, he worked terrain. The focal point of each facade is the Moose Building (demolished), his for Henry Hornbostel as a draftsman the entry, framed with a rounded arch best-known non-school commission. on campus buildings. In 1918 he left supported on plain stone columns. The 1929 addition is by Pringle & Pittsburgh and briefly worked in Tiered capitals, the inner edge of the Robling, architects who apparently Chicago, returning later that year to arch, and an inner surround are richly associated for public school projects. head the architectural department of the ornamented in terra cotta featuring They also designed an addition to Carnegie Land Company. In 1922 he monkeys, snakes, cherubs, and a variety Linden School as well as Lincoln School, joined the family firm, James T. Steen & of other beasts and vaguely Romanesque a livelier version of the Deco approach Sons, as junior partner with his father decorative motifs. Some of this ornamen- seen at Madison. and his older brother, James Howard tation is in deep relief; some is very flat. Steen. While there he designed Oliver Architect Ulysses J. L. Peoples special- (1924/28), Herron Hill (1928), and ized in school architecture. He designed Prospect (1931) Schools. Larimer and Wightman schools (now privately owned) and McCleary School. (All three buildings are on the National Register.) His designs are notable for their extraordinary detailing, such as the Madison School entries. Ulysses Peoples worked for D. H. Burnham & Company In 2000, Landmarks presented an in Chicago, and reportedly Award of Merit to the Board of Public introduced elaborate terra Education for the sensitive design and cotta forms to Pittsburgh installation of a handicapped-accessible following their display at the entrance to the 1936 Allegheny school building. Page 4 PHLF News • March 2001

Dilworth, St. Marie and Collins Streets, Beltzhoover, Cedarhurst East Liberty. Vrydaugh & Wolfe, 1914 and Estella Street, (Historic Landmark plaque, 1997) Beltzhoover. William J. Shaw, 1905; Thomas Lloyd, 1909

DILWORTH School was Dilworth School’s architects, Martin designed three years after the 1911 U. Vrydaugh and Thomas B. Wolfe, BELTZHOOVER School What Beltzhoover School lacks in decision to consolidate the city school were partnered c. 1892. Vrydaugh was fits the popular image of a school with sophistication it makes up for in charac- boards of Pittsburgh and Allegheny trained by his father, a Belgian architect its stern Classical ornament and bell ter. It dramatically crowns its steeply City. Until 1935 the school district con- who attented the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. tower (added in 1909). The school is sloping site and acts as a major focal tracted with independent architectural Vrydaugh apprenticed with Adrian representative of the modest pretensions point for its neighborhood, both physi- firms for school designs. Dilworth Van Brunt in Kansas City. There and traditional design of turn-of-the- cally and socially. Summoned by the School was consciously elegant, Vrydaugh met Charles Shepherd, century schools in Pittsburgh’s working- manually operated bell, 250 students stylistically unique in the city, and and they formed a firm specializing class neighborhoods. Beltzhoover is come here each morning to learn just as echoed European school designs of the in churches. The commission for such a neighborhood, opened to mass they did ninety years ago. Little is 1910s. It also incorporated progressive Calvary United Methodist Church in settlement after the opening of the known of the architects of the school educational features such as a well-lit Allegheny West brought Vrydaugh to Mt. Washington trolley tunnel nearby. beyond their names: William J. Shaw kindergarten. By this time, the basement Pittsburgh. Once here, he associated The building has none of the elegant (1905 section) and Thomas Lloyd of the play spaces had become an essential himself with Thomas Wolfe, and they ornamentation of the East End schools, Lloyd Brothers (1909 section). part of the school buildings, and they designed houses and churches for such as stained glass stairhall windows commanded much design attention. wealthy patrons. or marble foyers. The school reveals progressive trends in The school is named for Mary school design to be found in Chicago Dilworth, who originally owned a and St. Louis, particularly in regard large tract of land in the area. to detailing.

Colfax, Beechwood Boulevard and Phillips Avenue, Squirrel Hill. Edward Stotz, 1911 Greenfield, Algar Street and Greenfield Avenue, Greenfield. Kiehnel & Elliott, 1916 COLFAX School is prominently This is Pittsburgh’s only elementary (Historic Landmark plaque, 1998) sited on a terrace above a curve in school designed by architect Edward Beechwood Boulevard. Its Jacobean Stotz (1868–1949). Stotz also designed GREENFIELD School Brushton School (on the National Revival styling and its green yard behind three landmark high schools: Fifth exemplifies the School Board’s desire in Register), and Greenfield School. an iron fence are in keeping with the Avenue (1894; now privately owned; the post-World War I era for more Kiehnel opened an office of the firm in spacious and architecturally eclectic on the National Register); South Side sophisticated elementary-school facilities, Florida in 1918 and is credited with residential neighborhood which it was (1898; in the East Carson Street City and reveals the influence of artist and introducing Mediterranean and Art built to serve. Historic District); and Schenley (1916; building superintendent James Bonar on Deco design to the Miami area. in the Schenley Farms National Register the quality of design of the Pittsburgh The National Register nomination and City Historic Districts). Architectur- schools of the 1920s. Plans for this form states that Greenfield is one of ally, Colfax School plays a transitional building were prepared in 1916. Pittsburgh’s “most architecturally role between Stotz’s early compact and Construction began in 1922 and the significant schools, comparable only traditional school designs and the sleekly building opened in 1923. to Mifflin School for the progressiveness sprawling and progressive Schenley German-born and educated Richard of its design.” The form further notes High School. The Jacobean Revival Kiehnel (1877–1944) and his partner that “the interior of the entrance lobby, styling is typical of the era, and the John Blair Elliott (b. 1868) were with its geometric and foliated capitals, banded windows show a new emphasis commissioned to design the school. is the highlight of the design.” on light and air. Greenfield School, like most of Kiehnel The lobby loggia Colfax School was named for & Elliott’s Pittsburgh buildings, is a was bricked up in the Schuyler Colfax, Vice President of the highly accomplished work of the early summer of 1999, an United States under Ulysses S. Grant. twentieth century that drew from con- incomprehensible act temporary European and American of vandalism that designers such as Joze Plecnik and illustrates both the Frank Lloyd Wright. Kiehnel & Elliott’s importance and the buildings include a fire house, a bank, limitations of City the Central Turnverein, two hospitals, Historic Structure two churches, a half-dozen residences, designation.

A loggia column, prior to defacement. PHLF News • March 2001 Page 5

Perry, Perrysville Avenue Westinghouse, 1101 North and Semicir Street, Murtland Street, Homewood. Perry Hilltop. Ingham & Boyd, 1923/1931 Robert Maurice Trimble, 1921/1925

WESTINGHOUSE School was to have been designed by PERRY School was named for buildings George Orth in 1916, but World War I its community, which is generally known in Western and Orth’s death in 1918 intervened. as Perry Hilltop, but also traces its name Pennsylvania The building was designed in 1921 by to Commodore Oliver H. Perry. The and southern the Pittsburgh firm of Ingham & Boyd; school’s siting and Neoclassical styling states. He built in stages, the building was not make it one of Pittsburgh’s most monu- also designed completed until 1931. Like Schenley mental school buildings, and a promi- a series of and Taylor Allderdice High Schools, After working in Peabody & Stearns’ nent representative of the high school United States Westinghouse has Classical detailing. Boston office, Ingham returned to building boom of the 1920s. foreign The National Register nomination form Pittsburgh in the early 1900s to work Robert Maurice Trimble designed consulates notes: “the school’s Classicism is merely for the firm of Rutan and Russell. In both the 1921 school building and the including a skin over a utilitarian modern school 1911 he formed a partnership with 1925 addition. The 1921 building buildings in plant, designed to efficiently educate, William Boyd, Jr. included an auditorium and stage gym Shanghai, China, and Calcutta, India. not edify, the students.” Ingham & Boyd designed the Vann in the corner pavilion while the 1925 He wrote frequently for The Charette in The school is named for George School (1914), the Board of Public addition provided a new gymnasium, the 1930s and his articles are a primary Westinghouse, the brilliant inventor Education Administration Building a cafeteria, and shop rooms. resource for understanding architecture who arrived in Pittsburgh in 1868. (1926), and the Frick School (1927; R. M. Trimble (1871–1966) was and the architectural profession in He invented the air brake for railcars on the National Register). The firm born in the City of Allegheny; attended Pittsburgh from the 1890s through the and was responsible for developing also designed six of the seven public Western University (the predecessor years prior to World War II. the alternating current system. elementary schools in Mount Lebanon, to the University of Pittsburgh); and Perry High School is similar to The senior partner in the firm of as well as the Andrew W. Mellon middle lived in Ben Avon. He designed the Trimble’s Taylor Allderdice School Ingham & Boyd was Pittsburgh native school and the senior high school. Sarah Heinz House, North Side (on the National Register) in its bulk, Charles Tattersall Ingham (1876–1943). The most noteworthy of their com- Unitarian Church, and many residences. Classical styling, and commanding site. He became a draftsman with Peabody missions are the old Buhl Planetarium He produced numerous institutional and Stearns in 1897, and worked in on the North Side and Chatham Village, Pittsburgh on the firm’s large local the Buhl Foundation’s 1935 planned commissions: Horne’s Department Store community in Mt. Washington. and the East Liberty Market House.

Oliver, Brighton Road and Island Avenue, Brighton Heights. M. M. Steen for Langley, Sheridan Boulevard and Chartiers Avenue, Sheridan. James T. Steen & Sons, 1924/1928 MacClure & Spahr, 1923/1927 OLIVER School was designed ing Classicism, but the architectural LANGLEY School represents downtown business buildings. Langley by M. M. Steen for the firm of James T. appeal of the building rests primarily Pittsburgh’s great era of high school is MacClure & Spahr’s only Pittsburgh Steen & Sons. This commission and the in its arc-like massing. It is one of the construction in the 1920s, combining public school commission. The design Prospect School commission apparently earlier—perhaps the first—Pittsburgh the progressive educational character- was supposedly modeled after England’s led to the appointment of M. M. Steen schools with the differentiated and istics of Schenley High School with Warwick Castle, although the resem- as staff architect for the Board of Public balanced auditorium and gymnasium traditional styling. blance is limited. Education. Unlike Prospect School wings which soon became standard The school was designed by In keeping with Langley’s early (on the National Register) however, practice. MacClure & Spahr. This prominent scientific emphasis, the school was Oliver contains few clues to Steen’s later Oliver High School was named for early-twentieth century Pittsburgh firm named for Samuel P. Langley, aviation accomplished Art Deco manner. Art David B. Oliver, first president of the is best known for the Union National pioneer and director of Pittsburgh’s Deco elements mingle with the prevail- Pittsburgh Board of Public Education. Bank Building and a succession of other Allegheny Observatory. Page 6 PHLF News • March 2001

Lincoln, Lincoln and Frankstown Avenues, Mifflin, Mifflin Road at Lincoln Place, Thirty-first Ward. Lincoln-Larimer. Pringle & Robling, 1931 Edward J. Weber for Link, Weber & Bowers, 1932

LINCOLN School is one of the windows, and a stylized owl set Pittsburgh’s first two Art Deco school within a sunburst over the main MIFFLIN School sits on a hill- panels is the principal Art Deco element; buildings. Lincoln, in the Lincoln- entrance. The plan—gymnasium on top in Lincoln Place in the Thirty-first Art Deco decoration also appears on the Larimer neighborhood, shares the honor one side of the classroom block and Ward on the southeastern edge of the geometric metal air grilles which sport a with Prospect School on Mt. Washington auditorium on the other—is important. city. Mifflin follows the rectilinear maple leaf motif. Most of the audito- designed by M. M. Steen; both were This plan, found for perhaps the first central-block-with-frontal-wings plan. rium is sheathed in wooden paneling— built in 1931. time in M. M. Steen’s 1924 Oliver High The stepped-back, two-story gymna- paneled columns are topped with light Lincoln School School, would become the norm for sium and auditorium wings on each end blue capitals; green and white medal- was designed by most Pittsburgh school buildings, with flow into the tall and narrow central lions and a green scalloped border deco- Thomas Pringle the auditorium often serving as a neigh- block. At first glance the building appears rate the white plaster, covering those and Oliver J. borhood meeting place. Lincoln’s audi- to be Streamline Moderne, with smooth areas not paneled in wood. White metal Robling. These torium is lower than the gymnasium buff brick walls terminating in elegantly chandeliers are trimmed with gold. At architects had and juts out farther; later schools rounded corners. The gymnasium and the rear of the auditorium white plaster designed an usually have symmetrical wings. auditorium doorways are surrounded by panels framed in wood hold green and addition to The 1930s character of the audito- wide Egyptian Art Deco borders. white medallions similar to those on the Linden School rium appears to be intact. While the The first floor wall curves inward ceiling. The rear exit is surrounded by (on the National room has some handsome touches to frame a grand oversized entrance wooden Classical pilasters and topped Register) in 1927 and an addition to (marble wainscoting, Classical-Moderne topped by an ornamental tablet framed with a scrolled pediment. Madison School in 1929; Lincoln pilasters on either side of the stage, by abstract flowers. Cloverleafs filled The architectural firm responsible for School appears to be their only new and geometric metal ventilating grilles) with floral tracings top wall piers. The Mifflin School was Link, Weber & school design. it is not as innovative a space as is the walls are not smooth but reveal patterns Bowers; the designer, Edward J. Weber A handsome building of contrasting contemporaneous 1931 Prospect School of parallel waving lines incised in the (1877–1968). Weber had attended the shades of buff brick, Lincoln School’s auditorium, which the National Register exterior brickwork, and the decorative Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris before facade displays “dog-tooth” piers nomination form called “one of cornices circling the roofs are not flat working for MacClure & Spahr in (brickwork laid so that rows of trian- Pittsburgh’s most fully realized Art but rounded. The strange eclecticism of Pittsburgh. He achieved some success gular edges point outward) with stepped Deco interiors.” the facade, which grows increasingly in the 1920s as a Roman Catholic or “Mayan” tops, chevron panels under wonderful the longer one views it, ecclesiastical architect, writing two appears to be a marriage of the books on church architecture, and he Moderne and sixteenth-century designed churches, convents, and intri- Mannerism which enlarged and exag- cately patterned brick parochial schools, gerated Classical Renaissance forms. such as St. Colman’s in Turtle Creek This mixture of contemporary and and Central Catholic in Oakland. historical styles is found in the poly- He also designed two other Pittsburgh chromatic auditorium, only here the public school buildings: Lemington historical elements recall Georgian and Schiller. neo-classicism. A ceiling of aluminum

LEMINGTON School exhibits the tripartite pattern of gymnasium, classroom block, and auditorium. The exterior is buff brick with gray stone trim; the brick walls are not smooth Arsenal, 3900 Butler Avenue, Lawrenceville. Schwab, Palmgreen & Merrick, 1932; but enlivened by extruding M. M. Steen, 1939 bricks that give the surface texture. It is easy to miss this ARSENAL School was built on original plan, and Steen’s work closely interesting wall treatment, how- a site acquired by the Board of Public matched the existing building. Thus, ever, because of the extravagant Education in a 1921 land swap, but Schwab, Palmgreen & Merrick can be polychromatic terra cotta orna- construction did not begin until 1931. credited with the building’s overall ment. Under the cornice is a The original school building was conception and design. Unfortunately, frieze of polychromatic L-shaped and served as a junior high virtually nothing is known about children’s faces, and over the Lemington, 7060 Lemington Avenue, Lemington. school. The west wing was added in this firm. gymnasium and auditorium Edward J. Weber (M. M. Steen, Supervising 1939 to house an elementary school. doorways a child’s face stares Architect), 1937 The building surrounds a prominently out from what appears to be a sited playing field with its light stan- Mayan-inspired head dress—wide ruff 1935 and 1954 were designed by dards and grandstands. topped by a lamp of learning and great M. M. Steen. Two buildings—Lemington Arsenal School’s Classical styling, plumes—surrounded by decorative and Schiller—are markedly different which gives way at some point to panels, all in vivid green, purple, red, from any of Steen’s other buildings. Art Deco motifs, encloses one of the blue, and gold. Gold Mayan terra cotta This mystery was solved when Patricia Pittsburgh public school’s most ornate panels decorate the chimney and Lowry of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, interiors in the auditorium and its fore- sections of the facade; a polychromatic, using family papers and newly discov- court hallway. somewhat sinister Comedy mask adorns ered Board of Education documents, The architect for the original building the rear wall of the auditorium. Black learned that Lemington and Schiller was the firm of Schwab, Palmgreen & geometric Art Deco ironwork and Schools were designed by Edward J. Merrick. M. M. Steen officially designed colorful Mayan patterns ornament the Weber. M. M. Steen wisely hired the later west wing. This section, interior of the auditorium. Weber to assist with the work of however, had been anticipated in the Prior to 1997 it was assumed that all school design. public school buildings erected between PHLF News • March 2001 Page 7

Stevens, 824 Crucible Street, Elliott. M. M. Steen, 1940

Schiller, 1018 Peralta Street, East Deutschtown. Edward J. Weber (M. M. Steen, Supervising Architect), 1939

SCHILLER School seems to the City of Hanover Crematory, illus- stand apart from all the other school trated in American Architect, October, buildings erected in the 1930s. Its 1928. STEVENS School appears less modernity is not that of ornate Art Deco The school is named for German monolithic than some of M. M. Steen’s but rather that of a contemporaneous dramatist Friedrich Schiller. earlier designs, due to the light colored starkly fanciful German and Dutch style brick and the long incised horizontal known as “Expressionism.” Once again lines that define the base. The five lime- the plan of the stone relief sculptures by Pittsburgh building is the now artist Charles Bradley Warren familiar tripartite (1903–1967) are most elegant. one, but here the (Another series of more robust images severe brick exterior by Warren decorates Prospect School.) rises from a stone Art accompanied by Music and Drama base in a series of (far right) identify the auditorium heavy flat-topped entrance, while athletes (right) are piers separated by portrayed over the gymnasium entrance. pointed panels filled At the rear of the building Discovery is with a triangular symbolized by a male figure holding a pattern. Even in this globe with a Viking ship at his feet and monochromatic design, one senses the a female figure with Pegasus at her feet; architect’s love of brickwork. The build- a small male figure holds a mask at the ing may have been inspired by Konrad stage door entrance. Wittman’s design for the Great Hall of The school is named for the great abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens. Stevens School was not old enough in 1986 to qualify for National Register nomination.

See Four Pittsburgh Public Schools TOUR with the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation

The Art Deco Schools of Pittsburgh: Part 1* A bus tour offered through Pitt’s Informal Program

Concord, Brownsville Road at Biscayne Drive, Carrick. M. M. Steen, 1939 Saturday, March 31, 2001 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CONCORD The bus will depart from and return to Station Square. School, built in 1939, leans toward the Al Tannler and Mary Ann Eubanks of Landmarks will traditional side of lead a bus tour to four Art Deco schools: Lincoln, Mifflin, Steen’s work: a kind of Neo-Georgian simply Lemington, and Schiller. executed in red brick with Moderne curves $24 per person, plus a $10 bus rental fee payable and geometric metalwork. to the instructor upon arrival. Concord School is an essay in excellent pro- Call 412-648-2560 to register. portion with the grouped Or register on-line at: http://www.pitt.edu/~cgs fenestration characteristic The tour is limited to 40 people. of a school as its principal means. Somehow this wonderful building Since this tour is offered through the University of Pittsburgh, was omitted from the National Register Landmarks cannot offer a membership discount on the nomination process. registration fee.

*Schools by M. M. Steen will be visited in the fall. Page 8 PHLF News • March 2001 JOIN Support the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation in its work to: • Identify, document, and save architectural landmarks, historic neighborhoods, and historic Pittsburgh Public Schools designed landscapes in Allegheny County; • Provide loans and technical assis- Team with Landmarks tance to community-based orga- nizations that propose feasible plans for historic properties; Many Pittsburgh Public Schools team with Landmarks’ • Participate in urban planning education staff to promote student achievement through issues as an advocate for historic preservation; the art of architecture. Students tour their neighborhoods and the city; construct • Create educational programs for schools, community groups, models of bridges and buildings; meet with architects to discuss members, and friends; their ideas; watch performances of “Building Magic”; and • Continue a well-managed, create paper-bag buildings, among many other activities. responsive, and creative They strengthen skills in social studies, language arts, membership organization with and math—and in the process develop a sense of the ability to implement these hometown pride. Contact Mary Ann Eubanks goals on a long-range basis. if you want to become involved in our Membership Categories educational programs: phone: (412) 471-5808 ext. 537 or ■ Individual $20 or more E-mail: [email protected] ■ Family $25 or more ■ Senior citizen or student $15 or more ■ Schools and non-profits $35 or more ■ School Districts $50 or more ■ Ambassadors $100 or more ■ Corporate $250 or more ■ Life Benefactor $5,000 (a one-time gift) The portion of your dues exceeding $15 is tax-deductible.

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