Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation 450 The Landmarks Building One Station Square Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Published for the members of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Number 102 Summer 1987 o Preservation Scene a Events Review & Preview a Education News Tlte Alleglteny County Courtltouse øndJøil Two Celebrations Encourage aLandmark Restoration Two celebrations in 1988 are focusing or¿ one landmørÁ: tlte All e g lt e ny C o un ty C o arilt o as e øndJøi/. Tltey øre the Bicentenni- al of the Court of Cornrnon Pleas ønd tbe centennial of tlte dedicø- tion of tbe coartl¡ouse. Tltese, in tam, coincide witb tbe Bicenten- niøl of Allegheny Coønty, ønd officiøls of tlte counfl øid its coarls øre enzbaräing on tbe resto- røtion of tbe Coanty Baildings, tlte areø's most significønt ltiltoic ørchúecture. Liþe otlter uorks br Henrl Ho bs o n Ric lt ardso n," t Ìt e C íu n n' Buildìngs l¡øue sonaetlting for Tlte Alleglteny County Court- euerybody: for the Modeinisx, rø- ltoase is, iltus, tbe of tltree plønning, focus tionøl bold construc- mø1orþroyects: the renouøtion of tion, expression of rnøterials, ønd tlte bailding proþe4 the restorø- broad sarføces free of ornørnent; tion of one of its ltistoric coart- þr tlt 9 trøditionølis ts, p,icture s q-a e roonts, ønd tlte þøblicøtion of tlte rnøssing, sensl/ous cøruing, ønd ørchitectarøl ltiltory of tlte one of the uorld's sreat touers. county's coartltouses. 1985 Tlte BaitdTngs tounty ltøae been þromises to bring naacb deserued irnitøte d, þrøis e d, remo de le d, øttention fo tl¡e counh)'s rnost sis- t lt re øte ne d, ønd p øssio n øte /y nificant building, orã lood*ørËt defendcd in tlteir duøl rolei as u!/l be a rnøjorþørticipønt in works of ørt and e/ernents of t/te tl¡ose øchaütes. co antlt goa ernrne n ta/ sy s te rn. Dedicated ø¡: tlte centenniøl . celebratiory of Alleglteny County -[ The Allegheny County Courthouse in 1888, tbey øre receiaing re- F',r Restor¡tion Commitfee 't- newed aÍtention øs pørt of tlte . *. ¡ Arthur Ziegler, chairman, Pittsburgh His- centennia/ celebrøtions nou beins tory & I¿ndmarks Foundation o (Upþer left) UDA Arobitects' &sign for Courtroorn 321; (aþper rigbt) Alleghery Coanty Coørt- plannedfor Seþrernber o J¡mes W. Knox, Bicentennial Commission 1988. house øndJøil, cø. 1890; (boxorn) Alleglteny Coanty Courthoaseinterior, lø. rcgO. of Allegheny County ¡ Ch¡rles C. Arcnsberg, Pittsburgh History Restoration Begins & L¿ndmarks Fìoundation The Allegheny County Commissioners re- Courtroom Restoration Van Trump Publication e C-arul B¡own, Pittsburgh Trust-Cultural cently appointed a committee of noted As work begins on the Courthouse proper, On the occasion of the county bicentennial Resources ¡ Judge R¡lph H. C¡ppy, Common Pittsburgh leaders to advise the county on UDA Architects is designing the restoration in September 1988, Pleas the Pittsburgh History Court restoring the Courthouse. The committee, of Room 32l,the original Small Orphans' Landmarks & Foundation and the County o Judge D¡vid Certone, Common pleas chaired by Landmarks' President Arthur Court. Returning the room to its 1888 con- of Allegheny Bicentennial Commission will Court Ziegler, has begun meeting and touring the dition will require removal of two levels of release Pittsburgh's Court Houses: Two r lVendy Charltor, Communications facility. Recommendations will be made dropped ceilings, construction repairs, and Centuries of lægal Archilectureby our not- Department, Allegheny County during the coming year. new furnishings and decorations. The result ed architectural historian James D. Van r Cbrts Cilotti, president, Allegheny County The county has already completed major will be a handsome, richly colorful Late- Trump. This book is a history of the three Bar Association o work, including all new wiring and renova- Victorian interior, 27 feet high, with two courthouses of the county. Mr. Van Trump D¡vid L. Donahoe, Mayor's Officg Pitts- burgh tion of much of the office space with more stately windows on the street and two clere- wrote the book in the late 1960s under a o Domthy Duffyr to be done. A study for the repair or story windows toward the courtyard. Walls grant from the Edgar Kaufmann Charitable Criminal Court Division o Euzell H¡irston, directo¡ Property replacement of the roof has been autho- will be generally light green, with gold Depart- Foundation. mgnt, Allegheny County rized, and one will soon begin for restora- borders and touches of dark red. Ceiling In announcing the book, Charles C. I¡obertJ. Mc€¡rthy, Common Pleas Coun tion of windows. A space-utilization study colors will depend on samples taken when Arensberg, chairman of Landmarks, said, Ad$i¡istration is also in the works; the last is 20 years old. the original iron-and-brick ceiling is ex- "What a joy that Jamie's Court House o RÔd McNeil, assistant director, Property The committee will advise the county on posed. Some original oak furniture still in book is coming to light!" James W. Knox, Department such major matters and on signs for the the Courthouse will be installed. chairman of the County of Allegheny Bi- ¡ M¡ur¡ Minteet, County Cultural Programs . Scott building, exterior lighting, sidewalk paving, The plan will differ from that of 1888, centennial Commission, is "absolutely elat- R. O'I)onnelt, director, County graphic Department of Administ¡ation a new system for the interior, and since the room no longer houses an Or- ed that we can cooperate on such a magnifi- . p¡ul J. Petrus, manager, Graphics other physical improvements. phans' Court, but it will use a furniture cent piece of work that will commemorate and Printing Off¡ce Allegheny County The committee will also review and com- configuration for a Common Pleas Court the county's bicentennial and the centennial ¡ Joseph Fntgint director, Veteran's Affairs ment on the studies that will soon be under- given by Richardson in his competition of the Courthousei' The Fund for the Bi- o R¡ynond L. Rc¡ves, directoç County taken on the Allegheny County Jail Build- drawings of 1883. The Bicentennial Com- centennial Celebration of Common Pleas Planning ing, an equally important structure. The fu- mittee of the Court of Common Pleas is Court has pledged $10,ff)0 for production o George N. Thomas, dircc'tor, County Com- jail ture use of the building, as a or for a sponsoring the restoration. of the book, and the county will be provid- munications new purpose, will be controversial. ing graphic design services. Page2 PI{LF News Summer 1987 NIEV[/S lWelcorne New Mernbers Sørølt Ms. Joan Amore Mr. & Mrs. Thomas V. Pastorius Mr. & Mrs. William J. Bresnahan & Family Mrs. Irene Payan Ms. E. I-oretta Denny Ray Pendro Landmarks to Publish Donald W. DiPietro & Family Mn & Mrs. Thomas Peters & Family Memoir in September Harold A. Emery Ms. Regina Peterson Martha Finley Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Pierce Mrs. Sarah Vukelich Evosevich is a well-known Carroll Gallagher Ben Povilaitis Paul Graf Mr. & Mrs, Joseph A. Radich South Side personality, the proprietor of Ms. Bonnie Granger David M. Reedy Sarah's Ethnic Restaurant at the foot of the Granite Historic Associates C. Duane Reeves Ms. Winifred Haggart William A. Schmid lfth Street Bridge. While many Pitts- Mr. & Mrs. Peter R. Kaplan Ms. Rebecca J. Scholze burghers recognize her name and have J.N. King Ms. Jean Slominski enjoyed her ethnic food, few have heard the Joel B. Ijvinson E.J. Smith, Jr. & Family Ms. Barbara Anne Marta John G. Snyder details of her remarkable life story. At Ms. Lorraine Masoner Ms. Eileen D. Steigleder Sarah's request, Landmarks is publishing Ms. Deborah McGurk Ms. Martha Teplica her autobiography, Sarah, to be released Mrs. Barbara Mutscheller Ml Rosemary Van Cura & Family Ms. Ann Newell Ms. Catherine A. Veneskey this September. Now the inspiring story of Ms. Kimberly Nourie Mr. & Mrs. S.D. Wiley the evolution of a Serbian farm girl into an Ms. Ann S- Palmer Ms. BettyM. Williams American businesswoman will be available to all. [/olunteer Profile: The memoir is based on extensive reminiscences which Sarah recorded in the Ruth Kachurik early 1980s. They have been transcribed and edited into a very personal narrative, ampli- When Ruth Kachurik retired fied with Sarah's own words, which color- from Kaufmann's department fully describes her life. She remembers her store after 30 years in operations girlhood on a farm in Croatia, the rigors of administration, she searched for World \Mar I and the 1920s, and her mar- volunteer activities to fill her time. riage to a widower which brought her to Fortunately for Landmarks, Ruth Pittsburgh in 1931. She records in touching found our offices in Station detail her difficult married life and the joys Square. Initially, Ruth became ac- and struggles of raising four children alone quainted with Landmarks' work A pøinting of Sarøh Vuâelich Eaoseuich in the ethnic atmosphere of the South Side. through the annual Antiques (Her husband died in 1937.) She describes the book. A grant from Sarah herself will Shoq and she now does valuable working hard to survive and her eventual provide a major portion of the funds need- clerical work on Wednesdays. success as a restaurateur. ed for publication. A native South Hills Pitts- write We are delighted to help Sarah Evosevich burgher and always interested in history and preservation, Ruth has Sarah felt compelled to her life sto- ry: she believes that her success, achieved by realize her goal the publication of her offered her volunteer services to many other organizations. We wish we - an independent through faith and life story. It is a special glimpse into the life had fîve more volunteers with her spirit and reliability! spirit hard work, can be an example for other of a special woman: immigrant, constant If øny members are interested in offering their volunteer semices women faced with hardships.