Protecting the Places that Make Pittsburgh Home Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Nonprofit Org. 1 Station Square, Suite 450 U. S. Postage Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1134 PAID www.phlf.org Pittsburgh, PA Address Service Requested Permit No. 598 PHLF News Published for the members of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation No. 161 September 2001 In this issue: A Tribute 4 INTA Conference: to Charley Urban Transit Internationally Arensberg 8 (1913–2001) Spring and Summer Tours with Landmarks Arthur Ziegler 10 We deeply regret the death of our Looking Good on founding president Charles Covert Arensberg, in Louisville, Kentucky, on the North Side July 8, 2001. Our long-time members will recall 16 that our organization began when Jamie Van Trump and I were walking Dressed for the Occasion: along the 1300 block of Liverpool Street Eclecticism in Pittsburgh in Manchester, a wonderful street of Victorian buildings in the heart of In his homily to Charley, The Reverend Dr. Harold T. Lewis, rector of Calvary one of the most architecturally interest- Episcopal Church, said: “Charley was a preservationist. A great history buff ing areas in Pittsburgh. We learned (who even delighted in giving history quizzes—complete with prizes—to his young that the entire neighborhood was children and their classmates), he loved and developed an appreciation for old scheduled for demolition by the buildings long before his fellow Pittsburghers caught on to the idea that their city National Trust Urban Redevelopment Authority. had anything worth preserving.” Jamie and I called upon Stanton Selects Belfour, president of the Pittsburgh Foundation and the Historical Society Time and again he deflected efforts of landscapes for all of our people and in Pittsburgh of Western Pennsylvania. He advised us those who wished to demolish architec- carrying out that mission with sound to set up an activist preservation organi- turally significant buildings while always scholarship, consistent principles, and for 2006 zation, although neither of us had any refusing to compromise. good manners. In June, Richard Moe, president of experience with such an endeavor. His absolute dedication to the princi- On July 10, David Lewis, an architect the National Trust for Historic Jamie said that he was going to call his ples of our organization––never asking and professor at Carnegie Mellon Preservation, announced that the attorney and friend Charley Arensberg, the staff to give way, always setting a University, wrote a note to me expressing Trust had accepted Pittsburgh’s whom he knew had a deep interest in firm example for our membership’s his sadness upon hearing about Charley’s invitation to serve as the host city architectural history and had served as values––and his ability to communicate death. We share portions of David’s letter president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of to the community with good humor with his permission: for its national conference in 2006. the Society of Architectural Historians. gave spirit to our organization and Pittsburgh competed against a Charley agreed to lead the organiza- established our standards of operation. Dear Arthur: number of other cities, including tion through its formation and remained That Landmarks has dedicated itself to It was with a one-ton heavy heart Boston, Philadelphia, and that I read about Charley’s death in as chairman, in spite of his frequent finding useful and practical plans and Indianapolis. Landmarks is today’s Post-Gazette....I know how fond offers to turn the reins over to other solutions to difficult preservation issues grateful to all those organizations trustees, for 30 years. and always tries to do so on a civil and you and Charley were of each other, to that supported its application, and Charley was one of the most widely congenial basis is due to the 30 years of say nothing of the incredibly important liked and respected Pittsburghers. leadership of Charley Arensberg. battles you faught together, especially in to the Greater Pittsburgh He married his wife Gertrude “Gay” His leadership was united early with the early days, when you laid the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Herron Hays in 1940 and they main- that of Barbara Hoffstot, our long-time Foundation’s foundations. And sturdy “Bring it Home” campaign. tained a marvelous Queen Anne- enthusiastic vice president; James Bibro, foundations they have proven to be! Over 2,000 people will attend Romanesque house on a large lawn our treasurer for more than two Although I was an early board member the six-day conference: Pittsburgh and was “in” on much of the early on Castleman Street in Shadyside. decades; and Richard Scaife, who —and the city’s accomplishments work, I was not in daily contact with They were known for their genial provided the initial funding for many of in historic preservation—will hospitality and mutual erudition, our most experimental and highest-risk Charley in the way you were: nonethe- be showcased. And, we will have reading copius books and touring activities, including each of our inner- less I loved that man, his kindness, the historic towns and cities. city neighborhood programs, the preser- sparkle in his eye, his delicacy of the opportunity to learn from With firm beliefs and unwavering vation of the Allegheny Post Office, and manner, and the immaculateness of delegates from cities throughout principles, coupled with a pleasant and the development of Station Square. his mind. And I loved the fact that the nation. outgoing disposition, Charley saw Without Charley’s leadership and the Walter Arensberg was his uncle, and The conference will require Landmarks through a series of difficult commitment of all four of these individ- that Walter had been an early champion substantial work on the part of of Brancusi, whom I knew and wrote advocacy efforts and helped initiate uals with their respective and unique Landmarks’ staff and members. many positive preservation programs. strengths, our organization would not about in his old age, and also of In 2002 we will begin meeting with At one point, Charley was standing at have survived, let alone become one of Matisse...It’s sad when such “living” Smithfield Street and Fourth Avenue the most pioneering preservation groups days, so vivid and intense, suddenly, the Trust and with any groups in collecting money to save the Ladies of in the country, now with one of the with an obituary in the daily paper, Pittsburgh that would like to be Stone from atop the Fourth Avenue Post longest track records of productivity become history. involved in planning the 2006 Office (several now reside at Station and financial stability. With love and thoughts on a sad day. national conference. Square), opposing the efforts of URA We all have missed Charley since his and Alcoa to demolish the Old retirement and his move to Louisville, Allegheny Post Office, and urging the but we know he continues to be with us David Lewis formation of our neighborhood restora- day by day as long as Landmarks has its tion programs and our educational optimistic spirit of fulfilling its belief in programs. the value of our historic buildings and Page 2 PHLF News • September 2001 Welcome New Members Contributions & Gifts (As of June 26, 2001) There are many ways to give to Landmarks. Our members and friends make contributions in support of specific programs or in memory of loved ones. THANK YOU FOR JOINING! Your membership strengthens our They also give memberships as gifts or donate goods or services. We thank the organization—and brings you benefits, too: discounts at several Bed & following people and corporations for their recent contributions: Breakfasts; free walking tours and postcards; and invitations to special Corporate Matching Gifts events. For the most up-to-date news, check our Web site at www.phlf.org. • Chevron Corporation, for matching a gift from Jack D. Burgess; • Mayer, Brown & Platt, for matching a gift from Teresa A. Beaudet; Charles R. Alcorn Pittsburgh Board of Public Education Teresa A. Beaudet and Samantha E. Plisak • Norfolk Southern, for matching a gift from A. T. Bankson; and Gerald J. Giamportone Shane A. Policastro • PPG Industries Foundation, for matching a gift from Diana L. Reed. Susan Belville Preserve Croatian Heritage Foundation Ben Avon Area Historical Association Frank S. Quinn, IV Thomas Betzler Kathryn Rampy and family Gift Memberships Norma Bluestone Regional Educational Support Center • Susan Faulk, for giving the gift of membership to James Weddell; Kathleen & Carl Bruning Charles E. Rhoads • Gerald Lee Morosco, for giving the gift of membership to the South Side Community Carmen Campbell Peggy Rhodes Council, Inc.; David Case Anne E. Richardson Felix Caste Rebecca M. Rieger • Wilda Wilson, for giving the gift of membership to Arthur Wilson; and Margot Cavalier Donna Ritz • Alice Wilton, for giving the gift of membership to Fred Wheeler. Ann Cipriani and family Michelle A. Robinson-Austin John Cline Barbara and Dennis Ross Bruce B. Colwell, II Ellyn Roth and Harold Pincus Hornbostel Book Contributors Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Conner Ann Fay Ruben Our fund raising campaign to support the publication of Hornbostel in Pittsburgh Michael P. Contento Joann Ryan by Walter C. Kidney, is under way. We thank the following people for their recent Jeffrey R. DiLucia, Jr. Water Sadauskas gifts: Deborah Doucette Michael P. Santmyer East Liberty Development, Inc. George Schnakenberg and family • Thomas W. Armstrong • Bernard Kent Markwell Kezia L. Ellison Bob Schnarrenberger • Carl Wood Brown • Pamela K. McCarter Friendship Preservation Group Roberta Shope • Dr. & Mrs. William S. Garrett • David J. Vater Marcia Frumerman Kelli A. Sikorski Greg Fuhrman Jacob N. Skezas • Monna J. Kidney Kristina E. Gardner Doug Skowron Mary Frances Gargotta Lynn and Joseph Smith Named Funds Dana J. Gary Jon Smith • We thank Kim and Janice Menke Abraham; Michael J.