Protecting the Places that Make Pittsburgh Home Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Nonprofit Org. 100 West Station Square Drive, Suite 450 U. S. Postage Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1134 PAID www.phlf.org Pittsburgh, PA Address Service Requested Permit No. 598 PPublishedH for the membersL of the PittsburghF HistoryN & Landmarksews Foundation No. 174 September 2008 In this issue: 3 Regal Shoe Clerestory Discovered 8 Landmarks Community Capital Corporation Now at Work 13 Two Books to Be Released on October 28 16 Fall Events The portals of the “Hot Metal Bridge” were lit during a celebration on June 12. Vehicular traffic now crosses this bridge, originally called the Monongahela Connecting Railroad Bridge. This view is from Second Avenue on the north side of the Monongahela looking toward the South Side. Good News for Market at Fifth A Third Historic Pittsburgh Bridge Is Lighted Market at Fifth, a revitalization project of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks As the sun set and the moon appeared Foundation (see page 3), was the subject on the evening of June 12, Governor of much good news on April 28. Mayor Ed Rendell, accompanied by Mayor Luke Ravensthal, PNC Bank President Luke Ravenstahl, asked electricians to Sy Holzer, N & P Properties Partner light the portals of the Hot Metal Jim Patrinos, Duquesne Light President Bridge, thus completing a decorative and CEO Morgan O’Brien, PPG Paints lighting project under the auspices of Director of Brand Marketing Tom the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Dougherty, and Landmarks Community Foundation. “This is the third bridge- Revitalization Committee Chair lighting project for our organization,” Luis Rico-Gutierrez and Easement said President Arthur Ziegler. “The first Committee Chair Martha Jordan were was the Smithfield Street Bridge in among the speakers who shared the 1984. The second, the Roberto following news: Clemente Bridge in 2002, was made • In April, possible by a generous grant from Landmarks Duquesne Light Company, together acquired with a maintenance grant from the striking, Governor Ed Rendell through the Speakers at the Hot Metal Bridge lighting included (left to right): State Representative white- PA Department of Community and Harry Readshaw, State Senator Jay Costa, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, glazed Economic Development.” Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Arthur Ziegler (speaking), Governor Ed Rendell, and Christine terra-cotta Funding for the Hot Metal Bridge Fulton, representing Soffer Corporation. This view, from South Side Works, looks John R. lighting came primarily from a $125,000 toward the north shore of the Monongahela and Second Avenue. Photo by Todd Wilson Thompson grant from the PA Department of Restaurant Community and Economic Development more than 1,200 bridges in the County. to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit—was Building of 1928 at 435 Market Street. at the Governor’s request. Design of the We must continue this lighting program.” transported in ladle cars from the Most recently occupied by Ciao Baby, lighting, totaling an additional $12,500, Mayor Ravenstahl complimented blast furnaces on the north shore of this building is adjacent to the three was financed by grants from the Soffer “another fine public-private accom- Jones & Laughlin’s Pittsburgh Works historic buildings purchased by Corporation, International Brotherhood plishment capitalizing on Pittsburgh’s across the Hot Metal Bridge of 1900 Landmarks in 2007 for its Market of Electrical Workers, Wellington Power, historic assets.” to the Bessemer converters and open- at Fifth project. The former owners, and Landmarks. Landmarks also under- The LED tubular portal lighting of hearth furnaces of the South Side Plant. N & P Properties, will use proceeds wrote an additional $15,000 of costs, red, yellow, and orange actually deco- The Main Bridge of 1904 served the from the sale to restore the elegant bringing the project total to approxi- rates the Main Bridge (Monongahela general purposes of the Monongahela Buhl Building that they own across mately $150,000. Grenald Waldron Connecting Railroad Bridge), con- Connecting Railroad, including the the street. Landmarks will restore Associates of Philadelphia designed the structed in 1904 and opened to motor transportation of steel ingots and slabs. the Thompson Building and make portal lighting; Courtney Sarge was the vehicles in 2000. The Hot Metal Bridge Todd Wilson, a participant at the it available for commercial and principal designer. of 1900 (opened to bicyclists and pedes- bridge-lighting ceremony, former residential use. During the bridge-lighting ceremony, trians in 2007) replaced the original Landmarks scholarship recipient Mark Bibro, chair of Landmarks, • Duquesne Light is providing funds Hot Metal Bridge of 1887. With the (see page 10), historic bridge authority, said, “We are grateful that we have a to illuminate the four Market at opening of Hot Metal Street in South and traffic engineer for DMJM Harris, governor who understands the signifi- Fifth structures, as part of its Power of Side Works, the name “Hot Metal noted that “the newest route over a cance of lighting these great engineering Light community outreach program. Bridge” is now used to refer to the river in Pittsburgh is over a pair of monuments to promote their continued “Building on the success of the Penn historic bridge pair that is built on a historic bridges. This is a significant use and increase tourism. Pittsburgh is Avenue façade illumination and the shared set of piers. accomplishment given that so many of the ‘City of Bridges,’ with 446 bridges Roberto Clemente Bridge lighting, this Historically, hot metal—iron just our historic bridges are endangered.” within the City limits (based on author smelted in a blast furnace and still close Bob Regan’s most recent count), and (continued on page 3) Page 2 PHLF News • September 2008 From the Heart Wilkinsburg homeowner Jack Schmitt sent the following email on February 19 to Michael Sriprasert, manager of real estate finance at Landmarks, and to Tom Keffer, property and construction manager: Michael and Tom: we truly felt that every step of the way your priority was to assure our comfort and confidence. Your creativity, adaptability, and reso- lution to any concerns or issues that arose were greatly appreciated. You always gave us the sense of inclusion. Thank you for being such genuinely engaged and personable individuals. We feel your efforts and oversight of this project have achieved the exem- plary level of integrity and vision for which PHLF is historically known. We would also like to mention Eagle Construction, for they have displayed similar qualities. We feel Dwight Quarles achieved a high level Homebuyers and local government officials join Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, Mayor John Thompson, and of quality and excellence. He went Sarah Scaife Foundation Executive Vice-President Michael Gleba (second from right) in the ribbon-cutting celebrating the restoration of four homes in Hamnett Place: 516, 522, and 524 Jeanette, and 811 Holland Avenue. above and beyond to give us a beautifully crafted home. He exhibits integrity, dedication, and upstanding Wilkinsburg Revitalization Efforts character. He is truly a gentleman. We love our new home! Ribbon Cutting Marks Completion of Foundation, Dominion, and Russell W. Coe, a member of First Phase of Hamnett Place Housing Landmarks, along with contributions from several Named Thank you for making this journey so Funds at Landmarks. Funding from Mr. Coe and Harry C. On June 27, stakeholders in Wilkinsburg’s revitalization efforts pleasantly memorable. Goldby enabled Landmarks to purchase and plant new trees came together for a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the com- and shrubs on Jeanette Street and Holland Avenue. pletion of the first phase of restored housing by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation in the historic Hamnett Richard Scaife Pledges $500,000 for Thanks for Place corridor of Wilkinsburg. Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, the keynote speaker, was joined by Wilkinsburg Phase Two of Hamnett Place Restoration the Work Mayor John Thompson, members of Wilkinsburg’s Borough While sitting on the porch of one of the newly-restored homes Council, buyers of the homes, local community groups, on Jeanette Street in mid-April, Landmarks Trustee Richard Rick Hawkinberry sent the following and neighborhood M. Scaife announced another $500,000 gift to the Pittsburgh email to Michael on March 8: residents. History & Landmarks Foundation from the Allegheny Four homes were I have lived in Pittsburgh for nearly Foundation to support the second phase of housing restoration targeted in this first in Wilkinsburg. At the time, he was with the new homeowners 15 years and have been a PHLF mem- phase of restoration, of the Jeanette Street and Holland Avenue properties, local ber for a good deal of that time and with three homes government leaders, Matthew Groll, executive director of the I am absolutely overjoyed that PHLF on Jeanette Street Allegheny Foundation, and members of Landmarks’ staff. has taken an interest in Wilkinsburg. and one on Holland This significant gift is the largest grant in recent history As you know, we are a community Avenue. These homes for the Allegheny Foundation, according to Mr. Groll, and with various problems and divisions… were identified in it allows Landmarks to continue its restoration efforts in but there are more positives about the Wilkinsburg Wilkinsburg. “We hope to show that Wilkinsburg is a good Neighborhood place to live and attractive to a variety of people,” said Wilkinsburg than most people know. Transformation 524 and 522 Jeanette Street Arthur Ziegler, president of Landmarks. This is a community with wonderful Initiative, a grassroots diversity (racial, economic, social), initiative led by Landmarks in 2004, because of their LCCC Helps to Purchase Mower to great housing stock and community architectural quality and significance to the Hamnett Place Maintain Vacant Lots and Urban Gardens scale, wonderful location, and the best neighborhood. thing is that it is made up of people When Landmarks first acquired the homes two years ago, On July 17, Josie Bryant, parish social minister for St.