WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY SPRING 2014 SPRING 2014 The Steamboat Arabia • Saving the Fort Pitt Block House • The 1890s Pirates GET BOTH A HISTORY CENTER AND Service. A SMITHSONIAN MEMBERSHIP FOR 1 Low Price. Join the History Center and Innovation.Service. you also join the Smithsonian! Service. The Heinz History Center is a proud affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. 101 COMMONWEALTH PLACE PITTSBURGH, PA A one-year membership to the Senator John Heinz History Center includes http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/ unlimited admission to all Smithsonian Museums, the History Center, Expertise. secondary.aspx?id=296 Sports Museum, the Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, and the (412) 281-9285 Fort Pitt Museum. You’ll also receive 11 issues of Smithsonian magazine, Located in Point State Park, this two-floor, our quarterly Western Pennsylvania History magazine, and invitations to Heeter is the service leader in Western PA among 12,000-square-foot museum in a members-only events, discounts in museum shops, and more. Innovation.Innovation.single-source providers of complex print, direct mail, reconstructed bastion tells the story of Western fulfillment and digital marketing solutions. Pennsylvania’s pivotal role during the French & Indian War and the American q Individual $60 q Grandparents $80 Revolution, and as the birthplace of Pittsburgh. 62 and older pays $57 q Dual $65 q Family $85 q Contributor $125 q Mr. & Mrs. q Mr. q Ms. q Dr. Expertise. Visit www.heinzhistorycenter.org for details. 441 Technology Drive • Canonsburg PA 15317 Expertise.800-379-5003 • www.heeter.com Name Heeter is the service leader in Western PA among Wyndham single-source providers of complex print, direct mail, Hotel E-mail Address fulfillment and digital marketing solutions. Address City State Zip Phone Day Evening q Check payable to: Heeter is the service leader among single-source providers of Senator John Heinz History Center HOURS By Phone: (412) 454-6436 q Cash q Visa q MasterCard complex print, mail & fulfillment and interactive to the casino, Hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. By Fax: (412) 454-6031 Closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, In Person: healthcare, pharmaceutical, museum and retail industries. and Christmas. At the Admissions Desk at the History Center Signature By Mail: ADMISSION 441 Technology Drive • Canonsburg PA 15317 Heinz History Center History Center Members Free 1212 Smallman St. Card Number 800-379-5003 • www.heeter.com Adults $6.00; Seniors (62+) $5.00; Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Students $3.00 with a school ID; Online: www.heinzhistorycenter.org Expiration Ages 6–17 $3.00; Questions: membership@heinzhistory Age 5 and under Free. center.org Double your donation! Check with PARKING your employer about your company’s A variety of parking is available including: matching gift program. Boulos Parking Lot 601 Commonwealth Place $13 all day, $5 after 2 p.m., $7 on weekends. 441 Technology Drive • Canonsburg PA 15317 • 800-379-5003 • www.heeter.com WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY Contents SPRING 2014 • VOLUME 97 • NUMBER 1 CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF DIRECTORS William M. Lambert PRESIDENT & CEO Andrew E. Masich Features Departments SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Betty Arenth 20 Treasures of the 2 Exhibits EDITOR Brian Butko Steamboat Arabia President’s Message ASSISTANT EDITOR By Leslie Przybylek 3 Kelly A. Gregg 4 Up Front DESIGN 40 We are Now Pirates: The 1890 Gatesman+Dave Burghers and Alleghenys Meadowcroft PRINTING Andrew Donoven Heeter By Craig Britcher Western Pennsylvania 54 Railroaded: Sports Museum How the DAR Saved Anne Madarasz the Fort Pitt Block House By Emily M. Weaver Library & Archives Treasures Sierra Green Architecture Around Us Western Pennsylvania History (ISSN 1525-4755) is published Lu Donnelly quarterly as a benefit of membership in the Senator John Heinz History Center (legal name: Historical Society of Western Neighborhood Stories Pennsylvania), 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4200. © 2013. See inside back cover for membership 40 Bette McDevitt information. Institutional subscription: $40; international, $50. Curator’s Corner POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Development, Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman Street, Emily Ruby Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4200. USPS 679-200. Periodicals Postage Paid at Pittsburgh, PA. Italian Ameican Collection This publication is made possible, in part, by the Kenneth Melissa E. Marinaro B. and Verna H. Haas Bequest. A portion of the History Center’s general operating funds is provided by the Allegheny Regional Asset District and the Pennsylvania 69 Legacies Historical and Museum Commission. Editorial questions: [email protected] 70 Book Reviews or (412) 454-6331. Membership questions: [email protected] 72 Information or (412) 454-6436. Back issues, additional copies: [email protected] or (412) 454-6300. Detail of letterhead from Iron City Commercial College, c. 1850. This letterhead depicts the booming river trade surrounding Pittsburgh, including steamboats 54 reminiscent of the Arabia. HHC, Detre L&A, MFF 1020 20 Western Pennsylvania History is printed on paper containing fiber from well managed, independently certified forests, and printed with vegetable based inks. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a nongovernmental, non-profit organization that promotes the responsible management of the world’s forests. WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | SPRING 2014 1.