Category Archive: PHLF News
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Allegheny West House Auction, Friday, September 30th.
PHLF News
September 17th, 2010House Auction, 705 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233Allegheny WestFriday, September 30, 2010 at 6:45 pm7,000 square foot Chateau-style three-story mansion with 2,000 square foot three-story carriage house (with apartment and garage) and courtyard.• Graciously restored 5 bedroom and 4-1/2 bath home• Reception Hall with fireplace, grand oak staircase, built-in window seats and tables, and original hardwood floor• Parlor with fireplace, crown molding, wainscoting, and original hardwood floor• Dining Room with fireplace, oak paneled walls, built-in cabinets, window seat, and original hardwood floor• Gourmet Kitchen with cherry cabinets, stainless steel appliances, granite tops, and porcelain tile floor• Elevator• Unique original spiral rear staircase• Library and Study with fireplace, built-in oak cabinets and seating• Master Suite with fireplaces, Jacuzzi, walk-in shower and balcony• Fully Insulated with Central air & Forced air heat (zoned)• New slate simulated roof, new windowsContact Karl Owens at Howard Hanna 412-897-0330 to schedule a walk-thru or an inspection.10% Deposit required on the day of sale payable to “Howard Hanna Real Estate Services” and final closing within 30 days. The home will be sold in “as-is” condition with no warranties. -
Fairbanks Feature: Playing Cards from Well Known Rail Lines
James D. Van Trump Library | Frank B. Fairbanks Transportation Archive | Fairbanks Features
Showcasing a variety of materials located in the Frank B. Fairbanks Rail Transportation ArchiveNo. 7 Presentation
Fairbanks Feature: Playing Cards from Well Known Rail Lines
In the golden days of railroad travel, amenities abounded for the rider, especially on the long distance excursions. Railroads provided decks of cards to passengers, many times given out free. These cards were good advertisements for the sights that could be seen along the way. They also showed pictures of the rail cars and engines of that particular rail line and/or reminders of the great historical background of a railroad. Many of these cards came in durable boxes; some are covered in velvet-like material. These cards were not produced to be discarded at the end of the journey. There is a high quality, good, long-lasting feel to the cards.
Frank Fairbanks collected these cards as he traveled the United States. The Fairbanks Archive has playing cards from 46 different rail lines, given out on train trips between 1952 through 1965. Some of the decks still have their seals intact, and some have been opened but the cards have never been used. All the boxes of playing cards are on display in the Archive, and patrons can handle and examine each box.
- “Pennsylvania Collection” Four rail lines represented: Reading, Lake Erie, Pennsylvania, and Erie Railroad
- Great Northern Railway and The Santa Fe
- Wabash and the Chicago and North Western Railway Company
- Louisville & Nashville R.R., Burlington Vista-Dome Zephyr, and The Atlantic Coast Line
- Two very interesting decks come from the Southern Pacific Lines. Each deck is different. One side of the card has a lovely color photo of the train itself. The other side has a photo of a sight along the route. With 52 cards plus extra cards in each deck, there are over 100 different well known photos along these routes in the time period of the 1950s to 1960s.
The Frank B. Fairbanks Rail Transportation Archive is open by appointment on Mondays, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Use of the archive is free to PHLF members (one of the benefits!); non-members are assessed a $10 use fee.
The Archive is located on the fourth floor of The Landmarks Building at Station Square, in the offices of the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.
To schedule an appointment, email Librarian James Halttunen: James@phlf.org
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2nd Annual Historic Bridge Weekend August 20-22
PHLF News
August 12, 2010PHLF members and friends are invited to attend any of the dinners/lectures and tours that are part of the 2nd Annual Historic Bridge Weekend (August 20-22), involving engineers, historians, photographers, and preservationists from throughout the nation and Germany.
Dinner on Friday, August 20 (6:00 to 10:00 pm) will be at the Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery in Homestead, PA. For reservations ($35 per person), contact Mary Lu Denny (412-471-5808, ext. 527). Please RSVP by Tuesday, August 17th. Speakers include the former head engineer of Allegheny County and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the creator of www.historicbridges.org, and a construction project manager. The dinner will include presentations and discussions about historic bridge preservation solutions, historic bridge rehabilitation projects, and historic bridge monitoring using high-tech sensors.
For details on the Saturday, August 21st tour and dinner and Sunday, August 22nd tour, visit http://www.historicbridges.org/weekend.htm. During the Saturday evening dinner, speakers will discuss experiences in creating Pennsylvania’s first historic bridge park and European and American perceptions of historic preservation.
Todd Wilson, former PHLF scholarship recipient and PHLF member, is the event coordinator.
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Thank You Summer Interns
PHLF News
July 29, 2011
Since March, PHLF has involved 15 students (high school, college, and graduates) in its educational programs and preservation activities. As volunteers with PHLF, each student decides how many hours a week and what days h e/she is able to help out. Once here, interns assist with school tours, workshops for teachers, research and archival assignments, and main street programs. And, if they enjoy being with students, they help out with CampDEC, a 2 0-day adventure with middle school students in the Pittsburgh Public School’s Summer Dreamers Academy. Thank you everyone for your help and effort!
As a result of their experiences, interns add to their portfolios and gain a new (or deeper) appreciation for Pittsburgh’s architecture and history and for the economic, social, and cultural benefits of historic preservation. Intern comments on the value of their experiences include the following:
- Julie Edwards: “PHLF has given me a deeper understanding of Pittsburgh’s extensive architectural heritage and a greater appreciation for the built environment.”
- Alyssa Malobicky: “Thank you for welcoming me back to PHLF again. The hands-on involvement in the day-to-day activities of PHLF teaches me so much. I appreciate all that PHLF does to keep Pittsburgh a special place.”
- Ashley Moore: “Through interning with PHLF, I have a new-found appreciation for Pittsburgh. It is amazing how evidence of the city’s changes was here long before I was and may be here long after I am gone.”
- Barrett Reiter: “My experiences with the educational, non-profit portion of PHLF have taught me that educating future generations is as important as preserving the accomplishments of those past. Without understanding and a personal connection to the built environment our unique history is too easily lost.”
- Shane Martin: “My time with PHLF has broadened my horizons on subjects ranging from historic preservation to urban design and the strenuous human effort put into the systems that hold our society together. I was fortunate to work alongside the very minds that ensure our city’s rich history and put forth my own efforts at planning the future.”
We thank the following 15 people (all pictured above) who volunteered their time and talent to PHLF:
- Lauren Borrelli, Penn State University (Architecture)
- Emily Bush, Miami University of Ohio (History/Journalism)
- Julie Edwards, Kent State University graduate (Interior Design)
- Michal Gould, University of Pittsburgh
- Stacy Litwinowicz, West Virginia University (Interior Design)
- Samantha Mabe, Clemson University (Architecture)
- Alyssa Malobicky, Virginia Tech (Landscape Architecture)
- Shane Martin, University of Pittsburgh (Urban Studies/Architectural Studies)
- Grace Meloy, University of Pittsburgh (Architectural Studies/Civil Engineering)
10. Ashley Moore, University of North Carolina graduate (Masters of Urban Design)
11. Barrett Reiter, University of Pittsburgh ( History/Political Science/Historic Preservation)
12. Katherine Schmotzer, Baldwin High School
13. Emily VanBuren, Slippery Rock University––Masters (History)
14. Camden Yandel, Saint Vincent College (Graphic Design)
15. Sydney Zalewski, Carnegie Mellon University (Architecture/Photography)
To learn more about PHLF’s volunteer internship program click here.
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Challenge Grant Generates $100,000 for Historic Religious Properties Program
PHLF News
Wednesday, August 04, 2010Thanks to $25,000 in challenge grants from two anonymous donors, The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation is reviving its recently troubled Historic Religious Properties Program, which provides matching grants to help congregations perform exterior maintenance on their facilities.
“Since 1997, we’ve been giving an average of 70 to 80 thousand dollars a year in grants. When we hit economic hard times in 2010, we suspended the grant program, because there just wasn’t enough money,” says Carole Malakoff, coordinator for the religious properties program.
With the grant program in limbo, two donors stepped up three weeks ago, giving the foundation 60 days to match the grants. The foundation’s President put up $12,500, and over 288 donors contributed gifts totaling $62,710, bringing the total grant package available for the 2011 grant cycle to over $100,210, making this the most successful annual appeal in the Pittsburgh History and Landmark Foundation’s 46 year history.
Applications for grants will be due by December 1, 2010, and provide matching grants up to $10,000 to Allegheny County churches that are over 50 years old.
“Over the years, the majority of our grants have gone to stained glass window work, roof and gutter repair, and masonry work,” says Malakoff.
As a result of the generous outpouring of support, PHLF has decided to host a technical assistance workshop on September 20 at the Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside. Experts will provide demonstrations to members of congregations on green building, handicap accessibility, and all that it entails to maintain a historic building.
“We sent out a letter in June to see if there was enough interest, and we’ve had 30 congregations call to say they are interested. So, we’ve had a wonderful response, and we’re still accepting people to come,” says Malakoff.
The workshops go from 10:30 a.m. to two p.m. Interested parties can contact Carole Malakoff at 412-321-3612.
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Source: Carole Malakoff, coordinator for PHLF Religious Properties Program
Writer: John Farley -
Historic Religious Properties Technical Assistance Workshop
August 1, 2010
PHLF NewsThanks to a successful Challenge Grant Initiative, the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation will be offering its Historic Religious Properties Grant Program again this Fall 2010.
We are offering a technical assistance workshop for congregation leaders, representatives, and guardians of historic religious structures on September 20 at Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside.
What Will the One-Day Workshop Be About?
You and others from your congregation will be able to attend seminars and speak with experts in the fields of historic preservation, building project planning and financing, and building construction and maintenance.
Seminar topics will include the following :
- Preserving historic religious properties;
- Prioritizing building needs and projects;
- Planning and organizing building projects;
- Financing a project and identifying grant and loan sources;
- Identifying and working with contractors, obtaining bids and estimates, and contracting the work;
- Repairing, restoring, and maintaining stained glass windows, masonry, roofs and gutters, domes, steeples, and steps; and
- Making your historic religious properties more energy efficient.
All of the topics that will be discussed will help you in planning and preparing your next PHLF Grant Application.
Historic Religious Properties Technical Assistance Workshop
- Date: September 20, 2010
- Time: 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Location: Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
- Fee: $50.00, payable to PHLF.
Fee covers up to 3 attendees from your congregation, including box lunches.
(Please mail your check by September 15 to Carole Malakoff, PHLF, 100 W. Station Square Drive, Suite 450, Pittsburgh, PA 15219)For reservations contact: hrp@phlf.org or Carole Malakoff: 412-471-5808 or 412-321-3612.
Attendance is limited.
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Challenge Grant Deadline June 30: Please Contribute Now
PHLF News
June 16, 2010Six weeks ago, PHLF and two of its members pledged $37,500 for an all-or-nothing challenge grant to jump-start our Historic Religious Properties Program that provides matching grants and technical assistance to architecturally significant historic religious properties in Allegheny County who need to undertake critical building repairs.
The challenge grant is contingent on members and friends matching that amount by June 30. This is a terrific opportunity to do as much as we can to build support for our historic religious properties program. We’ve made good progress so far and encourage you to contribute, if you have not yet done so.
To contribute by credit card, use the Targeted Donation Today option on our home page at www.phlf.org, or call Mary Lu Denny (412-471-5808, ext. 527) to process your gift. Or, mail a check payable to “PHLF” and referenced “HRP” (100 W. Station Square Drive, Suite 450, Pittsburgh, PA 15219).
We thank the many members and friends who have already contributed and encourage those who have not yet done so to contribute in the next 15 days. If we can raise $37,500, then two PHLF members will contribute a $25,000 match and PHLF will contribute a $12,500 match. Those contributions, combined with year-end gifts from 2009, will make it possible for PHLF to offer another round of matching grants and technical assistance so architecturally significant historic religious properties in Allegheny County can restore stained glass, repair leaking roofs, and re-point masonry, among other restoration work.
Remember, PHLF is the only nonprofit organization in Allegheny County that helps historic religious properties restore the significant places serving as centers of worship and providing social and cultural services to many people. Your gift will help us continue this valuable program of financial and technical assistance.
We thank you for doing your part during this challenge grant campaign. In July, we will send you news of the campaign results. Your ongoing support helps us protect the places that make Pittsburgh home.
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PHLF Awards Five Scholarships to College-Bound Students
Pittsburgh, PA…On June 16, during a luncheon celebration, the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation (PHLF) will award scholarships to five high-achieving college-bound students who are involved in their communities and value Pittsburgh’s history, architecture, and landscape design. PHLF received 47 applications this year and was able to award five scholarships, thanks to the continuing support of the Brashear Family Named Fund at PHLF and generous donations from others.
“Each year the Landmarks Scholarship Committee looks forward to reviewing all the applications,” said David Brashear, founder and chair of PHLF’s Scholarship Committee. “This program helps us connect with young people who share our values and who we believe will contribute to Pittsburgh during their lifetime.” The five scholarship recipients are:
Stephen R. Karas of Pittsburgh Schenley High School;
Victoria N. Lewis of Woodland Hills High School;
Anna M. Murnane of Woodland Hills High School;
Candice L. Thornton of Sto-Rox Sr./Jr. High School; and
Eric C. Wise of South Fayette High School.Each scholarship, for book and tuition expenses only, has a maximum value of $4,000, and is made payable to the recipient’s college/university over a four-year period. “The Landmarks Scholarship Program is helping our organization build relationships with capable young people who value Pittsburgh’s history, architecture, and landscape design,” said Louise Sturgess, Executive Director of PHLF. “It is the culmination of our educational programs for thousands of students (K-12) in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County and gives students an incentive to excel in school, become involved in their communities, and explore their city in a meaningful way.”
Since 1999, PHLF has granted 40 scholarships to a remarkable group of young people. Nineteen students are Pittsburgh Public School graduates and 21 are graduates from other schools within Allegheny County. Twenty winners have already graduated from various colleges/universities, and 14 of those people still have a home base in Pittsburgh: several work as architects and engineers, one teaches at CMU, one works at UPMC, and another inspects bridges.
The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Scholarship Program is offered each year. Applications for the 2010-11 school year will be available in Jan. 2011. Applicants must:
- live in Allegheny County;
- be a high school senior who has been accepted to a college or university;
- have a cumulative Grade Point Average at the end of the first semester senior year
- of 3.25 or greater; and
- write an essay on a certain topic, complete an application, and submit two letters of recommendation.
2010 Landmarks Scholarship Recipients: Student Profiles
Stephen R. Karas
A graduate of Pittsburgh Schenley High School, Stephen Karas will be attending Penn State University to study Mechanical Engineering.
Stephen is an Eagle Scout and the recipient of the Kiwanis Club of Sheraden scholarship. At Schenley, he helped his Think-A-Thon team win an Overall Grand Champions award in 2009. He also was a member of the 2009 Soccer City Championship team and a member of the Volleyball City Championship teams in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Stephen has worked as a lifeguard for the City of Pittsburgh and as a soccer coach for the Special Olympics; he is a driver for Meals on Wheels and a member of his church choir.
In his scholarship essay Stephen wrote that “the memories that I have of the Ascension Church [in Sheraden] are powerful ones and will stay with me. This building . . . still touches the lives of the people in the community . . . I believe that the architectural history of the building is very representative of Pittsburgh as a whole. It is a humble structure, whose constituents are friendly and hardworking individuals. Its history is an interesting one and important lessons can be learned from it. Through hard work and change, beautiful things can come forth.”
Victoria N. Lewis
A graduate of Woodland Hills High School, Victoria Lewis will be attending Howard University to study Architecture. Victoria is a member of the National Honor Society and was recognized by State Representative Paul Costa for excellence in academics, leadership, and community service. At Woodland Hills, she was a member of the high school track and field team. Her Gymkhana Gymnastics team won the 2008 and 2009 State Gymnastics Championships. As a member of Urban Youth Action, Inc., Victoria has participated in annual Thanksgiving food drives and community clean-ups. She is a member of Deliverance Baptist Church and has worked at BNY Mellon and Gwen’s Girls, Inc.
In her scholarship essay Victoria describes her sense of awe over downtown Pittsburgh: “When I took the Pittsburgh city tour with my class in grade school I learned the importance of the designs on the Smithfield Street Bridge and the meaning of many inconspicuous designs on the buildings throughout downtown. After the tour I looked at my city with pride. . . .
“I made a decision to study architecture at Howard University. After talking with the dean of the school of architecture, imagine my surprise when I learned that all domestic travel to study architecture in the college is done in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. . . .
“Pittsburgh is unique because it has been successful in preserving the beauty of many historical structures while weaving them together with modern architectural designs.”
Anna M. Murnane
Also a graduate of Woodland Hills High School, Anna Murnane will be attending Syracuse University to study Architecture.
Anna is a member of the National Honor Society and was on the Woodland Hills varsity cross country team. She has performed with the Woodland Hills Orchestra, Marching Band, and Fine Fiddlers of Pittsburgh, where she also has volunteered. Anna has worked as a camp counselor and has attended pre-college art/architecture programs at Carnegie Mellon and Drexel universities.
In her scholarship essay Anna wrote: “Pittsburgh is my birthplace, so it is a city I have taken for granted for most of my life. In my sophomore year of high school I had the opportunity . . . to . . . participate in the Architecture Apprenticeship offered by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. My interest was driven by my desire to learn more about a career that would combine my artistic talents with my interest in math and physics. What I did not expect was that it would open my eyes to the beauty and history offered by Pittsburgh, and provide a direction and vision for my future.”
Candice L. Thornton
A graduate of Sto-Rox Sr./Jr. High School, Candice Thornton will be attending The College of Wooster to study Chemistry and Archaeology.
Candice was a Student Ambassador for Sto-Rox High School and a member of the marching band, concert band, and chorus. She was manager of the volleyball team, editor-in-chief of the newspaper, peer tutor, and a team leader for Environmental Journalism, among other activities. Candice also was a member of the National Honor Society and Student Government. She has volunteered for Meals on Wheels, the McKees Rocks Community Development Group, and at a nursing home.
In her scholarship essay Candice wrote, “As a third grader I rode the Duquesne Incline to Mt. Washington for a field trip. When I saw the view of Pittsburgh from the overlook I was completely astounded, so much so that I leaned too far over the edge and lost my glasses. My mind was rattled by the sight of the Pittsburgh Golden Triangle and the convergence of the rivers. . . . Pittsburgh’s history and architecture are a part of my heritage. Growing up in the Pittsburgh region has given me much to be proud of and imbued in me many values such as: perseverance, diligence, character, pride, and a strong sense of self. . . .
“My grandfather was a craftsman . . .
“My father was an iron worker . . .
“I am a student of Pittsburgh’s history. It teaches me life lessons and values about hard work and determination. I am an admirer of Pittsburgh’s architecture. . . . To me the landscape, history, and architecture of Pittsburgh are my heritage.”
Eric C. Wise
A graduate of South Fayette High School, Eric Wise will be attending Carnegie Mellon University to study Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering.
Eric was South Fayette’s Valedictorian, a Westinghouse Science Honors Institute exam winner, and an AP Scholar with Distinction. He was selected as a gold medalist from among the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s “Outstanding Young Citizens” and was included in NEXT Magazine’s top 25 young men in Pennsylvania for service to school and community. Eric performed in South Fayette’s Marching and Concert Bands, and participated in the Future Business Leaders of America and in the National Economics Challenge, among many other activities.
In his scholarship essay Eric wrote: “Schenley Park in Oakland contains the components that contribute to making a place significant. It is rich in landscape design with its many trails, ice skating rink, and golf course. Its layout highlights nearby architectural treasures like Phipps Conservatory and the many museums of Oakland. These gems of culture, history, science, and the arts are what make Pittsburgh a treasure for me and all of its citizens.”
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Founded in 1964, the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation is a non-profit membership organization working to: identify and save historically-significant places; revitalize historic neighborhoods, towns, and urban areas; preserve historic farms and historic designed landscapes; and educate people about the Pittsburgh region’s rich architectural heritage. www.phlf.org.
