Category Archive: PHLF News
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Fairbanks Feature: A New Train of Thought – Pittsburgh Union Station Railroad Signs
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. 6 Presentation
Pittsburgh Union Station Railroad SignsThe Frank Fairbanks Rail Transportation Archive is composed of many different types of materials. “Artifacts” is the larger term for a variety of visual, touchable materials. Railroad artifacts were in most cases common items during the peak days of the railroads. While once ordinary and not coveted, artifact memorabilia evokes in the observer today memories of a time when these items were part of a more carefree and less hectic life.
The Fairbanks Archive is pleased to have on the walls of the Archive room 10 outdoor signs from the Pittsburgh Union Station, located at Grant and Liberty Avenue, in downtown Pittsburgh. All railroad stations once had such signs, indicating where to catch the trains to different destinations. While nothing is unique about these red signs with gold lettering, ranging in size from 13 to 51 inches and 18 ½ x 26 ½ inches, they are “the stuff “ that makes for memories. Visitors to the Archive stand looking at these signs and immediately recall their own personal connection to these destinations from Union Station. We are grateful to have these signs.
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 the Librarian James Halttunen: James@phlf.org
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Fairbanks Feature: A New Train of Thought – Two books from the Lindsay Publications Catalog
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. 5 Presentation
Two books from the Lindsay Publications CatalogThe Lindsay Publications catalog is officially called, Lindsay’s Technical Books. The catalog uses the cheapest of papers, small print, pages crammed full of book titles and explanations, and writing sometimes so quirky the reader might think something has been incorrectly stated. In fact, the blurb on the front cover states Exceptional technical books for experimenters, inventors, tinkerers, mad scientists, and “Thomas-Edison-types.”
The catalog, however, is a gold mine of books that cannot be found elsewhere. Most of them are reprints, the originals long out-of-print and their value not known until Lindsay found and resur-rected them. Two of these unique reprints are in the Fairbanks Archive for your enjoyment. The Catalog is also available for your enjoyment.
- Cover. Lindsay Publications Catalog.
- Catalog page advertising one of the books to be found in the Fairbanks Archive.
- Cover. Railroad Shop Practice. Methods and Tools by Frank A. Stanley. Originally written in 1921.
- Cover. Locomotive Design. Volumes 27, 28, 29 and 30 from 1910. By Geo. L. Fowler and Carl J. Mellin. Railway Repair Shop Practice. Volume 90 from 1912. By Franklin D. Jones. From the Trenton Shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
- Picture, page 192. View in the erecting department of the Trenton Shops. From the above Railway Repair Shop Practice.
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 the Librarian James Halttunen: James@phlf.org
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Fairbanks Feature: A New Train of Thought – Correspondence (to and from) Frank Fairbanks, Jr.: 1950 – 2005
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 Archive
No. 4 Presentation
Correspondence (to and from) Frank Fairbanks, Jr.: 1950 – 2005
Frank Fairbanks corresponded with a wide variety of people. All were railroad enthusiasts, and many of them were only known to him through the correspondence they exchanged over the years. Frank corresponded extensively with several men over many years. Some of the individuals with a large volume of letters are: R. C. Carpenter, John H. Emery, Rick Moser, and Everett L. Thompson. In many cases, there are just a few letters from the same individual. It is truly a mixed bag of reading.
All the letters found in his donated collection are related to railroad matters. Frank wrote some letters to railroad management personnel or railroad-related businesses, calling for corrections to errors he noticed in books and catalogs. Most of the mistakes he found would have gone undetected except by someone with his engineering mind. He enjoyed arguing in print with other railroaders about feet and inches in mileage distances. Very seldom did he need to change his original thoughts.
The pages are full of charts, timetables, and opinions from both sides. The early years have the fewest letters. The last letter found in the donated boxes is dated March 28, 2005, two days before Frank died. It is an ordinary e-mail note––Frank was as current as it was possible to be.
Although Frank did not keep his correspondence in any particular order, the librarian of the Fairbanks collection has organized his correspondence so patrons can read about a certain time period or follow the correspondence of a certain person. The notebook of correspondence and four individual letters are shown here.
To “Friend Fairbanks” from Chester D. Clements (Wymore, Nebraska; January 28, 1955)
––Apparently FF was requesting a long list of train order forms that this gentleman was selling. Since FF had such a large collection of train orders in the donated materials, maybe this man helped get him started.To Frank from E. L. Thompson, head of the Traffic Department, B&O Railroad Company (Washington D.C.; December 5, 1957)
––Discussion of track charts and mileages.To Frank from Stanley Barriger (Claremont, NH; December 2, 1987)
––Personal Christmas letter and an invitation to visit his family in Claremont.To Mr. Fairbanks from R. C. Carpenter (East Norwalk, Conn; February 2, 2000)
––Two different letters asking for Frank’s help in the map making of a railroad atlas of eastern United States railroads of 1946. It seems they were working together on this.
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 the Librarian James Halttunen: James@phlf.org
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Easement Conference and Members Tour Set for Harmony, PA August 28th
May 13, 2010
PHLF NewsLandmarks is inviting historic preservation organizations working within western Pennsylvania to Harmony, PA on Saturday, August 28th at 3:00 p.m. for a program on how Landmarks’ preservation easements program can protect historic and architecturally significant buildings in communities throughout western Pennsylvania.
The one-hour program will take place in Harmony’s Great Hall at the conclusion of a Landmarks-sponsored tour of the historic community. Harmony was the first home of the communal Harmony Society of German Lutheran Separatists, which founded Harmony in 1804 and organized formally as a Christian communal society in early 1805. In 1974, Harmony was designated as western Pennsylvania’s first National Historic Landmark district. Last year, the preservation group, Historic Harmony Inc., donated preservation easements to Landmarks on eight historic properties.
The cost of the tour is $48 for members, $65 for non-members and includes bus transportation to and from Harmony, lunch, tours, and special access opportunities. The bus departs from Station Square at 11 a.m. and returns at 5 p.m. There is no charge to attend the easement program.
More information on the tour and program can be obtained by contacting Jack Miller at jack@phlf.org or 412-471-5808, ext. 538.
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Free Walking Tour on May 29 Includes Bell-Tower Climb and Art Deco Landmark
PHLF News
May 13, 2010Climb up into the bell tower of Southminster Presbyterian Church, a Historic Religious Property grant recipient in 2007, and tour the Art Deco Municipal Building in Mt. Lebanon on our first CAR FREE walking tour offered in conjunction with Car Free Fridays (but our tour is Saturday!) and BikePGH:
- Saturday, May 29, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
- Meet at the Clock on Washington Road at the stair entrance to the “T,” across from Aladdin’s Eatery (630 Washington Road). Ride the T, ride your bike, or take the bus to Mt. Lebanon!
- RSVP: marylu@phlf.org or 412-471-5808, ext. 527.
- The free tour is limited to the first 25 people who RSVP by May 27.
Tour highlights: Karen Cahall, Louise Sturgess, and LuAnn Abelson of PHLF––all Mt. Lebanon residents and members of The Historical Society of Mount Lebanon––will share information about significant events and current developments along Washington Road. We’ll go inside Southminster Church to see the beautiful stained glass windows and climb up the bell tower to see the change-ringing bells; we’ll tour the recently-renovated Municipal Building of 1929; and visit several main street businesses. Mt. Lebanon was incorporated as a township in 1912, but the history of the South Hills community stretches back to the 1770s.
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48 More Days to Reach Challenge Grant Goal of $37,500
PHLF News
May 12, 2010We are making good progress but need your help to reach our goal of raising $37,500 by June 30 in support of our Historic Religious Properties (HRP) program. To contribute by credit card use the Targeted Donation Today option on the left hand side of this page, 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. Once we 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 grants and technical assistance to architecturally significant historic religious properties in Allegheny County who need to undertake critical building repairs.
PHLF is the only organization in Allegheny County that commits resources to help historic religious properties restore the significant places serving as centers of worship, while also providing social and cultural services to many people. Our grants have helped congregations repoint masonry, restore stained glass windows, and repair roofs, gutters, steeples, towers, domes, and steps.
This program has tremendous impact and community benefit. Over the years grant recipients have said:
- “We thank PHLF and its Historic Religious Properties Program for the emotional support, the training made available, encouragement, and the financial grant support.”
- “Thanks so much for the help PHLF has provided. Relief from the structural building problems has provided a greater peace of mind and allowed our attention to be more concentrated on people.”
- “Thanks to PHLF a valuable community asset has been able to maintain its property and continue its outreach to those in need of services in a viable building.”
- “Without your matching grant we could not have accomplished the building repairs.”
- “After 10 years of an uphill struggle, PHLF’s grant was a much needed boost.”
- “Your grant will help us to protect the integrity of the structure so that we may continue to serve our community for years to come.”
People making a gift of $1,000 or more before June 10 will be invited as our guest to our June 23 Heritage Society reception and recognition dinner at Oakmont Country Club, honoring Carol Semple Thompson, storied amateur golfer and 2010 USGA Women’s Open General Chairman. The June 23 event will include a tour of the clubhouse, dinner, and the opportunity to meet Carol Semple Thompson.
This challenge grant opportunity is taking the place of PHLF’s typical year-end solicitation, so now is the time to give in 2010! Help us meet our goal of raising $37,500 by June 30.
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PHLFs Young and Spirited Staff
PHLF News
May 13, 2010We are pleased that we are developing a brilliant youthful staff at Landmarks. It is crucial a new generation takes root, and we want you to become acquainted with these excellent forthcoming leaders.
We offer the following profiles:
Scott Aber was hired January 2010. He works as a Staff Accountant, handling accounts receivable and cash receipts. Scott also assists in processing credit card transactions, the month and yearly adjusting journal entries, and various duties as instructed. Before coming to PHLF, Scott worked for two years as the Office Manager for the Vandergrift Improvement Program, Inc., a PHLF managed Main Street community. He received his Associate in Specialized Business Degree, Accounting Administration in October 2009 from the Bradford School in Pittsburgh, PA. 
David Farkas joined PHLF in the fall of 2008 as an intern working on a variety of real estate and community revitalization projects. He served as Main Street Manager for the Vandergrift Main Street program, after which he served as Regional Coordinator for the Freeport, Leechburg, Apollo Main Street program. In his current role as Director of Main Street Programs, he oversees the downtown revitalization work that PHLF is involved with in a total of 12 communities in three counties, including the 8 communities that comprise Allegheny County’s downtown revitalization program. Dave has a background in commercial real estate, including property management and development. . Dave earned a B.A. from Kenyon College where he studied American Studies with a focus on African American history. In his free time he enjoys traveling, skiing, and exploring neighborhoods in Pittsburgh and other cities. 
Sara McGuire, 23, joined PHLF in September 2009 and has been working as the Main Street Manager for the Vandergrift Improvement Program. She graduated with a Bachelor Degree in History from Duquesne University in the spring of 2009. Her study focus was art and architectural history and from the spring semester of 2008 she began interning with Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. During her internship she worked with the Vandergrift Improvement Program researching the history of the small community that she also calls home. This research culminated in the book Vandergrift Then & Now, published by Arcadia Publishing in May 2009. 
Anne Nelson, 28, is general counsel for the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. Anne officially joined the Landmarks staff after earning her juris doctorate at Duquesne University School of Law, during which time she volunteered and interned at Landmarks. She graduated from Boston College in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. She is a resident of the historic South Side. In her work at Landmarks, Anne provides legal assistance and counsel on a variety of issues, assists with the preservation easement program, and advocates on behalf of historic preservation at the city, county and national levels among other things.
Anne’s previous experience includes interning in the Legal Department of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C., and interning for the Honorable Judge Mary Jane Bowes of the Pennsylvania Superior Court. Anne is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
Anne is also the assistant varsity coach for Central Catholic High School’s rowing team and is a member of the Three Rivers Rowing Association’s Masters Women’s rowing team.
Michael Sriprasert, a Washington DC native, who has had a deep interest in real estate and community development since his days at Kenyon College, first came to Pittsburgh in 2002 for the CORO Fellows program, a national post-graduate leadership development program. Michael then received a masters degree in Public Policy and Management from the Heinz College 4at Carnegie Mellon University, where he spent a great deal of time studying the emerging housing market in downtown Pittsburgh. After graduation, Michael consulted for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh and was fortunate enough to be introduced to Arthur Ziegler through Treasurer Eric Dickerson, and Mr. Ziegler offered him a position at PHLF. Four years later, Michael is the Director of Real Estate Development for the Foundation, and manages a number of real estate development projects including the Crescent project, housing developments, and other revitalization efforts in Wilkinsburg. He also conducts financial and market studies for the organization, as well as develops pro-formas for numerous real estate projects. Michael has also been leading Landmarks Community Capital’s efforts in becoming certificated as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). In his spare time, Michael is seeking his second master’s degree in business from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University.
Michael enjoys discovering new restaurants and venues in Pittsburgh, motorcycling around town, and the Pittsburgh salsa scene.
Annabelle Javier Wilburn started working at Landmarks part-time in the summer of 2008 as a Research Assistant. Since then, she has become Program Coordinator of the Metropolitan Loan Fund of Pittsburgh, a public/private partnership established by Landmarks for minority businesses in the Pittsburgh region. Mrs. Javier Wilburn also assists with Main Streets programs within Allegheny County and writes grant proposals for Landmarks. Recently, she has focused her efforts on developing a fundraising database and helping Landmarks go through the Community Development Financial Institution certification process. Mrs. Javier Wilburn has always been interested in historic preservation and has undergraduate degrees in Chemical Engineering and Anthropology as well as a Master of Public Health degree in Environmental Health Sciences. She volunteered at Landmarks and then served as a Trustee prior to joining the staff. 
Greg Yochum, 36, is our Horticulturist. In spite of his young age he has been with us for more than 20 years, joining us as a groundskeeper and parking attendant when we were developing Station Square. He went on to obtain a degree in horticulture from CCAC, and we offer his knowledge and experience under contract services for Landmarks Development Corporation as well as utilizing that knowledge in regard with our landscape and garden preservation programs. He has participated in and spoken at seminars in the U.S. and abroad and is active with the American Chestnut Foundation in trying to reestablish the American Chestnut Tree, which has fallen victim nationwide to a fungal blight. 
Andrew Macurak. Growing up in a declining steel town led Andrew to pursue a career in community development. Andrew joined PHLF as a full-time intern in May to pursue this goal. Prior to PHLF, Andrew helped a variety of organizations to increase their impact and improve their financial performance. His experience ranges from helping a tech start-up to grow to scale to helping a community development corporation overhaul its real estate development program.
Andrew is pursuing a master’s degree in Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College, where he recently received the Lauble Community Fellowship to support his work in economic development.
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City of Pittsburgh Prepares Cultural Heritage Plan, Invites Public Input
PHLF News
May 10, 2010The City of Pittsburgh, through its Department of City Planning, is in the process of preparing a Cultural Heritage Plan. By sharing your opinions about the City’s historic and cultural resources, and the ways they are cared for and protected, you will help the City make decisions about future historic preservation efforts. PreservePGH is part of PlanPGH, the City’s Comprehensive Planning process.
WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS SURVEY?
Anyone who lives, works, travels through, cares about, or spends time in the City of Pittsburgh.WHAT ARE CULTURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES?
All components of the City’s built environment that have been influenced by history or culture and that contribute to Pittsburgh’s unique community character. These can include historic buildings, collections of buildings, neighborhoods, bridges, public art, pathways and stairs, roads, outdoor public spaces, landscapes, and so on. They also can include “stories” of Pittsburgh’s history or culture that may or may not be reflected in physical ways, but that make Pittsburgh a special place.This survey should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. We appreciate your time and hope that you will stay involved in the City’s Comprehensive Planning process.
