Committee Awards Nine Historic Landmark Plaques

The Historic Plaque Designation Committee of our organization awarded nine plaques — seven individual buildings and two districts — to places worthy of recognition for their architecture, history, and planning, at its June 12 meeting.

The districts are a contrast of significant architecture and significant planning. In what we are referring to as the “Boundary-Beaver Streets” Historic District, in Sewickley, significant residential architecture is most evident. The district encompasses both sides of Beaver Street to Nevin Avenue on the west, Centennial Avenue on the north, and Boundary Street on the east.

The boundary coincides with the Sewickley Historic District #2, which our organization worked with the Borough of Sewickley and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s State Historic Preservation Office, to identify and designate in 1985, containing 19 parcels.

This group of 19 houses in eclectic styles reflects the residential taste of a wealthy turn-of-the-century suburb. The works of prominent Pittsburgh architects Alden & Harlow, MacClure & Spahr, and Neal & Rowland are notably represented.

Drawings and Archives, Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, Columbia University.

In contrast to the lavish residential architecture of Sewickley, we turn to the modest multi-unit residences contained in Shalercrest, now a cooperative housing development, located in the southeastern corner on Shaler Township along Mt. Vernon Drive.

Its 251 units in 59 buildings were developed as Defense Worker Housing by the Federal Works Agency in conjunction with the Allegheny County Housing Authority from 1941 to 1944. It also includes an administrative building, community building, and a former grocery (now apartments), along with recreational fields in the hollow at the center of the development.

The design and planning are the work of architect Clarence S. Stein, the renowned proponent of “Garden City” development. Locally, he may be best known for his planning of Chatham Village with Henry Wright. But here in Shaler Township, and his now gone ‘Ohio View Acres,’ his skill at siting a democratic community on a strict budget and time constraint is evident.

In addition to the two districts, the Committee awarded seven new individual building plaques, which are listed below in order of construction date:

“Farmhouse” at Christ Church at Grove Farm, originally William and Davidson Duff house. 249 Duff Road, Ohio Township. c.1835. William Duff, builder, additions.

William W. Grier house. 220 8th Street, Oakmont. 1875. William W. Grier, builder.

Porter & Donaldson Millinery and Straw Goods building. 820 Liberty Avenue, in Downtown. 1881. James J. Porter, builder.

House. 5906 Callowhill Street, Highland Park. 1893. Frederick C. Sauer, architect.

First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh. 604 Morewood Avenue, Shadyside. 1902-04. Joseph L. Neal of Neal & Rowland, architects.

Liberty School, now Pittsburgh Liberty K-5. 601 Filbert Street, Shadyside. 1911, 1936-37 addition. Edward J. Weber, designer with MacClure & Spahr, architects. M. M. Steen, board architect for addition.

Imani Christian Academy, originally East Hills Elementary School. 2150 East Hills Drive, East Hills. 1969-72. Tasso Katselas, architect.

Our organization has awarded 634 Historic Landmark Plaques since 1968. A Historic Landmark plaque identifies the site as a significant part of our local heritage. It will not protect a building from alteration or demolition. Buildings, structures, districts, and landscapes may be approved for a Historic Landmark plaque if all of the following conditions are met:

• they are remarkable pieces of architecture, engineering, construction, landscape design, or planning, or impart a rich sense of history;
• alterations, additions, or deterioration have not substantially lessened their value in the above respects;
• they are at least 50 years old and are located within Allegheny County or surrounding counties (see above).
• they are not located in historic districts bearing a plaque (unless of exceptional individual significance).

For more information about this program, contact Frank Stroker: frank@phlf.org or 412-471-5808 ext. 525.