A Chronicle of Our Times: July 1, 2008 – September 30, 2008

This is a continuation of a study started by James Wudarczyk. The purpose is to highlight events in the life of the Lawrenceville community and document the source for researchers that desire more detail.

July 1, 2008 The Lawrenceville Corporation promoted the availability and affordability of studio space in Lawrenceville. It noted that rents at the Blackbird Artist Studios, 3583 Butler Street, ranged between $549 and $610 per month, which included utilities, wireless inter-net access, and building-wide security. This source also noted that the Ice House, 100 43rd Street, was converted from an abandoned ice factory that had been vacant since 1950 into studios. Studios ranged from 400 to 2,000 square feet and rent ranged from $230 per month to $1,500 a month, with utilities included.
Source: Lawrenceville Corporation Staff, “Lawrenceville Offers Artists Plenty of Affordable Studio Space,” The Bulletin, July 2008.

July 4, 2008 Christopher Lyman Magee, who endowed Magee Women’s Hospital in Oakland, was the subject of an article. Magee, who is buried in Allegheny Cemetery, was a mayor, state senator, and political boss. Augustus Saint Gaudens designed a statue near the entrance to Schenley Park (Oakland Library) in Magee’s honor.
Source: Mark Roth, “Magee Memorial,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 4, 2008.

July 5, 2008 The 64th Annual Independence Day Celebration took place on July 5 in Arsenal Park from noon until 9:45 p.m.
Source: “Flier distributed by the Lawrenceville Fireworks Committee.”

July 6, 2008 Nature writer Paul G. Wiegman featured a column on the islands of the Allegheny River.
Source: Paul g. Wiegman, “Islands that dot the Allegheny formed by glaciers,” (Focus), Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 6, 2008.

July 10, 2008 The discovery of ventilation problems postponed the opening of the new building on the grounds of the Allegheny County Health Center. According to Dr. Bruce Dixon, the $4 million laboratory was not pulling air properly. About 500 of the buildings 10,000 square feet was designed with a special ventilation system that was supposed to allow workers to analyze highly infectious diseases without risk of an outbreak.
Source: Allison H. Heinrichs, “Ventilation problems delay $4M lab opening,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 10, 2008.

July 10, 2008 Dr. Bruce Dixon, director of the Allegheny County Health Department, was pictured in an article relating to the new facility in Lawrenceville.
Source: Allison M. Heinrichs, “Ventelation problems delay lab opening,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 10, 2008.

July 11, 2008 Duane Rieder, 46, curator of the Roberto Clemente Museum in Lawrenceville, was featured. Rieder opened the museum to honor the legendary great baseball player in the former Engine House 25 on Penn Avenue.
Source: David M. Brown, “Passion for a baseball legend,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 11, 2008.

July 12, 2008 Doo-Dah Days: The Third Annual Stephen Foster Music and Heritage Festival took place in Allegheny Cemetery. The Lawrenceville Historical Society and the Allegheny Cemetery Historical Association sponsored the event.
Source: “Program Booklet.”

July 12, 2008 Lawrenceville residents Cleo Zell, Chris Larcovic, Nadia Diboun and Orlando Randolf were pictured as they cleaned up a vacant lot along Butler Street near Stanton Avenue.
Source: “Weed Whackers,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 13, 2008.

July 12, 2008 The Third Annual Doo-Dah Days, or the Stephen Foster Music and Heritage Festival took place in Allegheny Cemetery.
Sources: James Wudarczyk, “Pittsburgh Is Foster Country,” The Bulletin, July 2008. Doo-Dah Days 2008 Program.

July 13, 2008 Volunteers Cleo Zell, Chris Larcovic, Nadia Diboun and Orlando Randolf were featured in a picture as they cleaned a vacant lot along Butler Street near Stanton Avenue during a Lawrenceville community cleanup.
Source: “Weed whackers,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 13, 2008.

July 13, 2008 An article on the 1864 Rodman cannon made brief mention of the Allegheny Arsenal, when it noted that the Fort Pitt Foundry in 1878 was bought by a rival and the remaining ordnance wias wither junked or shipped to the nearby Allegheny Arsenal.
Source: Carl Prine, “Foundry known for ‘Monster’ Weapons,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 13, 2008.

July 17, 2008 Daniel J. Burns, author of Rivers of Pittsburgh was guest speaker at the Lawrenceville Historical Society public lecture series. The lecture took place in the McVey Auditorium, Canterbury Place, 310 Fisk Street, at 7 p.m. The event was free to the public.
Source: “Presentation on Pittsburgh Rivers,” The Bulletin, July 2008.

July 17, 2008 Economist writers addressed concern over bank failures. The defunct Metropolitan Savings was mentioned.
Source: Thomas Olson, “Region’s banks poised to handle risk,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 17, 2008.

July 17, 2008 Neighbors expressed concerns over the closing of the Giant Eagle’s store near 47th and Plummer Streets. The article featured a picture of Dolores Hyzy. Bill Bricker, who owned the store since 2003, noted the decision to close the store was “difficult but necessary for financial reasons.” Pat Hammill, who was confined to a wheelchair, expressed concern about the distance to travel to shop elsewhere.
Source: Diana Nelson Jones, “Not a lot to feel good about,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 17, 2008.

July 17, 2008 Reverend Robert Duch was retiring after serving 14 years as pastor of St. Scholastica Parish in Aspinwall. A Catholic priest for 40 years, was first assigned to Saint Kieran’s in Lawrenceville.
Source: Bethany Hofstetter, “Good man retires after 40 years in priesthood,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 17, 2008.

July 17, 2008 A gunman shot a man in the hand and robbed him of $8 as the victim sat in his pickup truck at the intersection of 37th and Mintwood Streets at 1 p.m.
Source: Lawrenceville: Gunman gets $8, shoots man in the hand,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 18, 2008.

July 19, 2008 Four libraries, including the facility at 279 Fisk Street, were closed because of heat and lack of air conditioning.
Source: “Four libraries closed today because of heat,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 19, 2008.

July 20, 2008 A historical article addressed an 188 protest from Lawrenceville residents against the Penn Avenue Traction Railroad Company’s plan to convert a triangular strip of land in front of Allegheny Cemetery’s Butler Street entrance into a turn table for the railway company.
Source: “120 Years Ago,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 20, 2008.

July 23, 2008 New Bethel Church, 221 43rd Street, sponsored a tutoring program.
Source: “After-school Meet and Great,” The Bulletin, July 2008.

July 24, 2008 Two historical articles highlighted the 1877 Railroad Riot. Sources: Len Barcousky, Eyewitness: 1877, There will be blood, arson and riot, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 24, 2008.
Len Barcousky, Eyewitness: 1877, Rumors, ruins remain after rail strike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 24, 2008.

July 26, 2008 Regent Square poet Leslie Ann Mcilroy, author of the book Liquid Like This, presented a free reading of her works at Lawrenceville’s Thunderbird Café at 5:30 p.m. She was accompanied by guitarist Don Bertschman.
Source: Regis Behe, “Fluidity in language,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Living Section), July 20, 2008.

July 26, 2008 Cleo Zell, 30, of Lawrenceville and cofounder of Picnic, and other volunteers were busy filling 10,000 water balloons for the second annual Market Square Water Balloon Fight, scheduled for 4 p.m.
Source: Adam Brandolph, “Hoping for a wet, wild time,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 26, 2008.

July 27, 2008 A history-related article addressed the bloody railroad riot of 1877 and how the Pennsylvania militia was refused sanctuary at the Allegheny Arsenal. Sources: Len Barcousky, “Eyewitness: 1877 – There will be blood, arson and riot,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 27, 2008.
Len Barcousky, “Eyewitness: 1877 – Rumors, ruins remain after rail strike,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 10, 2008.

July 27, 2008 The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette showed 87 year to date property sales in the Sixth Ward and Polish Hill with a medium price range of $38,700. The highest selling price was $945,000. In the 9th Ward, there were 120 transactions with a medium price of $62,500, and the highest price being $208,500. The 10th Ward and Morningside had 217 sales with a medium price of $56,100 and the highest transaction price was $171,000.
Source: “Sales Snapshot,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Real Estate Section), July 27, 2008.

July 27, 2008 Columnist Patricia Sabatini offered advice on how to keep money safe if a bank fails. The article alluded to the defunct Metropolitan Bank in Lawrenceville.
Source: Patricia Sabatini, “Which deposits insured?” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, (Business), July 27, 2008.

August 1, 2008 The results of a study of Penn Avenue from the Doughboy Square in Lawrenceville to the Penn Circle in East Liberty was available on-line at http://www.eastendpartnership.org.
Source: Jonathan Cox, “Community-Sponsored Study of Penn Avenue Available Online,” The Bulletin. August 2008.

August 4, 2008 Door of Hope Community Church, 5227 Holmes Street, offered a Night Hope Center on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 7 to 10 p.m. for children aged 10 to 15 years old.
Source: “Kids’ Drop-In Center,” The Bulletin, August 5, 2008.

August 6, 2008 Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge Donna Jo McDaniel sentenced Brian L. Patrick, 44, of Lawrenceville was sentenced to one to two years in prison after Patrick pleaded guilty to his eighth drunk-driving offense. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers were disappointed at the lenient sentence.
Source: Bobby Kerlik, “DUI sentence leaves MADD angry,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 7, 2008.

August 6, 2008 Architect Keith Cochran nominated St. Mary’s Academy Building as a landmark in the hopes of saving the 1854 structure from demolition. Currently the building is owned by the Catholic Cemeteries Association.
Source: Jenny Paul, “Architect hopes to save former St. Mary’s,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 6, 2008.

August 7, 2008 Kiln-N-Time, 3801 Penn Avenue, handcrafted silver frames, mirrors, pottery, and other artwork gifts of the contemporary pottery society were on exhibit.
Source: “Kiln-N-Time”, (Ticket), Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 7, 2008.

August 7, 2008 Borelli-Edwards Galleries, 3583 Butler Street, celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Source: “Borelli-Edwards Gallery,” (Ticket), Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 7, 2008.

August 7, 2008 “Surf’s Up” movie shown in Arsenal Park at dusk.
Source: “Citiparks Cinema in the Parks,” (Ticket), Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 7, 2008

August 7, 2008 Megan Lindsey, 27, suggested bicycle riding to work as an alternative method of commuting in the event of a transit strike. The Lawrenceville resident was listed as co-owner of a hotdog shop in downtown Pittsburgh.
Source: Justin Vellucci, “Transit users told to prepare for strike,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 7, 2008.

August 8, 2008 The U.S. District Court, Western District, in downtown Pittsburgh was searching for a portrait of Thomas Irwin, who served as a federal judge from 1824 until 1859 when he resigned amid allegations of misconduct. Irwin is buried in Section 4, Lot 18 at Allegheny Cemetery.
Source: Jason Cato, “Judge’s missing likeness a courthouse mystery,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 8, 2008.

August 9, 2008 Congressman John Murtha visited the new Lawrenceville facility of Children’s Hospital and believed it could serve as a model for military medical facilities.
Source: Mark Houser, “Children’s may provide a blue print for military hospitals, Murtha said,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 9, 2008.

August 15, 2008 After an August 8 article appeared in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, a portrait of Thomas Irwin was discovered in Stack 2 on the third floor of the Carnegie Library’s main branch in Oakland.
Source: Jason Cato, “Case closed: Judge’s portrait finally found,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 15, 2008.

August 15, 2008 The Pittsburgh Catholic calendar of historic events in the life of the Diocese of Pittsburgh noted: “August 15, 1897: The first Mass is held in the first St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood.”
Source: “House of Mary opens in Hill District in 1944,” Pittsburgh Catholic, August 15, 2008.

August 27, 2008 Capuchin Friar, Reverend Christopher Rengers, presented a free lecture on the topic of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Our Lady of the Angels’ Holy Family Church at 7:30 p.m. The event was sponsored by the Holy Name Society.
Sources: “Our Lady of the Americas,” Pittsburgh Catholic, August 15, 2008. Our Lady of the Angels Parish Bulletin, August 7, 2008.

August 30, 2008 Janice Donatelli, proprietor of Artemis Environmental Building Materials in Lawrenceville, was featured. Donatelli was also the founder of Butler Street Gallery, an antiques store, and one-time owner of Coca Coffee Lounge, 3709 Butler Street. She was noted for starting the right business at the right time.
Source: Gretchen McKay, “Cork, wheat, bark, and more,” (Home and Garden), Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 30, 2008.

September 4, 2008 Your Inner Vagabond Coffee Shop and World Lounge was featured in the “Ticket” section of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Opened by A.J. Schaffer and Andrew Watson, the owners were credited with creating a piece of Old Morocco. Entertainment ranged from belly dancing to foreign films to jam sessions.
Source: Michael Machosky, “Your Inner Vagabond highlights owners’ wanderlust,” (Ticket), Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 4, 2008.

September 6, 2008 The Polish Central Council offered Polish language classes at the Catholic Youth Association, 286 Main Street, at 10 a.m.
Source: “Polish language classes begin,” Pittsburgh Catholic, August 29, 2008.

September 7, 2008 Residents opened their urban gardens for tours.
Source: L’ville Urban Garden Tour,” The Bulletin, August 2008.

September 7, 2008 After a two-year run, LaVie gallery in Lawrenceville closed. Other galleries to close were Digging Pit and Digging Pit Two. Another gallery called Luke & Eloy Gallery planned to open at 5169 Butler Street.
Source: Kurt Shaw, Lawrenceville galleries: A revolving door,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, (Living), September 7, 2008.

September 7, 2008 A 1999 study showed highest known risk areas from airborne toxic chemicals included Central Lawrenceville. Six air pollution problems were tied mainly to breathing problems.
Source: Brian Bowling, “Pollutant levels concern group,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 7, 2008.

September 11, 2008 A show titled “Intimacy and Voyeurism: New Paintings by Brody Parker Burroughs,” ran through October 30 at Borelli-Edwards Gallery, 3583 Butler Street.
Source: “Borelli-Edwards,” (Ticket), Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 11, 2008.

September 11, 2008 Gallery on 43rd Street, 187 43rd Street, featured assemblage and mixed media work by Estano Luchador. There was an opening reception from 7 till 10 p. m.
Source: “Gallery on 43rd Street,” (Ticket), Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 11, 2008.

September 11, 2008 O’Bannon Oriental Carpets featured a collection from Nepal of organically designed rugs accented with Asian textile patterns. The exhibit ran through December 20th.
Source: “O’Bannon Oriental Carpets,” (Ticket), Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 11, 2008.

September 11, 2008 At Trinity Gallery, 4747 Hatfield Street, paintings of street scenes, gardens, characters, and windows of Lawrenceville, Friendship, and Morningside were featured in a show titled “From the Alley. The exhibit ran through October 12.
Source: “Trinity Gallery,” (Ticket), Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 11, 2008.

September 12, 2008 Catholic Bishop David Zubik signed a decree to close Holy Family Church (part of Our Lady of the Angels Parish) on December 28.
Source: “Decrees to close church buildings signed,” Pittsburgh Catholic, September 12, 2008.

September 12, 2008 The City of Pittsburgh’s urban Redevelopment Authority gave a team of developers a six month option to develop a 46 unit housing project on the site of the former Heppenstall headquarters. The initial plan called for building a mix of residential townhomes, flats and lofts priced between $130,000 and $325,000.
Source: “URA approves Lawrenceville housing plan,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 12, 2008.

September 12, 2008 Robert Stephany, 42, of Lawrenceville, was named to replace Pat Ford as executive director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority. Stephany’s salary was listed as $117, 875.
Source: Rich Lord, “URA will pay Ford through June,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 12, 2008.

September 13, 2008 Tom Mosser painted two portraits that were installed at 3524 Butler Street. One was of Lee Gross, owner of the building and the other was of State Senator Jim Ferlo.
Source: Tony LaRussa, “Painting portraits of a community,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 13, 2008.

September 13, 2008 The Pittsburgh Water and Sewage Authority contended it would not foreclose on a mortgage it holds over Iron City Brewing Company’s Lawrenceville plant. Although some of the improvements were made to the facility, work on the kegging line and boilers were still not completed. PSWA said Iron City had been paying its current water and sewage bills. The authority expected some of the $4 million in capital improvements to pay down some of the $1.5 million the brewery owes the authority.
Source: “PSWA won’t foreclose mortgage on Iron City plant,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 13, 2008.

September 13, 2008 The Lawrenceville Resource Fair and Community Celebration took place in the parking lot of St. Matthew’s Parish. Organized by the Lawrenceville Corporation’s Elm Street Committee, more than 30 organizations distributed information to residents. The event also included live music, poetry, and puppet performances.
Source: (photo) Matthew Kleinrock, The Bulletin, October 2008.

September 14, 2008 As part of the “Pittsburgh 250 Celebration,” the two major area newspapers carried periodic articles dealing with historic subjects. The September 14th Pittsburgh Tribune-Review carried a piece on the disastrous Allegheny Arsenal explosion of 1862, which claimed the lives of 78 persons.
Source: Bill Zlatos, “1862 Allegheny Arsenal Explosion Gruesome,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 14, 2008.

September 16, 2008 More than 82,000 customers were left without power in Butler, Beaver, and Allegheny Counties when a severe wind storm swept through the region the previous Sunday night. A number of Lawrenceville residents and businesses were without power until the following Wednesday. Shop N’ Save and Save-A-Lot in the Lawrenceville Shopping Center had to dispose of tons of perishable food as a result of the power outage.
Source: Daveen Rae Kurutz, “Powerless,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 17, 2008.

September 21, 2008 The Holy Name Society of Our Lady of the Angels Parish sponsored a pancake breakfast from 9 AM until 1 PM in the parish’s Holy Family Social Hall, 44th Street. Cost was $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.
Source: “From the Pastor’s Desk,” Our Lady of the Angels Parish Bulletin, September 21, 2008

September 23, 2008 The Capuchin Franciscan friars hosted the annual Saint Padre Pio Mass at 7 PM in Our Lady of the Angels Saint Augustine Church. Reverend David Engo was homilist. Sacrament of Reconciliation was available starting at 6 PM.
Source: “From the Pastor’s Desk,” Our Lady of the Angels Parish Bulletin, September 21, 2008.

September 25, 2008 “Greetings from Pittsburgh: Neighborhood Narratives,” nine short fiction films about nine neighborhoods had its first showing at the Regent Square Theater. On film concerned “Mombies taking over Lawrenceville.” The Lawrenceville film was bile as “a humorous take on an edgy, artsy neighborhood dealing with gentrification—represented by an onslaught of stroller-pushing mombies.” On Saturday, October 30 at 8 p.m., the film had its showing at “Your Inner Vagabond Coffeehouse and World Lounge.” Admission was $5.00.
Source: Michael, Machosky, “City Neighborhoods ‘go Hollywood,’” (Entertainment) Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 24, 2008.

September 28, 2008 A historical piece on George Westinghouse noted that the first commercial application of alternate current was sending 2,000 bolts across four miles to 400 lamps in Lawrenceville.
Source: Thomas Olson, “Westinghouse built empire by harnessing power,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 28, 2008.

September 30, 2008 The Lawrenceville Resource Fair and Community Celebration took place in the parking lot of St. Matthew’s Parish. Organized by the Lawrenceville Corporation Elm Street Committee, more than 30 organizations distributed information to residents. The event also included live music, poetry, and puppet performances.
Source: (photo) Matthew Kleinrock, The Bulletin, October 2008.