Posted: 5/19/2009
LAWRENCEVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S 2009 LECTURE SERIES
The Lawrenceville Historical Society Lecture Series has gained such a fine reputation that more and more organizations contact us for help in getting speakers for them. You too can see what the excitement is about.

It's free and it's happening at Canterbury Place, McVay Auditorium (1st Floor), 310 Fisk Street, Lawrenceville. Starting time for all presentations is 7:00 p.m. For more information e-mail us at info@LHS15201.org.

July 16
Anticommunism of the late 40’s, early 50’s in Pittsburgh
Duquesne University archivist Tom White will discuss the anticommunist attitudes of the decade or so that followed WWII. He will touch on Lawrenceville’s own spy Frank Cvetic who inspired the film and radio series, I was a Communist for the F.B.I.

September 17
History of East Liberty
Al Mann of the East Liberty Historical Society will be giving a PowerPoint presentation on East Liberty Valley based on a recent book.

October 15
Members Meeting
Andy Hasley, president of Allegheny Valley bank will be presenting their history of over 100 years in Lawrenceville. Members are encouraged to attend and vote for the next year's board. Non-members are welcome to attend.

November 19
Great Railroad Strike Aftermath
Duquesne University Professor of History, Dr. Perry Blatz will present “Paying for Disorder, The Aftermath of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 in Pittsburgh.”

Posted: 3/1/2009
PITTSBURGH: A TRADITION OF INNOVATION
The Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania has long enjoyed an enviable reputation as the great repository of local history. Now that the Society is firmly established at its new headquarters in the Senator John Heinz History Center, it continues to serve as the historical Mecca of the region. For students of Lawrenceville history, a pilgrimage to the great oasis is an absolute must, especially to see the new exhibit “Pittsburgh: A Traditionof Innovation.”

The current display starts with a short film on the subject of innovation as it pertains to Pittsburgh and vicinity that touches on important contributors to science, industry, and medicine. Among the personalities, who are honored, are Charles Martin Hall and his discovery of a new means of extracting aluminum; Rachel Carson, author and environmentalist; Jonas Salk, whose vaccine was instrumental in eradicating polio in the developed world; Andrew Carnegie; and George Westinghouse. With the exception of Carson, all of the others had some link with Lawrenceville.

While the entire exhibits warrants praise, most fascinating for Lawrenceville historians is the rare display of artifacts from the Allegheny Arsenal. Contributors to this exhibit were John Carnprobst, Karen Urbanek, and Louis Wagner. The Allegheny Arsenal enjoyed a long history of providing leather accoutrements to the military. It was an absolute treat to see an 1859 McClellan cavalry saddle, brass bits, saddle bags, and the Hoffman patent bayonet scabbard, as well as authentic paper cartridges and the circa 1860 notebook of Arsenal Superintendent Alexander McBride.

Also on display were replicas of the bullets, made from a reproduction of the press designed by Thomas Rodman, while stationed at the Allegheny Arsenal. Rodman’s original design enabled the military to produce 2,000 bullets per day.

There was also an1865 Rodman artillery piece on display, as well a portrait of General Alexander Hays, who is buried in Allegheny Cemetery.

In addition, there were other photographs and artifacts with connections to the Lawrenceville community. These included a picture of Samuel Kier, as well as one of his early oil lamps; a photograph of Andrew and Thomas Carnegie; an advertisement that illustrated the various types of H.K. Porter locomotives; an aluminum violin; a picture of Dr. Jonas Salk vaccinating a child at Arsenal School; and a 1963 Iron City Beer can for the Lawrenceville company’s draft beer product.

Space constraints inhibit us from reporting on details of the entire exhibit. However, visitors to the Senator John Heinz History Center will not be disappointed because each floor is full of photographs, displays, and artifacts that touch on the rich history of the region. It is virtually impossible to make a full study of everything in one day. Thus, a visitor may wish to concentrate on select portions of the museum. Considering that the exhibits are rotated, it is recommended that one examines the “Free at Last? Slavery in Pittsburgh in the 18th and 19th Centuries,” which is on loan from the University of Pittsburgh; Clash of Empires: The British, French & Indian Wars, 1754-1763; and the Sports Museum. A second visit to see the other floors in the museum is highly suggested.

Posted: 9/5/2008
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