Author: Bill Callahan (Page 1 of 2)

Bill Callahan is the western Pennsylvania Community Preservation Coordinator for the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PASHPO). The PASHPO is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and Bill is located at the Fort Pitt Museum in Pittsburgh. The PASHPO is responsible for implementing state and federal historic preservation programs throughout the Commonwealth.

Bill has nearly 30 years’ experience working with federal, state and local historic preservation programs in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Nebraska and has also worked in the private sector, for several years managing two businesses in an historic downtown.

Contact Bill at wcallahan@pa.gov and 412-565-3575, 601 Commonwealth Place, Point State Park, Building B, Pittsburgh PA 15222-1212.

Homes along River Road, Beaver Borough. Photo by Clio Consulting, 2016.

Preservation Planning in Beaver Borough

January 12, 2022 / Bill Callahan / 2 Comments

Beaver is a lovely community located on the Ohio River bluffs nearly directly across the river from the Shell petrochemical plant. Beaver boasts a large National Register of Historic Places historic district (PA-SHARE Resource #1994RE00048) that consists of large, stately homes, vernacular residences, a thriving central business district bursting with historic character and a series of open spaces and parks that date to the community’s late 18^th century plan. Beaver is home to the National Historic Landmark Matthew S. Quay House (PA-SHARE Resource #1975RE00155) and the site of Ft. McIntosh, a late 18^th century American frontier fort, which is individually listed in the National Register (PA-SHARE Resource #1975RE00024).

The Flagship City is now a CLG!

September 29, 2021 / Bill Callahan / 1 Comment

The PA SHPO extends hearty congratulations to Pennsylvania’s fourth largest city, the City of Erie, which on May 17^th, became one of Pennsylvania’s newest Certified Local Governments (CLG).

The certification of Erie City as a CLG is the latest success in a long string of preservation projects and initiatives undertaken by public, private and non-profit entities in Erie County that illustrate the well-trod aphorism If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

Preservation Planning through Mitigation in Western PA

September 23, 2020 / Bill Callahan / 0 Comments

In spring of 2015, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE), the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO), Shell Chemical Appalachia, LLC (applicant) and the Seneca Nation of Indians (SNI) concluded consultation after 18 months of discussions under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act about the construction of a petrochemical complex in Beaver County along the Ohio River.

This photograph shows two late 19th century buildings along a street in Bradford, PA. — For communities across Pennsylvania, like Bradford, the federal historic tax credit is an essential economic development and preservation tool. Source: Erin Hammerstedt/Preservation Pennsylvania, 2014.

Supporting Pennsylvania’s Main Streets

April 22, 2020 / Bill Callahan / 1 Comment

As one of PA SHPO’s Community Preservation Coordinators, one of the more heartening things I’ve observed (and participated in) the past few weeks has been the response of many Main Street communities and their partners to the COVID 19 crisis.

4-story brick buildings with storefront at street level. — Pittsburgh’s Market Square local landmark district.

CLG Spotlight: Pittsburgh

August 23, 2017 / Bill Callahan / 0 Comments

From Philadelphia (Pop. 1.5 million) to Mercersburg, Franklin County (Pop. 1500) and located in over a third of Pennsylvania counties, the Certified Local Government (CLG) program provides exclusive funding and technical assistance for local governments. This week’s post introduces us to Pittsburgh as a CLG and provides a glimpse into the amazing things they are doing through this program. Continue reading

Pittsburgh National Historic Landmark invaded by Penguins

July 5, 2017 / Bill Callahan / 0 Comments

Its summer and its hot, so why not talk about Penguins at Pittsburgh’s Point State Park. Curious what it has to do with preservation? Continue reading

Township of Moon Historic Preservation Plan cover by T&B Planning, Inc. Source: PA SHPO files.

A Tale of Three Cities: Moon Township

June 8, 2016 / Bill Callahan / 3 Comments

45 communities in Pennsylvania have a formal working relationship with the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PASHPO) on a variety of preservation-related programs and projects. Known as Certified Local Governments (CLGs) these communities represent a broad geographic, demographic and economic swath across the Commonwealth. From Philadelphia (Pop. 1.5 million) to Mercersburg, Franklin County (Pop. 1500) and located in over a third of Pennsylvania counties, the CLG program provides exclusive funding and technical assistance for local governments. The CLG program is one of several federal programs administered by the PASHPO; in this case, the National Park Service provides guidance, rules and funding for the CLG program. Continue reading

Spotlight Series: Preservation At Work in Bradford

December 23, 2015 / Bill Callahan / 1 Comment

45 communities in Pennsylvania have a formal working relationship with the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) on a variety of preservation-related programs and projects.

Known as Certified Local Governments (CLGs), these communities represent a broad geographic, demographic and economic swath across the Commonwealth. From Philadelphia (Pop. 1.5 million) to Mercersburg, Franklin County (Pop. 1500) and located in over a third of Pennsylvania counties, the CLG program provides exclusive funding and technical assistance for local governments. As you may remember from this post a few months ago, the CLG program is one of several federal programs administered by the PA SHPO; in this case, the National Park Service provides guidance, rules and funding for the CLG program.

Three CLG communities in the PA SHPO Western Region provide a glimpse into the range of preservation activities CLGs can sponsor. Over the next few months, we’ll illustrate how the City of Bradford, Moon Township and the City of Pittsburgh have used the CLG program to leverage their preservation programs. We’ll turn our spotlight on Bradford first.

Lynn Hall: A Nexus of Design Perspectives

June 4, 2014 / Bill Callahan / 1 Comment

Lynn Hall, located in McKean County on Route 6 just west of Port Allegany was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in December of 2006. Lynn Hall was designed and built as a restaurant/ ballroom and residence by local master builder Walter Hall and his architect son Raymond Viner (R.V.) Hall. Walter Hall was the head contractor and builder of one of the most iconic and well-known buildings in the United States—or anywhere—Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. Continue reading

Historic Preservation and Outdoor Recreation: The Whole is Greater Than the Sum of its Parts

October 16, 2013 / Bill Callahan / 0 Comments

There is great societal and cultural value in the preservation of our built heritage; of our historic communities and buildings. Most people understand the cultural value of preserving our history as it is illustrated by historic places. The need to experience our shared history seems to reflect a fundamental aspect of who we are as Pennsylvanians and Americans. Continue reading

Author: Bill Callahan (Page 1 of 2)

Preservation Planning in Beaver Borough

The Flagship City is now a CLG!

Supporting Pennsylvania’s Main Streets

CLG Spotlight: Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh National Historic Landmark invaded by Penguins

A Tale of Three Cities: Moon Township

Spotlight Series: Preservation At Work in Bradford

Lynn Hall: A Nexus of Design Perspectives

Historic Preservation and Outdoor Recreation: The Whole is Greater Than the Sum of its Parts

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