Category: Community Character (Page 6 of 18)

A technician works on-site at Cantini’s Mosaic Tunnel, 1964. Courtesy: Virgil Cantini Papers and Photographs, c1935-2009, MSS 0722, Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center.

Virgil Cantini: A Purpose in Public Art

February 24, 2021 / Guest Contributor / 1 Comment

On a sunny August morning in 2017, a group of Pittsburgh-based architects, historians, artists, students, preservationists and art enthusiasts convened before venturing out with a shared goal; to experience first-hand nearly all public artworks accessible in the vicinity, both indoors and outdoors, created by the late Virgil Cantini (1919-2009).

The 2020 PA SHPO Community Initiative Award Winners

January 20, 2021 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

For the past several years, the PA SHPO has used their Community Initiative Award to recognize the hard work and dedication of organizations, municipalities, individuals, and others whose work embodies the spirit of #PreservAtionHappensHere.

The three recipients of the 2020 awards have demonstrated the power of digital engagement and the importance of 21st-century tools and technology to advocate, promote and preserve Pennsylvania’s older and historic places, which has been especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kicking Off PA SHPO’s Baseline Survey Effort

January 13, 2021 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 3 Comments

PA SHPO is kicking off a three-year effort to collect baseline survey information about thousands of older and historic places across a huge part of Pennsylvania.

2020 Blog in Review

December 30, 2020 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

In this crazy year, the PA SHPO’s blog is the one thing you could count on every week to bring you all sorts of current, relevant, fun and interesting information. I have actually won a trivia contest or two because of something I read in one of our weekly posts!

Here is a short recap of the year at pahistoricpreservation.com…

Colorized historic postcard of large department store with trolleys, horses, carts, and people in the foreground. — Historic postcard of Kaufman's Department Store in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County. PA SHPO files.

Window Shopping at 5 of Pennsylvania’s Historic Department Stores

December 23, 2020 / Elizabeth Shultz / 12 Comments

With the widespread availability of plate glass at the end of the nineteenth century, department stores and window-shopping culture flourished in cities and towns throughout Pennsylvania – especially during the holiday shopping season near the end of the calendar year.

Row of brick buildings along a street with cars. — Buildings on the north side of West Main Street west of 2nd Street. These buildings are located in a district that has been previously determined eligible (Key No. 087062). Photo by Benjamin Harvey, ASC Group, Inc.

Surveying Western Pennsylvania Communities

December 16, 2020 / Guest Contributor / 2 Comments

With support from the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation office, this summer, a team from ASC Group, Inc. and Aurora Research Associates, LLC undertook a community survey project in the Beaver and Monongahela river valleys in western Pennsylvania.

Waynesboro Historic District in Franklin County, PA. Photo by Ben Harvey, ASC Group, 2019.

A Preservation Story: Franklin County

December 9, 2020 / David Maher / 1 Comment

Founded in 1784, and located in the fertile and strategic Cumberland Valley, Franklin County possesses a rich and unique history. A tour through the National Register of Historic Places in Franklin County offers just a glimpse into the rich history of the county, and also highlights the community’s continued efforts to designate and preserve their unique history.

A New Life for Homestead’s Masonic Hall

December 2, 2020 / smassey / 0 Comments

Homestead’s Masonic Hall is an imposing – and impressive – stone building at the corner of E. 9th Avenue and McClure Street in Homestead, Allegheny County. This early 20th century property anchors the National Register-listed Homestead Historic District and is a local landmark.

With the help of state and federal historic tax credits, the formerly vacant and deteriorating Masonic Hall now provides unique housing and is once again contributes to the vibrant Homestead community.

Should I go left or right at the next historical marker?

November 4, 2020 / Guest Contributor / 1 Comment

There are only so many times I could run to the Race Street Pier or the Art Museum steps… I needed my next destination.

Metal truss bridge over water. — Undated photo of Hull Drive bridge over Bermudian Creek.

Preserving York County’s Hull Drive Bridge

October 28, 2020 / Guest Contributor / 2 Comments

As the air becomes a little brisker over the last few days, the chill enhances visual clues that autumn has officially arrived. Leaves slowly change from their summer greens to vivid Fall oranges, browns, and reds.