Festive cocktails from the Krampus, Baby pop-up bar at Lorelei, Photo: Tom O’Connor/ Lorelei Instagram @loreleipgh
By Brianna Horan, Manager of Tourism & Visitor Experience
Making Spirits Bright—A Tasty Holiday Happenings Guide
In this companion piece to our Ultimate Holiday Happenings Guide, we share local restaurants, breweries, and distilleries that are capturing the spirit of the season with special menus and offerings. Raise a glass of cheer, or take a warm meal home to go and and be fueled by the holiday spirit!
Holiday Happy Hour Hike through Downtown Pittsburgh
Looking for the best of the holiday sights, bites, and sips in the city? NEXTPittsburgh’s Sally Quinn created a 12-stop jaunt through downtown to make sure you don’t miss a thing. Take a Holiday Happy Hour Hike.
Hop Farm Brewing Company, Photo courtesy @hopfarmbrewing Instagram
Hop Farm Brewing’s Hip-Hop Holiday
5601 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
This Lawrenceville Brewery’s holiday party on December 17 features throwback hip-hop jams from DJ Femi & DJ Big Phil, along with a beer release, cocktails, and holiday fun. Pfeffernusse Stout, inspired by the traditional German spiced cookie, debuts this evening. Portions of the proceeds will be donated to Alle-Kiski Hope Center. Event Details.
Holiday Pop-Up Bars
Various Locations
An array of festive spots appear for the holiday season, with the halls decked and cozy cocktails at the ready. Many pop-up holiday bars collect donations for charities or contribute portions of their profits to organizations in need.
Warm up the holidays with a special treat from Kingfly Spirits. Stop by their Strip District distillery and tasting room to get your hands on a bottle of Nocino, their take on the classic Italian liqueur, featuring hand harvested green walnuts, clove, Tanzanian dark roast coffee beans, and panela. It’s a limited run—one not offered via their website—so perhaps it’s just that something special you’ve been looking for to gift this season. If walnuts are not your thing, Kingfly has a plethora of tasty, new spirits to try, including Chamomile Liqueur, Orange Liqueur, Coffee Liqueur, Rye Whiskey, and Gin. Info about each of these spirits is available on their website.
Lorelei Pittsburgh is getting in the spirit with their Krampus, Baby pop-up bar Photo: Lorelei Pittsburgh Instagram, @loreleipgh
Krampus, Baby Holiday Pop-Up Bar at Lorelei
124 S Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Those on the “naughty” list will feel right at home in this seasonal pop-up inspired by the horned character from Alpine folklore! Leave it to Krampus to deal with the children who have misbehaved throughout the year, while you enjoy wood-fired pizzas, cocktails, and mocktails—and resolve to be better next year! Website and more info from Good Food Pittsburgh.
La Prima Espresso Co.’s Buon Natale 2021 Blend
Various Locations
To celebrate the winter holidays, La Prima’s head roaster crafts a cozy coffee blend each year. Buon Natale 2021 enters the palate as smooth dark fruit, mellows with a hint of rosemary, and finishes with comforting cacao—a friendly medium roast. Website.
Penn Brewery’s St. Nikolaus Bock
800 Vinial Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
This rich, strong, malty lager is a seasonal tradition at this German-style brewery. Website.
Puppuccino Boutique’s gift boxes have you covered if you need to deliver some puppy love! Photo: Puppuccino Boutique’s Instagram, @puppuccinoboutique
Puppaccino Boutique Gift Box
Four-legged friends deserve something sweet this time of year, too! Pittsburgh-based Puppuccino Boutique has you covered with their gift boxes, which include two dozen baked treats, available in flavors like baked sweet potato cinnamon, or baked peanut butter bacon. Website or Instagram.
Seasonal Sipping at BrewDog Outpost Pittsburgh
144 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Cozy up at this local outpost of Scottish Brewing Company BrewDog, and enjoy festive beers like Hoppy Christmas, Ginger All the Way, and more on tap. Website.
Shell’s Sweets & Treats’ Sweet Potato Red Velvet Pies
500 Pine Hollow Rd., McKees Rocks, PA 15136
Can’t decide whether you want to serve sweet potato pie or red velvet cake at your holiday gathering? Shell’s Sweets & Treats has combined them both in one delicious dessert!
Threadbare Cider House & Meadery’s holiday flavors make a great gift for friends—or yourself! Photo: Threadbare Cider House Instagram, @threadbarecider
Threadbare Cider House & Meadery’s Frost & Sip Events
1291 Spring Garden Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Frost festive Christmas-themed cookies at Threadbare Cider House & Meadery in Spring Garden, where you’ll learn how to make and color royal icing, and then practice techniques like outlining, flooding, and wet-on-wet decorating. Events on December 16 & 22. Threadbare is also serving up seasonal ciders, like Pomegranate, Sweet Cranberry, and Gingerbread. Event website.
As the manager of tourism and visitor experience for Rivers of Steel, Brianna Horan is always discovering new things to do throughout the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area—and getting to know its people! Check out her Ultimate Holiday Happensing Guide.
By Gita Michulka, Contributing Writer | Image: Project partners from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Architecture and Hazelwood’s Arts Excursions Unlimited pose with the newly installed Rocking Cradles in Hazelwood Green, a project created in partnership with Center of Life and supported with funding from Rivers of Steel’s Mini-Grant Program. Photo by Lake Lewis.
Community Spotlight
The Community Spotlight series features Rivers of Steel’s partner organizations whose work contributes to the vibrancy of the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area.
Center of Life and CMU Team Up to Create Urban Furniture for Environmental Justice in Hazelwood Green
When an object is created with a 3D printer, it is built up layer by layer, each one supporting the next. The same can be said for Center of Life’s urban furniture project in Hazelwood Green—a collaborative project built from the ground up, quite literally, with community members, artists, and nonprofit and university partners each supporting the layers of the work.
With funding from River of Steel’s Mini-Grant Program, Rocking Cradle—Urban Furniture for Environmental Justice took shape over the last year. These 3D-printed cradle rockers are embedded with community-created art and will serve as both seating and planters for native species. Through the design process, the team also took a deep look at the environmental impacts of industry on the landscape with a vision for how things can be created in a beneficial way moving forward.
Rocking Cradle Concept Drawings (Courtesy of and copyright by Dana Cupkova)
Development Without Displacement
“The Hazelwood Green development has become a huge development property in Pittsburgh, and now that we see more and more things happening, more and more businesses establishing themselves there, the project [was pitched] to create a communal space where everyone in the community could use that space,” says Patrick Ohrman, development manager at Center of Life.
“Our intention, with the artistic guidance of Edith and in collaboration with Center of Life, was to create meaningful pathways for Hazelwood youths to have a presence in the current development of Hazelwood Green,” says Cupkova. “This co-authorship would embody their voice present through the combined language of art and ecology, and that would project into the future of development at the site.”
This project was not only supported by funding from Rivers of Steel’s Mini-Grant Program, but also by matching funds from industry ExOne and a research grant from Manufacturing Futures Institute.
Students with Center of Life help conceive the project at CMU.
Hazelwood Green’s Postindustrial Landscape
Hazelwood, a Monongahela River community sandwiched between its industrial neighbors in the South Side and Homestead, was once home to several Jones & Laughlin Steel Company industrial plants and was a hub of industry. The area produced so much steel it necessitated the installation of the Hot Metal Bridge, which became the second most heavily guarded piece of infrastructure in the United States during WWII. The adjacent neighborhood swelled to over 13,000 residents up until the 1980s, but with the decline of the steel industry that number has dwindled to less than 6,000.
Since the early 2000s, the brownfield site along the river has undergone significant remediation, including the installation of a nursery in Hazelwood Green by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, where the cradle rockers are installed.
“Hazelwood built a large portion of Pittsburgh utilizing the former steel mill on the Hazelwood Green site,” notes Ohrman. “Visiting the site to see this installation and all of the new development is an opportunity for people to really understand the history of Hazelwood and where it’s been and where it’s going now. And so instead of the site being more closed off… you know, you can walk to it, there are bike lanes down there, and we want people to feel welcome to it. We always say, we don’t want development to happen to Hazelwood, we want it to happen through Hazelwood.”
From left to right: Samuara Green (Arts Excursions Unlimited), Longney Luk, (School of Architecture CMU, graduate student), Dana Cupkova (School of Architecture CMU, associate professor), Kirman Hanson (School of Architecture CMU, graduate student), Edith Abeyta (Arts Excursions Unlimited and Center of Life), Matthew Huber (School of Architecture CMU, adjunct professor), Tayshaun Watkins (Arts Excursions Unlimited), Louis Suarez (School of Architecture CMU, graduate student). Photo by Lake Lewis.
Forging Connections
Center of Life has been active in Hazelwood as a community empowerment organization since 2001. In the 20 years since, they have engaged K–12 students, their families, and the community at large to provide diverse educational and art opportunities while also advocating for inclusive development of Hazelwood.
“As we started to craft this project—we’ve always had a great relationship with Carnegie Mellon University; they’ve always been willing to help us out in various ways, whether that’s dedicated to programming for kids, allowing students to learn from them, especially as Pittsburgh becomes more of a tech city,” says Ohrman.
“We wouldn’t have been able to afford the 3D printing without this Mini-Grant. And CMU felt it was a natural partnership to tap into in order to complete this project. When we start to have a presence down there [at Hazelwood Green] then the community can start to trust and realize that this isn’t happening without the voices of Hazelwood.”
Abeyta had help with this project from two high school students enrolled in the Start on Success program. Photo by Lake Lewis.
This trust included the leadership of Edith and the involvement of AEU programming to engage Hazelwood youth in the design process as well. Working with Center of Life’s Fusion after-school program, Abeyta held workshops with students ages 5–17 twice a week to generate the text that is embedded on the rockers. The students went on photography walks around the neighborhood to capture handwritten text found on buildings and landmarks; they participated in Mad Libs-style exercises, working together to fill in the text components; and they spent time looking at specific contemporary African American artists who primarily work with text, all to generate visual content that was meaningful to the community.
“Through this art-making and design process, and working with the CMU School of Architecture, solutions, innovation, and advanced manufacturing, as well as social justice and environmental issues, are embedded in the work…it’s a great project that pulls all this content together, not just in the end-result, but also throughout the process,” says Abeyta.
After they drafted initial designs, the participating teens traveled to CMU with Edith and Dana to brainstorm and refine the designs. The students were given an intro and exposure to the 3D design process and helped finalize the pieces that would ultimately be printed from sand and installed on site.
Urban Furniture for Environmental Justice
Cupkova notes the significance of the project from an ecological viewpoint as well. “The 3D printing process is part of a bigger research trajectory that reconsiders the lifecycle of construction and contributes to carbon reduction through design of innovative ecologically conscious materials, while using construction waste to intelligently shape future environments.”
As Hazelwood Green grows, it is fitting for this kind of forward-thinking development to occur on the site of a former industry hub. And it is the hope of community leaders like Center of Life and AEU that other outside organizations take note.
“If we look at how Center of Life operates,” says Ohrman, “we have a blueprint for how communities and nonprofit organizations can forge great partnerships with larger entities like universities or businesses or other nonprofit partners. And really when you work together rather than in silos, we see there’s a lot of development that happens.”
About the Mini-Grant Program
Rivers of Steel’s Mini-Grant Program assists heritage-related sites and organizations as well as municipalities within the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area to develop new and innovative programs, partnerships, exhibits, tours, and other initiatives. Funded projects support heritage tourism, enhance preservation efforts, involve the stewardship of natural resources, encourage outdoor recreation, and include collaborative partnerships. Through these efforts, Rivers of Steel seeks to identify, conserve, promote, and interpret the industrial and cultural heritage that defines southwestern Pennsylvania.
The Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area is one of twelve supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Funding is provided via DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program and the Environmental Stewardship Fund to Rivers of Steel, which administers the Mini-Grant Program. Center of Life is one of six organizations who received Mini-Grant funding through this program in 2021.
Gita Michulka is a Pittsburgh-based marketing and communications consultant with over 15 years of experience promoting our region’s arts, recreation, and nonprofit assets.
If you’d like to know more about community projects supported by the Mini-Grant Program, read Gita’s recent article about the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum.
By Brianna Horan, Manager of Tourism & Visitor Experience
The Ultimate Holiday Happenings Guide for the Rivers of Steel Heritage Area
Holiday merriment brings light and warmth as the nights grow longer and the air turns frosty around the winter solstice. ’Tis the season—and however you celebrate it, there’s a lot of fun to be had in the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area! We’ve assembled the ultimate guide to events and activities happening throughout the region over the next month, which range from classic observances to new twists on tradition!
As you make your plans, be sure to check the organization’s website and social media to stay informed of updates to pandemic safety protocols.
We wish you all a healthy and happy holiday season around the Heritage Area!
Events: December 4, 2021
AWC Community Day: Holiday Edition at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center
This family-focused party at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center is filled with festivities indoors and outside, including performances by the Center’s hip-hop campers, Brandon Terry’s Fusion Illusion Band, Kwanzaa drummers and dancers, a choir, and a DJ. There’s a Kwanzaa educational workshop, a visit from Santa, and a free hot chocolate bar!
Chanukah Bash hosted by Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, Young Adult Division
Join Pittsburgh’s young adult community for an evening of joy and light to celebrate Chanukah at Iron City Circus Arts in Pittsburgh’s South Side. Attendees will enjoy an open bar, hot donuts from Bella Christie, music, aerial dancers, and more. Capacity is limited and advance registration is recommended.
Chanukah Celebration: Light Up Night 7 hosted by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh
All are invited to this free, family-friendly program at the JCC in Squirrel Hill. There will be crafts, games, and sufganiyot (Israeli donuts!), followed by Havdalah and a Chanukah candle lighting. Attendees are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to be distributed through the Christian Church of Wilkinsburg to children who celebrate Christmas.
Walk along a candlelit cobblestone street and visit the historic buildings with interpreters eager to show off wares from the nineteenth century. People looking for last-minute gift ideas will find unique handmade items for sale by vendors. Local choirs will be performing. Children’s crafts and activities along with Belsnickel, a fur-clad companion to St. Nicholas from German folklore, will be found in the Granary. Food is available for purchase.
This Valencia farm will have local Christmas trees and wreaths available for purchase, along with food, face painting, and access to the petting zoo and corn pit. Santa will be at the farm, along with dozens of handmade product vendors for special holiday gifts.
This hilarious original production takes us to Miami, where the December temps are high, and people’s greed is causing chaos—even Santa Claus finds himself in legal trouble. Judge Jude E. might be able to save Christmas—or make it worse!
Kick off your Christmas celebrations with Santa, Mrs. Claus, Buddy the Elf, and many more characters at this farm in Hickory, Washington County. Check out the food trucks, private workshops, and local small business vendors!
Head to Vandergrift, on the northern edge of Westmoreland County, to enjoy activities for the whole family, including a parade, craft and food vendors, live entertainment, a cookie contest, caroling, Christmas trivia, a gingerbread house contest, and more.
Look forward to games, crafts, entertainment, and a visit from Santa at this site of a pivotal battle fought between the British and Native Americans during the conflict known as Pontiac’s War in 1763 in what is today Jeannette, Westmoreland County. The party is intended for children ages 5 to 12 years.
Temple David in Monroeville welcomes spectators to cheer on teams of all ages as they participate in a variety of fun activities and challenges to earn points and win prizes! The closing ceremony and Chanukkiah lighting will also be streamed on Zoom.
A Local Santa’s Workshop with Channel Craft Toys at the Westmoreland History Education Center
Since 1983, Dean Helfer, Jr., has kept alive the tradition of wooden toys, games, and puzzles with his “Made in the USA” company, Channel Craft, in Charleroi, PA. Items are tailor-made for thousands of specialty toy and gift stores, museums, parks, and attractions. Join Dean for an informative talk about his business, along with toy demonstrations and giveaways. This presentation is great for adults and children alike.
The snowflake lights on Second Avenue will be aglow, and businesses all along Hazelwood’s main street will have music, food, and activities for the whole family. Enjoy live music and food trucks, along with lawn games, face painting, balloon arts, horse and buggy rides, live ice carving, a photo booth with fairytale princesses and superheroes, and more! It’s also the perfect time to check out the Illumin-Ave art project, which features a series of five light and art installations along Second Avenue through January 31, 2022.
Maybe you’re not on the “nice” list this year—Krampus Fest is the place for you. Live music and festivities abound in Market Square in downtown Pittsburgh, where Krampus will also visit to bring coal and pose for socially-distanced photos. True to German Alpine folklore, Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure who deals with the children who have misbehaved while Saint Nicholas brings gifts for those on the “nice” list.
Discover how American Christmas traditions changed over three centuries on this special holiday tour of Historic Hanna’s Town. Costumed guides lead you through buildings from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries that are adorned in period-correct decorations and share stories of Christmases past. When people came to America, they brought the traditions from their homeland with them. Learn about the origins of the Christmas tree, the tradition of mailing cards, the evolution of Santa Claus, and so much more while enjoying the historical ambiance of Hanna’s Town and sampling holiday treats.
A Magical Wurlitzer Christmas at Lincoln Hall in Foxburg
Travel just north of Heritage Area to Clarion county to give yourself the gift of A Magical Wurlitzer Christmas with the keyboard artistry of the Dave Wickerham on Sunday, December 12 at 2 p.m. in Foxburg’s Lincoln Hall. One of the preeminent theatre organists acclaimed internationally, Dave Wickerham performs his theatre organ arrangements of Christmas carols, anthems, and joyous holiday songs.
Fused Glass Poinsettia Workshop at Main Exhibit Gallery & Art Center
Head out to Ligonier, Westmoreland County, to learn how to cut basic glass shapes and layer them to fuse a poinsettia suncatcher. Assemble your own design to be fired in the kiln that evening, and then pick up your beautiful glass art the next day.
Remembering the McGinnis Sisters: Food & Family Stories, presented virtually by the Senator John Heinz History Center
Take part in a discussion of food traditions and innovations with one of Pittsburgh’s most renowned food families, the McGinnises. The McGinnis Sisters were recognized as one of the region’s early leaders in the gourmet and specialty food business, and visiting their store was a holiday staple for generations of Pittsburghers to find special ingredients for traditional foods. The conversation will be led by Dr. Ashley Rose Young, Food Historian at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and daughter of Sharon McGinnis Young. Joining the discussion are McGinnis sisters Bonnie McGinnis Vello and Noreen McGinnis Campbell, as well as Jennifer Daurora, part of the third generation who ran the family business.
The Nutcracker Ballet at State Theatre Center for the Arts
The State Theatre in Uniontown, Fayette County is proud to produce the annual production of The Nutcracker Ballet featuring local dancers of all ages performing the classic story to Tchaikovsky’s beautiful score, choreographed by Donna Marovic. Make this beautiful production of The Nutcracker part of your family holiday tradition with this beautiful performance!
Enjoy a day in Carnegie with the family, and get your photo taken with Santa and a goat! Enter your pet in a costume contest, do some holiday shopping, and listen to caroling throughout the day. In the evening, a Wassail Walk features adult beverages and an ugly sweater contest.
Holidays Around the World at Community Library of Allegheny Valley
Bring the kids and celebrate holiday traditions from around the globe in Natrona Heights, with Bright Star Theatre. Join Nick and Joy in their quest to make it home for the holidays. Winter traditions and holidays are celebrated in this show. From Kwanzaa to Christmas to The Festival of Lights, this unique production offers people a look into the celebrations that occur around the globe during this special time of year. Suggested for grades K & up. Registration required due to limited space.
The Mexican War Streets Winter Wonderland Extravaganza
The Mexican War Streets Society welcomes all to this Victorian neighborhood on Pittsburgh’s North Side for a picturesque evening stroll of lights, decorations, and community cheer to highlight the area’s history.
Bring your favorite holiday cookies to share with your community and build a unique cookie tray with baked goods from other bakers in the Adult Reading Room at the Carnegie of Homestead.
Get creative at Painting with a Twist in Pittsburgh’s South Side, where you’ll paint a Kwanzaa-inspired design on a canvas or wood plank board to decorate your home.
Winter Warm-Up Hike with the Wampum Chapter of the North Country Trail Association
You’ll get nice and toasty on a four-mile hike along the North Country Trail. Meet up at the Darlington Trailhead, where you’ll be shuttled to Hodgson Road before hiking back to Darlington, where a hot cocoa bar, pastries, and snacks will be waiting for you.
Holiday Family Day at Westmoreland Historical Society
The Westmoreland Historical Society welcomes all ages to Historic Hanna’s Town for a fun day of activities celebrating winter and the holiday season. There will be winter crafts, cookie decorating, history-themed story time, and musical interludes. Demonstrations of holiday celebrations in the late 18th century take place fireside at Hanna’s Tavern, and walking paths are open for self-guided tours of holiday history. The Westmoreland History Shop will also have holiday items on sale at 40% off.
Ring in the new year at this free, family-focused evening of outdoor performances, hands-on fun, and fireworks to start 2022 on a celebratory note. The night begins with fireworks at 6 p.m. for kids with early bedtimes, and ends with the grand finale fireworks at midnight.
Harmony is a town with deep German roots, and the Harmony Museum invites one and all to celebrate Silvester and the arrival of the new year at 6:00 p.m. on December 31—when it’s midnight in Germany! The Silvester celebration, so named by Germans because New Year’s Eve is also the feast day of Pope Sylvester I, kicks off with a 5K run / walk & 1-mile fun run. Afterwards, gather at the Harmony Museum lot for a Christmas Tree Toss as well as a kid’s wreath toss, and enjoy the warmth exuding from the Gluhwein (mulled wine) Hut. A take-out pork & sauerkraut dinner can be ordered ahead, and there will be music in the town square. Stick around for the ball will drop and fireworks will glow at 6 p.m.!
The sounds of the season will fill the Grand Staircase of the Allegheny County Courthouse (436 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222), where high school orchestras, jazz ensembles, choruses, choirs, and bands will perform throughout December. Audiences are invited to participate in the Holiday Project to provide holiday gifts to children in families receiving Department of Human Services support.
This pop-up market supports and showcases Black-owned businesses from around the region and is a buzzing destination in Downtown Pittsburgh during the holiday season, located at 623 Smithfield St. December 4, 5, 11, and 12, 2021.
Pittsburgh’s scariest haunted house is filled with creepy toys and evil elves to torment naughty boys and girls as The ScareHouse opens for the season December 10, 11, 17, and 18, 2021. Parental discretion is advised for children under 13.
This year, Christmas will look a little different at West Overton! Take a candlelit tour of the 1830s Overholt home on Saturdays and Sundays in December. Enjoy historically accurate decor as you learn the development of some of our most beloved Christmas traditions and how the Overholts celebrated (or not!) in the 1800s. As you tour room to room, follow their traditions over the century and learn about Christmas in southwestern PA as far back as 1800, the lore of gift givers like Belsnickel and Santa Claus, and the origins of other customs. There will be tasty treats and warming drinks, along with the opportunity to sample and purchase a bottle of the first whiskey made at West Overton since Prohibition. Advance tickets are recommended due to limited capacity.
Christmas with Santa & Alpacas at WestPark Alpacas
Have your picture taken with Santa and his alpaca helpers in Slippery Rock! You may roam the pastures with the alpacas while feeding them treats! The shop will be open for your alpaca Christmas shopping. Open December 11, 18, 19, 22, and 23, 2021.
Visit Ligonier Town Hall at 120 E Main St., Ligonier, PA 15658, to create your own gingerbread house, or vote for your favorite from December 3 – 12, 2021.
Stroll among more than one million twinkling lights, and marvel at the tallest Christmas tree in the state of Pennsylvania, surrounded by the nostalgia of Kennywood Park. There are rides for the kids and special entertainment for all, along with festive new foods and holiday drinks. Ongoing, select nights through January 2.
Winter Flower Show and Light Garden at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
The gardens are aglow at Phipps Conservatory for the winter flower show, Sparkle and Shine! Enjoy holiday trees, topiaries, detailed scenes, and more than 1,600 poinsettias. This year marks the return of the Winter Light Garden, with luminous orbs, trees, fountains, a tunnel of lights, and an all-new ice castle display.
Holiday KidsPlay Selfie Garden in the Heinz Hall Courtyard
Take fun family selfies with cutouts and character standees from your favorite Fred Rogers Productions children’s TV series, open daily through December 28, with story times on select Sundays.
Model railroaders are passionate about their craft all year round, but many welcome the public to enjoy the scenes in miniature that they recreate with loving detail.
Penguins on Parade at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium
Cold-loving penguins are always dressed for winter weather, and on weekends through February 27 they’ll take a walk to explore the world outside of the PPG Aquarium—as long as the weather is below 45 degrees and nonhazardous.
Shop from more vendors than ever before as you stroll through an illuminated Market Square at the tenth annual Peoples Gas Holiday Market, weaving through wooden chalets brimming with high-quality gifts and holiday experiences uniquely filled with international flair and local charm. This is the 10th Anniversary of the Market, which is open daily through December 23.
The Pittsburgh Creche is the only authorized replica of the Nativity scene that Saint John Paul II commissioned for the Vatican, and 2021 marks the 23rd year that it’s been on display in Pittsburgh. The 30-ton structure is assembled at U.S. Steel Plaza by labor union volunteers, serving to train apprentice carpenters. Display information, featuring a 3-D model.
Pittsburgh Cultural District’s Holiday Performances
Downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District is filled with cheer and festive performances across its many theaters and venues. Get in the spirit and enjoy the arts—check the performance schedule here.
Santa Trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
Santa Trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum’s stockings are hung by the trolleys with care with the knowledge that Santa Claus will soon be there! The man in red will join visitors for a ride aboard a beautifully restored antique streetcar in Washington, and visitors can also marvel at a large Lionel toy train layout and LEGO display by Steel City Lug. Children can make a craft, and all are welcome to enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and cookies.
This outdoor ice skating rink is back for its 20th year, surrounded by the sparkling spires of PPG Place. Tuesdays are family nights, with one child admitted free with each adult admission.
The Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka are a sight to be seen any time of year, but during the holiday season St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church is dressed in its Christmas best for an especially festive experience. You’re invited to celebrate the season with the Vanka Murals and a docent-led tour with all the trimmings on the following dates: December 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30, and January 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The 60-minute tours begin at 7:00 p.m. with light refreshments served in advance. Cellist and docent David Bennett will perform before select tour dates.
A Very Merry Pittsburgh exhibit at the Senator John Heinz History Center
This special exhibition is sure to make you feel like a kid again, featuring family keepsakes and imagery that explores how western Pennsylvanians have celebrated major winter holidays, including Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, and Kwanzaa. There are also decorations and artifacts from department stores of Downtown Pittsburgh’s past, like Kaufmann’s, Macy’s, Horne’s, and Gimbels. Kids age 17 and younger get free admission to the History Center in December, and Santa visits on select Saturdays for socially distanced photos. Exhibition website.
Winterfest and Winter Lights at The Frick Pittsburgh, courtesy of The Frick Pittsburgh,
Winter Lights at The Frick Pittsburgh’s Winter Garden
Looking for an outdoor space to gather with friends and loved ones during the dark and chilly days of winter? The Frick Pittsburgh has extended their hours and decorated their beautiful grounds with live greenery—as was the Frick Family and Gilded Age custom. Twinkling lights are strung up in the grounds’ winter garden to make for magical surroundings. It all culminates in Winterfest, from December 28 to January 2, when the grounds will be alive with storytelling, carolers, wagon rides, ice skating, and more.
It’s a big dill that only in Pittsburgh can you find the World’s Largest Pickle Ornament! All decked out for the holidays, the giant, three-story high Heinz pickle balloon is a sight to relish at EQT Plaza in Downtown Pittsburgh, located at 624 Liberty Ave.
A table set for the holidays, photo by Askar Abayev (Pexels).
By Brianna Horan, Manager of Tourism & Visitor Experience
Winter Holiday Cultural Heritage Recipe Box: In Case You Missed It
The holidays that mark the winter season may vary in their meaning and origins, but much of their warmth and cheer comes from the kitchen—where traditions are passed down and people tend to gather. At the end of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic prevented many families and loved ones from celebrating together as usual, we asked people from throughout the Rivers of Steel Heritage Area to share the recipes that make it feel like the holidays to them. Our Winter Holiday Cultural Heritage Recipe Box is filled with secret ingredients, family memories, and beloved traditions from a range of faiths and backgrounds.
To the home cooks and professional chefs who shared their special dishes with us, we offer many thanks! We hope that this recipe collection will illuminate different ways to celebrate the winter holidays and that our readers enjoy a festive season with their favorite traditions—and maybe a few new ones to share with their loved ones. Happy Holidays!
A quick look back at the highlights of 2021 with Rivers of Steel.
Looking Back & Looking Ahead
Rivers of Steel’s accomplishments in 2021 set the stage for bigger things to come!
2021 was a dynamic year for Rivers of Steel.
It marked the launch of the new Uniquely Pittsburgh Sightseeing Tour on the Explorer riverboat, along with a resurgence of student environmental education programs on the vessel.
It saw the return of the Carrie Carpool Cinema and the Alloy Pittsburgh exhibition at the Carrie Blast Furnaces.
A ten-year restoration of the Machine Shop was completed, and new restoration work at Carrie began with support from a Save America’s Treasures grant.
A record number of visitors participated in our tours and workshops—and community-based programs engaged with neighbors in new ways!
Through it all, Rivers of Steel forged connections with our region’s industrial and cultural heritage with visions for its future. Support these efforts by donating to Rivers of Steel today!
This summer 72 educators from across the country will convene in Pittsburgh for a National Endowment for the Humanities-funded Landmarks of American History and Culture Workshop presented by Rivers of Steel and the Archives & Special Collections Department at the University of Pittsburgh. Entitled The Homestead Strike & the Growth of America as an Industrial Power, the workshop will be offered to two cohorts of 36 educators each during the weeks of July 10 – 16 and July 17 – 23, 2022.
The Battle of Homestead is considered the most famous event in American labor history. This workshop will provide educators with a comprehensive look at circumstances that led to the armed conflict and what its lasting impact has been in the United States. Participants will immerse themselves in the battle from both sides by examining primary sources related to Carnegie and Frick’s business practices, worker conditions, the direct aftermath of the battle, and what came in later years as U.S. business took stock of the relationship between management and labor.
The seven days of programming and research includes extensive discussions and lectures with visiting scholars, along with faculty and staff from the presenting organizations. Daily site visits to relevant historic landmarks and museums will help educators to explore the details and consequences of the Homestead Steel Strike, expanding their insight into these impactful events.
Notable visiting scholars include: Les Standiford, historian and author of Meet You in Hell: Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and the Bitter Partnership That Transformed America; Dr. Paul Kahan, author and a leading expert on the political, diplomatic, and economic history of the United States in the nineteenth century; Quentin Skrabec, author of Henry Clay Frick: The Life of the Perfect Capitalist and The Carnegie Boys: The Lieutenants of Andrew Carnegie That Changed America; along with notable locals Steffi Domike, Tammy Hepps, Barbara Jones, Ken Kobus, Charlie McCollester, Ted Muller, and Joel Woller. Visit the workshop website for more details on these distinguished scholars, along with descriptions of the presenting Rivers of Steel and University of Pittsburgh staff.
Teachers, librarians, museum educators, and the like are encouraged to apply here before March 1, 2022. Selected participants will receive a $1,300 stipend to assist with travel expenses. Successful applicants will be notified of their selection on March 25, 2022, and they will have until April 8, 2022 to accept or decline the offer.
For inquiries and application submissions, please contact:
Kathryn Miller Haines
Associate Director
Center for American Music
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh PA 15260
412.624.4100
kmill@pitt.edu
By Gita Michulka, Contributing Writer | Image: Students from Carmichaels Middle / High School look for birds during the Environmental Science on the Three Rivers program. Photo by Jason Cohn.
Exploring “Environmental Science on the Three Rivers”
How healthy are Pittsburgh’s three rivers?
With the help of some water and mud samples and the plankton who live in them, a group of middle school students from the Greater Latrobe School District set out to answer that question as they boarded the Explorer riverboat for Rivers of Steel’s Environmental Science on the Three Rivers STEM program.
“Anytime you can get the kids outside, get them doing hands-on experiments—it’s great,” says Patrick Roberts, the science teacher at Greater Latrobe Junior High School. “Especially after this past year, with so much screen time, having this opportunity is really special.”
Students from Mapletown Junior / Senior High School present their hypothesis by voting thumbs up, thumbs down, or a combination thereof. October 15, 2021.
Once on board, the students are asked to give either two thumbs up, two thumbs down, or a combination of the two to indicate if they think the rivers are healthy enough to support life. There is a mixed reaction at first, followed by immediate interest in the activities they will be using to support or disprove their hypothesis. As the boat sails down a portion each of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers, the students are split into three groups to rotate through different stations. In each, they get a hands-on approach to thinking like a scientist.
Suzi Bloom, director of education for Rivers of Steel, leads the program, along with seven part-time instructors. Each one has a background in environmental science in one form or another; Bloom holds a master’s degree in Parks and Resource Management with an emphasis on environmental education. During the program, one instructor is paired with every ten students, allowing for truly collaborative interactions within the groups.
In the three-hour version of the program, students rotate through three stations: Plankton, Water Chemistry, and Aquatic Macroinvertebrates. If a school chooses the four-hour program, two additional stations cover Birds and Fish and the River Continuum. There are discussions on watersheds, tributary rivers, and river basins. The students conduct a review of a topographic map for the area near the rivers and discuss rainfall and water runoff and the diversity of life found in the rivers.
Students from Carmichaels Area Middle / High School filter water through a planton tow to collect samples. Photo by Jason Cohn.
And then the fun begins. Students help cast a plankton tow into the river and then look at samples of the water they brought up under their microscopes, where they discover an array of plankton zooming around in the water. There is immediate excitement as their slides come into focus and they begin comparing what they find. Water samples are also tested for pH and oxygen levels, as well as turbidity—the measure of clarity of a liquid. At a stop on the Allegheny River, students assist with collecting a mud sample from the river bottom using Petite Ponar sieve buckets. These samples hold macroinvertebrates—slightly larger critters than plankton, with shells and exoskeletons. As one student noted, with pure joy, as she carried a cup of mud to her station: “It’s disgusting, but cool!”
Large debris is filtered from the mud samples gathered using Petite Ponar.
Students from Mapletown gather samples of aquatic macroinvertebrates.
Macroinvertebrates are sourced from muddy water and examined to determine the identity.
Roberts, who holds degrees in biology and science education, is also a research scientist for the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. He has used the creek that runs behind their school for some interactive lessons but appreciates the opportunity to bring his students directly to the rivers as an expansion of their curriculum. In particular, he noted the quality of instruction the Environmental Science program offers and the enthusiasm of the teachers as they engage the kids in the scientific method and research process.
Latrobe is one of three schools who were able to participate thanks in part to a corporate sponsorship by Peoples Gas that allowed for waived fees for up to 100 students. Other schools who received a scholarship include Mapletown Junior / Senior High School, located near Greensboro, in Greene County, and Carmichaels Area Middle / High School, also located in Greene County about an hour south of Pittsburgh.
“This scholarship program has been wonderful,” Roberts adds. “Because the students’ fees were waived, we could afford the transportation needed to get them here. That wouldn’t have happened without that help.”
Greater Latrobe students use chemistry to study the river water.
This fall 395 students from 11 separate districts attended an Environmental Science on the Three Rivers session. The ability to waive fees for their students presented an opportunity for Greater Latrobe, Mapletown, and Carmichaels to move toward a “return to normal” as the schools began allowing field trips for the first time in two years.
Additionally, all proceeds from public sightseeing tours and from private charters on the Explorer help to underwrite Rivers of Steel’s STEM-based education programs for students throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.
Explorer, which is a “floating lab,” as Bloom notes, has long hosted educational programming for students. The Environmental Science program is open to any school interested in participating, but the help of scholarship funds allows outlying districts the ability to bring their students to the city. “The impact of a donation from just one sponsor has been incredible. Think of how many more kids we could reach if just one or two other sponsors added to that.”
After the Mapletown students returned to their school, teacher Amber Burkett asked the students what they thought of the trip. A lot of students commented on how fun it was to spend the morning “digging in the mud” and using science equipment, but one reply in particular really summed up the effect of the program—“I learned that we can all make an impact. Learning about the aquatic life was fascinating and meaningful to me.”
Carmichaels students use microscopes to determine what types of planton they sourced from the river. Photo by Jason Cohn.
For more information on Environmental Science on the Three Rivers visit, contact Suzi Bloom at sbloom@riversofsteel.com.
About Rivers of Steel Education
Rivers of Steel Education offers unique, inquiry-based opportunities for students to discover how southwestern Pennsylvania’s natural resources have shaped our industrial past and cultural heritage—and how our environment today impacts our region’s future.
Blending history with hands-on STEM exploration, Rivers of Steel’s education programs guide students in understanding the complex nature that industry, innovation, environment, and economics play in defining our region’s assets and opportunities.
Rivers of Steel offers student programming on the Explorer riverboat, at the Carrie Blast Furnaces, and at the Bost Building and Pump House, in addition to off-site and virtual programming. Visit riversofsteel.com/programs/education/ to learn more.
Gita Michulka is a Pittsburgh-based marketing and communications consultant with over 15 years of experience promoting our region’s arts, recreation, and nonprofit assets.
By Gita Michulka, Contributing Writer | Image: Open car at Museum Road, courtesy of the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum.
Community Spotlight
The Community Spotlight series features Rivers of Steel’s partner organizations whose work contributes to the vibrancy of the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area.
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum Creates ‘Rolling Melting Pot’ Experience
A design concept for “The Rolling Melting Pot” exhibit at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum.
Riding the Trolley to the Mill
While we might think of taking a ride on the T to the North Shore to catch a Steelers game or being transported to Mr. Rogers’ magical land of make believe when we hear the word “trolley,” there was a point in our region’s history when the idea of riding on a trolley simply meant getting to work.
For decades, Pittsburgh’s trolley system was a critical connection between the disparate populations of immigrants across the city and the steel mills where they worked.
“Without street cars, people couldn’t get to work,” notes Scott Becker, executive director and CEO of the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. “It would not be surprising to be on a streetcar at rush hour and hear different languages being spoken.”
Preserving this specific point in time is the inspiration behind the development of a new exhibit, The Rolling Melting Pot.
“The reason we came up with the phrase Rolling Melting Pot is because that’s what street cars were. What they did was they allowed accessibility for a broad range of the population,” says Becker. “We’re talking people of all different ethnic backgrounds, financial backgrounds, literally people just off the boat who couldn’t read English…we actually have in our collection street signs in Slovakian and all of these other languages.”
Artist’s renderings by J. Craig Thorpe provided by the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum.
An Expansion Allows for Immersion
The museum is in the process of expanding their campus with the addition of a Welcome and Education Center, allowing them to grow the immersive trolley-era heritage experiences offered to guests. As part of this expansion, Becker and his staff utilized funding provided by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, Environmental Stewardship Fund, administered by the Rivers of Steel, to partner with the Carnegie Science Center on the design, fabrication, and installation of the Rolling Melting Pot.
This interactive display will enable students and other visitors to activate content that relays the impact that immigration had on trolleys, and that trolleys had on immigration. Greetings and station messages, such as warnings of the approaching cars, will be featured in different languages, and an audio-video feature will allow visitors to pick a rider and hear why they ride (work, shopping, recreation), as well as their ethnic heritage and native language.
Trolleys and Industry
Becker points out that not a lot of people realize the connections between how the trolley cars were run then and the Port Authority system we are used to now. In addition to utilizing signage in multiple languages, “cars were painted by a color system to indicate the lines, and later they adopted a number system to help people figure out which cars they needed to board to get home. The Port Authority adopted the same system and in fact they still use the same numbers that the streetcar companies used!” The 54C, an integral bus line for many city commuters, directly relates to the streetcar lines that held a similar route nearly a century ago.
And this, Becker says, “is right in the heart of the Rivers of Steel story.” The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is “a great asset in helping to interpret particularly the industrial heritage of the region,” explains Becker. “We have trolley cars that used to run from McKeesport to the Edgar Thompson Steel Mill, and to J&L, and took the workers there.”
Through its Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area program, Rivers of Steel champions the region’s natural, cultural, educational, recreational, and industrial resources as key components for preserving the region’s heritage, focusing on developing a sense of place, as well as contributing to the economic vibrancy of the region’s citizens and communities—including the preservation of the history of our region’s transportation systems.
The Trolley Street canopy column was set in September. Photo by Larry Lovejoy.
Slated to open in late 2022, the Welcome Center will display and interpret exhibits that tell the story of the trolley era in a new and more immersive way. Learn more at pa-trolley.org.
Additional funding for the Welcome and Education Center, the neighboring Trolley Street, and other campus improvements has been provided by foundation support from the Allegheny Foundation, Richard K. Mellon Foundation, smaller foundation and individual donations, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
About the Mini-Grant Program
Rivers of Steel’s Mini-Grant Program assists heritage-related sites and organizations as well as municipalities within the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area to develop new and innovative programs, partnerships, exhibits, tours, and other initiatives. Funded projects support heritage tourism, enhance preservation efforts, involve the stewardship of natural resources, encourage outdoor recreation, and include collaborative partnerships. Through these efforts, Rivers of Steel seeks to identify, conserve, promote, and interpret the industrial and cultural heritage that defines southwestern Pennsylvania.
The Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area is one of twelve supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Funding is provided via DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program and the Environmental Stewardship Fund to Rivers of Steel, which administers the Mini-Grant Program. The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is one of six organizations who received Mini-Grant funding through this program in 2021.
Gita Michulka is a Pittsburgh-based marketing and communications consultant with over 15 years of experience promoting our region’s arts, recreation, and nonprofit assets.
If you’d like to know more about community projects supported by the Mini-Grant Program, read Gita’s recent article about the Gallery KST at Kelly Strayhorn Theater.
By Carly V. McCoy, Director of Communications | Image: W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop in Rices Landing, PA. Photo by Richard Kelly Photography.
The Restoration of the W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop
If you haven’t yet had the chance to tour the W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop, your window of opportunity is closing, for now at least; just a few tours remain on the schedule before it’s shuttered for the season. However, visitors to this National Historic Landmark in the coming weeks will get to see the structure as few have—with a completely restored exterior!
The recently completed work reflects a five-phase, ten-year process to painstakingly repair this historic workshop, an investment of nearly $1.5 million. Coincidently, it was built in several phases, too. In 1900, William A. Young, a farmer trained in carpentry, acquired a plot of land along Water Street in Rices Landing, Greene County. The following year, his mother acquired the adjacent plot that she sold to him at cost. It was here that Young constructed the workshop, which would become his life’s work—and ultimately the life’s work of his two sons, Walter and Carl.
A Hand-Built Workshop & Small Job Shop
The forge and blacksmithing station in the back shop of Young and Sons. Image by Richard Kelly Photography.
The core of the building is a two-story wooden structure that houses the machine shop on the first floor and the pattern shop on an upper level. Next, a, U-shaped “back shop” with an earthen floor was added to house the blacksmithing area. (Interestingly, the floor is considered a safety feature, as sparks could ignite wooden floorboards.) The gap in the center of the addition had walls lined with windows, creating a light well for the workers. Finally, a vaulted foundry, complete with a cupola and an overhead crane, was added along the side of the expanded structure in 1908.
In this image of the foundry addition taken from the catwalk you can see the furnace in the back and the crane system above. Image by Richard Kelly Photography.
While the assemblage of this hand-built workshop is novel, it’s the work that occurred in the shop that makes it truly unique. W.A. Young’s business was classified as a “small job” shop. While the facility held 25 line shaft driven machines for fabricating industrial materials, in addition to the blacksmith shop and foundry, Young’s staff remained small, often just himself and a helper (later, his sons), and his client base was varied. They serviced a variety of industries, from steamboats and coal mines to residential needs and early auto repair.
A One-of-a-Kind, Historic Site
For most of the 1700s and 1800s, traditional blacksmith shops served their communities and aided industry, and by the 1900s most shops began to scale up, specializing for a specific industry. The W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop represents a transition between these two systems, which is one reason why it is so unique. The second, highly important, consideration is that the Machine Shop did not evolve with the times. Despite operating commercially though 1965, the Machine Shop remains today, more or less, just as Mr. Young built it more than a century ago, using technology from the 1880s and 1890s. (One exception is how the line shaft system was powered; originally, it used steam, then it used a Bessemer gas engine before converting to Westinghouse electric. A repurposed John Deere engine powers it today.)
The interior of the front shop, featuring the machines and the line shaft system. Image by Richard Kelly Photography.
In a recent article in the Observer-Reporter about the Machine Shop’s restoration, Rivers of Steel’s CEO Augie Carlino reflected on the building’s role in understanding our region’s—and our nation’s—industrial history.
“First and foremost, the building and its history are critical to Rices Landing and Greene County as it represents the history and heritage of the people in that part of the Mon Valley,” he said. “Beyond Greene County, however, the Machine Shop is an industrial resource unique in the United States. The National Park Service has documented this fact. All similar machine shops from that era of operation are gone and no longer exist. So, the Machine Shop is that rare, one-of-a-kind, historic site that cannot be found anywhere. That alone is why it was important to save.
“But then, when you connect the dots of industrial history in the valley and Southwestern Pennsylvania, you begin to see how a small, family-run facility like the Machine Shop played a critical role in the industrial power of Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania,” he continued. “The Machine Shop helps link the story of the steel mills, the coal mines, the river barges, and the railroads by illustrating how these small shops serviced these more prominent industrial locations.”
The W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop was recognized by the National Park Service as a National Historic Landmark on December 23, 2016.
Stewardship and Restoration of the Historic Landmark
Understanding why the Machine Shop is so unique and historically important underscores how critical this restoration process was. Rivers of Steel took ownership of the facility in 2009, a transfer from the Greene County Historical Society, which was its steward from 1985 until that time. Immediately thereafter, Rivers of Steel began surveys of the site to determine its needs.
Like most buildings in need of critical repair, the first step was to replace the roof, arresting future damage. In 2011, a green, standing seam metal roof was installed. The electrical system was updated, and a fire / smoke detection system was added at that time; water lines were also repaired. Save America’s Treasures, a grant from the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, provided funding for this first phase of critical repairs.
The roof was installed in 2011. Image by Richard Kelly Photography.
Then in June 2012, Rivers of Steel commissioned the architecture and preservation firm of Pfaffman + Associates of Pittsburgh to complete a Conservation Assessment Program Historic Structures Report. The goal was to develop a historic structure report that evaluated the condition and architectural integrity of the building and review existing preservation plans. The subsequent work outlined in this report resulted in a four-phase restoration that addressed the most pressing needs first.
Four Phases of Restoration
By 2014, the first phase of preservation and restoration began, addressing structural issues on the site. A failing wall in the foundry was restructured, as was the catwalk. This phase also addressed critical window repair and some adjustments to the roof. Completed in 2018, phase two focused on repairs of the central light well, including the windows and water drainage in that location. In phase three, the historic preservation focused on repairing the structure’s windows and frames on the back and one side of the building. The six-over-six windows were repaired, retaining the original single-pane, hand-blown glass with a few replacements. The second aspect of phase three was the repair of the original clapboard siding on several of the exterior walls. Phase four, which was just completed in September, saw the repair of the 22 remaining windows, five doors, and the clapboard siding on the front of the building. New red paint was applied to match its historic color, and the exterior letters that spell out “W.A. Young & Son’s Foundry and Machine Shop” were repainted white.
The vinyl siding on a neighboring house is reflected in the hand-blown glass on the newly restored windows of the Machine Shop. Image by Richard Kelly Photography.
Looking up from the light well that was repaired in phase two of the restoration. Image by Richard Kelly Photography.
Maintaining the Charm & Respecting the History
Throughout the years, Rivers of Steel has also addressed the maintenance of the interior of the shop, replacing floorboards as needed. Work on the machines is ongoing to ensure that those that work remain in good operating order and to bring others back online. Maintenance also includes the repair of the belts for the line shaft system. As Augie said, “We have to be careful to retain the facility’s original charm and respect its history, while ensuring safety for those who visit it.”
A view from the pattern shop into the hardware store on the upper level showcases the charm of this historic landmark. Image by Richard Kelly Photography.
Support for the Historic Preservation of the Machine Shop
Support for the preservation and restoration of the Machine Shop has been provided by Rivers of Steel and by the National Park Service, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Save America’s Treasures, the Department of the Interior, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, The Allegheny Foundation, and from Visit Greene, the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency.
Can’t make it for a tour? Watch a recording of a virtual presentation about the Machine Shop from August of 2020. It includes a guided tour of the Machine Shop, along with a discussion by Rivers of Steel staff about the history, preservation, and restoration of this National Historic Landmark.
By Cynthia Caul, Program Manager at Center for Regional Agriculture, Food, and Transformation (CRAFT) at Chatham University | Image: Weatherbury Farms, a stop on the Baked culinary trail. Photo by Emeran Irby.
Exploring PA in a Tasty Way
This week we are excited to shine a spotlight on the Center for Regional Agriculture, Food, and Transformation (CRAFT) at Chatham University. The CRAFT team recently created four new culinary trails for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development—trails that highlight the foodways traditions in southwestern Pennsylvania and throughout the Commonwealth. In the article below, guest writer and Program Manager for CRAFT, Cynthia Caul, shares the origins of this culinary trails program and offers a taste of the Baked trail.
Picked, Baked, Chopped, and Pickled—Four new PA culinary trails take a ‘food systems’ approach to regional tourism
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) dropped four new culinary trails last month—Picked, Baked, Chopped, and Pickled. Each trail highlights regional food traditions, farms, and businesses around one of four themes: apples, grains, charcuterie, and fermentation.
The trails were developed by a small team of us at Chatham University’s Center for Regional Agriculture, Food, and Transformation with culinary historian Mary Miller being the lead on the two-year project. It was a fruitful collaboration, bringing together Mary’s decades of experience in regional culinary tourism, CRAFT’s food system knowledge, and DCED’s state-wide tourism prestige and platform.
The goal from the outset was to promote tourism and economic development in communities throughout our state, and we believed we could most meaningfully do this by cultivating opportunities for authentic engagement with people, places…and, of course, food.
Why food? It might seem like a leap, or at least a choice, to some. But for us, it was neither, and not just because we work in the food space.
Food is relevant to all of us, regardless of our profession or passions. It is at the center of our daily lives. It is often a defining feature of our personal and collective identities, shaping the way we organize ourselves into communities and societies.
And, of course, we all require food to survive. It is an ultimate universal experience. We all eat.
So when thinking about how to encourage travel throughout our state in a lasting way that could sustain meaningful livelihoods and vibrant communities, food was a powerful fit.
In developing the trails, we used what we often referred to as a “food systems approach,” essentially meaning we wanted to ensure that the trails were inclusive of the entire food system. We wanted them to represent the diversity of past and present contributors to our food traditions, as well as individual growers, artisans, and makers across the value chain responsible for bringing food to our tables today.
What does this mean in practice? It was different for each trail.
In the case of the Baked trail, for example, we started by focusing on the diversity of grains that have been grown in this region both historically and today. This included corn, wheat, rye, barley, and buckwheat (a pseudo-grain).
Corn was the first grain of recorded use in our region, and the western-most segment of the Baked trail begins at Meadowcroft Rockshelter. This shelter used by hunters and gatherers dates back to 12,000 BC, and the exhibit includes a corn cob from 375 BC. Corn was central to the Monongahela and Lenape societies that were present during this period, as well as other indigenous groups that migrated to and through our region for millenia caring for and sustaining the land and rivers. The Lenape who are indigenous to the Delaware River Valley and eastern part of today’s Pennsylvania believed then and now that Mother Corn birthed modern agriculture and governs all its cultivation. Corn was the basis of most meals and was eaten off the cob and as porridge, cakes, and breads.
By the 1700s, however, these indigenous populations had been largely forcibly removed from these lands by European colonizers. These migrants came primarily from Britain, but other European countries as well. They brought with them their own food traditions and cultivation practices, and because of this, wheat production in this region almost entirely replaced that of corn. By the end of the century, Pennsylvania was widely known throughout the country as the “breadbasket of America,” and milling became the first major industry in the state. Hundreds of water-powered gristmills were constructed to mill this wheat into flour, and these spaces functioned as vibrant places of commerce and communion. Farmers came to these mills to grind their own wheat, purchase freshly milled wheat and animal feed, and spend time chatting with neighbors who often lived relatively far away on their own farms.
This period of economic expansion would not have been possible without the work and innovation of enslaved and indentured populations. This period saw a rapid increase and peak in Pennsylvania’s enslaved population with many enslaved individuals working on wheat and rye farms. Indentured servitude was also common on these farms, particularly among Irish and German migrants who labored temporarily in exchange for their transport to the country.
By the 20th century, most wheat production had moved to the more arable Mississippi Valley.
There are only a handful of gristmills left today, and an even smaller number that are still operational. The Baked trail takes travelers to a number of these historical institutions.
The Saint Vincent Archabbey Gristmill, part of the Baked trail, was built by the Benedictine monks and has been in continuous operation since 1854. It has endured for many years to serve as a symbol of Western Pennsylvania’s agricultural heritage and of the vision of Saint Vincent founder Boniface Wimmer.
In addition to corn and wheat, the Baked trail also walks travelers through the history of rye production and the Whiskey Rebellion, which was particularly significant in the more rocky and mountainous western part of the state that once produced one-third of the nation’s rye. Travelers learn about the region’s fastest growing cash crop and pseudo-grain buckwheat, as well as barley’s more recent renaissance ushered in by the state’s nearly 300 breweries and the nation’s first Black beer festival.
There are a wide array of delicious foods to be tasted along the trail, including pita, empanadas, half-rye, naan, pastries, whoopie pies (or gobs…), pizza, pretzels, and more. And this is just one of the trails. You can find all four full-length trails on the Visit PA website, as well as some highlights in the Pennsylvania 2021 Happy Traveler Guide available online and at every Turnpike stop and Tourism Bureau.
All of the trails highlight businesses sourcing local ingredients, so you’ll often have the chance to trace your baked goods or beer back to the soil in which the grain was grown or milled into flour.
These trails are intentionally rich and complex. They are in many ways the beginning of what we hope will be longer-term work in this space with the goal of providing people opportunities to meaningfully connect to their food, the land, and each other.
About CRAFT
The Center for Regional Agriculture, Food, and Transformation (CRAFT) works to support robust regional food systems that are equitable, inclusive, and sustainable in Western Pennsylvania and beyond.
CRAFT works with a number of regional partners to develop culinary trails that support economic development particularly in our region’s rural communities.
These trails aim to highlight the rich heritage and food traditions of the region, as well as include the history and culture of all of the region’s historical and current residents. We take this inclusive approach in order to acknowledge, learn, and inform about the fraught and complex history of land ownership and food production in our region and country, recognizing and celebrating the contributions of displaced indigenous and enslaved peoples.
The trails provide regional farms and food businesses with increased markets and promotional opportunities, as well as tourists with a deeper understanding of the regional food system and the unique value and history of the food grown and prepared within it.
Cynthia Caul is the program manager for CRAFT at Chatham University and graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School for Public and International Affairs, where she studied International Development. Cynthia’s research has focused on food and nutrition security, land access, and the role of agricultural smallholders in an increasingly globalizing economy. She also worked at the Ford Institute for Human Security, conducting research on human rights-based approaches to improving agricultural land access for women farmers and was the 2017 recipient of the Simon Reich Human Security Writing Award. Prior to her current role, Cynthia worked on public health programming in Ghana with the U.S. Peace Corps.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
Center of Life and CMU Team Up to Create Urban Furniture for Environmental Justice in Hazelwood Green
Exploring PA in a Tasty Way
