The Westmoreland County Historical Society (WCHS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2018 Arthur St. Clair Historic Preservation Awards, which are presented annually to individuals, organizations, businesses or educational institutions that have made a significant and sustainable contribution to the preservation of our historic places, documents, records or stories, and by doing so, are keeping alive Westmoreland County’s rich history & heritage for future generations. This year’s awardees are Olga Herbert for her dedication to the history of the Lincoln Highway; I.B.W.C.P. for 18th century living history programs; and The Latrobe Community Revitalization Program Design Team for preservation of the 1873 Harry’s Danceland building. Lisa Hays, executive director of the WCHS noted “This year’s awardees demonstrate that there are many innovative ways to preserve history and educate the public, and Westmoreland County is fortunate to have so many creative people, businesses, and organizations that recognize the cultural and economic value of historic preservation.”
The Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor was designated a Pennsylvania Heritage Park in 1995, and Olga Herbert was selected to be the founding executive director. For the past 22 years, Olga has steered the non-profit organization and paved the road to its success. She has found many creative ways to bring attention to this first transcontinental highway across the United States for both drivers on the road and those interested in its history. Replicas of the first Lincoln Highway signs were erected along the six-county corridor (Adams through Westmoreland) to mark the original route. She oversaw creation of the informative and fanciful 200-mile Lincoln Highway Roadside Museum, which features 67 interpretive exhibits, 22 vintage gas pumps, 11 murals, 4 “Picture Yourself” exhibits, and 5 Roadside Giant sculptures. This unique museum became cohesive in the creation of the Lincoln Highway Driving Guide. Much was accomplished working out of nine different office locations, until finally, a permanent home was found along the historic route of the Old Lincoln Highway between Ligonier and Latrobe. Under Olga’s leadership, the old stone house at Kingston, a National Register-listed site that hosted travelers over 200 years ago, has been transformed into the Lincoln Highway Experience. An orientation film was created, as well as exhibits about the architecture and “kitschy” personality of the roadside during the heyday of the Lincoln Highway. A new museum expansion, opened August 1, features the restored 1938 Serro’s Diner, a 1937 Packard, and a vintage tourist cabin. During this 22-year journey Olga donned many hats and invested many hours of determination, patience, and hard work, to develop innovative solutions to both fundraising and preservation challenges to make the Lincoln Highway Experience a truly unique, informative, and nostalgic stop in Westmoreland County.
I.B.W.C.P. is prominent on Westmoreland County’s official flag, designed in 1775 for the militia that formed at Hanna’s Town “to defend our just rights … and transmit them to our posterity.” That 18th century militia group was brought back to life in 2007 by 13 founding members of a reenactment group who, naturally, adopted the same name, Independent Battalion Westmoreland County Provincials (or Pennsylvania), sometimes referred to as Proctor’s Militia for the name of its first captain, John Proctor. Bonded by a love of their country’s history and muzzleloaders, these living history interpreters have presented quality educational programs regularly over the past 10 years at many historic sites and events in Westmoreland County and beyond, including locally, Bushy Run Battlefield, Compass Inn Museum, Fort Ligonier, and Historic Hanna’s Town. Their living history interpretation began with a militia encampment together with drill and musket fire demonstrations. Over the years, through many hours of research, the members have expanded their 18th century trade skills to include blacksmithing, log hewing, woodworking, leatherwork, pottery, stitching, cooking, brewing, foraging, and woodsman survival skills. They patiently drill, demonstrate, discuss, and answer questions to inform the public about life and the role of the militia in the early years of the United States. Through hours of research they have compiled the locations of forts and blockhouses that early residents of Westmoreland County used to provide security to their own communities. The I.B.W.C.P. are vital partners in Frontier Court Reenactments at Historic Hanna’s Town. They organize the other reenacting groups and show off their dramatic skills by assuming various roles during court proceedings. Showing a willingness to grow and expand their interpretation, in 2018, the unit introduced new displays in medicine, midwifery, and the camp follower.
Since 1873, the same building has stood at the corner of Depot and Jefferson streets in Latrobe. First occupied as a hardware store, it has seen many uses over the years, but the use most familiar to adults today is Harry’s Danceland. In partnership with the building’s owner, Harry Lattanzio, Jr, The Latrobe Community Revitalization Program put together a design team, led by historic architect and artist Steven Patricia. Together, they faced the challenge of restoring the building, despite the many changes that had been undertaken by previous owners. An unfortunate surface application in the early 1970s removed the over-sized first floor windows and chiseled away the decorative surface of the foundation stone. Replacing these elements was prohibitively difficult and expensive, so innovative solutions were developed to stabilize the outer structure and interpret its history. Images of the building in its historic context, many from the Latrobe Historical Society, informed the approach. The materials that had been added to the foundation were removed, and a concrete specialist replicated the appearance of the base block by hand. Steven Patricia created artwork that portrays the historic environment of the original façade, and a detailed process attached the digitized artwork to the building. On the Depot Street side of the building, today’s passers-by can see what would have been reflected in the windows in the late 1800s – a streetcar scene based on some of the old pictures. The Jefferson Street side pays tribute to the days when Harry’s Danceland hosted nationally recognized musical legends like Bo Diddly and Jimi Hendrix. Using the same process and technology gives the illusion of men putting up a circa 1960 poster advertising upcoming performances. Inside, hallways are lined with many autographed photos from musicians who performed there, and the top floor dance hall retains much of Harry’s Danceland’s original features.
The Arthur St. Clair Historic Preservation Awards will be presented at a dinner at Rizzo’s Banquet Hall in Crabtree on Wednesday, October 17 at 6:00 p.m. The public is invited to join the Westmoreland County Historical Society to celebrate the awardees and their good work. Tickets are $85 each; proceeds benefit the WCHS educational programs. Additional information and tickets are available by calling 724-532-1935 x 215. The Westmoreland County Historical Society is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to acquiring and managing resources related to the history of Westmoreland County and using these resources to encourage a diverse audience to make connections to the past, develop an understanding of the present, and provide direction for the future.