Buildings That Changed a City
She calls it “Buildings That Changed a City.’ Lauren Wagner, 17, gave that name to a new brochure she created as a senior project that is educating people about four important buildings in Uniontown’s history.
They include the Fayette County Courthouse, State Theatre and two related to coal baron J.V. Thompson – the Fayette Bank Building and Mount St. Macrina.
“I thought it was a great project,’ said Donna Holdorf, executive director of the National Road Heritage Corridor, in which these four buildings are located.
“I’m pleased,’ said Wagner, a daughter of Lynn and Gerald Wagner of Uniontown. “…Everything worked out well.’
The senior at Uniontown Area Senior High School plans to attend Mercyhurst College in Erie, where she would like to major in forensics and anthropology.
Wagner drew on her interest in history for creating the project, which grew out of a conversation with Nina Frankhouser, a friend of her mother’s, at the Fayette County Courthouse as they were looking through local brochures.
Wagner started on her senior project in her freshman year, noting she had to have 100 hours in the enterprise.
At first, she considered doing a brochure on a variety of lesser-known buildings, but discovered that many were either destroyed or were private residences. She chose instead to focus on buildings that were more prominent and had an impact on the local community.
Wagner selected two buildings connected with Josiah VanKirk Thompson, a wealthy and powerful man who was very influential in Fayette County in the early 20th century. Wagner included his estate, Oak Hill, located just west of Uniontown, in her brochure. Today, the estate is owned by the Sisters of St. Basil, who renamed it Mount St. Macrina. Wagner also selected Thompson’s Fayette Bank Building, noting its impact on the area’s economy.
In the brochure, Wagner explained the Fayette Bank Building was constructed in 1901-02 and designed by D.H. Burham.
She wrote, in part: “Standing 11 stories tall, it was one of the largest commercial, financial and apartment buildings in western Pennsylvania. When the bank was in full operation, money was transported via an underground tunnel that led from the former First Bank Building across the street to the new bank’s steel-plated vaults. However, the bank only occupied the first floor. On the other floors were 750 rooms that included private offices and apartments…. This regal building served as Uniontown’s primary bank for many years. Today it is used as office space and also for many modern apartments.’
Writing about Mount St. Macrina, Wagner noted it was designed by E. Woodyatt for Thompson during the coal and coke boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
She wrote, in part: “J.V. and his wife, Honey, furnished their home with priceless tapestries, sculptures, furniture, paintings, and other worldly possessions. Unfortunately, he encountered financial difficulties and was eventually bankrupt. The building was purchased in 1933 and is now home to the Byzantine Catholic Order of the Sisters of St. Basil. During the annual Labor Day weekend, a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help brings thousands of visitors to the beautiful house. The magnificent grounds are also always open to the public.’
Writing about the State Theater, Wagner said, “It’s how people socialized. The theater hosted musicals, wrestling matches, comedians, country music shows and vaudeville. It has seen so much history and culture.’
She wrote, in part: “Designed by Thomas Lamb, the State Theatre opened in the fall of 1922 with the title of the ‘largest, finest, and most beautiful playhouse in western Pennsylvania.’ It was christened this because of its black and white tiled lobby floor, marble foyer, fountain, and other lavish furnishings. In the building’s basement were bowling alleys and a pool hall for the gentlemen to use during intermission.’
Wagner also selected the Fayette County Courthouse because “it’s a form of justice. People were hung there. People were found guilty or set free. I think it’s the oldest standing building I wrote about.’
The brochure explained the courthouse was built in 1891-92 and designed by Edward M. Butz and William Kaufmann.
She wrote, in part: “This beautiful Richardsonian Romanesque building was constructed with local sandstone and quarry stone and featured arcaded windows, arched entryways and stone foliage carvings. The building contains many elegant furnishings, including a stained glass skylight, an 8-foot, 2-inch statue of Gen. (Marquis de) Lafayette, marble floors, decorative iron staircase railings, and four oval murals representing the leading industries of the time: coal, coke, agriculture and manufacturing. The courthouse is also connected to the jail via a rare ‘Bridge of Sighs.”
Wagner conducted research through the Internet as well as Uniontown Public Library’s Pennsylvania Room with help from Vicky Leonelli, curator. In the library, Wagner searched newspapers on microfilm as well as studied Leonelli’s book, “Do You Remember When?’ and Walter “Buzz’ Storey’s “Stories of Uniontown and Fayette County.”
Wagner, whose mother is a graphic designer, designed the brochure and worked with Pat Stefano of Stefano Printing in Dunbar to have the brochure printed.
She began working with Holdorf after meeting her through friend Ellen Ulmer, who introduced the two when Wagner was looking for funding to have the brochure printed.
“This falls into work we’re doing as well as Fayette County Tourism Alliance,’ said Holdorf.
“We’re looking at getting students involved. I think it makes students aware of the history and heritage of where they live, and they can participate in preserving it. Lauren’s project is different because it’s a tool that tourists can use.’
Holdorf is encouraging more students to become involved in these kinds of projects. She referred to work done last year by Laurel Highlands High School students Cameron Muma and Greg Friend, who for their senior project tracked down the story of the Holt-Griffin House, located on the National Road, present-day Route 40, in Henry Clay Township. Now a private residence, the Holt-Griffin House was built as a tavern for people traveling the National Road. The students’ work was the first step toward having the building declared eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
For her project, Wagner received funding toward the printing and gives a special thanks on the back of her brochure to “Donna Holdorf of the National Road Heritage Corridor,’ “Gary Gearing of the Fayette Bank Building’ and “Friends of Tim Mahoney.’
She had 2,000 brochures printed and they are being displayed at the Fayette Chamber of Commerce, the Fayette Building, State Theater and the Fayette County Courthouse. Holdorf noted the National Road staff also will send out the brochure when the office receives a request for information on the area.
“This is a good example of how senior projects can get involved in our community,’ said Holdorf.
Wagner said, “Senior projects are supposed to contribute to the community – to making it better or making an impact on it.’
Anyone interested in contacting Holdorf for topics on senior projects can call her at 724-437-9877.