St Wenceslaus Renovation Project, Part 3

   

As was previously stated, an interpreter/translator at the U.N. who was born and raised in Pittsburgh inherited the former church structure that was once Saint Wenceslaus Parish.  It's located near the Heinz Complex.  That complex is now called the Heinz Lofts.  

Technically speaking, St. Wenceslaus is at 887 PROGRESS STREET.  Meanwhile, the Heinz Loft is officially at 300 Heinz, even though when you cross 16th Street from Progress Street, it's same one road.  They are in sight of each other and they are in walking distance from each other.  And it's a very short walk between the two points.

So that you don't get confused.  This is the Heinz Loft.  St Wen's is on the other side of the street.  It's not within the Heinz complex.

This is St Wenceslaus', as is seen from the 16th Street Bridge.  This is stated so that there is no confusion in assuming that St Wens' is in the Heinz complex.  St Wens' is a stand-alone structure with lots of potential parking surrounding it ... and with Andy Warhol's nephew three doors down.

The goal is to convert St. Wenceslaus' into some type of concert hall or convention center or something similar.  Co-investors ... aka business partners ... are needed.  So, if you have even a bit of curiosity in this project, call me at 1-412-475-1822 and at least leave a message.

The place was recently used by a young film crew, for a short while, for some kind of chase scene.  In fact, an admirer of historic architecture came by last week to take photos.

Now, if you want to enter, I have to be with you, for casualty insurance purposes.  While you're here, I will be your tour guide, your camp counselor, and your safety net ... just in case.  After all, this is a 126 year old structure under renovation.  So, I'll have to be around you, to make sure you don't get hurt.  

If you want to only photograph the outside section of the church, then it's fine for you to be outdoors there, on your own.  There is more than enough parking for a quick photo session or video session, if you are a tried & true history buff. 

None the less, a structural engineer already submitted his findings on the structure.  So, that's done also.  

At this point, more photos would be in order, so as to familiar you with the structure and its surroundings.  All in all, this is a fine project for well endowed two-toned shoe contractors ... or historic societies.

By the way, those of us in construction don't look down upon those who invest in construction projects and never physically work on them.  Instead, we're grateful for the work they provide.  

So, stay in your very nice two-tone shoes and leave the work up to us ... and leave it up to the engineers who occasionally show-up and/or intervene ... as well as the inspectors who have the final say on things. 

Left-side belfry.  The ladder goes to a roof hatch.

Above:  Inside the church, itself, where Mass used to be conducted.

        Above:  This reminds me of M.C. Escher's staircase drawings.

Above:  The room behind the choir loft, en route to the ladder to the left-side belfry.

The altar was here ... at one time.

 

A circular "rose stained glass window" used to be here. 

This is the church entrance.  If you look at the darkened part of the floor, you will see a canoe.  It's not related to the project.  How it got there, I do not know.  

The pillar (column) to the right is holding-up the choir loft.  The wood strips there constitute the ceiling which needs refurbished.  And of course, there is one of the wall windows, aka stained glass arches, in the photo.

Yes, the metal recycling establishment of Andy Warhol's nephew is three-doors down.   Super nice guy.   In as much, in some kind of rudimentary & spiritual way, the cosmic vibes of Andy Warhol do cross paths here.  Something like that.  

None the less, in downtown Pittsburgh is the Andy Warhol Museum, at 117 Sandusky Street.  In fact, the bridge closest to it is the Andy Warhol Bridge.  It used to be called, the 7th Street Bridge.

The oldest structure I ever worked-on (helped renovate) was the home of a ship captain who traveled the Pacific as a merchant.  Located along the Ohio River, it was called the Vicary House, and it was built in 1832. Plus it did have a walking tunnel to the river bank.  St Wenceslaus, as you can see, was a Year 1900 production.

More specifically, the St. Wenceslaus Parish was founded in 1871 ... by Croatian immigrants.  In the 1800s, Slavs were regarded as Bohemians, and Slavs fled to the USA in 1870, due to the simultaneous revolutions transpiring in Europe.  

The Year 1848, as well as 1870, were years of revolution in Europe.  For some reason, Europeans didn't like each other very well.

Back road passing the church, passing under the 16th Street Bridge, and entering into the Microsoft & Heinz complexes.

Above:  The Heinz Complex, otherwise known as "The Lofts."  There is a road under that bridge that goes directly to the "Lofts."

Below:  This is where my roof jack suddenly snapped in half, giving me a refresher course on the Law of Gravity, during my down-slope slide.   And of course, sometimes Murphy's Law intersects the Law of Gravity, creating a challenging circumstance. 

                             

 This photo was taken from the choir loft, and yes, it's where the pews once were.  When a crew came to take away all the pews ASAP, I knew then & there that the owner meant business and wanted to convert this place into something substantial ... something meaningful.

                                                                                   

That is what you see when you're standing 40, 60, 80 feet away from the back of the church.  Furthermore, keep in mind that Pittsburgh was declared "the Most Livable City in America" several times.