This is one of those many parish churches that Donald Wuerl closed, as soon as he became bishop of Pittsburgh and was able to get his priest cover-ups under control.
Now remember, the intent here ... at present ... is to convert this former church into a concert hall or convention center or reception venue or something similar. Wuerl closed this particular church in 1989. A former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot eventually bought it, and then eventually died in 2024. His U.N. interpreter son inherited it, and conjectured if whether or not this could become a place of distinction.
The owner seeks co-investors or a historic society. Any curiosity on your part can be pursued by first dialing me, at 1-412-475-1822. At least leave a message, if I'm not available to speak.
I'll get you directly connected ... first with the prime contractor who can answer questions about the present condition of the church and its construction needs, as well as the structural engineer's official report. Next would be connecting you with the actual owner who is a native of Pittsburgh and who does come a-visiting during holidays.
The owner is an interpreter and translator at the United Nations, in New York City. Now, if he is an inductee to the Phi Sigma Iota International Language Honors Society, then he and I are literally fraternity brothers. I was inducted in 1983. So stated for the record.
More illustrations of the building and its surroundings are in order, at this point ... for familiarization purposes, of course. As another reminder, the church was built in 1900. In as much, the oldest structure I ever worked-on was built in 1832. The second oldest was built in 1847. And then came me working on the houses built around 1890, 1900, and 1910.
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| Neither one of those two guys on the roof are me, being that I was the one who took the photo from the side parking lot. |
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| If you never saw a church belfry in your life, know that they look like this. |
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| That's the ceiling of the belfry, and yes, that's a hatch at the top, thereby explaining the presence of the ladder there. |
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| Above: That's the belfry from level view. It has three windows. This means that it has three exterior walls. |
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| Above: That's the other side of 16th Street, from St Wenceslaus. It was the former Heinz Factory Complex. It's now an apartment complex. |
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| When standing in the parking lot behind St. Wenceslaus', this is what you see. |
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| Back of St. Wenceslaus. |
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| This is the back of the church, too. |
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| This is the business establishment of Andy Warhol's nephew, three doors down from St Wenceslaus Church. Andy Warhol IS a historic Pittsburgh figure. |
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| Yes, Microsoft is nearby. |
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| That's the 16th Street Bridge. |
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| That's a window behind the choir loft, looking on to the former altar area. It looks like a painting within a brown frame, on a green wall. No. It's real. |
