The Society's next regular program is
7:30 p.m., Wednesday,  September 22, 2010
"The Brady Stewart Collection" Speaker Michael Stewart will talk about and show the photographs his grandfather Brady Stewart and father, Brady Stewart , Jr, took of Pittsburgh from 1901 to 1991. http://www.bradystewartphoto.com/

PUBLIC PROGRAMS: Every year the Society presents five free programs annually at Mt. Lebanon Public Library. Topics have included Mt. Lebanon’s golf courses, schools, landscape, and architecture. We have also hosted talks about Pittsburgh’s North Side, the Whiskey Rebellion, Scott Township’s Old St. Luke’s Church, and the archaeology of Woodville Plantation. And we’ve welcomed reenactors George Westinghouse, a Huron Indian, and an 18th Century fur trader.

Click here for 2010 program dates

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Wally Workmaster, Scott Jackson, and Tess the dog prepare the Society's tent in Mt. Lebanon park for the July 4, 2009 festivities.

OUR OCTOBER 2009 DINNER WAS A BIG SUCCESS
We would like to thank the following businesses for their support and donations

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HOME HISTORY PROGRAM

Ever wondered who built your home?
Ever wondered who designed the original plans?
With thevalue of the architecture and design of Mt. Lebanon
homes – most built in the early years of the last
century – being rediscovered and recognized, the
Historical Society of Mt. Lebanon is joining with the
Mt. Lebanon Public Library to assist residents in
finding out who built and designed their homes.

Contact Historical Society trustee and Cultural Resource
Survey volunteer Lori Humphreys at marieh6@verizon.net or call the library at 412-531-1912 to schedule an appointment.

There is a $30 fee; all proceeds benefit the historical society and the library.

please note this program goes on hiatus from June 12 to Labor Day

TOURS: Six years ago, the Society teamed up with the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, Mt. Lebanon Library, and the Mt. Lebanon Historic Preservation Board to create an annual Washington Road walking tour to familiarize Mt. Lebanon second-graders with architectural details and the history of their community. Pictured above, Louise Sturges of Pittsburgh History & Landmarks, leads a tour.  Click here for more tour pictures

We have also conducted two walking tours of St. Clair Cemetery on Scott Road, the oldest graveyard in the community with burials dating to 1805.

PROJECTS AND EXHIBITS: The Society has presented three Then and Now exhibits in Mt. Lebanon Public Library’s gallery that coupled historic pictures with recent pictures taken in the same location. Portions of this exhibit are now on display at Sky Bank on Cochran Road. We hope to do another exhibit soon and to display pictures from old exhibits in the Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building. Every December since 1998, the society has filled Mt. Lebanon Public Library’s two display cases with holiday-related displays such as toy trains, Santas and handmade ornaments. And the Society’s oral history committee has interviewed several longtime residents about their memories of Mt. Lebanon. The tapes and transcripts will eventually be available to the public.

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HISTORY PRIZE: Since 2001, the Society has presented an annual History Book Prize to a Mt. Lebanon High School junior—selected by AP U.S. history teachers—who has demonstrated excellence in classroom work and an interest in pursuing history in college. Awardees are presented with a recently published history-themed hardback book, and a second copy of the book, inscribed with the winner’s name, is donated to the high school library. Huntington Bank on Cochran Road sponsors the prize. The 2007 winner was Maria Grinko. In 2006 the award went to Elizabeth Michelle. In 2008 senior Christa Owens and junior Ryan Pollock were the recipients.

This year, Elizabeth R. Varon was our winner and the book was  DISUNION: The Coming of the American Civil War, 1789-1859 by Elizabeth R. Varon. We chose this book that examines the paradox of a slave-holding nation founded on a charter of freedom for a reason. For her research paper, our awardee’s topic was “The Current Debate in the Cherokee Nation on the Status of Former Freedmen.” Her paper played off the inconsistencies of founding a nation based on liberty yet anchored in slavery. Her research spanned 160-plus years of history and she managed to weave together competing interests and themes with depth and maturity. Mr. DiNardo says it was one of the top three essays he read this year. Kate also went above and beyond normal course work by attending at least seven voluntary evening sessions. “Her attitude and approach impressed me greatly as did her growth in confidence and intellectual skill,” Mr. DiNardo says . "She is an amazingly calm, classy kid who simply engages learning.”

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FIELD TRIPS: The society occasionally hosts field trips. In 2004 we went to the Oliver Miller Homestead in South Park and in 2006 we took a trip to the Bayernhoff Music Museum near Sharpsburg.