Historical Society of Mt. Lebanon awarded $250,000 in grants
Historical Society of Mt. Lebanon headquarters, 794 Washington Road
View from the first floor of the Historical Society of Mt. Lebanon’s history center
The current display on the lower level of the Historical Society of Mt. Lebanon building
The current entrance to the Historical Society of Mt. Lebanon, the lower level of the building, off Lebanon Avenue
A photograph of the children of Dr. Donald McMillan, on display in the family’s former home
A photograph of the Dr. Donald McMillan family, on display at their former home
The paint has been stripped from a section of wall to show the trompe l’oeil-style mural that is underneath.
Efforts are being made to restore the building’s stained-glass windows.
A 1960s-era photograph of the interior of the McMillan home
The ceiling as seen from the first floor
View of Washington Road from the first floor
With word on receiving two grants, the Historical Society of Mt. Lebanon is moving forward with efforts to restore its history center.
Jim Wojcik, president of the society’s board of directors, said the grants are from:
• Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County, $200,000 from the Gaming Economic Development Fund
• Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, $50,000 from Keystone Historic Preservation Project Grant
“Between these grants and the money we’ve raised, and what our estimate is to do Phase One, we’re only about $120,000 short of what it will take to break ground,” Wojcik said.
The first phase of work on the 80-plus-year-old building at 794 Washington Road is to overhaul its electrical and climate-control systems while adding a new roof and restoring windows throughout. Plans also call for bringing the property up to code regarding local safety regulations and federal Americans With Disabilities Act requirements.
Phase Two is to renovate the basement, which has served as the society’s history center since 2009. Exhibits now held in that area will move upstairs, and the lower level can serve as a larger public meeting space, with a kitchen and more storage area to be included.
A third phase would be to install a deck on a roof area that overlooks Washington Road, as part of the society’s efforts to host events as “an opportunity for us to increase our revenues,” Wojcik said.
The organization is raising money through a capital campaign and has done well so far, with about $115,000 in donations and pledges toward the effort.
The Spanish Colonial Revival-style building was constructed as a private home prior to 1933, when it first shows up in a map of the area.
About 1945, Dr. Donald McMillan (1911-2002) bought the property for his home and medical practice. He and his wife, Christine, raised four children there, and the historical society has some family photos on display, portraying the house as it was half a century or more ago.
Subsequent renovations for various business ventures obscured some of the original features, such as a trompe l’oeil-style mural covered by a coat of paint on the first floor.
Renovation plans have been drawn up by RSH Architects of Scott Township, the president of which is Joel Cluskey, who also is chairman of the Mt. Lebanon Historic Preservation Board.
“I am very optimistic about this being a good fit for the historical society,” Cluskey said. “The goal of the renovation is not to strictly re-create the home environment of the McMillan family, but to highlight unique characteristics of the building and utilize it in a way that meets the programming needs of the historical society.”
He also expressed optimism about the growing role of the organization.
“The importance of the history of the community and the quality of the building fabric was formally recognized in 2014 with the creation of the Mt. Lebanon Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historical society has done a good job of educating the public about this honor and can continue to expand its mission with this facility,” he said about 794 Washington Road.
“The building location on the fringes of the commercial district and adjacent to residential neighborhoods makes it accessible and inviting to both residents and visitors.”
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