Father Pitt

Category: Turtle Creek

  • St. Colman’s School, Turtle Creek

    St. Colman’s School

    Link, Weber & Bowers were the architects of this gorgeous school, and it is very cheering to see it getting a thorough renovation for a new life.

    Inscription: St. Colman’s School, 1928, For God and Country
    Entrance

    St. Colman was ripped off the face of his school, where he once stood over the entrance to greet students as they came in. Catholics often try to preserve the religious art from buildings they abandon, but as the number of buildings abandoned rises, the number of places to keep all that art dwindles. Father Pitt would suggest setting aside one vacant church—perhaps St. Anselm’s in Swissvale, which has plenty of room—as a museum of religious art, which could become a pilgrimage site and perhaps even bring about some conversions.

    St. Colman’s School
    St. Colman’s School
    Sony Alpha 3000; Canon PowerShot SX20 IS.
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  • St. Colman Church, Turtle Creek

    St. Colman Church

    This was the last of the five (out of seven) churches old Pa Pitt managed to visit during the open house for St. Joseph the Worker Parish, seven of whose eight churches are closing this month. Because he got there just as the open house was winding up, Father Pitt didn’t get as many pictures as of the other churches, but the ones he did get give a good impression of what the church is like. They also show that it needs some maintenance work, which would probably be expensive.

    Belfry

    Addendum: The architect was Pittsburgh-born, Philadelphia-based Harold Wagoner, with Angel Chorne as associate.

    Nave
    Nave
    Interior
    Stained glass
    Sony Alpha 3000; Canon PowerShot SX20 IS.

    It’s always sad to see a church close. However, there is very good news for St. Colman’s School, a 1920s masterpiece by Link, Weber & Bowers. It is undergoing a thorough and expensive restoration for a second life. We took a few pictures of the school on the same visit.

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