CITY BUILDINGS RETELL HISTORY ARCHITECTURE Discover Westmoreland 2016 | 29 Westmoreland county celebrates established artists, reaches out to next generation THE SLOPES ON WHICH GREENSBURG SITS offer a unique perspective to the city’s downtown historic district. You can view the majestic elegance of its architecture from virtually every angle. The appearances of buildings across Main Street from the Westmoreland County Courthouse give visitors a similar appearance of the way early American towns were viewed at the turn of the 20th Century — office or retail space on the first floor, apartments and offices on the upper floors. Most of the current structures in Greensburg’s downtown section were built during a period of roughly 40 years beginning in 1886 mainly for commerical purposes, according to the Greensburg Downtown Historic District, which has published a walking tour guide detailing the city’s business district and its many historic buildings. “What architecture says, culturally, is the different buildings people have constructed over time tell us something about the times in which they were built,” says Lisa Hays, executive director of the Westmoreland County Historial Society. “It is an insight into the mindset of priorities of the time. These are not just buildings, they’re pictures of what people were thinking.” From the spectacular and renovated centerpiece courthouse building and its highly visible dome, to the former Pennsylvania Railroad Station several blocks to the north, to the Romanesque-style Cope Building at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and West Pittsburgh Street, Greensburg’s architecture provides a glimpse of the city’s booming tourism and trade of the past. Says Hays: “The old buildings, especially, remind us that we didn’t just spring up here overnight. We have a history.” GREENSBURG ARCHITECTURE Today Greensburg offers much of that same view, from any vantage point, despite many businesses having followed recent trends of relocating mainly to outlying areas for convenience sake. Here is a sampling of what can be observed by taking a walking tour of Westmoreland County’s seat: The Bank and Trust Building – Built in 1896 at the corner of South 1 Main and East Otterman streets, this brick and stone structure is an excellent example of Romanesque Revival-style architecture as seen by its symmetrical heavy-arched windows and articulated walls. Greensburg Railroad Station – Built in 1912 and renovated in 1995, 2 this building is situated just outside the immediate business district, but has been a staple in the community for many years. A mainline of Amtrak still passes through the region. The building’s architectural style is Jacobean Revival. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and has included several restaurants from time to time. Masonic Temple – The original three-story temple, containing impressive stained glass windows, was constructed along South Main Street in 1872 to serve four Masonic lodges in the area with the idea of withstanding fire, storm and time. A matching fourth floor was added in 1896. The Palace Theater – Much like the theaters in Pittsburgh, The Palace 4 now is used for live entertainment. Located at the corner of West Otterman and West Pittsburgh streets, it was a past showcase for vaudeville acts and films. The Art Deco-style theater was built in 1926-27 and has recently added a patio where outdoor concerts are held. Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center – Representing a newer era of architecture in the city is the school’s new performing arts center, whose construction was completed in 2010 at the corner of West Otterman Street and Harrison Avenue. Westmoreland County Courthouse – The current building downtown 6 at the midpoint of Main Street is in its fourth version, originally having been built in 1906. Three previous buildings were demolished. The current structure’s architectural style is Beaux Arts. The dome, designed by William Kauffman, was used on just two known buildings — the other a courthouse in British Columbia. The Westmoreland facility was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Westmoreland Museum of American Art – The $38 million upgrade of 7 this building, originally founded in 1959, is perhaps the most notable of any in the city. It stands at the top of North Main Street, just above downtown, and includes a cantilever as part of its recently completed renovation that allows visitors a magnificant view of downtown. The museum offers guided tours, interactive exhibits and self-tours.
SSM_X001XXC07312016_Discover Westmoreland
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