Downloading the Past for Preservation Generation 2.0

Hazelwood was once as vibrant, wealthy, and packed with talent as any community in America. When the mill was running--LTV's Coke Works--living wages enabled men and women to provide for their families, support the business district along Second Avenue, and maintain nice homes.

When the mill closed, work disappeared, and people gave up on Hazelwood. Unable to support the business district, local businesses, like Dimperio's Market, closed. Homes were boarded up and began to decay. Men especially were left adrift, wondering what to do with their skills honed in heavy industry that no longer needed them.

Such is the story of Hazelwood, but also of many industrial towns along the three rivers in the Pittsburgh region. It's a sad state of affairs for many of these company towns. Upon first glance, anyway.

There are hidden gems in these former industrial boom towns. The gems are both the historic buildings and architectural treasures that remain, as well as the people that remain. One must never forget that people still live in these communities, especially young people.

I stood today in front of the Carnegie Library of Hazelwood as a press photographer took my picture. In the yard directly across from the Carnegie, a small African American boy played on his tricycle. It was then that I realized that any effort to restore, revitalize, and re-imagine community assets like the Library must include the dreams and aspirations of young people like that little boy.

One day, he will grow up and most likely leave Hazelwood. But what will he remember? Will he remember the vacant and abandoned historic building across the street? Or will he see it being renovated and witness life come back to one of the first neighborhood Carnegie Libraries built in the United States. Of course, history won't matter much; the future of the building is what matters most. At least to him.

As YPA prepares to focus on four historic sites in Hazelwood as part of the Preserve Pittsburgh Summit on April 10th, we must remember what we are doing this for. It's for the next generation. We cannot, must not, will not let the next generation down.

What do young people in distressed neighborhoods wake up to? What should they wake up to?

These are fundamental questions that all preservationists must ask. It's not just about the buildings, but the people around them that must be engaged to bring them back to life.

YPA also recognizes that there's an older generation that remembers the stories and value of these old buildings. It is therefore essential that younger generation connects with the older generation to ask questions, poke, pry, inquire--to download the stories of the past to bring them back to life in a new way.

This process of downloading the past must be institutionalized so that the older generation doesn't feel threatened or skeptical of young people, who seemingly don't care. Likewise, young people must crack through the wall of history that so many older people guard and let few people through.

YPA challenges both the older generation and the young generations to create a constructive dialogue about the past. Why do this? To continue the traditions, save the stories, and maintain the great things that older generations worked so hard to create. We manifest this work in the form of building preservation--saving old buildings. But we can also see the results by inspired young people, enhanced skills, college diplomas, new jobs, and bright smiles.

I know Hazelwood can come back to life, especially the four buildings featured at the Summit--the Library, the John Woods House (featured at left), Gladstone School, and the Spahr Building. But it can't be done without the help of young and old people working together.

If YPA's Summit can inspire at least one person to make a difference in his or her community, then we will have been successful. Let's keep downloading history for Preservation Generation 2.0. Pres Gen 3.0 isn't far behind.