THE PITTSBURGH PARKS CONSERVANCY BEGINS RESTORATION WORK ON HISTORIC NORTHSIDE MONUMENT
PITTSBURGH – June 23, 2022 – The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy today announced it has begun restoration work on the historic Hartzell Memorial located in Allegheny Commons Park.
The Hartzell Memorial, also known as “Man, Beast and Bird” is one of the City’s few monuments to honor a woman. It was erected in 1909 in memory of Annie Hartzell, a founder of the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society. Once a working fountain, it featured a large trough for horses on one side, a drinking fountain for humans on the other, a birdbath on top, and a pair of small basins at the base for dogs and squirrels.
In 1973, the Memorial was relocated to a corner of Market Square and incorporated into a large circular pool. In 1990, due to the renovation of Market Square, the Memorial was moved to the corner of Federal Street. Unfortunately, it was not plumbed as a fountain, and its condition has since deteriorated.
The restoration project is a recommendation of the Allegheny Commons Park Master Plan, a collaborative effort between the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Commons Initiative, Northside Leadership Conference, and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.
Funding for the Hartzell Memorial restoration is made possible in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC).
“The Hartzell Memorial is an enduring symbol of the Northside’s illustrious history,” says Brandon Riley, Capital Projects Manager, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. “This generous funding will help safeguard its place in the Pittsburgh landscape for years to come.”
The Parks Conservancy awarded the project to Eisler Landscapes, Inc. and LINEAGE Historic Preservation Services. The project has an expected completion date of September 2022.
Visit pittsburghparks.org/hartzell-monument/to learn more about this project.
###
Contact: Alana Wenk
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
412.527.0020
awenk@pittsburghparks.org
About Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy:
Recently celebrating its 25th year, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy was founded in December 1996 by a group of citizens concerned with the deteriorating conditions of Pittsburgh’s historic city parks. A non-profit organization, the Parks Conservancy works closely with the City of Pittsburgh under an official public-private partnership agreement to restore and improve the city’s park system to its full potential. To date, the Parks Conservancy has raised more than $130 million and completed 22 major park improvement projects. The Parks Conservancy works with thousands of volunteers, hosts hundreds of events, and provides programming for more than 7,500 children annually.