REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL ON NEILL LOG HOUSE RESTORATION EFFORTS AS OF 6/24/21
Squirrel Hill Historical Society (SHHS) involvement with the Neill Log House began in August 2020
The Neill Log House, the oldest existing domestic structure in Pittsburgh (dating to 1783), was selected for inclusion on “The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Experience” website.
Research indicates that Meriweather Lewis may have stopped close by the house on his last trip to Pittsburgh in 1803, prior to launching his keelboat from the Point for his westward journey.
Two articles, with research by SHHS, appeared in the October, 2020 newsletter titled : “Meriweather Lewis and the Nemacolin Trail through Squirrel Hill” and “The History of the Neill Log House” (view these by clicking menu link on homepage of website, squirrelhillhistory.org, “Link to the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Experience.”
Partnership by Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition (SHUC) with the Trail Experience Website
Though the Point is the official beginning of the Lewis and Clark Trail, Neill Log House in Squirrel Hill is the easternmost historic site on the Trail Experience website.
Unlike other sites maintained for Park Service dealing just with history of the Trail, the Trail Experience site is designed to promote tourism along its route.
For this reason, SHHS subsequently was asked by the project manager to nominate additional sites in our area that would appeal to tourists following the Lewis and Clark Trail;
SHUC was deemed the neighborhood organization best suited to promote tourism.
SHUC entered into partnership with the Trail Experience, generating a large number of commercial, cultural, and recreational sites which were subsequently posted on that site, making Squirrel Hill and Pittsburgh one of the most vibrant areas along the entire route of Lewis and Clark Trail (sites can be viewed by going to lewisandclarktravel.com, clicking on the Interactive Map from the top of the homepage and following the trail to its easternmost point in Pittsburgh).
Parallel efforts up to the present to advocate for restoration as well as future uses of Log House.
Team members enlisted over past year include representatives from every major historic and preservation group in the city: Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation (PHLF), Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Preservation Pittsburgh and the Sen. John Heinz History Center.
At the center of Team’s efforts are individuals from the Pittsburgh Department of Public Works who have direct responsibility for maintaining this most unique public property (with team meetings and communications coordinated by members of SHUC and SHHS).
Other volunteers have varied backgrounds, from that of a retired architect with professional experience with the log house and a SHHS member who is the fourth great-grandson of Robert Neill, who built the structure.
SHHS contracted inspection in December, 2020, noting same but worsening conditions reported by Parks Conservancy inspection in 1975 – immediate need for stabilization; structure renovated several times over years, recently as 1969 by PHLF after total collapse.
Current challenges include moving ahead with a Request for Quotations (RFQ), to seek out contractors with historic restoration expertise who can then provide costs for both stabilization and renovation; grants to fund entire project; and a local entity to act as fiduciary for large and small donations.
Update on all City Projects related to Neill Log House, July-August 2021, and other Restoration Team Activities
Among all the changes to our Team’s efforts for the renovation of the Neill Log House reported up till now, the most significant by far is the release by the City of a public document to elicit interest and input by potentially qualified contractors. Its release was coordinated by the City to be publicized through all local news organs. The full article from July 14 announcing the release of this document can be viewed at this address (clicking this link will take you out of SHHS website): https://pittsburghpa.gov/press-releases/press-releases/5102
The full text of the 18-page document, entitled “CITY OF PITTSBURGH Department of Public Works ‘Request for Qualifications,’ (RFQ) for THE STABILIZATION AND/OR RESTORATION OF THE HISTORIC NEILL LOG HOUSE IN SCHENLEY PARK, PITTSBURGH, PA,” can be viewed through the link below. Potential contractors are asked to respond to this document by the end of August 2021 (clicking this link will take you out of SHHS website): https://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/redtail/images/14891_Neill_Log_House_RFQ.pdf
Other work by Steering Committee members from SHUC and SHHS include moving toward a new entity for managing our efforts and all that entails under the name “Friends of the Neill Log House.” Stay tuned for developments on this.
Squirrel Hill Historical Society 