Several years ago the ACS presented the our annual “Rimmel Award” to Gus and Stella Kalaris for adding to the quality of life on the North Side.

By John Canning
Photos by Anthony Amato

Gus’s orange ice-ball cart and the rainbow umbrella are indeed icons in our part of town. The closing of the West Ohio St. bridge over the railroad definitely limited easy access to our community’s favorite summertime frozen treat. Thus- the City of Pittsburgh, the North Side Leadership Conference, and the Allegheny City Society have joined forces to encourage folks to spend some time in “The Groves” section of the Allegheny Commons Park nearby Gus’s Ice-ball cart.

 
One summer day, Gus shared vintage photos of Pittsburgh with NSC intern.

Every Tuesday evening (weather permitting) in July and August folks are encouraged to stop by to enjoy some music, some games, and, of course, an ice-ball or bag of popcorn or a pack of peanuts. As part of these weekly events the Allegheny City Society will be presenting a 15-20 minute talk of North Side history related to the park. These vignettes will begin at 7PM. Look for the Allegheny City Flag designating the location in the Groves where this will occur.

July 3 “Archie’s Arboretum” Archibald Marshall’s vision of the Commons
July 10 Anica Barlow’s fete honoring LaFayette
July 17 Rev. Benjamin Tanner “Fire in his Heart”
July 24 The Commons — Civil War Recruiting and Training Ground
July 31 Joe Harris – Renown Jazz Drummer, cyclist, and tennis enthusiast
August 7 The “Pen” in the Commons
August 14 Ethel Hagler Bringing the Commons into the Community
August 21 Who owns the Commons? – The People of Alleghenytown vs. the Presbyterians

Previews of coming Allegheny City Society events for the Summer and early Fall 2018 Neighborhood Midweek Walks and Talks:
Wed. July 11 “The East Side of Spring Hill” — Meet-up at Spring Hill School 7 PM,
Wed. August 7 “The historic transformations of Chateau — Meet-up on the shoreline trail (Preble Ave. @ Franklin Street) 7 PM
Early September – The Allegheny Observatory and the Founding of Riverview Park in conjunction with the “Friends of Riverview.”

The ACS is also sponsoring two bus trips this Summer and Fall. A Summer trip to The Museum of Ceramic History in East Liverpool Ohio, including a stop at the Fiestaware factory across the Ohio in Newell West Virginia.

A Fall trip to the Westmoreland Museum of American Art to see the works of Allegheny City /North Side artists Mary Cassatt, George Hetzel, and Frederick Demmler.

Specific information for these Summer and Fall ACS programs will be posted on the Allegheny City Society webpage: www.alleghenycity.org