Lost and Found
Written by PA Heritage Staff in the Lost and Found category and the Fall 1994 issue Topics in this article: Allegheny County, Allegheny Furnace, Altoona, architecture and architects, Baltimore, Bellefonte, Blair County, Blair County Historical Society, Centre County, Elias Baker Mansion, Greek Revival, Homestead, Homestead Steel Strike, iron, Roland Diller, United States Steel Corporation, World War IILost
Following World War II, the United States Steel Corporation’s massive Homestead Works in Allegheny County employed nearly fifteen thousand workers. The sprawling works, site of the infamous Homestead Steel Strike of 1892, closed in July 1986 and demolition began soon after. But all is not lost. While much of the plant is gone, there are plans to preserve the Pinkerton Landing, site of the bloody confrontation between the detective agency guards and the striking workers, and the monumental Carrie Furnaces. For details, write: Steel Industry Heritage Corporation, 338 East Ninth Avenue, Homestead, PA 15120; or telephone (412) 464-4020.
Found
Built in 1844-1848 by a prosperous ironmaster, the Baker Mansion in Altoona, Blair County, is an outstanding example of Greek Revival style architecture. Elias Baker and his nephew and business partner Roland Diller operated the immensely successful Allegheny Furnace, which was located nearby. The mansion, designed by Robert Cary Long, Jr., of Baltimore, and built by Charles B. Callahan of Bellefonte, Centre County, served as the Baker family residence until 1914. The thirty-five room structure recalls the golden age of Pennsylvania’s once influential iron industry. Administered by the Blair County Historical Society since 1941, the historic house museum contains period furniture and accessories.
