April 14, 2001
SAVE THE BUHL
Box 431
Pittsburgh Pa. 15230
To Whom it may concern:
Yesterday I received a letter from my nephew, Timm Barczy, asking that I write on behalf of "Saving the Buhl". Though I no longer live in the Pittsburgh area I nonetheless have strong feelings regarding the possible loss of extraordinary facilities such as the Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science.
In the late 50's I taught at Peabody High School and Perry High School and on a number of occasions accompanied groups of students on field trips as they traversed to Buhl Planetarium to participate in programs in the area of astronomy. I cannot help but recall how awe-struck I was at the marvelous capability of the Zeiss projector and how much pride I had that my city--Pittsburgh--was "home" to his marvelous institution. I even recall on one occasion I was so "enthralled" in the program that I stayed longer that I had intended to and upon returning to my car--parked on Federal Street-- I found a parking ticket on my windshield for being parked there during rush hour. There was too much to see and do--it would seem--at "the Buhl".
I no longer live in the Pittsburgh area, having retired from teaching in Lakewood, Ohio 10 years ago. My roots remain in western Pennsylvania, however, and it bothers me greatly to see its citizens risk the loss of such a fine institution and historical structure.
Surely a city with the technological significance that Pittsburgh possesses can easily find a continuing use for "the Buhl". Scientific knowledge certainly isn't shrinking. This is no time to be eliminating institutions which assist in the dissemination of such knowledge.
Please find a way to rejuvinate "the Buhl". To do otherwise surely will be an action ultimately viewed with great regret.
Sincerely,
Raymond G.
North Olnisted, Ohio
April 6, 2001
To Whom It May Concern:
Imagine if you will one of the forefathers of our great city. He came to Pittsburgh from Carrara, Italy in 1915. He ordered marble from his hometown and laid it as flooring for all the great buildings Pittsburgh is known for, including the Buhl Planetarium. John Menegazzi labored each day to feed his wife and three children so that one day, they too, could raise their families to be proud Pittsburghers. That man, John Menegazzi, was my great-grandfather and one of the many reasons I am so proud to call Pittsburgh my home.
After he passed away, my grandparents and parents took us kids to the Buhl, the Carnegie and the Aviary, not only to learn and appreciate the beauty and wonder each building had to offer, but also to learn our family history and to grow together. It is my hope to return to Pittsburgh to raise my own family and show them how John Menegazzi helped build our hometown.
Imagine what a shame it would be to destroy my great-grandfather's work. I am horrified and enraged at what I've been hearing about the plans for the Buhl: to deface the building and remove the Zeiss. Do the city planners of Pittsburgh care at all about the city they serve or her people? I cannot believe the wish of our city's population is to destroy the building that houses the only unaltered Zeiss projector in the world and the building constructed around it, where all of us learned about the stars and fostered dreams of reaching them.
In recent years, words have gone back and forth about how to fancy up our town and make it more popular for tourists. There has been talk of super-sized, elite, nation- wide chain clothing stores, restaurants and clubs. Why would any tourist come to Pittsburgh to visit a Planet Hollywood? Wouldn't it be better to visit such a place in Hollywood itself? If we want people to appreciate our city, we've got to be proud of who we are and promote the amazing resources we've got. It's just like that old saying, "Nobody is going to love you if you don't love yourself."
The plans to degrade the Buhl Planetarium into another anonymous building with no history, no character and no respect for the scientific work it has donated to the world shows me that whomever is in charge of this plan has no pride in our town or our heritage.
Please help Timm Barczy save and restore one of the most spectacular institutions we have. Please save the Buhl. Your children will thank you for it.
Most sincerely,
Holly L.
Los Angeles, CA
April 10th, 2001
Alfred H.
Pittsburgh, PA
April 7, 2001
To Whom It May Concern:
STOP THE BULL AND SAVE THE BUHL
Why is it that there is in every city an element of people who are bent on continually throwing out the old and bringing in the new? Those unmindful people who continually look for all sorts of ways to tear down the various edifices that have not only done the city proud, but whose structures are unique in purpose, design, and architecture, in an effort to replace it with a glitzy up-dated nouveau idea with a Las Vegas touch?
In this beautiful city of Pittsburgh this very thing is happening and little thought is given to the overall effect it has on its citizens, or the city's history and reputation, and those who love and desire to see their city rank right up there with the other cities of the country as well as the world. Our city, like others, will hopefully, down the road, be amply successful in the area of finance and opportunity. More thought, however should be given to culture. Although our city certainly has its share of culture, why do we insist on doing things to diminish that share?
Why do our people in charge not see that we are a little big city and stop insisting that we should be a big big one? We should attempt to hold onto things that are a plus for the city's reputation, those that exude sophistication and history, and those esthetic things that are so important to those who have some degree of intelligence. Why do we always give into those minds whose only course, it seems, is to arbitrarily tear down something, anything, Just to start all over again. Progress is alright, but it sometimes goes too far, especially when, seemingly, it is traveling in the wrong direction.
Pittsburgh, a city on the brink of greatness, is now in the process of doing away with one of the most unique structures in the world, the Buhl Planetarium, the dome specifically, along with the Zeiss, one of the few of its kind in the whole world, that has brought so much mystery and pure enjoyment to the people of Pittsburgh throughout the years. One would think that the Buhl, with its one of a kind planetarium, would fit right into the scheme of things going on in Pittsburgh presently. Keep this landmark by all means. The Pittsburgh government has money for everything else, why not put it into the Buhl, before it is driven into extinction? Why not let the people of Pittsburgh in on its best hid secret, that is, the planetarium and its Zeiss, magnificant structures that have no parrallel? If promoted as such, I am sure that Pittsburghers will support its rebirth. One has heard the expression, the chance of a life time. The demise of the Planetarium and its Zeiss would be the loss of a lifetime. Don't allow this to happen.
Sincerely,
Al H.
KENT STATE
UNIVERSITY
EAST LIVERPOOL
January 19 2001
Mayor Tom Murphy
City-County Building
Pittsburgh PA 15222
Dear Mayor Murphy:
I write to you today in the interest of saving a valuable historical treasure from the wrecking ball or worse. The Buhl Planetarium building, together with its last surviving pre-war Model II Zeiss projector and its Theater of the Stars, is slated for removal or destruction according to reports. I urge you to act to protect this important historical city property from jeopardy.
In 1979-1988, I was a Sky Theater Lecturer at the Buhl Planetarium. The Theater of the Stars saw the training of pilots in navigation during World War II, the introduction of the Space Age to baby boomers, and many fine productions, including the Pittsburgh City Theater's production of Bertol Brecht's "Galileo". Eminent lecturers presented there including the late Dr. Nicholas Wagman. If you and others do not act, the memories of an innumerable number of school children, now grown, of the machine that rose and showed the stars will be a memory only. as people will wonder how such a treasure managed to be destroyed.
In East Liverpool, where the branch campus is at which I now hold a faculty position, we have felt the remorse of losing many treasured historical items to the wrecking ball. The alumini association rebuilt, at considerable expense, the Central School clocktower the cit, had so regrettably demolished only ten years prior. And the magnificent and ornate Ceramic Theater is gone forever now, and can never be restored. This has taken much spirit from this town, and the losses are regretted across the social spectrum, even by those that ordered the demolitions.
Please do not allow this to happen to the Theater of the Stars at the Buhl Planetarium. Surely some inexpensive compromise or slight alteration of plans can save this treasure, the loss of which would be quickly regretted by everyone.
Sincerely,
Francis G.
Assistant Professor, Physics
400 East Fourth Street - East Liverpool, Ohio
KENT STATE
UNIVERSITY
EAST LIVERPOOL
January 19, 2001
Councilwoman Barbara Burns
City-County Building
Pittsburgh PA 15222
Dear Councilwoman Burns:
I write to you today in the interest of saving a valuable historical treasure from the wrecking ball or worse. The Buhl Planetarium building, together with its last surviving pre-war Model II Zeiss projector and its Theater of the Stars, is slated for removal or destruction according to reports. I urge you to act to protect this important historical city property from jeopardy.
In 1979-1988, I was a Sky Theater Lecturer at the Buhl Planetarium. The Theater of the Stars saw the training of pilots in navigation during World War II, the introduction of the Space Age to baby boomers, and many fine productions, including the Pittsburgh City Theater's production of Bertol Brecht's "Galileo". Eminent lecturers presented there including the late Dr. Nicholas Wagman. If you and others do not act, the memories of an innumerable number of school children, now grown, of the machine that rose and showed the stars will be a memory only. as people will wonder how such a treasure managed to be destroyed.
In East Liverpool, where the branch campus is at which I now hold a faculty position, we have felt the remorse of losing many treasured historical items to the wrecking ball. The alumini association rebuilt, at considerable expense, the Central School clocktower the cit, had so regrettably demolished only ten years prior. And the magnificent and ornate Ceramic Theater is gone forever now, and can never be restored. This has taken much spirit from this town, and the losses are regretted across the social spectrum, even by those that ordered the demolitions.
Please do not allow this to happen to the Theater of the Stars at the Buhl Planetarium. Surely some inexpensive compromise or slight alteration of plans can save this treasure, the loss of which would be quickly regretted by everyone.
Sincerely,
Francis G.
Assistant Professor, Physics
400 East Fourth Street - East Liverpool, Ohio
Richard W.
McKees Rocks, PA
February 28, 2001
Timm Barczy
Save the Buhl
P.O. Box 431
Pittsburgh, PA 15230
Dear Mr. Barczy:
Your efforts to preserve and revive the Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science have come to my attention. (q.v.: ZEISS WIDE SHUT, Pittsburgh City Paper, February 21-28, 2001, and elsewhere.)
I heartily applaud and endorse your endeavor. Please let me know how I, a simple member of the community, may help. I too have the fondest memories of that facility. Without boring you (another time and place, perhaps) I will only say that the impression that the Buhl has had on me is profound and everlasting.
The Buhl must be preserved. What a shame it would be on all of us to lose, deface, or further scavenge this rare jewel.
(I must say, however, that being a lifelong Pittsburgher, I know what you're up against. I am only too aware, and gravely suspicious of, hidden agendas, back-room politics, and sleazy, albeit monied, connections.)
Surely, your plan, or something similar but consonant with its' original mission must be possible.
(For example, a non-profit consortium involving the local Universities (none of which, to my knowledge, have a Planetarium), Community College, and the Amateur Astronomers providing both intramural as well as external instruction could be another possibility. Of course, that would mean CCAC would have to vie with the Carnegie and The Children's Museum for Regional Asset funds. All a matter of clout.)
But I digress.
Let me know what I can do.
And if there's nothing that we can do - please, please include me in that last Sky Show.
Very Truly Yours,
Richard W.
"Wrong message sent to our children"
In the editorial: "Planetary nostalgia / It shouldn't block the Children's Museum expansion" (September 16, 2001), the author's message is that "old" (used 8 times in the 14 line article) means obsolete.
Well then, let's scrap the old Smithfield Street Bridge, the old obsolete Fort Duquesne Incline, the old Gateway Clipper, the old Allegheny County Courthouse,?and Grandma?
The proponents of the Children's Museum expansion proposal wants millions of our tax dollars to join two historic structures: the Historic Buhl Planetarium building, a Pittsburgh icon, and the landmark post office now Children's Museum. In addition to changing the historic architecture of these building, the proposers want to remove the precious contents of the Buhl including a Zeiss Model II star projector and the siderostat telescope worth in today's dollars $1,600,000 and $300,000, respectively. These are both working gems! This does not sound like a good proposal for our children. We should not teach our children to be so hasty, to discard what is old yet good.
The editorial states that the Carnegie Science Center (CSC) officials find the telescope and star projector "obsolete". Could this be because the old Buhl might be viewed as competition for the CSC? Not that it should be, but they must realize that there is no experience more storybook than seeing the beautifully crafted six ton Zeiss Model II rising up from the depths to project its picture of the universe. By the way, the old obsolete Zeiss can do this far better than the CSC projector in resolution, brightness and overall grandeur. Future generations of children should experience the exquisite style in which this old world-class planetarium comes to life. Some science requires state-of-the-art instrumentation, but a kids Science Center does not.
One group of concerned citizens is proposing that the old GrandPa Buhl Planetarium be used as a futuristic Children's Space Camp. The building would serve as an outpost and the planetarium as a view of the outside world. Children control real robots remotely to explore a real crater. Let's be fair and consider this exciting non-destructive proposal too!
The Buhl and its contents are old, but they are good just like Grandma!
Mark B.
Squirrel Hill
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