We are pleased to announce the formation of a new level of membership! To honor those who have made life commitments to this historic neighborhood, the MWSS now offers LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP into the Mexican War Streets Society. For the reasonable one-time-only sum of $150, you may become a member of the MWSS in perpetuity. You will be paid up for life!

Read the "Pittsburgh Metropolitan Magazine" article by Susan Larkin. It highlights the Mexican War Streets Victorian architecture.

Preservation...I'll Drink to That!
The Mexican War Streets Society has just introduced a new item to its lineup of branded merchandise. Our new "stooping" glass is just the right size for any beverage, and boasts a motto that's easy to swallow! The glasses are on sale for $5 each or a dozen for $50, and are available in our web store at www.mexicanwarstreets.org or by contacting Leslie Vincen at ljvincen@comcast.net. Special thanks to board member Bambi Mortion for coming up with the signature line that exemplifies one of our favorite neighborhood activities!

Street Tree Update
The Mexican War Streets have officially been selected by Tree Vitalize to receive free trees for the fall planting. I will be rechecking the previously selected sites with the City forester in the next month for the permission slips I already have in and the slips the city has been holding in backlog.  On another note, I took the City forester around the neighborhood and marked all of the dead trees for removal and some additional trees for dead wood pruning.  This work should be done with in the next month.  Again, if anyone’s property is on the list of potential street tree sites please get a signed permission slip to me ASAP.  Anyone interested should contact Eric French at cohort86@msn.com.

MWSS 1st Annual Flowerbox Contest
The MWSS will be awarding 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes for the best container, flower box, or tubs on the street sides of houses in the Mexican War Streets.  Judging will be done during the first week of August with photos of winners included in the September issue of the newsletter as well as recognition during the MWSS House Tour on September 14th. Send questions to Sandy Kniess, MWSS Social/Events Chair at Kniess1@comcast.net.

MWSS Local Historic Review
Wanted: Volunteers to sit on the Local Historic Review Committee for the Mexican War Streets neighborhood.  You must live or own property in the historic district.  Volunteers will meet on a monthly basis to review any proposals submitted to the City Historic Commission of Pittsburgh.  If interested contact Greg Mucha at gjmucha@aol.com.

Give Me The Archives
This is a open request to all former officers and board of directors from 1977 to the present of the Mexican War Streets Society. In our 37-year history, some records have become misplaced or mislaid. I am collecting and cataloging all of our business and oral history for archiving in our neighborhood as well for transferring to qualified local history repositories for future availability. We have a wonderful story to tell, and want the information readily accessible to all who may wish to do graduate research, city planning, or just put a finger on something. Please contact David McMunn 412.231.1316 with anything of value to the Society.

Picture This
You are sitting down with an old box of postcards or photographs of 80 years ago, 30 years ago or just last week. The MWSS is under contract with the Aracadia Publishing Company to produce an Images of America series book about the Mexican War Streets. You have undoubtedly seen their sepia-toned covers and local titles at area book retailers. Frank Kownacki and David McMunn are collecting photographs (they will be handled gently and promptly returned) from the many eras of our little neighborhood. Won't you please aid in this ambitious work? Please contact Frank Kownacki at 412.231.8237 or David McMunn at 412. 231.1316. All of the proceeds from the sale of this book go directly to the MWSS's Streetscape Plan.

Readers for the New Moon Book Club:
The Readers for the New Moon have selected works by local authors for the reading list and invite the neighborhood to read along and join our monthly discussions. Books include: The Hills of Angheri by Kavery Nambisan, City of Asylum; Last Stands by Hilary Masters; Afterimage by Kathleen George; Resurrecting Allegheny City: The Land, Structures & People of Pittsburgh’s North Side by Lisa Miles; Make the Impossible Possible by William Strickland; Senselessness by Horacio Moya, writer in residence, City of Asylum, translated by Katherine Silver.
Please write Sandra Kniess kniess1@comcast.net for details.

[back to headlines]

The War Street Journal

Click on the newsletter below to download a PDF* copy of The War Street Journal.

The War Street Journal July/August 2008 Issue (5.2MB)
Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (Free Download).

The War Street Journal is the official newsletter of the MWSS.
Interested in receiving a copy? Please contact Leslie Vincen.