April 11, 2023
by Michael Madeya, President, Pittsburgh PrimeTimers®
You may be wondering “What’s all the hype about pickles in Pittsburgh?” When Henry J. Heinz started what would later become the H. J. Heinz Company in 1869, he delivered products including pickles, horseradish and vinegar in a horse-drawn carriage to customers in Pittsburgh. The pickle legacy has grown in Pittsburgh to include pickleball courts in county parks as well as “Picklesburgh”, the annual pickle festival on the Roberto Clemente Bridge, downtown. The pickle legacy is not the only legacy, though; the Heinz family rebranded the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania into the H. John Heinz History Center and, on April 28, 1996, it was dedicated to the memory of the late U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania who died in a 1991 plane crash. He was Henry Heinz’s great grandson.
The History Center has not only collected unique treasures from Pittsburgh’s past but of Western Pennsylvania and beyond. The collection not only highlights Pittsburgh’s accomplishments but also high-lights Pittsburgh’s contribution to the world. Pittsburgh’s renown as the steelmaking capital of the world is just one of the many pivotal roles the city has played in the development of this country.
Katie, the museum’s visitor experience assistant, greeted our group as we gathered in front of the History Center and invited us inside. She asked me to hand out the museum maps and payment stickers for our lapels as she collected the entrance fees, then introduced me to Bruce, our docent.
Bruce took us to the Great Hall to begin our tour. He gave us information on the building’s architectural and historical significance, then directed our attention to one of the very first Jeep prototypes, built in Butler County (just 15 minutes from Pittsburgh) by the American Bantam Car Company. It later would be mass-produced by the US government for use in World War II.
Bruce offered us some trivia as we made our way from the Great Hall onward to the upper levels. One interesting detail involved the familiar saying “be there with bells on”, and Bruce explained its origin and meaning:
A common source of transportation for early American settlers was a horse-drawn wagon and the mule, horse or ox wore a neck strap decorated with bells. As the story goes, when a wagon-driver became stuck, broke a wheel or had to be rescued, the responder would ask for a set of bells for the reward. So, if you arrived at your destination with your bells on, you had a sense of accomplishment or pride. Therefore, when you tell someone you will be there with bells on, what you are saying is that you will get there without any misfortune.
We ascended from the Great Hall to the fifth floor on an elevator and were taken back in time to the 1700s when Fort Pitt was constructed and held by the British in the Seven Years’ War at the point where the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers converge to form the Ohio River. Now called Point State Park, it is a National Historic Landmark and park. We reviewed the history of the war and examined artifacts and were told how the lifelike figurines of George Washington and Native Americans were made with such intricate detail.
The Heinz History Center is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute. Iconic Pittsburgh artifacts such as the world’s oldest Jeep and one of the first commercial radio transmitters are always on view there. But what impressed me most in the Smithsonian exhibit was the Freedom House Ambulance Service, an incredible reminder of the strength, courage and determination of African Americans in their fight for free-dom. It was the first Emergency Medical Service (EMS) in the United States! Staffed by African Americans from its inception, it serves as a powerful symbol that even during turbulent times of oppression, there are those who will stand up and make a difference. This exhibit is an important part of the Heinz History Center’s commitment, with the Smithsonian Institute, to illustrate how far we have come. The dedication shown by these brave individuals should never be forgotten.
Everyone enjoyed the inspirational educational and cultural tour and could have stayed longer, but we had dinner reservations at a nearby restaurant.
After we found our table at the Church Brew Works, I distributed Heinz pickle pins that I had purchased at the gift shop for all of our members who attended. One of our members, Brett, remarked that the restaurant staff were probably saying there are a bunch of old men back by the wall showing each other their pickles. Brett is one of my favorite PrimeTimers®: A writer and a poet by profession, he is well-researched in gay cultures from ancient Greece to New York City. His words can put a smile on anyone’s face!
If you have never been to Pittsburgh before, it’s really worth a visit. The Heinz History Center is just one of the many attractions that would compete for your time while visiting. Other educational, cultural and fun events are waiting here in Pittsburgh for you to discover.
Photos courtesy of Pittsburgh PrimeTimers®