Letter to the editor: Sewickley Academy should embrace local history
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Sewickley Academy will soon be asking the Edgeworth Planning Commission to approve a plan to reconfigure Nichols Field and the Newington Blacksmith’s House property at the corner of Village Drive and Beaver Road. Unfortunately, their preliminary plans call for the demolition of the historic houses on both properties.
In an opinion piece recently published in the Sewickley Herald, The Sewickley Valley Historical Society made a strong case for preserving the Blacksmith’s house. Now, we know that a case will have to be made to preserve the house on the Nichols Field property that, up until last year, served as the residence for the Head-of-School at the Academy.
Why would the Society’s Architecture Committee take the time to tell the story of these properties? For one thing, the Academy’s vague statement regarding the purchase sent a chill through those who value the ties we still have to the earliest days of life in the Sewickley Valley.
The Academy has a spotty record when it comes to preservation. They have done well in some cases, but not in others. And while historic preservation is not (and should not be) high on the list of the school’s priorities – the purchase of historic properties places a mantel of responsibility upon the school and its leaders. In the past, they have appeared to purchase properties without considering the impact of their plans on those properties and on their neighbors.
Adding to concerns: Edgeworth does not have any historic zoning regulations. While the borough’s position might be understandable, we can only hope that purchasers of historically significant properties in Edgeworth (and throughout the Sewickley Valley) will consider preservation as part of their plans. The Historical Society has extensive records and is a valuable resource for any research on many properties in the community.
Sewickley Academy’s mission is to educate. Over the past 25 years, the school has remade its Edgeworth campus to further this mission. However, the Academy also has deep roots in the community. It was founded in 1838 — years before Sewickley and Edgeworth were established as boroughs. It is part of the very fabric of these communities, which is why it is so important that the leaders of the school take more than a cursory interest in the buildings on the properties they own or acquire.
At one time, the school owned several homes, on and off campus, that served as residences for administrators and faculty. Times have changed and offering housing for administrators and faculty has fallen out of fashion. But, the school has shown in the past that it can repurpose houses-something they should strongly consider.For example, the house on the Nichols Field property could be converted to offices for the athletic department. The Blacksmith’s home could become a museum for the many photos and artifacts that chronicle the school’s illustrious history as well as offices for alumni affairs. The driveway could be maintained (keeping the globe street lights that once graced roads and drives in Edgeworth) and with the demolition of the barn (which was built in the 1970s and has no historical significance) the Academy could build the parking lot for Nichols Field.
Finally, many years ago Sewickley Academy’s motto was “Knowledge is Power.” It was a bold statement – one that in the current era probably would not be made given our “woke” culture. But, it was clear in reminding us that education is important. One would hope that armed with new knowledge of the property they have recently purchased, the leaders of the Academy will use their power wisely.
John Poister
Sewickley Academy Class of 1968
Former executive director of the Sewickley Valley Historical Society