Wisdom Keepers from Lawrenceville United

The Wisdom Keepers Project is an oral history of longtime Lawrenceville residents’ memories and stories of the neighborhood to preserve the community’s rich history. We hope Lawrenceville residents and anyone stumbling upon these stories will enjoy them for years to come. This project was made possible through AARP’s Community Challenge Grant Program and spearheaded by Lawrenceville United, a resident-driven, non-profit organization that works to improve and protect the quality of life for all Lawrenceville residents.

Barb Kelly 04/24/2024

Barb Kelly Barb is a lifelong resident of Lawrenceville, and she has always cared deeply about her neighbors and neighborhood. She grew up in the 6th Ward and now lives in the 9th Ward. She was a hairdresser to lots of residents over the years. Barb shares a lot of memories around her childhood, family, and civic engagement. To this day, she serves as a key member of the Lawrenceville Fireworks Committee which puts on Pittsburgh’s longest running annual fireworks show. In 2024, it will be the 78th year of fireworks in the neighborhood! Barb is kind and always there to help a neighbor. You can find her portrait on the Wisdom Keepers mural at 48th and Butler. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/30966458

Lenny Garlicki 03/04/2024

Lenny Garlicki Lenny is a lifelong resident of Lawrenceville and is proud to be from the neighborhood. He has been singing for most of his life at Holy Family and the national anthem at the Lawrenceville Independence Day Celebration. Lenny shares memories of working at Pittsburgh Piping, meeting his wife, Marge, and raising his kids in the neighborhood. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/30213428

Judy Stupka 03/04/2024

Judy Stupka Judy Stupka is a lifelong resident of the 9th Ward. She shares memories of growing up with her 9 siblings in the neighborhood. She shares a fun memory of riding on a neighbor’s pony on her street and the fun of playing in the neighborhood streets. She shares the implications of the neighborhood evolving over time and how she has grown older with her family in the neighborhood. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/30213298

Jim Petruzzi 03/04/2024

Jim Petruzzi Jim shares about growing up in a Lawrenceville that was not so safe and his experiences as a former postal worker. In his reflections, he shares the history of both Lawrenceville and Lawrenceville United. He was involved on the LU Board in the early days and assisted with the Block Watches that were determined to make the neighborhood safer. The work of Jim and fellow neighbors helped to shape Lawrenceville as we know it today. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/30213153

Jenny Skrinjar 03/04/2024

Jenny Skrinjar Jenny is a lifelong 10th Ward resident. She reflects on how the neighborhood has changed over the years with regards to homeownership, religion, safety, and family size. Jenny helped to form Lawrenceville United in 2001 with fellow neighbors who were determined to increase neighborhood safety and improve residents’ quality of life. She was a leader of the monthly Block Watches and Jenny’s advocacy played a large role in making Lawrenceville safer and thriving. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/30213048

Jackie Murray 03/04/2024

Jackie Murray Jackie is a 9th Warder and she shares her memories of the neighborhood, including the pizza shop she owned with her husband, the Pizza Supreme, whose number remains up right by the GetGo on 40th Street. She reflects on the changes to Butler Street, her family’s adventures, and her different jobs. Now, Jackie can often be found walking around the neighborhood with a big smile and a hello for everyone she sees. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/30212928

Edward Kacpryzk 03/04/2024

Edward Kacpryzk Edward was born in Wales and his family immigrated to the USA and Lawrenceville when he was young. He spent a lot of time at the Boys Club growing up and beginning his creative endeavors in art. He discusses meeting his wife and raising his family and how his life and the neighborhood have evolved over the years. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/30212833

Mark Lewandowski 03/04/2024

Mark Lewandowski Mark is a lifelong resident of Lawrenceville, specifically of the 9th Ward. Mark shares lots of memories about growing up and staying in the neighborhood – enjoying boxing at the Boys Club, attending Holy Family, and living nearby his family. He remains dedicated to the neighborhood, and even when others would suggest he move away when the neighborhood was considered less safe, Mark always felt at home in the community and worked towards making the neighborhood safer. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/30212498

Pat Walsh 03/04/2024

Pat Walsh Pat shares memories of growing in Lawrenceville during the 1930s and the businesses and community members she remembers very distinctly, including: Penn Baking, St. Mary’s Lyceum, fortune tellers, hair salons, and more. You never had to travel too far out of the neighborhood to get exactly what you needed. She shares memories about friends and family members and how the neighborhood has shifted overtime. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/30212458

Irene Chmill 03/04/2024

Irene Chmill Irene grew up in the 10th Ward with her 8 siblings before moving to Morningside when she was in her 20s. She reflects on her childhood – playing in the alleys, walking on Butler St, swimming at Leslie Park, and buying ice cream at the Tastee-Freez. Irene also reflects on her jobs and the community feel of the neighborhood as she was growing up. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/30212348

Barbara Strong 03/04/2024

Barbara Strong Barbara reflects on growing up in Lawrenceville. She shares a lot of memories of her rides on the streetcar all around the city and going to different businesses around Lawrenceville with her family and friends. She acknowledges how the neighborhood has evolved and what the neighborhood means to her. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/30212273

Barbara Millward 02/27/2024

Barbara Millward Barbara grew up in Lawrenceville and shares a lot of memories of her childhood. She would find herself at Leslie Park everyday during the summer. Some memories she touches on are the Memorial Day Parade, Girl Scouts, Frank’s Bakery, Keystone Candies, Lupi’s Pizza, and more! Barbara has moved away since her childhood, but has been stunned to witness the changes to the neighborhood since she was little. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29944978

Eileen D’Amico 02/14/2024

Eileen D’Amico Eileen grew up in the 9th Ward and always lived near St. Francis Hospital (now Children’s Hospital) and the critical role that hospital has played in her life. Everyone she knew worked at St. Francis, so Eileen ended up spending a lot of her time there. She reflects on how the neighborhood, community and businesses have evolved over the years. Eileen acknowledges that the Vietnam War had a huge impact on drug use in the neighborhood and had such a lasting impact for years. She considers herself one of the last to leave the neighborhood and feels that Lawrenceville really started to “come back” in the 1990s and 2000s as artists moved in, Art All Night started, progressive dinners happened, and more. Eileen shares a rich history of the community. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29957643

Elsie Cristillo, Jeffrey Cristina, Cheryl Mosco 02/14/2024

Elsie Cristillo, Jeffrey Cristina, Cheryl Mosco Cheryl recently reconnected with family friends Elsie and Jeffrey. All grew up in Lawrenceville, Elsie is Jeffrey’s mother and Cheryl was a few years younger than Jeffrey while they were all growing up. Together they share their different perspectives on their lives and experiences in the neighborhood. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29957558

Christine Larcovic 02/14/2024

Christine Larcovic Christine spent some of her adult years away from Lawrenceville, but Hatfield Street has always been home. Christine reflects on life growing up in the neighborhood and experiencing the changes of the neighborhood, the good and the challenging, through the years. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29957533

Patty Enz 02/14/2024

Patty Enz Patty did not grow up in Lawrenceville, but she raised her 5 children in the neighborhood. She was an active volunteer working with kids and people in recovery throughout Lawrenceville. Patty shares a lot of her favorite memories of the neighborhood including Doo Dah Days, watching the Lawrenceville Youth Sports, and the Fourth of July. Although she no longer lives in Lawrenceville, she is a regular at Lawrenceville’s Healthy Active Living Center and you can often find her walking on Butler St with her husband Bill. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29946598

Alberta Mosco 02/14/2024

Alberta Mosco As a lifelong Lawrenceville resident, Alberta has many stories to share about growing up, raising children, and staying in the neighborhood. Growing up in Lawrenceville was not always easy, but she walked the neighborhood often and enjoyed ice cream and could always find a grocery store to visit for a snack. She shares that in spite of the challenges faced, she’s glad to have grown up when she did. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29946533

Della Baker 02/14/2024

Della Baker Della moved out of Lawrenceville 14 years ago, but lived in the neighborhood for over 70 years. She offers a rich history of the neighborhood and discusses the close knit nature of Lawrenceville and how you never had to leave it to access anything you need, and sometimes you wouldn’t even leave your ward. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29946453

Carol Wells 02/14/2024

Carol Wells Although Carol did not grow up in the Lawrenceville neighborhood, she has called it home for nearly 25 years. Carol enjoys reading, art, and being with friends. She shares her experiences of the neighborhood and how it has evolved over the years that she has lived there. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29946433

Mickey McGrane 02/14/2024

Mickey McGrane Mickey grew up in the 9th Ward and shares great memories of sports and family in Lawrenceville while sitting in the gym at St. Mary’s Lyceum. His father started 9th Ward Youth Sports and the field behind is named after him, John “Baldy” McGrane field. Mickey took on the charge of running 9th Ward Youth Sports and continues to run it to this day. He is dedicated to his neighborhood and serves on the Lawrenceville Fireworks Committee. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29946368

Miguel Sague 02/14/2024

Miguel Sague Miguel has served on the Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center since 1977 and lived in Lawrenceville with his son for about 10 years from the mid 1980s-mid 1990s. When he moved to Lawrenceville he learned about the Lenni Lenape tribe who were the first to live in what is now considered to be Lower Lawrenceville. At that time, it was known as Shannopin Town. Miguel provides an Indigenous perspective and history of Lawrenceville and Pennsylvania. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29945993

Mary Moses 02/14/2024

Mary Moses Mary has always been very active in Lawrenceville. She worked for Pittsburgh Public Schools, and following her retirement she started a club for kids to learn about Arsenal Park’s history and Shannopin Town. Mary has also been an active mobility and transportation advocate. She shares a lot of memories of Lawrenceville – the fireworks, first kisses, and more. Mary has played a large role in shaping the Lawrenceville that exists today. You can find her portrait on the Wisdom Keepers mural at 48th and Butler. Artwork by Maggie Lynn Negrete /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29945858

Monica Griffin 02/14/2024

Monica Griffin Monica shares her experiences, both the joyful and the challenging, of growing up in the neighborhood. She faced some personal and familial adversities, but also shared memories of her neighbors and how she built her relationship with her husband. Monica offers a frank and personal account of her life in Lawrenceville. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29945548

Della Baker 02/14/2024

Mary Petrich 02/14/2024

Mary Petrich Mary Petrich loves her neighborhood! She worked as a nurse at St. Francis Hospital (now the site of Children’s Hospital) and shares interesting stories of her time there and growing up in the neighborhood. Be sure to listen for Liberace receiving life saving treatment at St. Francis! Mary has been very involved in the neighborhood and with her family and brings a positive spirit to all she does. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29944663

Lena Hotujec 02/14/2024

Lena Hotujec Lena’s niece, Chris Larcovic, shares her memories of Lena and what a powerhouse she was in the neighborhood during her life. She was an advocate and support for various immigrant groups as they arrived in the neighborhood and helped to shape Lawrenceville as it exists today. You can find her portrait on the Wisdom Keepers mural at 48th and Butler. Artwork by Maggie Lynn Negrete /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29944598

Christine Larcovic 02/14/2024

Bruce Szwaczkowski 02/14/2024

Bruce Szwaczkowski Bruce shares about his experiences growing up in the neighborhood and his impressions of the shifts in the neighborhood over the years. He reflects on Butler Streets old businesses – his favorite Gunther’s cake, the Arsenal Theatre, Olga at G.C. Murphy’s, Coney Island, and more. The neighborhood has changed a lot since he was a kid, but what Bruce appreciates about the Lawrenceville of today is that people are making use of all the businesses coming in. If you find yourself at the Lawrenceville Farmers Market at Bay41, you will likely see Bruce in his red zip up hoodie and dog treats to share. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29944253

Audrey Pring 02/14/2024

Audrey Pring Audrey grew up in Lawrenceville and has been a 9th Warder most of her life. She reflects on her memories of the neighborhood when there were lots of mills, grocery stores, and all the general necessities you needed. Audrey also shares a lot of her family’s history, the good and the challenging. The neighborhood has changed a lot since Audrey was young, but she’s glad to still live here. She was a recipient of Lawrenceville United’s Neighbor of the Year award in 2023 for her dedication to making others feel at home in Lawrenceville. Artwork by Maggie Lynn Negrete /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29944233

Ann Ruszkowski 02/14/2024

Ann Ruszkowski Ann grew up in the 9th and 10th wards in a large family, and then moved around the City of Pittsburgh before returning to Lawrenceville where she has remained for 50+ years. She shares a lot of her memories around her childhood, Butler Street businesses, and raising a family in Lawrenceville. She says the neighborhood was one where people looked out for each other and she is glad for her good memories. Artwork by Maggie Lynn Negrete. /episode/index/show/42bebb9e-3378-4982-952a-0fcc6ef20636/id/29944188

Wisdom Keepers from Lawrenceville United

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