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Findings in Our Community By Charles Honeywell We have taken several actions that, while quite different, point to the value of research skills and how they play into the history, current events, and future of our communities.
Case 1. This photo of our next door apartment building continues the story of another neighborhood where we suspected arson. (a statement that is legally safe to print in public) Citizens in another neighborhood of Pittsburgh had tried to get an apartment building torn down for 10 years. After a fire, (not electrical, because there had been no electricity in the building.) and after we sent research to the arson squad - research into the past owners and contractors showing them tied to organized crime - the apartment suddenly came down within a month. Quite a victory for residents. The next fire was also arson, the apartment building next to our church, which was awaiting renovation. Research, indeed, showed the same previous owners of the other building and still another property across the city that also burned by arson (3 by one owner). Without saying they’re connected, the pattern seems quite obvious. One parishioner knew of the research and asked me with a wink, do you think this was a message? My reply was, “Of course not, we never have reprisal, it was probably wine’os.” After laughing a bit, we talked of the next steps we must now take to get this eyesore renovated and back into a condition commensurate with the quality of the neighborhood. The block club folks did the research on computer and found these ties. They were happy to have learned the skills and to see the connections. Their appreciation for the church ministry is obvious and gives them hope for the future of their community. Case 2. Our church’s historical research has astounded and surprised those of us who are involved. For example: Do you know where the Standard Oil Company started? Most read in their history books that it was incorporated in Cleveland. Actually, we have found that several men got together in the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh to form the first commercial refinery in the country, The Brilliant Oil Works built in 1861. Shortly thereafter, J. D. Rockefeller came to Pittsburgh and met local oil man, Charles Lockhart, and with three others formed the Standard Oil Company here. This was verified from the Autobiography of Charles Lockhart, who was the Standard oil president. That Standard Oil started in Pittsburgh is also verified by an internet site. Now add Mellon and its oil industry, Gulf Oil, with its control of Kuwait oil, and we have a financial empire that started in East Liberty. Add to that the aluminum, steel, coke (the Henry.C. Frick mansion is near East Liberty), food (with H.J. Heinz), and railroad industries, along with the beginnings of electricity generation and distribution through George Westinghouse of East Liberty. Further adding the Hunts of Alcoa, Andrew Carnegie of steel power, and more could, in fact, lead one to say that the leaders of the Industrial Revolution in America came from East Liberty. These have been astounding facts that raise the eyebrows of many, and our little church, some other organizations, and a few citizens are putting together an Historical/Cultural center. Quite exciting, and it all begins and continues with research. These two actions are quite different,
yet lead to recognizing power situations that have controlled our
communities in the past, and although a different network today,
control your communities now. We must teach these skills to our
people so they can study the history of their area as well as current
issues. Both control your communities today. The roots of wealth
still have foundations that either give money for your enrichment,
or withhold it for other projects. Money controls your community
whether by history in telling its version of the story today, or
development that gets rid of the dirty disruptive elements such
as arson rings that destroy. Our community foundations have a chance
to make a difference in our communities by helping us with renewal.
Our churches must learn how to involve them in a meaningful way.
One is confronting the evil elements that destroy, like arson rings,
the other is magnifying a positive issue until you get your due,
like a historical/cultural center. They’re both important
parts of ministry from your congregation. Get busy. Charles Honeywell
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