Henry Buhl, Jr. was born in 1848 and died in 1927. His will created The Buhl Foundation which was dedicated to “charitable, educational, and public uses and purposes” as a memorial to his beloved wife, Louise C. Buhl.
The members of the Board of the Allegheny City Society would like to help me present to you a few of the many projects that this foundation has supported in its almost 80 years of existence:
First, those targeted to Community and Neighborhood development in the North Side:
- Woods Run area of the 27th Ward (1928 – the 1st year).
- Planning Study of the North Side (1952) – impact of highway development in Manchester & East Street Valley – and – Allegheny Center Project.
- Neighborhood Centers Association (1960) – Manchester and Woods Run communities.
- Federal-North Project (1994)
- Sprint Garden Residential Project (1994)
- Study of Business Improvement Districts along and Western Avenue (1999) and East Ohio Street (2004)
- Pittsburgh Project programs in Charles Street Valley and Perry South neighborhoods (2005)
Second, those targeted to Educational and Cultural Programs for all Ages:
- Scholarly studies in the history of Southwestern Pennsylvania
- Establishment of the Buhl Planetarium & Institute of Popular Science (1938-39) – over $1,000,00. Located on the site of the former Allegheny City Hall
- “Reading is Fundamental” (1971)
- P.H.L.F. – program in Old Post Office Museum (1971)
- Bidwell Cultural and Training Center & Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild (1970’s & 1980’s)
- Pressley Ridge Educational Program (1980’s)
- Manchester Youth Development Program (1990’s)
- Allegheny City Society (1994)
- Pittsburgh Public Theater’s “Galileo Project” (1977 & 1981)
- Mattress Factory Programs (1994 & 2002)
- National Aviary – “Ends of the Earth” exhibit. (1999)
- Pittsburgh Children’s Museum
- Strategic Plan (1994)
- Adaptation of the Buhl Planetarium into the Children’s Museum complex (2002) — $1,500,000
Third, those supporting Social Services for the people of the North Side:
- Craig Hause/Technoma (1970)
- St. Johns Hospital MH/MR program (1979)
- North Side Common Ministries (1993)
- Mercy Health Care Foundation (2001)
- Providence Family Support Center (2002)
Finally, those supporting Recreational programs:
- Pittsburgh Parks and Recreation Study (1935)
- Greater Pittsburgh Parks Association (1946)
- Riverview Park Centennial (1994)
- Parks Conservancy for Riverview Park (1999)
- Allegheny Commons Master Planning Process (2001)
- Riverview Park Restoration of the Chapel shelter (2002)
- Three Rivers Rowing Association (2005)
- Allegheny Commons Restoration Program (2006)
