National Negro Opera Company
Homewood West neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | |
Coordinates | 40°27′51″N 79°53′45″W / 40.4642°N 79.89571°W |
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Built/founded | House: 1908 Company: 1941 |
Architectural style(s) | Queen Anne style |
Governing body/ | Jonnet Solomon-Nowlin & Miriam White |
PHMC dedicated | September 25, 1994 |
CPHD designated | May 20, 2008 |
The National Negro Opera Company (1941–1962) was the most successful
History
Organized in
The company disbanded in 1962 upon Dawson's death.[2]
Although the company toured nationally, its offices and studios were housed in a three-story
After the Opera departed, the building transitioned into a social hub and boarding house known as Mystery Manor, often hosting visiting celebrities and athletes who were excluded from the local segregated hotels.[2][4][5]
In 1994, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission designated the NNOC's house on Apple Street a historic structure; it became a Pittsburgh City Historic Landmark in 2008.[5] In 2003 and again in 2013, the Young Preservationists of Pittsburgh included the building on their "Top 10" preservation opportunities.
Purchased in 2000 by Pittsburgh residents Jonnet Solomon and Miriam White, after years of plans to transform the historic building into a museum and arts center, it remains dilapidated.[2][6][5] [4]
In 2020, the National Trust for Historic Preservation added the building to its annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.[7][2]
Restoration work on the structure began in 2022, with a targeted completion date of 2024.[8]
References
- ISBN 978-0-520-08395-0.
- ^ Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
- ^ "YPA Top 10 Preservation Opportunities for a Brighter Future" (PDF). Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh. July 16, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c Sisson, Patrick (2016-05-03). "The Preservation Puzzle of Mystery Manor, an Oasis of Black Culture in Pittsburgh". Curbed. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
- ^ Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
- ^ Nelson Jones, Diana (2007-05-02). "Preservationists hope plaque is first step toward rebirth of storied Homewood house". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
- ^ Washington, Dontae. "Restorations finally underway for historic National Negro Opera Company House in Pittsburgh". Pittsburgh City Paper.
Further reading
Archives at | ||||
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How to use archival material |
- Altman, Susan (1997). Encyclopedia African-American Heritage. New York: Facts on File. ISBN 0-8160-3289-0.
- Negro Opera Company Documentary on WQED