McCandless museum hosts 5th anniversary open house

The fifth anniversary celebration of the McCandless/North Allegheny Heritage Center on May 21 will showcase recent acquisitions honoring two prominent, local, historical figures.

The museum, located on 830 Aufman Lane, will feature paintings and books signed and owned by Judge Wilson McCandless, the Town of McCandless being his namesake, as well as a special display honoring late local historian Joe Bullick, according to Abby Lucostic, chair of the Heritage Center Financial Development and Promotional Committee.

Admission will be free to the museum, which will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A portrait of Judge McCandless is a “magnificent new acquisition” for the museum, Lucostic said.

“The portrait of Judge McCandless is an incredible artifact of our local history which we are honored to be stewards of,” she said.

Born in 1810, McCandless became a lawyer in Pittsburgh, who ultimately handled the separation of the Town of McCandless from Pine Township. The portrait of Judge McCandless is believed to be painted by James Reid Lambdin, a renowned portrait painter of his time, who was commissioned by President Buchanan to paint portraits of 15 U.S. Presidents, according to Lucostic.

The special display honoring the memory of the late local historian Joe Bullick, called “Joe’s Corner,” explains Bullick’s impact on the community, according to Lucostic.

Bullick was a lifelong resident of the Wexford area and an employee of the North Allegheny School District for 40 years. He collected pieces of North Hills history and other memorabilia. He passed away on May 25, 2019, at age 87.

“Many in our community knew Joe’s warm, welcoming personality and Joe’s Corner will offer visitors a chance to feel like they’re sharing a moment with Joe once again,” she said.

Both the McCandless artifacts and the Bullick display are important permanent collections to be housed at the center, according to Lucostic.

“Our committee has worked hard to put together a fifth-anniversary event bringing the community to our front yard. The McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage center is important and relevant to the well being and enhancement of the lives of the citizens of Allegheny County,” said Joe Wall, vice chair of the Heritage Center Financial Development and Promotional Committee.

The McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage Center opened on May 20 in 2017, featuring most of Bullick’s collection and other items, which were signed over to the Town of McCandless at that time. The Bullick collection includes North Allegheny School District photographs, documents, yearbooks, and sports memorabilia; 20th century artifacts of popular culture, such as toys, household items, tools, military memorabilia and more. It also houses North Hills-related research materials and photos, including the surrounding communities of Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, Marshall, Pine, and Ross townships.

Current hours of operation for the museum are Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

The day also will feature several nearby McCandless activities, such as Treasures in the Trunk, a vehicle-trunk sale alternative to the yard sale, sponsored by the McCandless Activities Committee from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Town Hall Parking lot.

Youth sporting events will be held at the soccer and baseball fields located next to the museum, including two North Allegheny Soccer Club games at 10:30 a.m. and noon, and a youth baseball game at noon at the field below the museum. Both are within walking distance to the museum.

Visit www.townofmccandless.org for more information.