Crumbling foundation at Cross on the Hill poses safety hazard, donations sought

Major structural repairs are being eyed for the Cross on the Hill, an Alle-Kiski Valley icon that shines from the bluff over the Allegheny River in Lower Burrell.

A crumbling foundation will require up to $10,000 to fix, said Karen Snair, executive director of the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches in Harrison.

The ministry maintains the cross and pays the electric bill to light it.

“The concrete base is starting to deteriorate,” Snair said. “We have also been informed by engineers that there is concern regarding how the cross is anchored.”

Early estimates place repairs at up to $10,000.

For safety reasons, raising money for the repairs is taking a top priority for AVAC.

The cross was first dedicated in April 1956 during an Easter sunrise service in Tarentum’s Dreshar Stadium with about 2,000 people attending.

The project was the result of a campaign by the First Presbyterian Church of Tarentum and a gracious agreement by then-landowner Mildred Hess, who signed a $1 per year, 99-year lease with the church to use a grassy area on her Hilltop Drive property.

Engineers at Alcoa Technical Center in New Kensington designed the 34-foot cross. Allegheny Ludlum in Brackenridge donated the steel and fabricated it at its plant in New York.

AVAC took ownership of the illuminated cross several years later.

Today, it shines nightly over Tarentum, East Deer, Brackenridge and parts of Route 28.

“We are very aware of the popularity of the cross and the meaning it has for so many,” Snair said.

Because it is on private property, the cross is closed to view-seekers but there have been some events held there with permission.

Dean Ward, pastor of The River – A Community Church in New Kensington, recently filmed an online sermon from beneath the cross.

His roving services are an effort to engage people from across the area in his Sunday message.

“The cross is absolutely a treasured spot in our area,” Ward said. “You can’t get a more iconic symbol to represent the news of Jesus Christ.”

While filming, Ward said, he noticed that the four-foot concrete base needs attention.

“I’m glad efforts are being made because this cross is so beautifully lit at night and it is awe-inspiring for many,” he said.

Snair said repairs have been necessary in the past but it’s usually been a quick fix by patching the concrete.

This time it’s more serious, she said.

It’s been about 10 years since the cross has required any extensive attention, Snair said.

About two years ago, the ministry paid $6,500 for rewiring. Snair said there are plans to switch to LED lighting in coming years to save money and increase efficiency.

Maintenance is paid solely through donations, she said.

To contribute, mail a check to AVAC Cross, 1913 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights, PA 15065 or visit online at avaoc.org.