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AVENUE m a g a z i n e
WINTER 2020/21
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GLAMPING GETAWAYS
AN INSIDER’S GUIDE
Let’s get lost
Just in time for the New Year, whisk yourself away to these fabulous getaways in New England.
EXPLORE
Want to experience the great outdoors without sacrificing the amenities of a swanky hotel? The latest mobile hospitality concepts give camping a five-star makeover.
DESTINATIONS
From Kennebunkport to Block Island
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MEET DIDI & CHARLES
WHAT A DOLL Introducing our latest (and littlest) members The Duquesne Club invites you to come along as our two new characters spring to life inside the pages of Avenue 6 and their very own illustrated children’s book.
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DESTINATIONS
ALL ABOARD Locomote across the landscape for an inspiring winter adventure Winter is a magical time, and a scenic train ride is an inspired way to not only get to the destination you desire, but also to see the most beautiful views and stops you might not have thought of along the way.
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THE VIEW ON 6TH PLUGGED IN TO YOUR HEALTH CLUB CRAFTED CONNECTIONS ON THE SCENE IN THE GLASS TASTE OF THE SEASON DEMYSTIFYING THE MEMBERSHIP PROCESS GIVING BACK IMPECCABLE SERVICE
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CLUB HISTORY: THE WOODWELL’S WORLD
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A LOOK BACK
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Welcome to the fall/winter edition of Avenue 6. In this issue, we’re pleased to introduce you to our newest members - Didi and Charles, the Duquesne Club Fox. These two characters – inspired by the real-life discovery, by member Jim Nassif and his grandchildren, of a beautiful wild fox on the roof of the clubhouse – will take us on a tour of the Club from the perspective of a young girl and her sophisticated friend, who happens to be a wild grey fox. Didi and Charles will usher children into the DC experience, along with their parents, and hopefully, new family traditions will be created along the way. Also, in this issue we’ll take you on a coastal getaway in New England, invite all aboard to locomote across the landscape for an inspiring winter adventure by train, learn what measures Health & Fitness is taking to keep your workouts safe, check out the latest in mobile hospitality concepts, and take a look at the simplicity of the membership process. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you and your family for your continued support in membership and use of the Club. As regulations allow, we look forward to seeing you at the Club with your family, friends, and colleagues.
Best Wishes,
Scott Neill Secretary and General Manager Duquesne Club
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Thank You 2020 has undoubtedly been a challenge, and we look forward to the hope of a new year. Your diligence, respect for yourself and others, and your generosity have enabled the Club to continue to offer a safe place of fellowship for all members, guests, and staff. We extend wishes for a season filled with meaning, camaraderie, and joy – which occasionally arises in the most unexpected places.
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E X P L O R E
lamour G +
CAMPING
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THE REFINED WAY OF ROUGHING IT
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d EXPERIENCE THE GREAT OUTDOORS WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE AMENITIES OF A SWANKY HOTEL Shorthand for glamour camping, glamping has been around since Ernest Hemingway first penned The Snows of Kilimanjaro while on an African safari in the 1930s. While glamping has been gaining steam for years now, the travel trend that melds an outdoorsy experience with super-cozy beds and high-pressure shower heads seems poised to gain an even bigger share of the hospitality industry. Glamping’s recent resurgence in popularity is apparent mid-pandemic. After all, why enjoy the splendor of nature at all if you can’t indulge in the comforts of specialty cocktails and gourmet treats under the open sky? Think of glamping as securing your well-deserved V.I.P. spot at the campfire. These days, you can get lost in style with the latest luxe camping spots popping up in locales in the southeastern United States, where winter weather is mild enough to lure you outside.
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Falling Water Virginia s ’ ADVENTURE RESORT EASTERN SHORE This North Carolina getaway offers yurt rentals to accommodate its sporty clientele. Daytime activities at the resort include ziplining, river rafting and canopy tours; at night, luxuriate in amenities like fresh linens, a private fridge and indoor coffee maker. This gem in the Smoky Mountains offers a fix of that campsite life with picnic tables, a shared bath house, and charcoal grills.
These are not your grandfather’s campgrounds. For a quick taste of the glamping life without straying too far from home, try a yurt on the Chesapeake Bay or a historic watch house at offshore oyster grounds. Resort camping here is a different animal, with movie nights, swimming pools, rental and tackle shops, playgrounds, restaurants, camp stores, coffee shops, organized games, spots to juice up your electronics and concierges to help you plan interesting day trips. While Virginia offers a range of campgrounds on the Upper, Lower and Middle shores, a yurt on the beach at Kiptopeke State Park is a unique choice. More than a tent but still very elemental, these yurts are perched on a high bluff overlooking the water, with a private deck offering a view of a spectacular Chesapeake Bay beach.
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Camp LECONTE If your on-the-road destination is East Tennessee, rough it in a luxury treehouse for a distinctive experience. These decked-out digs will have you sleeping in the open air among the treetops and enjoying a covered patio, full private bathroom, and a beautiful view of Mount LeConte.
TheYurts AT SKY RIDGE Near Bryson City, N.C., The Yurts at Sky Ridge, offers flat-screen TVs, walk-in showers, kitchen appliances and killer views for an elevated camping experience in beautiful natural surroundings. Perched high atop a mountainous ridge line, these seven well-appointed yurts in the Great Smoky Mountains are a 10-minute drive from the famous Nantahala Outdoor Center and the Tsali mountain biking area.
Asheville GLAMPING The laid-back mountain town of Asheville, N.C., boasts incredible restaurants, abundant breweries, and friendly small businesses. Best of all, its proximity to nature offers a range of accommodations, from vintage Airstreams to mini yurts and picturesque domes. Asheville Glamping comprises three different property sites, all within a 20-minute drive of downtown Asheville.
Faux GLAMPING And if even the thought of open-air sleeping is enough to give you hives, add a glamping touch to your staycation with the season’s most novel new accessory. As part of its fall 2020 menswear collection from designer Virgil Abloh, Louis Vuitton released a glamping tent, an optional attachment to its Monogram Cloud and Monogram Mirror Truck Backpacks. Duquesne Club
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D E S T I N A T I O N S
explore
NEW ENGLAND
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From Kennebunkport to Block Island, Why New England is Better Than Ever As Pittsburghers dream of a winter destination, New England’s cold-temperature treasures are as popular as ever. Thankfully, this picturesque region transforms its tiny towns into wonderlands every year. New England is known for its early American history, but it has so much more to offer (although if you’re looking for that colonial vibe, you’ll definitely find it here). Winter is the ideal time to plan a weekend (or longer) getaway to New England – here are some exciting new spots to add to your list.
Gloucester, Massachusetts
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KENNEBUNKPORT, MAINE One of New England’s best – and most iconic – eateries is the Ramp Bar & Grill in Kennebunkport. Visitors delight in stunning views of Cape Porpoise and the working lobster boats moored there, while lobstermen motor in and row to the dock in their dinghies. Best of all, sunsets paint the entire harbor in bright hues of magenta, pink and purple. Dine on seasonal dishes like a Maine-style lobster roll and pan-seared Atlantic scallops with creamy wasabi mashed potatoes and organic baby bok choy. Save room for the warm Maine blueberry crumble.
WHERE TO ISLAND HOP The Northern Atlantic won the lottery with this trio of islands off the Massachusetts and Rhode Island shoreline. The southern coast of Cape Cod is home to both Martha’s Vineyard, long a popular tourist destination, and Nantucket, a well-loved little island that greets visitors with charming cobbled streets and a bustling atmosphere. Nicknamed BI, Block Island is a peaceful bit of land a bit farther south off the coast of Rhode Island.
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For a quintessentially Kennebunkport lunch in an outdoors setting, venture to The Ocean Roll food truck, the oldest food truck in America, which serves authentic beach fare like clam cakes and lobster rolls. NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND The Gilded Age mansions of Newport, R.I., are a sight to behold at any time of year; winter ups the ante by transforming this town with sparkling snow laden across jaw-dropping, opulent evergreens. The elegant homes are generous with sumptuous designs, while The Horse Tavern in town serves up warm and boozy beverages to warm you on a winter’s eve, plus bragging rights as the oldest tavern in America.
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Block Island, Rhode Island
Lobster roll sandwich
Cape Porpoise, Maine
Gilded Age mansion of Newport, Rhode Island
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WHERE TO STAY For decades, Boston’s Back Bay has been home to an exquisite club with all the trimmings. The Harvard Club of Boston, founded 110 years ago, is spread across six floors of the Back Bay Clubhouse – including elegant restaurants, function rooms and overnight accommodations – and features a historic location on Commonwealth Avenue. The Harvard Club of Boston Back Bay Clubhouse 374 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 617.536.1260 • harvardclub.com
WHERE TO PLAY Rockport’s Motif Number 1 is an art history lover’s dream: it’s known as the most painted building in the world. Halibut Point State Park is worth perusing, a serene and scenic conservation area with walking trails to explore, like the one that leads out to the rocky edge where the sea splashes against the coast. Wintry days should be spent snowmobiling in Pittsburg, N.H., known for the best snowmobiling trails in the East. Or go snowtubing at Nashoba Valley Tubing Park, the largest park in New England. You can also try ice sailing – or just catch some pros in action. Head out to the frozen Arethusa Falls in the White Mountain National Forest. Feeling adventurous? Maybe attempt some ice climbing, if you dare! If you fancy some more outdoor time – and nearly everyone does these days – head out to sea on a Loblolly Seal Cruise, which takes you on the water to see the local seal population. On your way south, stop by the fishing village of Gloucester to spot whales and working fishing fleets.
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Reciprocal Clubs DOMESTIC The California Club, Los Angeles, CA The Chicago Club, Chicago, IL Cosmos Club, Washington, DC Detroit Athletic Club, Detroit, MI The Metropolitan Club, New York, NY The Metropolitan Club of the City of Washington, Washington, DC Minneapolis Club, Minneapolis, MN New York Athletic Club, New York, NY The Olympic Club, San Francisco, CA The Rainier Club, Seattle, WA The Union Club of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH The Union League of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA University Club of Chicago, Chicago, IL The University Club of New York, New York, NY The Yale Club of New York City, New York, NY INTERNATIONAL Kildare Street and University Club, Dublin, Ireland Melbourne Club, Melbourne, Australia Royal Automobile Club (RAC), London, England
Frozen Arethusa Falls, New Hampshire
Rockport’s Motif Number 1
Harvard Club of Boston
Nantucket, Massachusetts
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D E S T I N A T I O N S
& &
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A L L
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ocomote across the landscape for an inspiring winter adventure
A scenic winter train ride is an inspired way to not only get to the destination you desire, but also to see the most beautiful views and stops you might not have thought of along the way. Sure, train travel takes a bit longer than flying, but the benefits can be huge. Take a scenic ride across the United States and its breathtaking mountains, lakes, rivers and forests on a locomotive, complete with cushier seats and a more relaxed atmosphere than you’d ever get in the air. Breathtaking views are a pretty priceless souvenir, so see for yourself why winter is a magical time to ride the rails.
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mtrak Adirondack Train Departing daily from New York City and journeying through Albany to Montreal, this scenic trip takes you straight through New York State’s Adirondacks, where snow lovers can marvel at the icy capped peaks and white-dusted trees that blanket the landscape.
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than Allen Express Train Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express goes from New York City to Rutland, Vermont, via Albany. Enjoy the best scenic views that the Hudson Valley has to offer in the chilly months when fresh, white snow decorates the landscape. Snow lovers simply can’t miss this relaxing trip.
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orth Pole Express Train Hop aboard the North Pole Express Train, an enchanting ride through Pennsylvania. The New Hope Railroad makes a magical journey through Bucks County. Dating back to the first half of the 20th century, the beautifully restored passenger cars are heated and traditionally decorated for the season for a warm and cozy atmosphere.
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PLUGGED IN
KITCHEN WIZARDS Bring a little joy to your cooking with the latest at-home culinary gadgets and gizmos. Below, find a roundup of our favorite high-tech devices to guide your refined palate toward a more elevated dining experience.
Lavazza Classy Mini ($300) Think of it as a one-touch home-office barista. Program the Lavazza Classy Mini to brew an espresso or lungo, then perk up your workfrom-home routine with an authentic Italian experience at the press of a button. The compact size makes it the perfect fit for a home-office workspace.
Chefman Turbofry Air Oven ($130) There’s nothing like perfectly crispy fries at the push of a button. Chefman’s advanced auto-stir technology means you get evenly cooked results every time in one multifunctional tool. The infrared heating system is the ideal choice for days when you want to prepare healthy, low-fat meals and have them ready in a snap, too.
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Caraway Non-Toxic Ceramic Cookware ($395) Getting creative in the kitchen can help calm your nerves, and nourishing your body with a healthy meal is always a good choice. This non-stick cookware set includes four essential pieces that are non-toxic, stovetop agnostic, and oven-safe up to 650° F. Its eco-friendly ceramic coating holds heat more evenly and efficiently than traditional pans.
Nise Wave ($200) Everyone should prioritize creativity in the kitchen right now, even when cooking seems a Herculean feat. Rest assured, the easy-to-use Nise Wave will upgrade your weeknight dinner game. This smart sous vide device features a temperature range of 32° – 210° F and the ability to try a variety of delicious recipes.
Revolution Cooking 2-Slice High Speed Smart Toaster ($300) An intuitive touchscreen automatically lowers your morning carb slice and browns it in a fraction of the time of regular toasters. The smart sensors customize the heating process based on breakfast type, voltage level and toaster temperature, while the defrost setting adjusts cook times for frozen items. Duquesne Club
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T O
Y O U R
SWEAT YOUR WAY INTO SHAPE WITH THE SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE AT HEALTH & FITNESS. Face masks. Spray and wipes. Social distance spacing. Staff temperatures. For fitness enthusiasts who haven’t ventured into a gym in months due to pandemic concerns, working out safely can seem overwhelming.
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H E A L T H
But never fear. The staff at Health & Fitness has made it simple for you to feel safe and secure while working out by putting protocols in place and making precautions a priority. We detailed the safety measures that will get exercise buffs into the gym — and potentially in the best shape of their lives — with confidence and peace of mind.
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Mask up Our staff wears masks at all times, and members must wear masks at all times except when working out. A limit of two people per quadrant in our facility setup keeps members spaced out appropriately, with the standard requirement of at least six feet between people at all times. We’ve added floor stickers to space members out appropriately for group fitness classes and are limiting the number of participants based on room size.
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Protect and disinfect We’ve conveniently provided wipes and spray throughout the facility for members and staff to wipe down every piece of equipment after use. Employee temperatures are taken upon entry. The facility areas with a high touch point probability are off-limits, as are certain amenities, including the hot tub, steam room, and toiletries offerings.
In the mood for massage As the wellness industry finds creative ways to carry on in a pandemic, a massage at Health & Fitness offers a well-deserved escape. All high-touch areas – light switches, counters, tables, pencils – in our newly reopened massage center are wiped down after every massage. Therapists and clients are required to wear masks. Clients must shower before massage; therapists must wash their hands in the massage recipient’s presence before and after service. And, as always, we’re rotating all linens after every massage.
D U Q U E S N E
C L U B
Health & Fitness
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H WHITE RUSSIAN INGREDIENTS
• 2 ounces vodka • 1 ounce Kahlúa • 1 splash heavy cream STEPS
1. Add vodka and Kahlúa to an oldfashioned glass with ice.
club
2. Top with heavy cream and stir.
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CRAFTED And for the whole family…
H SALTED CARAMEL AND FUDGE WHITE RUSSIAN MOCKTAIL INGREDIENTS
• 2 tablespoons fudge topping • 1 tablespoon salted caramel topping • 2 ounces cold water or cold coffee • 2 ounces heavy cream STEPS
1. Drizzle salted caramel along top edge of a 5-ounce glass.
2. Separately, stir chocolate fudge and cold water or coffee until mixed; pour into caramel-topped glass.
3. Add enough ice to reach the top of the glass and top with heavy cream.
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C O N N E C T I O N S
NEW MEMBERS May – December 2020 LIFESTYLE RESIDENT
RESIDENT
Nicholas Ambeliotis President/Founder Mediterra Bakehouse Pittsburgh Mediterra Café (Pittsburgh & Phoenix) (Charaka Kithulegoda, Thomas McCargo, Elizabeth Zamagias)
Rushir J. Choksi Medical Doctor/Oncologist UPMC (Charles E. Bogosta, Peter G. Ellis, James F. Meyers)
Scott Brewer President Brewer Airport Toyota (John B. Zappone, Christopher Howard, Julian Vallozzi)
Gabriella C. Gonzalez Program Officer Richard King Mellon Foundation (Sam Reiman, David K. Roger, Carolyn Duronio) Mark Harris Founding Partner ColdSpark (Michael P. DeVanney, Joseph J. Murzyn, Thomas O. Johnson)
Cecilia R. Dickson Partner The Webb Law Firm (Karen B. Grebb, Kirk M. Miles, Peter Y. Herchenroether)
Bruce L. Harshman Owner/President Salon La te Da & Spa Inc. (Robert J. Trombetta, Philip Pollice, Martin Earle)
Lou F. Ferraro Executive Vice President Rycon Construction, Inc. (John Sabatos, Joseph J. Switala, Jack Scalo)
Heather Lyke Director of Athletics University of Pittsburgh (Nicholas D. Varischetti, Peter C. Varischetti, Joseph C. Totten III)
Craig S. Heryford Partner & National Chair of Business Transactions Gordon Rees Scully & Mansukhani LLP (James D. Chiafullo, Joseph C. Totten III, Ronald A. Donatelli)
David R. Misch Chief Financial Officer Diocese of Pittsburgh (Thomas P. Joyce, James C. Stalder, J. Christopher Donahue)
William Krahe President Grand View Development Co. (Daniel P. Grealish, Gary Wilson, William J. Gatti Jr.) Anantha Shekhar Sr. Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences & Dean, School of Medicine University of Pittsburgh (Patrick D. Gallagher, Ira Gumberg, Geovette Washington) Paul J. Welk Shareholder Tucker Arensberg, P.C. (J. Kent Culley, James P. Killeen, Charles L. Potter)
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John A. Nicholson Jr. Pittsburgh Civil Dept. Manager WSP USA Inc. (Nellie E. Hestin, Jay R. Mangold Jr., Denise J. Butler) Rachel A. Petrucelli President & Chief Development Officer Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation (Clifford R. Rowe Jr., Lawrence N. Gumberg, Douglas P. Dick) Gregory A. Robick President Corporate Benefits Consultants, Inc. (Michael Delligatti, Michael P. Gleason, Colleen Pietrusinski) Henry Rothschild CEO Rothschild Trading Co. (Gary J. Zentner, Melvin D. Rex, Thomas A. Kobus)
Lynne E.H. Ventress Program Officer Richard King Mellon Foundation (Sam Reiman, David K. Roger, Carolyn Duronio) Stan J. Wischnowski Executive Editor, Vice President The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (John R. Block, Allan Block, David Shribman)
INTERMEDIATE Patrick J. Bostick II Associate Athletic Director, Major Gifts/Pitt Football Radio Color Analyst University of Pittsburgh (Nicholas D. Varischetti, Patrick A. Gallagher, Joseph C. Totten III) Alexandra M. Good* Associate Attorney Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (Lisa M. Cibik, John Nairn, Celia Soehner) Brady Hart Senior Associate Athletic Director University of Pittsburgh (Nicholas D. Varischetti, Peter C. Varischetti, Joseph C. Totten III)
Randall A. Mason President & CEO The Marden Companies (John F. Pettina, Chris M. Holuta, Joseph R. Reschini) John M. Mouser President TekSolv, Inc. (Charles M. Fehlinger, Michael Krentzman, G. Scott Paterno) Michael G. Musser II President Community Networking Resources, LLC (Troy T. Geanopulos, Kevin P. Kinross, Shawn T. Fox) John V. Schultz III Co-CEO John V. Schultz Company (Gregory J. Sorce, Laura Semple, Michael T. Victor) Cynthia Horsman Steeble* Principal/Owner Logistics: Engaged, LLC (Richard S. Thomas, T.H. Lyda, Jeff Troutman) Michael G. Wells Founder, Managing Director Princeton Biopharma Capital Partners, LLC (John P. Surma, G. Nicholas Beckwith, Patrick D. Gallagher)
Joseph L. Calihan Jr. Elected March 16, 1981 Died May 21, 2020 Robert W. Goode Elected August 10, 1982 Died August 18, 2020 John J. Pasteris Elected December 3, 1973 Died September 17, 2020 John C. Phillips Elected May 1, 1996 Died September 7, 2020
RESIDENT John C. Mascaro Elected November 4, 1998 Died July 19, 2020 Andrew F. Rodgers Elected January 4, 1995 Died July 6, 2020 Arnold B. Silverman Elected October 15, 1979 Died November 19, 2020
NON-RESIDENT Edwin Van Rensselaer Milbury Elected May 18, 1981 Died December 4, 2020 Juergen F. Mross Elected October 5, 2005 Died October 8, 2020
JUNIOR
INTERNATIONAL
Michael Waldron* Planning Analyst (Robert H. Wyche, Matthew A. Helfrich, James D. Scalo)
Saker A. Nusseibeh, CBE Chief Executive Officer Federated Hermes International (J. Christopher Donahue, Thomas R. Donahue, John B. Fisher)
Howard J. O’Malley Jr. Elected May 2, 2012 Died May 21, 2020
MEMBERS WE’LL MISS
ASSOCIATE
NON-RESIDENT William F. Conrow President CSS Group (Scott Lammie, Ron Francis, Ann M. Dugan)
James A. Spendiff Elected January 2, 1990 Died September 6, 2020
HONORARY
Elizabeth B. Benckart Joined October 1, 1995 Died September 2, 2020
Donald E. Duran Jr. Owner Medi-RX Pharmacy (Joseph M. Gaydos Jr., Timothy C. Jablon, Ken Marino)
G. Gray Garland Jr. Elected April 24, 1958 Died May 29, 2020
Virginia Totten Dodds Joined January 15, 1998 Died December 14, 2020
C. Taylor Marshall Elected July 8, 1953 Died October 2, 2019
Adrienne A. Garber* Senior Strategist Dell Technologies Inc. (George E. Garber, Troy Geanopulos, Anthony L. Bucci)
Mary “Lou” Hunter Joined June 30, 2013 Died November 1, 2020
SENIOR J. David Barnes Elected February 8, 1971 Died October 12, 2020
Annetta M. West Joined July 26, 2012 Died October 27, 2020
the GIFT of LEGACY
MEMBERSHIP Give the gift of Junior or Intermediate Membership to your son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter.
RICH TRADITION FAMILY LEGACY CAMARADERIE
When you give the gift of membership, the Club will give your candidate a gift of credit – $250 for Junior membership and $500 for Intermediate – so they can start to experience the Club right away. If you choose to pay for your candidate’s membership fee, the Duquesne Club is offering for you to take advantage of the same payment schedule offered to the candidate. VIEW MEMBERSHIP FEES
JUNIOR (AGES 21-29, INCLUSIVE) & INTERMEDIATE (AGES 30-34, INCLUSIVE) MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS (1/2 upon election; 1/4 on one year anniversary of election;1/4 on second year anniversary)* Contact Theresa Hopkins, membership coordinator at: thopkins@duquesne.org or 412.471.6588 to obtain a Preliminary Membership Candidate Form to begin the process. Completed applications must be received now through March 31, 2021.
*Deferred entrance fees are due at the times indicated or upon resignation or termination of membership, whichever occurs earlier. No additional entrance fees are incurred upon transfer of a Junior member to Intermediate member, or an Intermediate member to Resident member.
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INSPIRING EACH OTHER Physically Distant, Socially Connected During the lockdown in spring, Duquesne Club members and employees shared pictures from home in an online gallery to touch base and connect during several isolating months.
On The Takeout
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Executive Chef Keith Coughenour and his culinary team adapted wonderfully to provide exceptional takeout dining options for members during the lockdown – and beyond.
SCENE
First Day Back After COVID-19 Lockdown With safety protocols in place, the Duquesne Club warmly welcomed members back on June 5.
To see more event photos on our private member site gallery page, scan this QR Code with your smartphone. Duquesne Club
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The 6th Avenue Group plans lively social events and coordinates attending Club- and Societysponsored events together. The group formed organically to encourage members under 45 to gather, socialize and network at the Club.
Ă€ La Carte Dinner July 30
Women of the Club is an organic, vibrant group that hosts monthly social and philanthropic events with a wide range of themes. Women, men and guests are invited to come together to enjoy art, wine, behindthe-scene tours, seasonal events, hands-on workshops and more.
Tasting on the Terrace, RosĂŠs with Kevin Reynolds September 17
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omen OF THE CLUB
Art Society
The Art Society’s mission is to enrich members’ experience and knowledge of art and architecture through programs related to the Club’s significant art collection and historic building. Additional on-site and off-site events present opportunities to experience other periods and genres of art and architecture. The Art Society kept a low profile during the summer months of the coronavirus. Programming resumed in October.
The Beer Society aspires to facilitate the knowledge and social enjoyment of beer by members and guests. Social and educational activities include informal beer and buffet nights, dinners with preselected pairings, beer swaps, local off-site craft brewery tours, regional travel and tastings with educational speakers.
Sessions and Shandies June 18
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The Culinary Society celebrates and cultivates the Club’s commitment to culinary excellence through inspiring, educational, and member and staff focused programs. Social and educational activities include cooking demonstrations, culinary classes, off-site tours, food tastings, guest chefs, and cosponsored events with other Club Societies.
Vegan Dinner August 13
The Literary Society organizes activities for members and spouses who share a common interest in reading and theater to enrich their enjoyment of a broad range of literature. Society dues subsidize honorariums and expenses for speakers and support the Society’s charitable work, including its annual book drive to benefit Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The Literary Society kept a low profile during the summer months of the coronavirus. Programming resumed in October.
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Spruce Creek Fishing Trip – Upper Water June 19-21
Longue Vue Shoot August 14 (No photos)
Pike Run Shoot and Dinner August 28
The Rod & Gun Society strives to increase the level of camaraderie among members who share a common interest in shooting, fishing, hunting and sporting activities by hosting an active calendar of events, including prominent speakers, competitive shoots, and hunting and fishing trips to exotic locations.
Spruce Creek – Lower Water August 11-13
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Established in 1996, the Wine Society boasts 300 members – the largest enrollment of any private club wine society in America. The Wine Society promotes wine education and enjoyment by hosting wine tastings, dinners, classes, and tours that provide members the opportunity to broaden their horizons regarding wines and the regions in which they are produced.
RosĂŠ Tasting August 19
Summer Whites August 25
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Merlot Tasting September 15
Joseph Jewell Wine Tasting September 30
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CLUB-SPONSORED EVENTS Members look to the Duquesne Club for the camaraderie fostered by our many societies and events. We strive to be more than a club—we’re a complete social retreat, with plenty of activities to keep members busy year-round. Our programming is shaped by the staff’s commitment to understanding and responding to the changing interests of members. The Duquesne Club hosts more than 125 social events each year, each designed with enthusiasm and detail to appeal to a variety of interests.
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Mark Lucas Trio Jazz in the Reading Room June 19
Taco Night June 23
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Sushi Night June 25
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Summer Seafood Dinner August 28
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At Duquesne Club Health & Fitness, we believe a healthy member is a happy member. It’s our goal to maintain the traditions of the past while establishing future standards of service in the health and fitness industry. Our team works together to provide excellent service with competence, compassion and courtesy.
Health & Fitness was pleased to offer complimentary, guided home fitness classes via Zoom, as well as prerecorded classes that included Yoga, HIIT, Pilates and Cycle. The prerecorded classes are now included in a growing online fitness library. On August 31, members and their guests enjoyed a day of golf at Laurel Valley Gold Club.
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in the
Salon 2004 Le Mesnil Blanc de Blanc Brut Champagne “This elegant Champagne features ripe, upfront aromas and flavors of dried apricot, crystallized honey and candied kumquat, giving way on the creamy palate to more subtle notes of raw almond, fleur de sel and star anise. Mouthwatering, with a chalky underpinning and a lovely, satiny finish.”
Salon is one of the most prestigious houses in Champagne. Instead of making a range of styles that includes a prestige cuvee like most Champagne houses, Salon crafts a single prestige cuvee entirely from Chardonnay from the village Le Mesnil-surOger. The house was founded in 1911 by Aime Salon, who thought that Champagne was dominated by heavy Pinot Noir. Instead, he decided to make top Chardonnay-based wine instead. Salon is held back in cellar for much longer than other Champagnes – it can spend up to a decade in bottle before being released onto the market, and can be cellared further.
WINE SPECTATOR
TASTING NOTES
THE PERFECT SETTING
2004 Salon weaves together immense complexity with stunning purity and makes instant impact on the nose with fresh-baked pastry and brioche, chalky minerals, fresh white mushroom, cucumber, lemon curd and striking lemon and lime citrus fruits. This is an impressively layered Blanc de Blancs in which bright acidity supports the flavorsome, concentrated and fleshy texture in seamless balance. A great Salon, very composed and complex in every respect; a classically styled vintage in which this legendary Champagne has excelled. It will be a fascinatingly complex Champagne with further age.
Decant if you open the wine now; this is structured to age for decades. A RARE RELEASE Appearance Bright, tense and crystalline, with all of the energy typical of both Salon and the vintage in the Cote des Blancs. Nose Its vinous character portrayed in scents of white flowers, chamomile, peaches, kumquats and lemongrass. Palate An almost smoky mineral thread. Toasty autolytic flavors build and expand through the mid-palate, opening to grapefruit and white peach flavors, lemon sorbet and very lightly grilled hazelnuts to close.
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Hello. Nice to Meet You. My name is Didi, and this is Charles. He’s the Duquesne Club Fox. He takes me everywhere in the Club when I visit. Here we go!
Charles in Charge I just love it when Charles gives the orders. Everyone is absolutely charmed by his requests.
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First Stop: The Call Bell It’s NOT “cow bell.” Sonny told me that. He’s the man at the Front Desk and he knows everybody. Especially me. And Charles.
Tealicious Charles likes tea. I do too, but I really love sweets, and we always find some in the Garden Patio.
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“Deadeye” It’s what the people in the Billiard Room call me when I make a shot. And I make a lot of them, except when Charles sits in the pocket.
Reading Makes Me Tired I think that’s why they have pillows in the Reading Room.
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Extra Foam, Please If Charles can rock a white beard, why shouldn’t I?
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Sticky Paws Charles distracts Sara so she won’t even notice what I’m sampling from the kitchen. (We’re pretty good at this trick by now.)
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And One More Thing … We’ve got the munchies. (Charles just reminded me!) Luckily, the Club’s macaroons make the best bedtime snack in town.
See You Around the Club! How marvelous this was! I simply can’t wait to spend time with you again soon!
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Didi’s Guide to the Good Life Page 43 • Charmed, I’m sure The Duquesne Club doorman is always ready to assist. Valet parking is offered at the 325 Sixth Avenue entrance from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. Saturday. Overnight valet parking is available for hotel guests. Page 44 • I love, love, love to ring that bell As the gateway to the Club’s 43 hotel rooms, the Front Desk is eager to assist with guest and member requests. Stop by or call 412.391.1500. Arrange for afternoon tea in a private room or suite by contacting the Banquet and Catering Department at 412.471.6585. Page 45 • Why not shoot to win? Reserve the Billiard Room for your private event by calling the Reservation Office at 412.471.6585. Relax in the Reading Room or stop in for Taco Night on Tuesdays, Oyster Night on Wednesdays, Sushi Night on Thursdays and Jazz on Fridays as announced. Page 46 • Rather smashing, don’t you think? Make an appointment with Anthony Mankoski at the Barber Shop at 412.471.6596. Page 47 • Mischief is my middle name Host a special event, from a birthday party to a wedding, in one of the Club’s eight member dining rooms or dozens of private event spaces. Or customize a wing of contemporary rooms on the 12th floor to create a VIP or family suite. Page 48 • Would you kindly send … Request a hotel room on the private member site or at 412.391.1500. Dial Room Service at extension 238.
Didi’s Duds Page 43: Quilted jacquard dress in poppy red, bow sweater beret and tweed circle backpack, Janie and Jack San Francisco. Metallic-lace combat boots in black, Kenneth Cole Reaction. Stretch icon denim jacket, The Gap. Page 44: Striped ruffle sweater in 100% cotton, Janie and Jack San Francisco. White sweater, Didi’s own. Page 47: Embroidered ruffle cuff top in ivory, windowpane jacquard pant in navy and tweed bow headband, Janie and Jack San Francisco. Page 48: Plush fleece hooded robe in off-white, The Gap.
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More to the Story The Duquesne Club welcomes two new characters to its stately domain: Didi and Charles, a furry friend based on the very real live fox found on the roof of the Club. Didi and Charles come to life on the pages of an illustrated children’s book.
The books are now available for purchase for $30 at the Club’s gift shop or email duquesneclub@duquesne.org.
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eason S TA S T E O F T H E
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Didi-licious Cupcakes Sara Milarski, Duquesne Club assistant pastry chef, shows us how to make chocolaty-moist cupcakes – step-by-step – that are surely in danger of disappearing the day they are made! So, gather your loved ones together in the kitchen for some family fun with delectable results. Makes about 24 large cupcakes. Prep time: 20 minutes. Bake time: 20-24 minutes.
FOR THE CUPCAKES 3 eggs 1-3/4 cups granulated sugar 1 cup mayonnaise 2-1/4 cups cake flour 6 tablespoons cocoa powder 1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
6. Fill paper-lined cupcake molds, 3/4 to the
top, and place in middle rack of a preheated 350 F oven.
7. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 20 to 24 minutes.
8. Place on a cooling rack until cool to the touch.
1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1-1/4 cups water
1.
In a mixing bowl, combine whole eggs and sugar and whip on high until a creamy ribbon forms; about 5 to 10 minutes.
Store cupcakes in the refrigerator for about a week in a covered container or in the freezer for about a month.
2. Add in mayonnaise and scrape down
sides to combine. Continue whipping on low.
3. Sift together the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and baking powder.
4. Slowly add the dry ingredients, alternating with the water. This should be done in 3 equal portions, scraping the bowl after each addition.
5. Mix for an additional few minutes at a
slightly higher speed to incorporate all ingredients together.
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5. Slowly pour in the cooled saltwater and continue to mix on a low speed.
6. Once completely incorporated, add in sifted powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time. Scrape the bowl between each addition.
7. Add in the vanilla extract on low. 8. Once all ingredients are combined, turn
mixer to medium high speed and whip for 5 minutes until icing is fluffy. This is a thicker icing so the longer it whips the lighter it becomes.
9. Scoop icing into a piping bag fitted with a
large star tip and pipe swirls on top of each cooled cupcake.
FOR THE CHOCOLATE FUDGE ICING Makes enough to top 24 large cupcakes. Prep time: 15 minutes 1/3 cup shortening 1/3 cup butter 1 cup cocoa powder 3/4 cup corn syrup 1 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup hot water 6 cups sifted powdered sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1.
In a mixing bowl with a paddle attachment, combine the shortening and butter, and mix until smooth.
2. Combine the salt and hot
water and stir until dissolved. Set aside to cool for later.
3. Add the cocoa powder to mixer and
incorporate on a low speed, scrape bowl.
4. Next, add in the corn syrup on a low speed, scraping the bowl often.
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10. Refrigerate to set icing completely or eat right away!
Store any leftover icing in the refrigerator in a covered container; stays fresh for about a week.
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T H E
D U Q U E S N E
C L U B
Demystifying the Membership Process A legacy of excellence. More than a fine city club, the Duquesne Club is a private oasis that transcends home and office, providing its members and guests with recreational, social and business experiences marked by superior service and exceptional personal attention. The Duquesne Club has been ranked the country’s top city club and as a member of the Distinguished Clubs of the World, it offers reciprocity with many outstanding clubs throughout the United States and abroad.
The process of introducing a candidate for membership may seem complicated for the sponsor and perhaps intimidating for the candidate– but really, it’s not. The Club’s membership coordinator, Theresa Hopkins, supports the Admissions Committee by gently and efficiently keeping the process moving forward, facilitating each step - mostly electronically and all within two to three months. Let’s take a look at how it works.
1 2 3 Candidates are considered for membership through materials submitted to the Admissions Committee from a sponsoring member, a seconder member and a reference member.
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Upon review and approval, monthly candidacies are posted on the private member website and digital bulletin board for two weeks. If no objections are filed, a final Membership Candidate Data Form is sent to each candidate for completion and signature.
The Duquesne Club does not discriminate in its selection of members based on race, color, gender, religion or sexual orientation.
“At its core, the Duquesne Club has always strived to be what its members want it to be, which has allowed it to evolve into a place of deep tradition, versatility and camaraderie. As chairperson of the Admissions Committee, it is an honor to help guide and develop the membership process to continue attracting a diverse and accomplished membership for generations to come.” Jack Barbour Chairperson, Duquesne Club Admissions Committee
“A year ago, in October, I was notified by Scott Neill that I had been accepted as a member of the Duquesne Club. I was more than thrilled to hear of the decision. The Club conducted the admissions process with the high level of professionalism I have experienced over several decades, based on visits with my father while he was living and in more recent years with my mother and brother John. The Club has an excellent process through member sponsorship, a written submission from the candidate, and an interview to understand the membership interests of the applicant and whether the prospective member will carry on the Club’s traditions. I am delighted to be a member.” Gwendolyn Robosson Duquesne Club Member
“It is difficult for me to imagine any significant professional or business activity in Pittsburgh that doesn’t revolve around the Duquesne Club. I think our members will appreciate that through Anantha [new member Dr. Anantha Shekhar, Senior Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences and Dean, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh], the Pittsburgh of tomorrow is once again taking shape within the walls of the Club.” Patrick Gallagher Chancellor – University of Pittsburgh
“As a Duquesne Club member, former board member, a current member of the Admissions Committee, and a person who has been a proud sponsor, seconder and reference for many candidates – I have experienced the membership process from several perspectives. I can attest that it has increasingly become a more efficient and streamlined process for all, making it even more of a pleasure to welcome new members to the Club.” Joseph Totten Duquesne Club Admissions Committee
3 4 Sponsors present candidates to the Admissions Committee for an interview at monthly-held meetings. If qualifications for membership are met, candidates are given a letter of acceptance that sets forth entrance fees and dues and are invited to take a tour of the Club.
For more details about the membership process, visit the Club’s private member website at https://members.duquesne.org/group/pages/new-members
Payment within 30 days signifies acceptance of membership.
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iving G BACK CONGRATULATIONS TO 2020-2021 SCHOLARSHIP FUND RECIPIENTS The Scholarship Advisory Committee, composed of program founder Eileen Mauclair D’Appolonia Muse and her daughters Carrie Barmen and Anne Dickson, Duquesne Club general manager Scott Neill, Duquesne Club Charitable Foundation treasurer Nancyann Letterio, human resources director Terri Klingenberg, and Christy Stuber of The Pittsburgh Foundation, awarded four scholarships totaling $15,300 to children of Club employees from the Camille Mauclair/Duquesne Club Employees Scholarship Fund for the 2020-2021 school year:
Chad Barker, son of human resources assistant Mary Jo Barker and a second time recipient, will graduate from Penn State, where he is majoring in secondary mathematics education (grades 7-12) with a minor in special education, in December. Chad is currently student teaching geometry at Norwin High School to grades 9-11. Norwin is operating under a hybrid format, where half the students attend Monday and Tuesday, the other half attend Thursday and Friday, and other days consist of online learning. Lessons are pre-recorded for students to view and then complete assignments by a certain date. Chad commented that it is a weird time to be student teaching in the midst of the pandemic. “It is strange to see half-full classrooms. One of my in-person classes has only 5 students, which is unheard of for high school. The experience just seems surreal and nothing as I expected. But I am making the best of it and really enjoying it so far!” Last fall Chad student taught pre-algebra to 8th graders in the Altoona Area School District. Chad has volunteered at Penn State with THON to raise money to fight pediatric cancer and Harmony, a club that teaches musical theatre to children and adults with special needs. He works as an à la carte and banquet server at the Duquesne Club during school breaks.
Molly Klose, daughter of engineer Richard Klose, is a third year recipient and junior majoring in community and justice studies with a minor in global health at Allegheny College, where she is living and attending classes on campus. Molly plans to pursue a career in public policy. She has worked part time at the Club as a cocktail waitress in the Library, as a food runner, and in Health & Fitness.
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Pooya Noori, son of valet Lida Khoshnoo, is a first time recipient studying information technology at the Community College of Allegheny County. Pooya immigrated to the United States in 2016 and graduated from Pittsburgh Allderdice High School in 2019. He hopes to transfer to Pitt next year and aspires to be a software engineer. Pooya has volunteered with AJAPO (Acculturation for Justice, Access and Peace Outreach), helping immigrants who are experiencing difficulties with school and languages.
Akansha Pradhan, daughter of room attendant Bhadri Pradhan, is a first time recipient and junior majoring in computational biology at Pitt. Akansha was born in Nepal and moved to the United States when she was 8 years old. She works as a research assistant at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School, and has volunteered at Magee Women’s Hospital. Akansha’s career goal is to perform research in a cancer lab to help find a cure. She is happy to have the opportunity to pursue an education and career in science/medicine, paths not readily open to Nepali women in their own country. Three recipients have incurred sizeable student loans. The Scholarship Fund assists children of employees with demonstrated financial need in realizing their educational goals at accredited colleges, universities and post-secondary vocational and technical schools. To be considered, students must submit an application, transcripts, SAT or ACT exam scores if pursuing college, Summary Annual Report (SAR) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a reference letter and an essay describing how the scholarship will make a difference in their life. $256,925 has been awarded to 28 students since the Fund’s 2001 inception. The Scholarship Fund makes an important difference in the lives of employees and their children and lightens their burden of student debt. We thank our members for their generous support!
Make a
DONATION Donations to the Duquesne Club Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, are tax deductible and are accepted (by check or charge to member account) at: Duquesne Club Charitable Foundation Attention: Nancyann Letterio, Treasurer P.O. Box 387 Pittsburgh, PA 15230-0387 Attention: Nancyann Letterio, Treasurer P.O. Box 387 Pittsburgh, PA 15230-0387 Designate if your gift is intended for a specific qualified activity (maintenance and restoration of the historic exterior of the clubhouse, acquisition and preservation of artwork, or support of the Scholarship Fund). Otherwise it will be added to the Board directed general fund, which is used to pay accounting, tax filing, state registration and other fees and periodically award project grants. Note if your contribution is being made in honor or memory of someone or if you wish to remain anonymous. For more information, telephone Nancyann Letterio at 412.560.3222, or email nletterio@duquesne.org. A copy of the official registration and financial information for the Duquesne Club Charitable Foundation may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1.800.732.0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
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IMPECCABLE
Service COLLEEN KELLY Director of Club Events and Societies 35 Years An Eventful Career – In Her Own Words After graduating from Washington & Jefferson College, I worked as an office manager for a group of physicians. At that time, my father, Dr. William J. Kelly, sat on the board of directors at St. Francis General Hospital with Gurdon Flagg, the Duquesne Club general manager. Mr. Flagg asked my father to become the staff physician at the Duquesne Club. My father accepted and worked at the Club for 15 years before he retired. I had never heard of the Duquesne Club, but my father would tell me what a special place it was and how lovely it was to go there. “It doesn’t really feel like you are at work,” he would say, “it’s such a beautiful place, and events and parties are happening all the time.” I thought, that sounds like me, and said that I would like to work there. I interviewed with Irma Thornton, now a dear friend, who recently retired from the Club after 43 years. I was offered a position and started in the Club’s front office on September 9, 1985, working the 4-9 shift. I eventually became the front office manager, a position I enjoyed and stayed in for eight years. I loved meeting all of the hotel guests.
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During the ’90s, the Club founded the Wine and Art Societies. We had a few wine- and art-related events, and members loved them. With the success of these events, my then boss, Mel Rex, approached me about offering more of them to our members and requested that I put together a list of five or six events that I thought might be popular. I submitted the list, and the rest, as they say, is history. I was promoted to the executive staff, and the position of event coordinator was created. Some of the events, such as the Father-Daughter Dinner and the Children’s Holiday Party, remain the most popular and well-attended events. Today, the Club’s calendar exceeds 100 Club- and Societysponsored events each year. My focus now is on the Club’s societies. It is a pleasure to be surrounded by smart and talented people who make my job so gratifying. Discussing potential events with Scott, menus with Chef Keith, wines with Kevin, event details with Mark and Tom, promotional materials with Gregg, and collaborating with many other people on the staff make the Club events what they are today. For me, the icing on the cake is bringing events together with music, flowers, linens, and Club decor – and seeing members and their guests enjoying those spaces.
“
It is a privilege to celebrate 35 years of employment with the Club, and for me, it’s such a special place, working each day with the members and staff.
”
Congratulations to Colleen Kelly on 35 years with the Duquesne Club!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Members and guests of members from all over the world would stay at the Club. I have seen and met some interesting people during my years – none more memorable than John F. Kennedy, Jr., though. A chance meeting on the fifth floor of the Club allowed me to ride five floors down in the elevator with him – I’ll never forget it.
SERVICE AWARDS 2019
35 30
YEARS
Kevin C. Reynolds Linda Cross
YEARS
Sharon Dawson Robert Walker Diana M. Assad
20 15
YEARS
Brian S. Murray Glenn M. Anderson
YEARS
Elaine M. Freeman Raymond P. Mitchell William F. Broadright Dana L. Kotwica
10 5
YEARS
William M. Racin Cynthia M. Pacolay
YEARS
Gale E. Chambers Tammy S. Hillegass Zachary J. Tunell Marcy L. Mintz Caleb W. Cassista Sheryl A. Czake Richard J. Klose Lori M. Joscak
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Private Parties Children’s party options include life-size Didi & Charles stand-up figures, themed activities such as Pin the Tail on the Fox, Egg and Spoon Race, Billiards with the Judge, and cookie decorating. Each child receives a hardcover edition of Didi & Charles: Adventures at the Duquesne Club.
Contact Banquets & Catering at 412.471.6585 to plan your Party!
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Afternoon “Tea”
The Fox’s Den
Features:
Features:
• Fabio’s Hot Chocolate with Whipped Cream
• Savory Finger and Paw Sandwiches
• Patti’s Pastries • Didi-licious Sugar Cookies • Hot and Cold Beverages
• Children’s Menu from Chef’s Kitchen
• Didi-licious Sugar Cookies, Worm Cookies
• Hot and Cold Beverages
Didi’s Delights Features:
• Children’s Menu from Chef’s Kitchen • Didi-licious Sugar Cookies • Hot and Cold Beverages
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C L U B
H I S T O R Y
The Woodwell ’s Wor ld Jessica Cox, independent historian and history writer
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Y Few of us are lucky enough to enjoy a lifestyle in which our home, family, work, and city is so deeply intertwined that the difference between them simply disappears. So it was for the Woodwells, a pioneering Pittsburgh family who celebrated the wisdom that the best of the world could be found in one’s own backyard.
J
Y
oseph R. Woodwell, Sr., a skilled woodcarver and cabinetmaker, came to Pittsburgh from New York in the 1840s, establishing a hardware and building supply business on Wood Street1 that thrived in the economic explosion caused by the Civil War. He then purchased a secluded estate in the rural Point Breeze neighborhood where he constructed a handsome, Italianate mansion for his wife, Johanna, and three sons. Additional homes were eventually constructed for other family members creating a Woodwell family compound. Buffered by both the palatial “Homewood” estate, built in 1832 by the late Judge William Wilkins, and the Hailman family’s equally impressive pile, the Woodwell home was delightfully isolated from the dusty country lane that would one day become an extension of Penn Avenue.2
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W
hile Joseph Sr. was noted for his masterful woodcarving – and he had parleyed his creative skill into a successful business – Joseph Jr., born in 1842 and known to all as “Joe,”3 was permitted to develop his talent as a fine artist. With teenage enthusiasm, he pushed his way into Pittsburgh’s artistic elite’s inner circle, initially studying under George Hetzel and David Gilmore Blythe, and spending his free time downtown at J. J. Gillespie’s, the first serious art gallery west of the Allegheny Mountains.4 Because of his association with Hetzel, Woodwell is often grouped with the Scalp Level painters, Western Pennsylvania’s cadre of en plein air naturalists. However, those same associates recalled that Joseph R. Woodwell Jr. - 1904 Joe “refused to tie himself tight and fast to any school” and that he was frequently at odds with others who did “not fully agree with his advanced ideas.”5 By age seventeen, Joe was already exhibiting locally and was permitted to study in Europe. In Paris, as “part of Charles Gleyre’s atelier … he rubbed shoulders with Renoir, Sisley, Monet … Pissarro[,]” Pierce Francis Connelly, and Alfred Wordsworth Thompson,6 and could not have failed to bump into leading Impressionist and
fellow Pittsburgher, Mary Cassatt. Joe returned to Point Breeze sometime around 1867. As a worldly, paint-spattered bohemian, he “shocked the city’s early theologians by painting on Sunday[,]”7 and caught the eye of Margaret E. Sellers,8 daughter of Frank Sellers, owner of F. Sellers & Co. porkpacking and lard manufacturers.9 The couple soon married and had one child—daughter Johanna, born in 1871, and named after her grandmother. Settling into the Woodwell family compound, Joe adjusted to his father’s business world, gradually taking over, with his younger brothers, the family store, and Joseph Sr.’s multiple board positions with local banks.10 Painting, however, remained Joe’s foremost profession, and although there was almost no artist that Joe did not know personally, in Pittsburgh or Paris, the most important artist in his life turned out to be his daughter. Johanna could not remember a time when she did not have a paintbrush in her hand, and her skill developed as fast as her father could teach her. Both worked together in a purpose-built studio on the Woodwell estate, set apart from the main house’s bustle, which also served as a receiving room for friends, neighbors, and fellow artists.11 Sir Alfred East, who came to know the Woodwells closely, painted a “snow scene” from the studio window,12. At the same time, Henry Clay Frick dropped by almost every Sunday13 to discuss fine art or architectural and building matters.
Johanna Woodwell - 1912
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When Johanna needed to expand her instruction beyond the studio, she was sent downtown to the Pittsburgh School of Design for Women, located at Seventh and Penn Avenues,14 founded in 1864 as a branch of the Philadelphia School of Design for Women. Intended as a vocational school for young ladies to learn the commercial design skills lacking in pre-Civil War Pittsburgh, by the 1890s, it had evolved into a finishing school for female fine artists.15 Joe Woodwell was a teacher, as well as frequent judge of school exhibitions, and he would have beamed with pride when, in 1893, Johanna first submitted two works for possible exhibition at the upcoming World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.16 Although her pieces were not selected, Johanna continued to exhibit at local shows, often alongside her father and the daughters of other Pittsburgh artists who were her classmates, neighbors, and friends. Lila Hetzel, two years younger, and Bessie Wall, one year younger, were frequent fellow-exhibitors, as were daughters of Pittsburgh’s artists of business and industry—the McKees, the Kings, the Kerrs, and the McCreerys.17 In July 1895, Joe Woodwell, Alfred Bryan Wall (father of Bessie and brother of William Coventry Wall), and members of a standing committee met at the Woodwell studio. They discussed initial artwork selections for the opening of the Carnegie Art Gallery, which later became the Carnegie Museum of Art). 18 As chairman of the selection jury, Joe had a heavy influence over the initial tone of what would become the first permanent gallery of modern art in the United States. In 1896, the Carnegie International was organized as the country’s first major exhibition of modern artists to expand the collection and boost public interest. Joseph R. Woodwell, A. Bryan Wall and George Hetzel were represented in the final, highlypublicized show, alongside other artists whose works had passed a stringent, multi-layered review process. Johanna’s “American Beauties,” too, a portrait of her cousin Priscilla Guthrie19 languidly contemplating a bouquet of the titular blooms, hung alongside the most lauded modern artists of the day.
American Beauties 1896
Ultimately, “American Beauties” was purchased by James R. Mellon, another friend of the family,20 who enjoyed the picture throughout his life and, upon his death in 1932, willed it back to Johanna,21. She re-hung it prominently in the Woodwell house. The Carnegie International exhibitions soon became Johanna’s primary artistic venue, her work passing review every time. Sore second-placers might snipe that having your dad and your dad’s friends on the review board hardly hurt, but in fact, Joe Woodwell traditionally abstained from voting on his daughter’s pieces.22 Moreover, as the years went by and Joe’s generation passed from prominence, “only paintings by Johanna Woodwell ... continued to pass the scrutiny of a jury which increasingly promoted artists from outside the local community.”23 Johanna would ultimately show at more Carnegie Internationals than any other artist, having been included in all but two exhibitions between 1896 and 1955. The roses from “American Beauties” had almost certainly come from the Woodwell garden, which was Johanna’s other passion. When not painting in the studio, she could usually be found
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Johanna’s beloved garden. The weather proved uncooperative, so they took their vows in the studio, in proximity to the paints, brushes, and pencils on which Johanna built her world.30 In 1938, she painted “My House” from the studio window, the backdrop of her happiest memories. The new Mr. and Mrs. Hailman moved into 310 South Lang Avenue, a seemingly separate address that abutted the Woodwell-Hailman properties.31
310 Lange Avenue
outside amongst the remarkable variety of plants and flowers on the estate, many of which had been initially planted by Johanna’s mother and grandmother. Eventually, Johanna would become a founder of the Garden Club of Allegheny County and a Phipps Conservatory president,24, which she helped to refurbish in 1936.25 The family garden was also an unending source of artistic inspiration for Johanna. Despite painting various subjects, her prolific production of florals left her with a reputation, in some circles, as a “flower painter.” Johanna didn’t mind. “I paint what I like to paint,” she said. “I have no favorite subjects, and I’m not afraid of color like so many artists today.”26 In December 1905,27 the Woodwell studio, already a popular gathering place for art classes, Saturday receptions, and informal exhibitions, became a celebration scene when Johanna married James D. “Jamie” Hailman – a well-known steel executive, engineer, and city planner.28 More importantly, perhaps, Jamie was Johanna’s next-door neighbor, having been born on the adjoining Hailman estate.29 The couple had hoped the wedding ceremony could take place in
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The following year, Joe became president of the Pittsburgh School of Design for Women32 that eventually became part of the Carnegie Institute’s fine arts department, today Carnegie-Mellon University, where Joe would also become a prominent department head.33 In 1904, his portrait had been painted in the family studio by artist and friend Thomas Eakins,34 who depicted Joe kindly but truthfully, perhaps aware that his health was declining. Trips to the luxurious Breakers resort in Palm Beach35 revived Joe’s spirits and provided new inspiration,36 but did not strengthen his failing heart. On May 30, 1911, Joseph R. Woodwell, Jr. passed away from heart failure.37 That fall, the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh voted to dedicate one of the Carnegie’s two galleries at their annual show exclusively to Joe’s work38 in what was believed to be the first memorial art exhibit in the city, or for a Pittsburgh artist, anywhere.39 Johanna, of course, did not fail to submit for the exhibition, and as her father’s life’s work hung in one gallery, a painting of hers entitled “The Garden,” a riot of floral color, received the second-place prize in the other.40 Johanna remained in the South Lang Avenue house, continually working until Jamie’s death in 1930 41, after which she moved back across the yard into the old family home. But the neighborhood had irrevocably changed. The streets were now paved and named. The estates of many of her friends were being My House - 1938
subdivided for middle-class housing. The old Homewood mansion had met the wrecking ball in 1924, while the Hailman’s sprawling home had been repurposed into the seventy-room Kenmawr Hotel. This initially swanky establishment quickly devolved into an unofficial retirement home for Gilded Age pensioners.42
Kenmawr Hotel
Yet, Johanna was not overly sentimental. When the Kenmawr Hotel was demolished in 1954 to make way for an unremarkable, yet egalitarian apartment complex, Johanna wistfully recalled attending her “first big party” at the mansion as a teenager. Still, she cautioned against the practice of “sitting with memories.”43 Many of her autographed pictures of prominent friends who had moved or passed on still hung in the studio. Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick and “Andy” Mellon had presented Johanna with personal dedications. “I call that my rogues gallery,” she quipped. As abstract art came to the fore, too, Johanna stuck faithfully to her cherished realism.
“A great artist can be abstract, ”
Joseph R. Woodwell - Magnolia
she said,
and smear… “but to daubthat’s foolish! ”
By her final Carnegie International in 1955, Johanna had come to be frequently called the “First Lady”44 of Pittsburgh artists. The younger crowd, though, perceived her as a throwback – exceptionally talented but increasingly walled away in a decaying East End mansion that had hardly changed since 1850. This perception, along with her hyperlocal focus and her abundance of florals, somewhat robbed Johanna’s work of its due attention in the mid-twentieth century.
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The Woodwell hardware store that replaced the original four-story wooden building in 1907 was moved forty feet north in the 1920s creation of the Boulevard of the Allies and remained in family hands until 1954,49 still stands. The eightstory structure, appropriately, was incorporated into the Point Park University Fine Arts Building. Point Park University Fine Arts Building Johanna Knowles Woodwell Hailman - 1955
When Johanna Knowles Woodwell Hailman, who had no children, passed away in the summer of 1958, she left her impressive personal collection of paintings and objects primarily to the Carnegie Museum of Art.45 However, two pieces depicting industrial scenes were bequeathed46 to the Duquesne Club, where they still hang prominently in the main hall. Johanna is buried in Homewood Cemetery, alongside her family, friends, and neighbors – only a few hundred yards from her family home location, which, with her blessing, was immediately sold to pay the lifetime annuity she bequeathed to her assistant. Johanna wanted the estate and gardens to be preserved after her death.47 Her wishes were ignored, however, and the entirety of the property was promptly bulldozed in favor of new housing.48 All that remains today of the Woodwell family compound are a trio of its smaller Victorians along South Lang Avenue, including Johanna’s #310, which tower regally over their midcentury neighbors.
70 I Avenue 6
Woodwells - 1872
Woodwells - 1890
References: 1
“Joseph Woodwell,” The Iron Age, Vol. LXII, July-December, 1898, p. 36
2
GM Hopkins Maps, Atlas of the City of Pittsburgh 1872, Twenty-Second Ward Plate 67, and Atlas of the City of Pittsburgh 1890 Volume 4, Wards 16, 20, 22-23, historicpittsburgh.org
3
“Quiet Observer,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Saturday, 3 June, 1911, p.4, Newspapers.com
4
Hyett, Will J., “Some Collections of Paintings in Pittsburgh,” Art & Archaeology, Vol. XIV, July-December, 1922, p. 314
5
“Quiet Observer,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Saturday, 3 June, 1911, p.4, Newspapers.com
6
“Joseph R. Woodwell (1842 - 1911),” Johnstown Flood National Memorial, nps.gov
7
“Pittsburgh’s First Lady Of Art,” Pittsburgh Press, Sunday, 18 December, 1955, p. 106, Newspapers.com
8
Joseph R. Woodwell (1842 - 1911),” Johnstown Flood National Memorial, nps.gov
9
Thurston, George H. Pittsburgh As It Is. Pittsburgh, W.S. Haven, 1857. p.181
10
“Celebrating A Century Of Its Existence,” Pittsburgh Press, Wednesday, 9 February, 1910, p.14 , Newspapers.com. “Financial Notes”, Pittsburgh Daily Post, Thursday, 11 April, 1907, p.13, Newspapers.com
11
“Art And Artists,” Pittsburgh Daily Post, Sunday, 9 June, 1912, p.31 Newspapers.com
32
Pittsburgh Press, Thursday, 14 June, 1900, p.8, Newspapers.com
33
“Carnegie May Give More To The Institute,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Saturday, 11 February, 1911 p.2, Newspapers.com Eakins, Thomas, “Joseph R. Woodwell,” (1904) Carnegie Museum of Art
34
“Downtown School Gave Women A Non-Traditional Career Path,” Pittsburgh Press, Tuesday, 19 May, 1991, p.13, Newspapers.com
37
Dwyer, Britta, “Pittsburgh’s Designing Women,” Pennsylvania Heritage, Winter 1991. paheritage.wpengine.com
“Joseph R. Woodwell, The Artist, Passes Away,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Wednesday, 31 May, 1911, p.3, Newspapers.com
38
“Pittsburgh’s Art Display,” Pittsburgh Daily Post, Sunday, 1 January, 1893, p.4, Newspapers.com
“Local Artists Achieve Honor At Exhibition,” Pittsburgh Press, Wednesday, 1 November, 1911, p.17, Newspapers.com
39
“Memorial For Woodwell,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sunday, 15 October, 1911 p.33, Newspapers.com
18
“Carnegie Art Gallery Committee,” Pittsburgh Press, Tuesday, 2 July, 1895, p.5, Newspapers.com
19
“Pittsburgh’s First Lady Of Art,” Pittsburgh Press, Sunday, 18 December, 1955, p.106, Newspapers.com
20
“Funeral Of J. R. Woodwell,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Saturday, 3 June, 1911, p.7, Newspapers.com, “In Memoriam,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Saturday, 17 June, 1911, p.2, Newspapers.com
23
“Pittsburgh Woman Is Given Honor,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Monday, 9 December, 1912, p. 6, Newspapers.com
“Pittsburgh Folk In Palm Beach Gaieties,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sunday, 12 February, 1911, p.13, Newspapers.com
“Society,” Pittsburgh Press, Monday, 2 September, 1895, p.2, Newspapers.com
22
31
36
17
21
“Pittsburgh’s First Lady Of Art,” Pittsburgh Press, Sunday, 18 December, 1955, p.106, Newspapers.com
Sanger, Martha Frick Symington. Henry Clay Frick: An Intimate Portrait. New York, Abbeville Press, 1998. p.316
“Art And Artists,” Pittsburgh Daily Post, Sunday, 7 July, 1912, p.47, Newspapers.com
16
30
“Pittsburghers Have Moved On Palm Beach,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sunday, 5 February, 1911, p.34, Newspapers.com
13
15
“Kenmawr Hotel, Doomed To Go In 90th Year, Evokes Memories,” Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Saturday, 25 September, 1954, p.8, Newspapers.com
35
12
14
29
“Local Artists Achieve Honor At Exhibition,” Pittsburgh Press, Wednesday, 1 November, 1911, p.17, Newspapers.com
40
41
“Hailman Rites To Be Monday,” Pittsburgh Press, Sunday, 8 June, 1930, p.20, Newspapers.com
42
“Old Landmark To Be Torn Down,” Pittsburgh Press, Sunday, 24 July, 1955, p.13, Newspapers.com
43
“Kenmawr Hotel, Doomed To Go In 90th Year, Evokes Memories,” Pittsburgh un-Telegraph, Saturday, 25 September, 1954, p.8, Newspapers.com
“Downtown School Gave Women A Non-Traditional Career Path,” Pittsburgh Press, Tuesday, 19 May, 1991, p.13, Newspapers.com
44
Neal, Kenneth. A Wise Extravagance: The Founding Of The Carnegie International Exhibitions, 1895 – 1901. Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Press, 1996. p 32
45
Dwyer, Britta, “Pittsburgh’s Designing Women,” Pennsylvania Heritage, Winter 1991. paheritage.wpengine.com
46
24
“Pittsburgh’s First Lady Of Art,” Pittsburgh Press, Sunday, 18 December, 1955, p.106, Newspapers.com
25
“Your Flower Garden,” Pittsburgh Press, Sunday, 17 March, 1935, p.57, Newspapers.com
26
“Pittsburgh’s First Lady Of Art,” Pittsburgh Press, Sunday, 18 December, 1955, p.106, Newspapers.com
27
“Pittsburgh’s First Lady Of Art,” Pittsburgh Press, Sunday, 18 December, 1955, p.106, Newspapers.com
28
“Hailman Rites To Be Monday,” Pittsburgh Press, Sunday, 8 June, 1930, p.20, Newspapers.com
“Pittsburgh’s First Lady Of Art,” Pittsburgh Press, Sunday, 18 December, 1955, p.106, Newspapers.com
“Mrs. Hailman Leaves Art To Institute,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Friday, 11 July, 1958, p.22, Newspapers.com Wilkins, David G. The Art Of The Duquesne Club, Pittsburgh, 2001. p 80-81
47
“Mrs. Hailman Leaves Art To Institute,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Friday, 11 July, 1958, p.22, Newspapers.com
48
Building dates for the new tract are listed in Allegheny County records as 1957, a year before Johanna’s death, suggesting that plans were already in place, somewhere, for the removal of the old estate.
49
University of Pittsburgh, “Guide to the Woodwell Collection,1829 – 1954,” historicpittsburgh.org
Duquesne Club
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K C A B OK
O L
Sleeping Keys Printed with old roses or tartan and thistle, there’s a biscuit tin like this in every house. Prise off the lid and catch the flinty scent of old keys, decommissioned and sleeping. Like unspent francs, deutschmarks and drachmas they accumulate here, inert and futureless, though each in its time was powerful: precision-cut on a wheel of sparks.
(Sprackland, Jean., lines 1-8) “Sleeping Keys.” Sleeping Keys, Jonathan Cape, 2013 Jean Sprackland is the author of three previous poetry collections – the last of which, Tilt, won the 2007 Costa Poetry Award. She has also published a book of non-fiction, Strands: A Year of Discoveries on the Beach, which won the 2012 Portico Prize. She lives in London.
http://jeansprackland.com/
72 I Avenue 6
Keys from the historical archives of the Duquesne Club.
Y
our key to accommodating friends, colleagues and traveling clients.
An overnight stay at the Duquesne Club provides your guests with all of the pleasures and privileges of the city’s finest private club. Luxurious comfort, fabulous food and unparalleled athletic facilities.
• Complimentary use of Health & Fitness • Wi-Fi service • Luxurious shower with L’Occitane products • Private dining and meeting rooms for banquets, meetings, and conferences
• Valet parking And of course, enjoy our famous DC macaroons at turndown service.
Duquesne Club
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See
and be
SEEN6
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Submitting Content
Duquesne Club members are invited to advertise in Avenue 6. The Club’s exclusive magazine can put your brand in the hands of Pittsburgh’s most interesting thinkers and innovative leaders.
Club members are also welcome to submit editorial content – photos, articles, ideas – for inclusion in the pages of Avenue 6.
Avenue 6 is distributed seasonally to Duquesne Club members and is on display throughout the Club, providing advertisers the prestige of being seen among the very best in this beautiful, high-end publication. Special packaging is also available for advertisers who appear in Dossier, the sophisticated complement to Avenue 6 offering an in-depth look into the Club’s societies, people, and culture.
ADVERTISING: Christine Martier christine.martier@gmail.com
EDITORIAL: Gregg Liberi gliberi@duquesne.org
OSSIER
The Duquesne Club
FALL 2020
Available at
One PNC Plaza 249 Fifth Avenue • Downtown Pittsburgh 412.471.5727 Shop online at Larrimors.com • Parking Validated at 3 PNC
1775 North Highland Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241 louisanthony.com 412.854.0310
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