Art, music, history highlight Butler Cultural District launch
Artwork, photographs, music and church chapels illuminated by sunlight shining through stained glass windows set the scene for Saturday’s launch of the Butler Cultural District.
The Visions of Community christening of the cultural district featured art shows, a banner art contest, music performances and a poetry walk at several locations in the district. Seven churches, the former Butler Middle School, Butler Area Public Library, Butler Little Theatre and the Maridon Museum are in the district in downtown Butler.
The Rotary Club of Butler PM launched the district, bordered by East Jefferson, North Main, Howard, North McKean and Franklin streets. The event helped generate interest in future events and activities in the district.
“Our intention was to get organizations and churches to work together to create excitement and a vibe,” said Leslie Osche, project chairwoman and secretary of the Butler PM Rotary.
Covenant Presbyterian Church, St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Saint Andrews United Presbyterian Church, All Saints Parish at St. Peter Church, First Church and First English Lutheran Church were open for art shows, musical performances and for visitors to view stained glass and architecture.
Visitors also gathered for a history lesson in the basement of Covenant Presbyterian Church. Known as the First Presbyterian Church during the Civil War, the church was a stop for slaves fleeing bondage in the south.
A now blocked hole in a foundation wall led to a cramped hiding place where slaves hid and were given food before traveling at night to the next stop on the Underground Railroad, said Lars Morrison, the church’s clerk of session.
Copies of posters offering rewards for runaway slaves and announcing slave sales were hung in the tiny basement for the program.
Church members who helped the slaves couldn’t breathe a word of what they were doing because it was considered treason, Morrison said.
He said the hiding place is no more than 4 feet high and provided temporary shelter for slaves for two or three years before President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863.
“There were always people willing to help other people,” Morrison said.
He said guided tours of the church are available upon request
The closed middle school was the site of a banner art contest, music and face painting.
Jordan Grady, Butler County Chamber of Commerce president, said Donald Evans, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Gateways, the nonprofit organization that obtained the building, was among the first people to walk through the cultural district.
Grady said Evans’ appearance showed support for the day.
“I think this is a great effort between a lot of individuals and community groups that have a stake in the City of Butler,” Grady said.
Audrianna Bly of Butler Downtown said the cultural district will attract visitors to shops and restaurants in the city.
“It’s a win for downtown to have the cultural district,” Bly said.
Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy said the event was a wonderful way to kick off the cultural district.
“Anything to bring people to downtown Butler is appreciated,” Dandoy said.
The event also allowed local artists and musicians to display their talents, and allowed churches to share their stained glass and share their histories.
“My big pet peeve is, ”I didn’t know that was in Butler.’ Well here it is,“ Dandoy said.
