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New coat of paint for old Bethel Park High School

By Harry Funk 3 min read
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Painters take a break outside of the Schoolhouse Arts and History Center in Bethel Park.

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Bill Haberthur, standing in the just-painted foyer, holds the newly received plaque designating the former Bethel Park High School building as a Historic Landmark.

The rehabilitation of the old Bethel Park High School building continues to be a priority for Bill Haberthur.

“This go-around, I needed a couple of gallons of paint, because we’ve basically been going from classroom to classroom,” the Bethel Park Historical Society member said about efforts to spruce up what now is known as the Schoolhouse Arts and History Center on South Park Road, where the society has its headquarters.

Having received substantial support from local businesses, he called the nearby Sherwin-Williams store and spoke with assistant manager April Morales about the possible donation of a small quantity.

“She said it was going to be National Painting Week the third week of May. I didn’t have that on my calendar,” Haberthur quipped. “Now I know.”

It happens to be that each year, Sherwin-Williams celebrates the occasion with employees throughout the nation picking up their brushes and partnering with local organizations in need of a fresh coat of color. And so Morales told Haberthur:

“We pick a project every year. I’d love to toss this into the hat and discuss it with other people.”

The discussion resulted in a bevy of volunteers, 19 on May 24 and 26 the following day, going to town on the 112-year-old building.

“They provided all the paint for free,” Haberthur said about the amount needed to cover the interior, besides the basement. “They provided all the supplies for free. And they provided their employees.”

Volunteers from the Bethel Park community also joined in, much to Haberthur’s appreciation.

“Everyone is now buying into our story,” he said. “Months ago, I had to beg people to get involved and convince them that the building was standing and going forward. And now, they’re calling me and saying, ‘How can I help?'”

Among the businesses that have helped are Comcast, employees of which cleared out mounds of debris and unwanted items during a community service day in April, and Keller Williams Realty, with representatives assisting in prepping for painting.

Youth-oriented organizations also are getting involved.

“One 15-year-old is a football player,” Haberthur related. “He said, ‘Do you have any walls I can break down? I want to tear down a wall.'”

Considering the number of latter-day partitions in need of removal for the sake of historical accuracy, the answer was yes.

In the meantime, the historical society has been fielding inquiries for potential new tenants in the building, and community groups are holding gatherings in the first-floor meeting room.

“We’re at the point where the community knows this building is a cultural center,” Haberthur said, “that we’re alive and well, and that we’re making great strides, great changes.”

Visit www.bphistsoc.com.

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