A Living Legend: The Story of Saint Mary’s Lyceum
A Documentary by Liam
Halferty
Logline: Nearing
its 100th year anniversary, Saint Mary’s Lyceum has long been a
place for the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Lawrenceville to come together to
enjoy the various festivities held at this historical venue. This film will
highlight how through economic and social trials and tribulations, the Lyceum
has remained open because of hard-working people that put in countless hours to
keep this century-old building, that is so rich in history, up and running.
Redbeard Productions, run by Liam Halferty, presents a
historical digital short documenting the history of a very special 100-year-old
historic landmark in the city of Pittsburgh. The film will also highlight the
way in which a community has come together on several occasions to prevent this
building that means so much to the neighborhood, from closing forever. The
hard-working people of Lawrenceville, mainly one of the main characters listed
below, Mickey McGrane, prevented the closing of the building in 2004 and 2010,
when the church and schools associated with the Lyceum, were closed by the
Diocese of Pittsburgh. The film will highlight how a community came together to
overcome this conflict.
Main Characters
Mickey McGrane: A
lifetime resident of Lawrenceville and an active member in both the community
and Saint Mary’s Lyceum, Mickey is the main reason that the Lyceum is able to
stay open. Mickey’s father, John “Baldy” McGrane, was the most active member in
the community before his death in 2005. Mickey takes care of the day-to-day
operations of the gymnasium, and he is the coordinator of the local baseball
league. He is the most active member in the community of Lawrenceville and the
true definition of a model citizen. McGrane is the main character in this
documentary, as Lyceum has meant the most to Mickey and his family, as well as
the entire community of Lawrenceville.
James Wudarczyk: An
author and historian for the Lawrenceville Historical Society, Wudarczyk has written
several articles on Saint Mary’s Parish. He also is co-author of In Loving Memory—and Still More
Lawrenceville Stories.
Wudarczyk, like McGrane, offers his knowledge of Lyceum and Lawrenceville
history of years ago because of his extensive research. This is something that
people living today most likely will not be able to offer.
Jude Wudarczyk: Also an author and historian for the Lawrenceville Historical Society, Wudarczyk, James' brother, has a very vast background of the history of the neighborhood of Lawrenceville.
Andrew Czachowski: A
resident of Lawrenceville and a member of Our Lady of the Angels Parish,
20-year-old Andrew Czachowski restored St. Mary's Lyceum in 2009 as part of his
Eagle Scout project, the highest rank of achievement possible for the Boy
Scouts of America. Czachowski not only knows much about the parish himself from
growing up so close to the gymnasium, and playing basketball there for many
years, but Czachowski also knows many other people very involved in the parish
and gymnasium. Over 40 people who this building means so much to from the
neighborhood helped Andrew in painting, cleaning, and remodeling the then 98-year-old
St. Mary's Lyceum. Czachowski is an expert on the Lyceum as he will stress the
importance that this building has had on not only his life, but the lives of
the surrounding neighborhood as well. He will also tell how this building
influenced his Eagle Scout project, and how neighborhood businesses aided him
financially, and supported him in his work. Czachowski is now a student at Kent
State University.
Through the creation of this documentary, 100 years of oral
history is being preserved in the form of a short film. The film will not only
intrigue those whose lives have been affected in some way by this historic
building, but everyone can appreciate the story of how a community came
together to keep this building open through difficult times. Lawrenceville has
long been a place full of hard-working, determined people and the way in which
the Lyceum has lasted all these years reflects that. Visuals used in this
documentary include shots of the gym itself, the neighborhood of Lawrenceville,
and the church associated with the gym. Still pictures also will be used from
years past to depict the 100 year history of the Lyceum. The point of view will
be someone telling the story from the outside, or an etic point of view. First, the film will show a brief history of the Lyceum. Then,
the film will show how the neighborhood and building have survived the closing
of the church and school affiliated with the gymnasium, because of a tight-knit community of
hard-working individuals coming together. Finally, the film will show again the
present-day state of the building, showing how it has triumphed many trials and
tribulations, and well as a description of what may be in store in the future
for the building.
Redbeard Productions will tell the story in a 25-30 minute
digital video movie to be presented to the BC 602 Capstone Showcase audience in
Mueller Theater in December 2012.
