Heinz pickle pin among surprises found in 113-year-old cornerstone of former Tree of Life synagogue

Heinz pickles were apparently as popular in Pittsburgh 113 years ago as they are today.

A Tree of Life Congregation member included a Heinz pickle pin among the mementos and documents placed in the cornerstone of the Oakland synagogue when it was built in 1906. The building, which became part of Pittsburgh Playhouse in the 1950s, is being demolished to make way for future development.

“Ahhh, a Heinz pickle pin. I promise I did not plan this,” said Eric S. Lidji, director of the Rauh Jewish History Program and Archives at the Heinz History Center, as he carefully removed items from a time capsule in the cornerstone.

The Tree of Life Congregation moved in 1953 to the corner of Wilkins and Shady in Squirrel Hill. On Oct. 27, 2018, a gun attack on the synagogue killed 11 people from the three congregations that worshipped in the building.

Tree of Life officials joined Point Park University President Paul Hennigan and several longtime congregants Monday morning in opening the cornerstone at the site on Craft Avenue. Hennigan said the university, which owns the property, has an agreement to sell it to nearby Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation.

Noralco Corp., the demolition company, razed the Oakland building but left the stone in its original spot. Workers on Monday used nylon straps and an excavator to lift it from its spot. As they lifted, a copper box dropped from the bottom.

Among the items in the box were copies of The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Pittsburgh Leader, Pittsburgh Dispatch and the Jewish Criterion dated Aug. 26, 1906. The box also contained a list of congregation members, congregants’ business cards, several letters, a bank book and religious items, including Aliyah cards and a luach (a Jewish calendar).

The most interesting items were the pickle pin and one half of a seashell with the name “S. Davis” written inside.

“I’m giddy,” said Barbara Feige, Tree of Life’s executive director. “I find it very exciting. I’m a bit of a geek about this kind of stuff. The pickle is fabulous. I think that was an ingenious and creative way to put a little bit of Pittsburgh in the time capsule. Some things don’t change.” The Heinz pickle pin was introduced in 1893 by H.J. Heinz himself as a promotional gimmick.

Lidji said members included newspapers to document the date of the dedication.

“It’s also a reminder that there used to be a lot of newspapers in Pittsburgh,” he said.

The other items were included as a testament to who was present on the historic occasion of the building’s dedication. He was baffled by the seashell and said it had no discernible significance.

“The seashell is fascinating,” he said. “I’d love to do a little more research and see if we can figure out what that is.”

On hand were several longtime members of the congregation, including Allen Cousin, 89, of Squirrel Hill, a founder of Noralco Corp. He said it was particularly ironic that his company razed the building where he attended services and Hebrew school and received his bar mitzvah as a child.

“At my age I’m very happy to be around to see this,” he said. “I was surprised there were five newspapers in there.”

Ben Forman, 85, of Oakland said the contents represented the synagogue’s history.

“This brings back a lot of memories because Allen was my first boss,” he said, throwing an arm around Cousin’s shoulder. “We both grew up together in Oakland not very far away. We sold pins and pennants for Pitt football games as you walked up Cardiac Hill to Pitt Stadium.”

Feige said the synagogue would likely donate the historic items to the Heinz History Center. She said the cornerstone would probably be incorporated into a display at the synagogue after it reopens.

“The cornerstone itself will go to storage for the immediate future, and as we look at what we plan to do at the Wilkins and Shady site I’m sure we’re going to look at a way to incorporate the cornerstone,” Feige said.