Historic Herbst House in Sewickley may be coming down

The Herbst House, a former Catholic school, convent and private residence along Broad Street in Sewickley, may soon be demolished after standing for more than 137 years.

Divine Redeemer Parish officials want to raze the property in the historic district due to safety concerns.

The parish includes St. James Church in Sewickley and St. Mary’s Church in Aleppo.

The three-story mansion has been vacant for about three decades.

“It is in such a state of disrepair that it has become necessary to address related safety issues,” the Rev. Brian Noel said via email July 13. “A fence was recently put up around the perimeter after the collapse of one of the first-floor windows.”

Parishioners were given an update on the building’s condition last month. The property defines and squares off the St. James campus.

Officials said the structure has further deteriorated primarily due to water penetration from the roof. Vegetation also reclaimed a portion of the property.

Sewickley council president Cynthia Mullins said the borough has received an application for its demolition.

The matter will be before the historic review commission next month.

The commission meets on the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the borough building, 601 Thorn St.

Noel said he could not comment on the future plans of the site until at least after the commission meeting.

“It would be premature to get into any other detail until then,” he said.

The house was built in the late 1800s and owned by D.C. Herbst, of the Independent Natural Gas Co. and Standard Oil Co.

“The handsome mansion in Sewickley [still standing on Broad Street] is fully and splendidly furnished, a lovely conservatory opening out from the dining-room,” Adelaide Mellier Nevin wrote in her book, “The Social Mirror: A Character Sketch of the Women of Pittsburg [sic] and Vicinity during the First Century of the County’s Existence; Society Today,” published in 1888 by T. W. Nevin, according to Sewickley Valley Historical Society records.

“Nowhere is to be found more lavish hospitality or more perfect housekeeping and finer table appointments of china, glass and silver.”

The home was sold to the church and became the first home of St. James School when it was dedicated on Dec. 6, 1913, according to church records. Church leaders purchased the home for $21,000.

Eighty students attended the school in its first year, according to church records.

Rooms were named for saints, which corresponded to names of donors who helped establish the school.

Bishop Canevin donated the bell and tower, which since has been torn down. The home later became a convent.

Structural evaluations were done by DTE Consulting LLC in 2008 and 2014.

The parish is in the process of getting a proposal for a third structural evaluation.

Estimates from the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh to rehabilitate the property are in the millions of dollars, according to church documents.