Original Tiles From Allegheny County Courthouse Being Turned Into Keepsakes

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Allegheny County is selling off the original terra cotta tiles that made up the roof of the county courthouse.

"The roof is original from that time, 450,000 tiles. Orange tiles. Very thick. Made in Italy. Nobody knew they were orange because now all we see is a black roof from what Pittsburgh went through during the 20th century," Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said.

Now, the roof is being redone on the Allegheny County Courthouse. It's a $10 million project, but a through a partnership with Wendell August Forge, the 130-year-old tiles are being transformed into eight collectible keepsakes.

If you would like to purchase one, visit Wendell August Forge's website at this link.

If the idea sounds vaguely familiar, it should. Wendell August did the same thing with sections of the Civic Arena roof. This time, the money raised will go to the Allegheny County Parks Foundation.

"To improve the nine county parks -- and so this money will help us do a number of projects that the county wouldn't otherwise be able to do," Caren Glotfelty, of the Allegheny County Parks Foundation, said.

Some of that will happen in South Park. Another project involves sculpture restoration at Hartwood Acres. And then, there is some ecological work in Boyce Park.

The tiles start at $30 and the most expensive item is $75. They will start shipping in September.