2025 Annual Report (All Time Summary):
Throughout 2025, Pittsburgh’s Old Stone Tavern Friend’s Trust, Inc. has continued to pursue its mission with fiscal prudence and dedication: to preserve the historic Old Stone Tavern and educate the community about its rich heritage.
In alignment with these goals, we have actively explored funding opportunities, supported the new property owners, and engaged the public through our website, modest fundraising efforts, and educational outreach. Notably, we’ve supported our Secretary, Norene Beatty, in the final editing stages of her forthcoming book, which shares stories rooted in the Tavern’s history.
To date, our path has not required substantial financial investment. While we acknowledge that a more aggressive fundraising strategy might have accelerated restoration efforts, we have chosen a conservative approach out of respect for donor contributions and in recognition of our current team’s expertise. Our focus has remained on achievable, low-cost initiatives that advance our mission without compromising financial integrity.
We remain open and eager to welcome new advocates with relevant financial and fundraising experience. Although we made efforts to expand our board in 2019 with a member skilled in fundraising, the onset of the pandemic limited the impact and longevity of that initiative.
As a result, our financial records from January 2014 through November 2025 reflect a decade of modest expenditures, consistent with our values and strategic priorities.
Income
– Donations: $23,550
– Dues: $865
Total Income: $24,415
Expenses
– Incorporation: $850 (application fee)
– Case for Revitalization Book: $3,284 (printing 30, stock artwork, ISBNs, version 2)
– Ledger Restoration: $1,000
– Operations: $2,681 (checks, public meetings, paypal and gofundme fees)
Total Expenses: $7,816
Current Accounts Balance: $16,599
Without clearly defined, high-cost objectives in place through most of 2025, and with long-term ownership of the Tavern only recently clarified, we have continued to take a conservative approach to fundraising. As a result, our expenditures this year have remained minimal, totaling under a few hundred dollars.
However, following the period of stalled progress during the pandemic, which coincided with the Porters’ acquisition of the property, momentum is beginning to build. The Porters have started to pursue specific restoration goals, and in response, the Trust has begun to increase its financial participation to support these efforts.
This year, we’ve encouraged and received generous contributions totaling almost $10,000 from donors committed to the Tavern’s future for which we hope to acquire matching grants. Looking beyond normal individual contributions this year, notable is almost half of this was from our largest benefactor William Lawrence III, and then that most of the rest was raised through a campaign July to help remove paint from the surface of the Tavern.
These funds are now aligned with clearly defined objectives and associated budget targets, allowing us to support restoration efforts in a more focused and impactful manner.
With these new funds in place we are now applying for $10,000 matching funds from the DAR, on our second round of application, which we hope to gain by the end of February 2026. Here it is noteworthy that we’ve found it is common that organizations must apply over multiple cycles to win a grant, and we believe we’ve learned more and are better prepared for success this round.
Our first projected budget, set for the next six months at our Sept 20, against $26,600 (with another 10 thousand matching funds):
– Tavern Renovations (Paint Removal and Chimney Restoration): $20,000
– ISBN for pending Tavern Stories book: $200
– 50 printings of the pending Tavern Stories book: $500
– Speaker for Sept 2025 meeting: $100
– Grant Writer: $200
– Historical signs: $1000
– Office space: $1.00 ($5 for 2024-2029, address of Tavern)
– Office supplies: $38.00
– Miscellaneous: $200
Total Budgeted Expenditures: $22,239
Finally, at present quotes for the immedate Tavern paint and chimney Renovations have been in the $100,000 dollar range, with projection for full restoring starting to look in the millions. With this we are offering what resources we can towards restoration expecting this helps move forward, while also keeping financial reserves to apply for other matching grants, as well as striving to raise other funds while advocating for preservation and educating the community as our highest priorities.
2024 Annual Report (All Time Summary):
Through 2024 Pittsburgh’s Old Strong Tavern Friend’s Trust, Inc. helped facilitate property purchase by new owners, support refining the case for revitalization plan, and examine possible funding opportunities.
We have also been advocating in the public sector through talks with our District2 City Council representative Theresa Kail-Smith, and with the property owner.
Most effectively our Directors have continued to work to educate the community about the Tavern, most substantially though efforts by our Secretary Norene Beatty who continues to speak at other group gatherings, and working to publish an upcoming book about the Tavern history.
Our comprehensive financials covering 01/01/2014 to 8/11/2024 remain extremely modest:
Income
– Donations: $13,872.70
– Dues: $865.00
Total Income: $14,737.70
Expenses
– Incorporation: $850.00 (application fee)
– Case for Revitalization Book: $3,284.20 (printing 30, stock artwork, ISBNs, version 2)
– Ledger Restoration: $1,000.00
– Operations: $1,623.43 (checks, public meetings, minor paypal fees)
Total Expenses: $7,735.46
Current Account Balance: $7,002.24
As we head to 2025 we continue to advocate for the Tavern: educating the public about the Tavern history, applying for relevant grants, and looking for any other possible any possible funding opportunity that will support for the new owners ongoing renovations.
2019 Annual Report (All Time Summary):
Through 2019 Pittsburgh’s Old Strong Tavern Friend’s Trust, Inc. has continued work to identify possible partners in a purchase, and examine every possible funding opportunity. To date we have not found any party interested in the properties as a group, nor have we been able to locate a professional fund raiser that will partner with us.
In addition to trying to locate for private buyers, mostly driven by our President Norene Beaty, we have also been advocating in the public sector through talks with our District2 City Council representative Theresa Kail-Smith, and with the property owner.
More effectively our Directors have also continued to work to educate the community about the Tavern, most substantially though large efforts by our Secretary Norene Beatty who has spoken at a number of other group gatherings, and published a detailed history identifying 70 tavern visitors that were participants in the Whiskey Rebellion, 47 involved in the American Revolution, and 16 who served in the War of 1812. These efforts were augmented as all solicited letters of support, Francie Brentzel published a Press Release and POST Gazette Op Ed, Norene shared a number of press appearances with John McNulty, and we continued an active online presence with twitter and website maintained by Anup Aryal and Cris Mooney and a Facebook page started by Chad Glover.
Without yet being able to put together a plan to secure ownership of the property, we continue to maintain good relations with the owner and solicit letters of support, all without pushing hard to raise substantial funds until we have a viable plan in the works.
Our comprehensive financials covering 01/01/2014 to 8/11/2019 remain extremely modest:
Income
– Donations and Dues:
$7,167.06
Total Income: $7,167.06
Expenses
– Incorporation: $850.00 (application fee)
– Case for Revitalization Book: $1,284.20 (printing 30, stock artwork, ISBNs)
– Operations: $1,252.36 (checks, public meetings, minor paypal fees, ledger restoration)
Total Expenses: $3,383.56
Current Account Balance: $3,783.50
As we head to 2020 we continue to advocate for the Tavern: educating the public about the Tavern history, looking for possible partners in a purchase, soliciting letters of recommendation, examining any possible funding opportunity, and trying to locate a professional fund raiser that will partner with us.
2015 Annual Report:
In 2015 Pittsburgh’s Old Strong Tavern Friend’s Trust, Inc. has continued work to identify possible partners in a purchase, and examine every possible funding opportunity. To date we have not found any group of parties interested in the properties as a group, nor were we able to locate a professional fund raiser that will partner with us.
In addition to trying to locate for private buyers, mostly driven by our President Paul Sentner, we have also been advocating in the public sector through talks with Chairman Kevin Aklin of the Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), our District2 City Council representative Theresa Kail-Smith, and the newly formed [and since defunct] District 2 “South West Pittsburgh Community Development Corporation (SWPCDC)” headed by Richard Butler in coordination with Theresa Kail-Smith.
Our Directors have also continued to work to educate the community about the Tavern, most substantially though large efforts by our Secretary Norene Beatty who has spoken at a number of other group gatherings, and published a detailed history identifying 70 tavern visitors that were participants in the Whiskey Rebellion, 47 involved in the American Revolution, and 16 who served in the War of 1812. These efforts were augmented as all solicited letters of support, Francie Brentzel published a Press Release and POST Gazette Op Ed, Norene shared a number of press appearances with John McNulty, and we continued an active online presence with twitter and website maintained by Anup Aryal and Cris Mooney.
Without yet being able to put together a plan to secure ownership of the property, we continue to maintain good relations with the owner and solicit letters of support, all without pushing hard to raise substantial funds until we have a viable plan in the works.
Our comprehensive financials covering 01/01/2014 to 12/31/2015 remain extremely modest:
Revenue
– Donations: $3,085.00
– Dues: $370.00
Total Revenue: $3,455.00
Expenses
– Incorporation: $850.00 (application fee)
– Operations: $240.20 (checks, public meetings, minor paypal fees)
Total Expenses: $1,090.20
Current Account Balance: $2,364.80
As we enter 2016 we continue to advocate for the Tavern: educating the public about the Tavern history, looking for possible partners in a purchase, soliciting letters of recommendation, examining any possible funding opportunity, and trying to locate a professional fund raiser that will partner with us.
2014 Annual Report:
After formalizing the Pittsburgh Old Stone Tavern Friends Trust, Inc. with a code of ethics and bylaws, we elected a formal Board of Directors and Officers Apr 1, 2014. On May 13, 2014 we submitted our 501(c)(3) application to the Federal Internal Revenue Service, and on Sept 10, 2014 we were granted 501(c)(3) status retroactive to Dec 30, 2013.
The Pittsburgh Old Stone Tavern Friends Trust, Inc. opened a bank account in Feb 19, 2014 as our first financial transaction. Two of the three registered signatories, which are the current President, Secretary and Treasurer, are required to sign for any payment. Our one expense prior to that, our Pennsylvania Department of State Nonprofit Incorporation, which was granted Dec 2013, was paid directly by a meeting attendee of the informal group.
The rest of 2014 was spent gathering information about the property, communication with the property owner, investigating options, formalizing the organization and agreeing on direction. As a result, there was no significant financial activity.
Financial Statement For Period Covering 01/01/2014 to 12/31/2014
Revenue
– Donations: $2,465.00
– Dues: $110.00
Total Revenue: $2,575.00
Expenses
– Incorporation: $850.00 (application fee)
– Operations: $158.79 (checks, and public meeting cost)
Total Expenses: $1,008.79
Current Account Balance $1,566.21
In 2014 we also educated the public on tavern related history. We created an informational brochure, which is published on our website. Our brochure was also distributed at events, most notably at a half dozen pubic walks by Venture Outdoors, and well as through a few large community meetings like our special public meeting July 28th 2014 for which we also enlisted a local tavern historian to share its history.
By the end of 2014 we confirmed that the property owner will only sell the Old Stone Tavern as one of five properties, resulting in total purchase cost from 10-20 times the value of the Tavern itself. The owner uses all these properties, including the Tavern, to run an active business. Losing ownership of the Tavern space will require moving the entire business, and thus the wholesale requirement. As independent confirmation, we engaged the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation to meet with the owner independently and propose purchasing the Tavern separately. However, they were also unsuccessful in their attempt.
Two of the properties, an office building and a warehouse, have substantial value that is not part of the Pittsburgh Old Stone Tavern Friends Trust, Inc. mission. However, we will be required to engage these properties to have any hope of saving the Tavern.
As we enter 2015 our efforts are being spent to find possible partners in a purchase, and examine every possible funding opportunity. To date we have found one party interested in the warehouse and we are looking for others, as well as trying to locate a professional fund raiser that will partner with us. We are also soliciting letters of recommendation, and examining any possible opportunities for grants.