Back when this town was called ‘Ligonier Old Fort’ in the 1700s, there was a clearing where patrons would gather and tie up their horses. The original Forbes Road passed right through it, which made it a convenient stop for covered wagons traveling west. Eventually, the town successfully petitioned for the road to pass around it rather than through it, and it became a well-traveled turnpike from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh (now known as Route 30). In 1817, resident John Ramsey laid out street plans for the town, initially naming it "Ramseytown". Eventually it was decided that the town's name should be "Ligonier" after British Field Marshall John Ligonier. In 1894 the center of town was dedicated as The Diamond Park. A wooden 'Music Pavilion' was erected where the Ligonier Cornet Band would play. From then on it has been the most important focal point and gathering place in Ligonier.
It was first surrounded by a pipe fence to keep out horses and buggies. There were also four Civil War-era cannons on each corner of the grass. It was refurbished several times, but in 1967 and '68, the Diamond Park and the bandstand had its first major renovation. According to Ralph K. Bennett, local historian and former journalist, at this time "everything below the familiar roof was replaced and, most notably, the familiar thick columns holding up the 'dome' were replaced by the wrought iron which has now become a familiar part of the structure’s silhouette."
And now, the first major renovation since 1967 is almost complete. Over the last nine months, visitors and residents of Ligonier watched as roads were blocked, construction vehicles moved in, and jackhammers were in motion. The ambitious renovation of Ligonier’s town center, undertaken by Berlin, PA-based Darr Construction, was orchestrated on a strict timeline. It was a season of change and adjustment in a town that prides itself on its beauty and traditions.
For the last 69 years, Ligonier's iconic Bandstand had always been the main stage for the town's popular Sunday night Summer Band Concerts. These events needed to be moved to the Town Hall side of Main Street during construction. Ligonier Borough’s merchants, an eclectic mix of hard-working small-business owners whose shops and restaurants help give Ligonier its character and charm, started to see a decline in their spring and summer business. They banded together with the Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce to create new events to entice visitors to town. In May, prior to the busy summer season, the Ligonier Borough Council approved free Saturday parking throughout the end of the construction to help encourage visitors to come to Ligonier. Scott Haines, Director of the Chamber, was instrumental in adding new signage around town, reminding people that Ligonier’s Shops and Restaurants were OPEN during 'The Diamond Renaissance.'
But the other part about this renovation that should be recognized is the constant connection between the public and the project. Frequent updates were being posted on Medium. This informative blog, written by Amber Carney, was linked within the Chamber’s website and its weekly emails (If you are not a recipient of these emails, you can subscribe by clicking here). It was an exhaustive resource to the timeline of events that would unfold. Every step was detailed with crisp, clean professional photos. It was a comprehensive inside look at what was happening with this extensive project.
Initially, there was the cutting of the large fully-grown trees - a necessary, though unfortunate element of the construction process that was a tough thing for residents to witness.
Paul Sirofchuck, furniture designer and owner of the Main Exhibit Gallery and Art Center, was commissioned to use the wood from these trees in a meaningful way. He was quoted in a Trib Total Media Article explaining why he thought the trees would not have survived the Diamond Renaissance: “It's hard to save trees on construction sites. They can't take the trauma of all the machinery, construction and digging. To do all that underground work, I think those trees would suffer."
Peoples Gas Company had local crews in the trenches for several weeks replacing gas lines to businesses that surround the town center. These workers, along with those from Ligonier Borough Public Works and Darr Construction, had major underground work to complete. An improved storm water drainage system was installed. A security fence was erected early in the Project, and later a decorative wrap surrounded the fence to shield some of the messy work from the public while reminding people of past Diamond Renaissances.
There were many factors that made this project necessary. There was major deterioration of brick pavers, and also a need for ramps to be installed so that everything could be more accessible and ADA-compliant from all angles. And then there were those tractor-trailer tire marks that cut deeply into the corners of the park, directly over what was supposed to be a brick-paved perimeter walkway. Seasoned Ligonier pedestrians knew better than to walk along the edge of the Diamond, due to the fact that large trucks had a notoriously tough time navigating the curves. It was a hazard. Curbs needed to be raised and relocated in order to rectify this problem.
(Measures were taken to ensure smooth transitions to new and changing traffic patterns.)
Then, there is The Bandstand, originally constructed in 1894 and extensively refurbished in 1967. Often the inspiration for jewelry and Ligonier keepsakes, and the picturesque backdrop for many holiday and wedding photos, it’s the jewel of the town center. Since its last face-lift 51 years ago, its copper roof had sustained hail damage and had begun to leak, and its slate floor was in bad need of repair. Plans were formed to add better lighting in its ceiling, as well as an improved sound system and security systems.
According to the first Medium update, this was a 3.5 million-dollar renovation, made possible by "a generous gift from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and support from the Mary Hillman Jennings Foundation, Colcom Foundation and PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources administered by the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor." With the changes that were made out of necessity, came the wish list... these are the things that were done to make the Diamond more sustainable, maintainable and enjoyable for the future. Walkways within the Diamond Park were widened and circular seating areas were built brick by brick. New lampposts were put in for better lighting of the entire area. Metal curved and straight benches will be installed in seating areas soon.
Heated tubes were placed underneath pedestrian walkways to eliminate the need for snow and ice removal for better safety and decreased liability to the Borough. The town center gets LOTS of traffic during Light Up Night and Ice Fest, so this feature will be appreciated during the winter months.
During the replacement of the Bandstand's roof, each copper piece had to be cut by hand to fit its intended space. As everyone knows from high school chemistry class, this metal will eventually turn green due to the oxidation of copper carbonate. This doesn’t weaken the strength of the metal the way rust might weaken steel. But oxidation is a lengthy process - for now, the sun reflects nicely off the Bandstand’s gorgeous copper crown.
In late summer, brick pavers were expertly placed in a beautiful pattern along walkways inside the Diamond Park and also near the surrounding shops.
Then came the landscaping, which brought crowds of awe-struck on-lookers. Twenty Dogwood trees were planted along the walkways, lifted by a crane and carefully lowered into the ground. A few days later, everyone was excited to hear that the thirty-foot Maple and Zelkova (similar to an Elm) trees had arrived from New Jersey-based Halka Nurseries, Inc. It was quite a thrill to watch these large, beautiful trees find their new home.
As for those original trees that shaded the Sunday Band Concert crowd for so many years - they've taken on a new form. Paul Sirofchuck turned them into utilitarian works of art - several beautifully crafted tables that will be in use at The Ligonier Valley Library for many, many years to come.
The completion of the project is very near! We have now seen the crosswalks put into place as well as the arrival of the new light standards and benches. (A reminder to please refrain from entering the site until the construction is officially complete.)
A public celebration is scheduled for Friday, October 5th from 3pm - 9pm. This family-friendly event will feature entertainment for kids and adults - free popcorn and snow cones, and live music. A special dedication ceremony will feature speeches by historian Ralph Bennett and other key players in the Project, and a time capsule placement. All this will be capped off by a special night of shopping and dining around the new and improved Diamond.
Soon the restoration of 'Ligonier's Heart and Soul' will be enjoyed by all!
Written by Susie Kramer
Photographs by Mariah Fisher
Special thanks to Shirley Iscrupe of The Pennsylvania Room at The Ligonier Valley Library for access to historical photos and local historian Ralph Bennett.