WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: 2026 ANA, PART 6

This final segment discuses my time after the Pittsburgh ANA on Sunday, August 30. See other articles this week and next on the convention exhibits.

South Side Stroll
After walking a few blocks to a bagel shop for breakfast, I went back to my room to work a bit on The E-Sylum and pack up my things again. I drove across the river and took a long stroll along Carson Street in Pittsburgh's South Side Flats neighborhood.

South Side Market House

I kept going until I reached 12th street, also known as Bedford Square. I always enjoyed this little corner of the city, where vintage buildings surround the old South Side Market House (today it's a community center). The street had recently been transformed into a movie set for a biography of Milton Hershey, founder of the Hershey candy company/

Transformed for filming Milton Hershey biopic

Other landmarks on the street are Jack's dive bar and the Club Cafe. I remember standing in the square one night back in the 1980s when another movie was being filmed on the very spot - "Gung Ho" starring Michael Keaton and directed by Ron Howard. Howard was hoisted up on a cherrypicker directing a scene. Filmmaking is slow, but it was enlightening to watch. The Pittsburgh crowd and I were mortified when an old drunk stumbled out of one of the bars, looked up and said, "Heeey, Opie...!"

12th Street - Jack's Bar and the Club Cafe

Sunday morning is a quiet time for the neighborhood, but Friday and Saturday nights are still jumping - a little too much sometimes, when crowds of young people can get out of hand.

 

The Priory - Remembering Patrick McBride
After grabbing a light lunch I headed over to the North Side for the Celebration of Life for Pat McBride. His wife Dawn said she'd prefer just calling it "Paddy's Party". And a great party it was, complete with an Irish band and a bagpiper. It was held at another great venue, Pittsburgh's Grand Hall at the Priory, which I learned is owned by the same group that operates the Mansions on Fifth. Here you can see the Pittsburgh skyline in the background.

The Priory is a bed and breakfast in a converted former Benedictine monastery, and the Grand Hall is the adjoining former St. Mary's German Catholic Church.

This neat old safe is built into a wall.

Barnes Safe & Lock Co. Safe

Bagpipes awaiting their piper

When I arrived I sat down for a chat with Dennis Boggs. He was out of uniform, away from his role of Abraham Lincoln. It was hard to picture him as anyone but Honest Abe. It was Dennis who'd encouraged Pat to take on the Ben Franklin role, and they were constant companions at coin shows around the country.

Dennis Boggs as Abe Lincoln, with David Fanning and Pat McBride as Ben Franklin

This summer Dennis had a health scare at the Summer FUN show. He told me that after he'd blacked out, he felt a hand on his shoulder and heard Pat's voice saying, "Go back - it's not your time." When he awoke some time later, more than one medical attendant told him, "Welcome back." We're glad you're back too, Dennis. Your Pint with Paddy will have to wait.

There was a great turnout of family and friends from all over, including a good numismatic contingent. I spoke with locals Ed Krivoniak, Richard and Eva Crosby, Stu Strickland, Tom Uram, Don Carlucci and others.

Tom Uram, Jaimie Franki, Don Carlucci

When he wasn't in his Ben Franklin costume, you could usually count on Pat to be wearing a colorful t-shirt, often with a Ben Franklin theme. Dawn displayed these on a table with a note encouraging friends to help themselves. I picked up this souvenir of a good friend and great patriot.

It being a Sunday, I hit the road before the event ended so I could get back home to Virginia in time to wrap up the week's E-Sylum. But it was a great event honoring a life well lived. Rest in Peace, Pat.

Patrick E. McBride 1952-2026

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
PATRICK E. MCBRIDE (1952-2026) (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n23a03.html)
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JULY 19, 2026 : Fundraising for Dennis Boggs (aka Abraham Lincoln) (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n29a09.html)
WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: 2026 ANA, PART 1 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n35a16.html)
WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: 2026 ANA, PART 2 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n37a20.html)
WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: 2026 ANA, PART 3 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n37a21.html)
WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: 2026 ANA, PART 4 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n38a19.html)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web