BAGGY KNEE — LOOKING NORTH

With unique, custom-designed bay windows below and classic eyebrow cornices above, the Baggy Knee Cafe offers a distinctive facade to viewers looking north along Pittsburgh Street. Originally erected in the late 1800's, the building is one of the oldest in town, and its elegant Italianate Victorian architecture makes it a popular landmark.

Throughout the century the restaurant has had a variety of names, from Teddy O'Keefe's in the 1920's to Patches in the '70's. It became the Baggy Knee Cafe in 1979, named from the "baggy knees" that inevitably appeared on patrons as they stood at the bar.

At that time, the tavern was described as a "hole in the wall" where you could get a good sandwich and a beer, but the building held untapped potential. In 1984 an extensive two-year renovation was begun that virtually gutted the structure inside and out — except for the upper brick and stone portions of the exterior that gave the building its character and charm. When completed, the entire stone and window facade reflected a look appropriate to an upscale family restaurant and provided a prime example of what can be done to revitalize downtown areas. Today, the Baggy Knee Cafe attracts a large clientele with its congenial atmosphere, live music, and great food and drink.

The view in Sue Pollins' watercolor shows the Baggy Knee Cafe surrounded by other familiar landmarks, including the Southwest Bank garden and rear parking areas, the Westmoreland County Court House and the former Barclay-Westmoreland Trust Building, now Mellon Bank.

Susan E. Pollins


A native of Detroit, Michigan, Susan Laansma Pollins received her Bachelor's degree as a painting major from the College of Architecture and Design, University of Michigan. She taught art in the Southfield, Michigan, public schools before moving to Pennsylvania.

Co-owner of Greensburg Art Supply for 18 years, she now works out of her Walnut Hill Studio. A frequent instruc­tor, juror, lecturer and demonstrator, Ms. Pollins has taught at local colleges, museums, and art organizations, in addition to teaching privately. She has recently been named as a Roster Artist for the Pennsylvania Council On the Arts — Artist in Residence program.

She is an elected signature member of the Pennsy­lvania Watercolor Society, past officer and board member of the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society, and past officer and board member of the Greensburg Art Club. A decent at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Ms. Pollins also currently serves as board member for Touchstone Center for Crafts.

Her work has been exhibited in over 20 one-man exhibits plus innumerable regional and national juried shows in addition to private and corporate collections throughout the area.

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