The Salvation Army Building, Pittsburgh (Distrikt Hotel)

Founded in 1865 by English Methodist pastor William Booth in London, the Salvation Army is an intentional non-profit organization and part of the Protestant Christian Church with the mission to bring salvation and assistance to poor, marginalized, and under accommodated individuals without discrimination. After leaving the traditional concept of preaching at a church pulpit, Booth began preaching to the homeless and the destitute in the streets of London and training evangelists throughout England to help spread Christianity and provide amenities to the less fortunate. Reaching over 1,000 volunteers, Booth originally penned the name of the organization as "The Christian Mission," but later changed it to "Salvation Army." Booth and his volunteers, known as Salvationists, expanded their message internationally. With the help of a young protege of Booth, Eliza Shirley and Booth's daughter and the fourth general of the Salvation Army, Evangeline Booth, the Salvation Army reached to the United States, and the women spread the word about the organization's services and goals. Today, the Salvation Army continues to serve people in over 100 countries.

In 1924, local architect Thomas Pringle constructed the Salvation Army Building in a Late Gothic Revival style. The 10-story building originally served as a recreational and residential space for veterans coming back from WWI, the homeless, and the poor. The building originally housed several amenities for both the residents and the employees, such as dormitories, a swimming pool, laundry rooms, an auditorium, storage and basement space, kitchen, and a dining room.

Later, in 1927, the Evangeline Residence for Young Women was added onto the Salvation Army Building for young professional women in the Pittsburgh area. With its 180 rooms implemented into the building, the residence offered young, working women without housing a place to stay and its services. The residence was different than other non-profit social organizations during the time because the residence offered housing to both women in need and women who are working with full-time careers or are studying at school. The Evangeline Residence for Young Women operated for a 30-year span, however in 1981, the residence closed due to a financial loss, which left long-time residents displaced without a home. The part of the building was utilized as an emergency center for families in crisis.

The building continued to be the headquarters for the Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania until in 2008, the Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania move its operations to a two-story office building in Carnegie Park. Later in 2014, the Green Realty Holdings purchased the former Salvation Army Building for $2.8 million dollars. In 2016, the former Salvation Army Building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its contributes of providing amenities as a charitable social service institution for member people in need within the Pittsburgh area. In 2017, the building was renovated and redeveloped into the Distrikt Hotel. The hotel has 186 rooms, including restaurants, bars, dining lodges, business center, a fitness center, valet parking, and limousine service. One of the bars is named Evangeline, a historical reference to Evangeline Booth, the women who helped developed the history behind the building.

Belko, Mark. Former Salvation Army Building Could be Reborn as a Downtown Pittsburgh Hotel, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 18th 2014. Accessed November 26th 2019. https://www.post-gazette.com/business/2014/03/19/Former-Salvation-Army-building-could-find-new-life-as-a-Downtown-hotel/stories/201403190039.

Belko, Mark. Salvation Army Leaving Downtown Headquarters, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. October 22nd 2008. Accessed November 26th 2019. https://www.post-gazette.com/local/neighborhoods/2008/10/22/Salvation-Army-leaving-Downtown-headquarters/stories/200810220245.

Byrant, Jean. "Evangeline Residence To Close." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh) April 5th 1981. n.p.

Distrikt Hotel Pittsburgh, n.d. Accessed November 26th 2019. https://distrikthotelpittsburgh.com.

Our History, The Salvation Army. n.d. Accessed November 26th 2019. https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/history-of-the-salvation-army/.

The Salvation Army Building, National Park Service. n.d. Accessed November 26th 2019. https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/15001031.htm.