Wilson Dedication in Pittsburgh’s Hill District

About 150 people from all walks of life gathered in the Hill District the morning of May 30 for the dedication of the official Pennsylvania state historical marker for legendary playwright August Wilson, who passed away Oct. 2, 2005. The marker is in front of 1727 Bedford Ave.—Wilson’s birthplace and childhood home. His family’s two-room apartment was at the rear of the second floor. Pictured are Wilson’s daughter, Sakina Ansari-Wilson, and his brother, Richard Kittel. Wilson’s nephew, Paul Ellis, owns the building and told the crowd he is hoping repairs can be made so that the facility can some day be an educational or cultural center.Wilson and the late Rob Penny cofounded the Kuntu Writers Workshop in 1976, and it remains active at the University of Pittsburgh as part of the Kuntu Repertory Theatre. The dedication ceremony was hosted by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, in association with the Senator John Heinz History Center and the August Wilson Center for African American Culture.