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Please note: This article originally appeared in the Pitsco Education 40 years, 1971-2011 book.

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Gazebo K its

The gazebo By Brian Kranker I bet you have wondered, “What is a gazebo doing in front of the Corporate building?” Upon close inspection, it doesn’t have anything on it that signifies Pitsco or LEGO® Education, although it is very pretty. Wait a minute. Let’s go back about 3-1/2 decades to learn more. That’s when I first worked here, from 1976 to 1979. This interesting gazebo had its moments in history, just as Pitsco has. It was a new item that the Pitsco Wood Products Division had marketed. The gazebo was manufactured right here in the wood shop, which is now the Curriculum building. This gazebo was designed to be assembled on-site from a kit. This kit consisted of: drawings for assembly, a bolt template, deck forms, wood lattice panels, roof panels, a post, shingles, and a cupola. We would also paint it to match the color of the buyer’s home. We built these only by order. With our jigs and fixtures we could build a kit in about a week and install the gazebo in two days. There are several still standing in Pittsburg yet today. I bet you are now wondering why we still have the gazebo here on our campus. The one in front of Corporate was our prototype that we built to test the product in 1978. Apparently it was OK as it is still here. I’m sure it has had a few coats

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of paint applied since then, but always blue and white, Harvey’s favorite colors. So, did the gazebo have a purpose through all these years? In 1978, there was an engagement picture taken at the gazebo, the only one I know of – I took it. As a Commercial Art major in college, I chose this for one of my photo projects. I imagine there have been many pictures taken, many birthday parties, and many picnics around this gazebo through the years. What I do know for sure is that it’s a unique structure that has lasted the test of time, just like Pitsco.