Ask A Historian - page 3

The Lawrenceville Historical Society accepts only questions relating to people, places, and events that are connected to the community of Lawrenceville in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

This information was added on May 16, 2010.

Q: Jeremy writes, “ I plan on repainting the trim of my brick house in Lawrenceville, and I was wondering if you could suggest a color that would be historically appropriate for a 1906 corner retail/residence structure.”

A: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Reference Department provided the information.

Jeremy, I found three books that could help you (you'll see their catalog records below). The 1st book (which, I think, is the best of the three) has house plans for 118 turn of the century house, and with those plans are descriptions which include the colors. The second book doesn't list what the colors of the houses are, but the illustrations are all in color. And, the last book is designed for homes of the Craftsman Style Architecture, which was an early 20th century architectural movement that was a reaction to the more traditional architecture, and was more of a "bohemian" style.

Turn-of-the-century houses, cottages, and villas : floor plans and line illustrations of 118 homes from Shoppell's catalogs / R.W. Shoppell et al.

Victorian house designs in authentic full color , 1885-1894 / edited by Blanche Cirker.

Stickley's craftsman homes : plans, drawings, photographs: by Ray Stubblebine.

Q: David H. Pardoe writes, “Do you know where Lafeyette Ally was? My grandfather had a sister whose infant child died in August 1881 and the death certificate says: Last residence: Lafeyette Ally, Ward 15. The length of residence is given as 3 months which would push it back to June 1881 when the family arrived. Mapquest did not find it, so I suppose either the name changed or it has disappeared.”

A: You are right in assuming that the alley changed names. Lafayette Alley is now called Mulberry Way. It runs parallel and in between Penn Avenue and Charlotte Street as far as 34th Street. It starts at 11th Street and runs as far as 38th Street. Butler Street, the main business thorofare in Lawrenceville, starts at 34th Street. Once Butler Street starts Mulberry/Lafayette runs 1/2 block north of Butler Street.

What used to be the Fifteenth Ward is now the Sixth Ward.

Q: I am searching for any pictures or information regarding a grocery store at 3947 Mintwood Street. I am pretty sure it was called Pilgrims .I am also interested in talking to any relatives of Pearl McGregor and Helen Lewicki. Anyone with information can reach me at (412) 688-0995 or dburns1950@verizon.net. My name is Daniel Burns.

A: Yes, Pilgrims was the grocery store at 3947 Mintwood Street. The store was in business for many years going back to the times when Mintwood Street was known as Mifflin Street. At one point in time they had a horse and wagon for deliveries.

Q: Lawrenceville obviously had some old fire stations. There is one near the Doughboy Statue, one at McCandless Avenue and Butler Street, and there used to be one on Calvin Street. How come we never had a police station?

A: We did. It was located at 44th and Summit Streets. After it was closed it became a club. The structure was razed in 1963 to make way for the new Holy Family School. The school later changed names to Lawrenceville Catholic Elementary School in 1968 and still later became St. John Nuemann.

Q: Where was the Arsenal Bakery?

A: The Arsenal Bakery was located at 3828 Penn Avenue. It was owned by George Munzinger back around 1926 to 1929. Prior to that Emil Boll ran a bakery in the same spot. The 1930 City Directory shows Munzinger was still operating a bakery in the same spot, but was no longer using the name Arsenal Bakery.

This information was added on May 9, 2010.

Q: I'm curious about the history of McCullough's Island, a long, skinny island which once sat in the Allegheny River just offshore from Lawrenceville. It appears on older maps, but no longer exists. For example, see this map of Pittsburgh's 15th Ward from 1872: http://bit.ly/bzTITV.

There's also a mention of it in a book from 1905 titled Early western travels, 1748-1846, which said that the arsenal was "on the Pittsburg side of Allegheny River, opposite the upper end of McCullough's Island".

My working assumption is that the channel was filled in and that part of Lawrenceville's riverfront is actually the former island land. Do you know where I might find more information?

Bill Price wcp5@pitt.edu

A: McCullough's Island was earlier know as Wainwright's Island. It was believed by some historians to be the island on which George Washington spent a night when he crossed the Allegheny River with Christopher Gist. Allan Becer wrote a chapter in the book A Doughboy’s Tale . . . and More Lawrenceville Stories about Washington’s crossing.

The island was owned by the Wainwright family who were early brewers in the Pittsburgh area.

According to an article that appeared in the December 14, 1906, edition of the Pittsburgh Press the back channel that separated the main shoreline by a narrow strip of water was about 100 feet wide and 4,000 feet long. This strip was owned by the state. In 1870 the state ceded the land that any company was using up to the shore line and apparently the channel itself went to the City of Pittsburgh. In 1906, Mayor Guthrie demanded that the companies that were using the channel to pay rent for its use. This matter was not settled until December 1916.

The back channel appears in the 1872 map, but not on the 1876 map, which means that the companies using the back channel had filled it in and were using city property, hence the mayor's demand for rent.

Q: Mary Lou writes, “The Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society has had an inquiry about English immigrants who came to Lawrenceville about 1870. Do you know of any such group? Is there anyone in the Lawrenceville Historical Society who might be able to help her?”

A: While there were many English immigrants to Lawrenceville, we know of no particular group that came here during the 1870’s.

Anyone with information on this topic is asked to contact Donna Booth at djbooth1@verizon.net. She will forward the information to Mary Lou.

Q: Soupy asks, “Whatever happened to the Lawrenceville Business Association?”

A: It merged with the Lawrenceville Development Corporation sometime around 1998. The resulting entity is now known as the Lawrenceville Corporation.

Q: When did the St. Mary’s Academy building on 46th Street close as a school?

A: In his book History of St. Mary’s, Father Conway states that, “St. Mary’s Academy for girls was closed in September, 1894, . . .”

Q: Daren Stanchak asks, “What is the City of Pittsburgh’s official border between Lower Lawrenceville and the Strip District? Is it 34th Street, 28th Street, 32nd Street, or some other street?

A: We had to ask Suzie Johnston at the Pennsylvania Department of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for help on finding the city designated border between the Strip District and Lower Lawrenceville. She directed us to the following site http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/cp/maps/lower_lawrenceville.html, which shows 33rd Street as the border between the Strip and Lower Lawrenceville.

This information was added on April 11, 2010.

Q: Does Desmone & Associates Architects or the City of Pittsburgh own the steps that run up from Butler Street to Penn Avenue along the side of the Doughboy Statue?

A: Chip Desmone, President of Desmone & Associates Architects assures us that the steps belong to the City of Pittsburgh.

Q: I am trying to get some information about the history and fate of Holy Family Church in Lawrenceville. My mother went to church and school there, and I believe my parents were married there. How can I find out more about this church?

Thanks!

A.J. Grieneisen

A: The items to read are Holy Family Church published by Custombook, Inc., and a booklet titled East European Ethnicity and Its Effect on the Lawrenceville Community of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania by James Wudarczyk (Revised 1999), The first book can be found from time to time in second hand bookstores in the Pittsburgh area, and is also in the library of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. The booklet is available from the Pennsylvania Department of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Both are reference copies, neither circulate.

The church originally opened on the second floor of the school. It was located on the corner of 41st and Foster Streets. Ground was broken on October 8, 1939 for a new church building on 44th Street, and the parish then moved the school next to the church in 1964.

The church merged October 30, 1993, with St. Mary's (on 46th Street), St. Augustine, and St. John, the Baptist parishes. St. John's was permantly closed as a result of the merger. The new parish was called Our Lady of the Angels. St. Mary's closed a few years ago due to declining contributions and esculating costs to run the parish.

The church building still stands on 44th Street and was used as a worship site by the new parish, but was closed on December 27, 2008.

The new school building has been renamed twice. In 1968 it was called Lawrenceville Catholic Elementary School. Today it is called St. John Neumann School.

The original church/school building was closed in 1964, and stood vacant for many years. About four or five years ago, it was purchased, revamped and renamed as the Catalyst Building. It was used as an "incubator" for small businesses. However, the owners couldn't get enough tenants to make a profit, so they rented the building for use as a school. However, nearby residents raised a number of concerns, and the school was closed in just a few days. The most recent plans are to turn the building into condos.

Q: Do you know of a Methodist Episcopal Grave Yard in the Lawrenceville area? I have some church records from St. Luke's Episcopal Church, closed some years back, that mention a burial in an M.E. Grave Yard in 1887. My Francis family was living on Penn Ave. at the time. I am curious if the cemetery still exists, and if they have records. I might turn up some other information. I just recently found an 1870 census record for my Francis people, the year they arrived, and found they were living with in-laws who had preceded them to Pittsburgh. I thought the Edge family had stayed in England.

Dave Pardoe
Outside Baltimore, Maryland.

A: The only four burial areas that we know of in Lawrenceville are Allegheny Cemetery, St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery, the Washington Burial Ground, and the Fourth Presbyterian Cemetery. The latter was bought by Allegheny Cemetery. The Washington Burial Ground, which is also called the Lawrenceville Burying Ground was closed and the grounds used for Washington School and Carnegie Library. The school is now used as Stephen Foster Community Center.

Try contacting the Pennsylvania Department at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. They keep a file on area cemeteries past and present.

Anyone with additional information can contact Dave at dhpardoe@verizon.net

Q: Virgina Skander asks, “Could you tell me if you have any records for the Colonel O. H. Rippey Post No. 41. (It was a branch of the Grand Army of the Republic.) Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall supplied me with copies from books they had for this Post where my Great Grandfather, Conrad Limpert's name appeared. They were the dues ledger and the Index to the "Descriptive Book", which they do not have. I was wondering if you would have any idea where this Descriptive Book got off to, or have any other records for this Post which might contain my Great Grandfather's name. I'm also interested in historical type information pertaining to this Post. I secured the article from your web site under an article titled "A Day of Remembrance". I would appreciate your letting me know if you can help me in any way. Thanking you in advance for your assistance.”

A: The Rippey Post 41 first met at 43rd and Butler Streets and later at Leslie Park. Unfortunately we don't know when they disbanded.

Anyone with additional information that can help Virgina can contact her at
skanderv@connecttime.net .

Q: Do you have any other e-mail or contact info for michael pianga ?? The previous e-mail was out of commission. His dad fought fritzi zivic twice and my greatuncle was his manager. I would really appreciate it, if someone responded.

Jake

A: If anyone can help Jake, he can be reached at bigmac101@cogeco.ca.

Comment: After spending hours reading through your website and catching up with my Lawrenceville roots, I read all of the questions posed over the years to you. Someone asked if there have been any First Ladies who have ever visited Lawrenceville. Although she was never the First Lady, I remember Julie Nixon Eisenhower visited the WAVO school/building at the bottom of 40th street, sometime around 1970 or 1971. It was in the winter. Julie was President Richard Nixon's daughter and married a grandson of President Eisenhower. I was only about 5 years old at the time but I remember my mother taking me to see her. Somewhere in my parents house, there is a picture of me taken with Julie.

Also, Ted Kennedy visited Lawrenceville sometime in 1979 or 1980, as part of his 1980 campaign for President. I was in middle school at St. Mary's on 45th street at the time. I think he visited St. Margarets hospital, then on 46th street, right below the school. The teachers took all of the school kids to the hospital to see him the day he was here.

Great website and I think all of you do a great job.

Mike Viola

Reply: Thank you very much for the kind words.

Q: Tom Schoffstal asks, “1. According to your tours Charles Lockhart was the second richest man in Pittsburgh at the time of his death. If he was the second richest man in Pittsburgh at the time of his death. Was Henry Clay Frick the richest?

2. How many flags were put in for Memorial Day in Allegheny Cemetery? Who paid for them? Who put them in? How many volunteers did it take? How long did it take?

3. Whats the E.Z Hall story?

A: In 1902 Forbes Magazine ranked Henry Clay Frick as the richest man in the world. They ranked him with $11,000,000.00 more than Carnegie. Most likely he would still have been richer than anyone else in Pittsburgh in January 1905 when Charles Lockhart died. Carnegie might have passed them up, but Carnegie was had moved to New York by then and was no longer in Pittsburgh although he made frequent trips back here.

They are placed by the Allegheny County Bureau of Veteran Affairs out of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland. They are paid for by Allegheny County. The volunteers come from the AMVETS on 45th Street and Saint John Neumann School. Much depends on the weather. We don’t have an exact number of flags used for this project, but we do know that the number increases each year.

A few years ago E. Z. Hall's family was looking for his grave. They only knew that he was buried in Pittsburgh, but couldn't find where in Pittsburgh. Bill Reynolds of the Lawrenceville Historical Society researched it, and he found that there was an E. Z. Hail buried in Allegheny Cemetery. Further research showed that all the information (his unit, home town, religion, etc.) matched Hall's information. There was no other information to support the existence of anyone named E. Z. Hail. Hence it was concluded that the name on the tombstone was a typographical error and that the man buried in the grave was E. Z. Hall.

The government provided a new tombstone. The LHS, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, and Allegheny Cemetery all got together to provide a ceremony for the unveiling of the new tombstone. Hall's descendents came from all across the country to see it. PBS was on hand to film the event and they used it for their show on cemeteries.

This information was added on March 27, 2010.

Q: In my younger days I remember all the fun I had ice skating on the pond at Arsenal Park. In the summer there would be a live band playing in the evenings. They would set up in the space between the pond and the stone block building. There was a waterfall with water trickling down and fish swimming below. What I would like to know is:

When was the pond originally built?

How deep was it?

When did they fill it in? Why?

Did someone drown in it? When? Who?

I would appreciate any information you have on this.

A: We have little official information on the Arsenal pond, but it has the topic of many conversations throughout the years.

The pond may have originally been a natural pond, or may have been man-made to accommodate the Allegheny Arsenal. If it was man-made, then it would most likely have been built around 1814 or 1816. The powder magazine (now sometimes called "the Hut") may have been put in its location so that the pond could provide water in case of a fire. Its water was actually used to fight both fires at the Arsenal.

Most likely it was originally clay lined, but was converted to its current status during the W.P.A. renovations of Arsenal Park in the 1930's.

Ice skating at the was a popular pass time for city residents for many years and continued in the park until the 1970's or 1980's. We heard that the city put up warning signs about thin ice and told kids not to skate, but some kid didn't listen and fell in. The kid's parents threatened to sue. The pond was drained and remained so ever since. Other rumors were that the city just didn't want to pay for the upkeep, to have the pond relined, or pay for the liability insurance.

To the best of our knowledge nobody ever drowned in the pond.

We do not have any information on the pond's depth. If anyone can help this individual, they can be reached at njz1947@verizon.net.

Q: would you kindly pinpoint the location of the Fort Pitt Foundry at the moment the Rodman cannons were cast? Was it on Etna Street between 12th and 13th streets and the Allegheny River? or some other spot?

very best regards & thanks!

Frank Toker A: We checked a number of sources to determine the exact location of the Fort Pitt Foundry at the time of the Rodman cannon castings during the Civil War. The best we could find is from Western Pennsylvanians, edited by Charles Alexander Rook, Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania Biographical Association, 1923. This source indicates that, "Prior to 1825 the Fort Pitt Foundry . . . was founded on or near its present location in Pittsburgh." (See page 155.)

Apparently, the foundry burned in 1858 and was rebuilt. The 1872 Atlas of the Cities of Pittsburgh, Allegheny and Adjoining Boroughs shows the foundry bounded by 12th, 13th, and Etna Streets, and the Allegheny River. The 1923 Atlas of Pittsburgh shows the foundry in the same location.

Q: I have been searching for the family that owned a grocery store at 4400 Penn Avenue, and I have always assumed that it would be near 44th Street and Penn? This was ~1860-1880. In any event, I would be interested if anyone has any information on this family: Timothy, head Johanna, wife Ella, daughter Bertram, son ( I think this may be Bernard)(and ?? other children)

Johanna, Timothy and "Bernard" are buried in St.Mary's Cemetery in Lawrenceville.

Joan

A: Anyone that can help Joan can contact her at VFORSTEELERS@aol.com.

Q: My question is about the street numbers in the Lawrenceville area. I found an ancestor in the 1875 City Directory and it gives a house number on Penn Ave. where she lived . I know the wards have changed over the years, but what about the house numbers?

Joyce

A: The City of Pittsburgh did indeed change some of the house numbers (as well as some of the street names) when Lawrenceville was annexed in 1868 or shortly thereafter.

This information was added on March 21, 2010.

Q: Before the 1960's, there was a movie theater called "The Dome" in the 5100 Block of Butler Street in Lawrenceville. Do have any information on The Dome, when it started and closed, other names of the theater, owner, capacity, etc.? Any help will be most appreciated.

Gene Scott,
former Pittsburgher now in Livonia, Michigan

A: Try as we might we have never been able to find out anything about the Dome. We do know that it was located at 5133 1/2 Butler Street, and we were told that it was a very low class place. Several people told us that during the 1930's it had milk crates for seats and was infested with rats. Beyond that we have no information.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Gene at genocam2@att.net.

Q: Jude Wudarczyk writes - The Lawrenceville Historical Society has a photo that the Dormont Historical Society donated to it. The picture is that of a Bloomfield streetcar. Did this line run through Lawrenceville? I can't tell for certain, but I'm guessing that the houses in the picture were the old houses on the 3400 block of Penn Avenue. They would be the ones that were torn down to make the first new batch of homes that are standing today.

The picture appears to be vintage 1920-1930'ish.

A: We had to go to our resident streetcar enthusist, Rich Bassett, for help on this one. Rich tells us, “Before the opening of the 16th St. Bridge, there was no 77/54. In fact, the life span of the 77/54 was probably shorter than the bus route 54C which replaced it. Before the merger of the "Bloomfield" line with the "Carrick-Oakland", there were two Bloomfield car lines. The details I am providing are from a seach of the year 1920.

“The 92 Bloomfield ran out Penn (which was two ways then) to Main, to Liberty, to Millvale Avenue, to Centre, to Craig, to Forbes to Downtown. The end of the line in town was 6th and Liberty. This route ran clockwise only.

“The 72 Bloomfield - was the total reverse of the 92 running counter-clockwise.

“At that time, it was not uncommon to have long, clockwise and counter clockwise loops, running on major streets.

“I am not sure of the date of the merging of the routes into the 77/54, but the picture you see is either the 72 or the 92, depending on the direction of travel.” Q: I found your very impressive website yesterday and was very excited to see an entry from the Western PA Genealogical Society Quarterly that provided important information regarding a long lost ancestor. Thank you to Suzanne Johnston who abstracted the article and to the Lawrenceville Historical Society for publishing it.

I'm sending in my membership form and fee today!

Now to my query:

The only information I have ever found regarding my ancestor George Moffat is a ship manifest and an entry in the 1850 US Census records that locates him, his sister Jane, her husband, William Stewart, a James Moffat and a William Moffat as living in Lawrenceville. I know that he married Catherine Dunn (there is much information available regarding her and her family) and that they had two sons, one in 1852 and one in 1854. There is no record of George after that. I know that she opened a dry goods store in McKeesport as a widow and married Andrew Soles about 1860. Thanks to your website I now know that "George Moffat of Peebles Twp and Catherine Dunn of Pittsburgh were married by Rev. John Douglas on August 6, 1851" - it seems to indicate that this comes from the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church records.

Could someone please help me expand on this information. Do any records from that church still exist? If so, how could I access them? Have the cemetery records in and around Lawrenceville been compiled in any way - if so, would George Moffat be on any of the lists? Catherine Dunn Moffat Soles is buried in Versailles Cemetery in McKeesport, and George's sister Jane is buried in Union Dale Cemetery in Sharpsburg, but we have never found any record of when George died or where he was buried.

I was named for Catherine Dunn so this couple has been the focus of my genealogy research for many years, but this is the first breakthrough in a very long time. Of course, finding where George came from in Ireland is my eventual goal - I've visited Catherine's birthplace in Aidrie, Scotland.

I would greatly appreciate any assistance or advice.

Cathy Bekian
Los Angeles, CA

A: Thank you for your kind words about our website. Unfortunately, we do not have any information on George Moffat or his family.

If your ancesotr had died in Lawrenceville during the mid-nineteenth century, it is possible that he was buried in the Washington Burial Ground, which was also called the Lawrenceville Burying Ground. For the story of this small, but important burying ground, please read Monster on the Allegheny . . . and Other Lawrenceville Stories. The last known burial there took place in 1879.

We have tried to locate the records from this burial ground, but were told that they were turned over to the City of Pittsburgh or that the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education had been given them when the Washington School was erected on the grounds. Both institutions claim that they do not have the records. Our fear is that the records were disposed of many long years ago, or are lost in some warehouse or other storage facitlity.

We don't know where the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church records are, but we do know that this church became the United Presbyterian Church. The 7th United Presbyterian Church in Lawrenceville was located on 44th Street at Cessna Way. It is now a parking lot for Zalewski's Funeral Home. Try contacting the Pennsylvania Department at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh or the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania to see if they can tell you about the records.

If anyone can help, please contact Cathy at cbekian1@ca.rr.com.

Q: Gene Scott writes, “I grew up in Pittsburgh in the 1930s-40s and frequented the library on Fisk Street in Lawrenceville. My sister Patricia wrote a family history book a few years ago about The Scotts From The Hill in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

I need some information of the 62nd Street Bridge, also known as the Sen. Robert D. Fleming and Sharpsburg Bridge, rebuilt in 1960. Can you tell me when and why the earlier bridge it replaced was torn down and when (approximate year) the originial 62nd Street Bridge was built? Thank you.

A: The following information is taken from Jim Wudarczyk’s booklet, which is titled Historic Sites and Lost Landmarks of Lawrenceville pages 84-85.

62nd Street Bridge

The first bridge built at Sixty-second Stree was a wooden truss bridge in 1856. A later bridge of wood construction was built between 1899 and 1900 at a cost to the county of $324,923.80 This was a toll bridge until June of 1912 when this and other county bridges were made free of charge. A deck cantilever steel bridge with a 400-foot span, measuring 2,100 feet overall, was erected in 1961. Since the opening of the steel bridge, two fires caused major damages, which caused the closing of the bridge for varying intervals.

This is the only information we have on the bridge. The wooden bridges were all replaced for fire safety reasons. Officials did not want fires spreading from one side of the river to the other. Also, burning bridges were prone to collapse causing the fire to spread down river, and cluttering the waterways with burned debris.

Hope this helps.

Q: Hello. I am trying to find information on my great uncle, Michael J. Haggerty. He was from Lawrenceville, St. Mary's Parish, and was killed in WW I. He was originally listed as a deserter, but his body was later found in France, and he was returned to Lawrenceville and buried I think in Calvary Cemetery. I have an old newspaper clipping, but no date is on it.

Thank you.

Michelle Moore.

A: Unfortunately, we don’t have any information on this gentleman.

Anyone with information on Michael J. Haggerty is asked to contact Michelle Moore at Schmoore@aol.com.

This information was added on February 21, 2010.

Q: Al Mann writes, “I am writing another article on the history of petroleum in Pittsburgh, this time for a technical journal, and I want to include a little more information on Samuel Kier's role. In a previous correspondence you mentioned that Kier was the Burgess of Lawrenceville in 1864. Was that just for one year, or for several years? What years? Was that an appointed or elected office?”

A: Lawrenceville historian/author Jim Wudarczyk provides us with the following information.

Samuel M. Kier served as Burgess in 1864. The position of burgess was the highest position in the Borough of Lawrenceville and the term lasted one year. There were a few men who served multiple terms but not back-to-back. These were: John Sarber 1834 and again 1836; G. S. Bates 1845, 1847, 1849; and Jarvis Wainwright 1844 and 1846. The last elected burgess was J. C. Buffum, who was elected in 1867.

Additional information on Kier might be found on the Historical Pittsburgh Project database and Google News Archive.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Al at alfred.mann@verizon.net.

Q: Tim Burke wrote to ask - My GGG Grandfather, Henry W. Hoak, was born in Pittsburgh on Christmas day, 1824. His interment records show place of birth as "Inside Garrison Wall, Pgh".

I grew up in Beaver Falls and attended the University of Pittsburgh, but I don't remember any address or neighborhood like that.

I was able to find only a few things on the web. The Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities for 1862 seems to list a few folks' addresses as near the Garrison wall in Pittsburgh or Lawrenceville. In a History of Allegheny County Pennsylvania (orig pub 1889) I found a reference to a man named William Gamble who, sometime between 1807 and 1815, "superintended the building of the garrison wall". I sent an e-mail to the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh. They replied that their best guess was that "inside garrison wall" may refer to the Allegheny Arsenal in Lawrenceville. If Henry’s father was stationed there and his father's wife was there with him, she may have given birth inside the walls of the Arsenal.

I’ve started to read up on the history of the Arsenal but nearly all of what I find is related to the explosion in 1862. Are there any records of who was stationed there in 1824? Would it have been rare for a baby to have been born within the Arsenal walls?

Any information you can share would be greatly appreciated.

A: Here's a little infomation that we can share with you regarding the Allegheny Arsenal and Henry W. Hoaks. He served in Company B of the Ninth Regiment, (see http://www.pacivilwar.com/cwpa09b.html). He served under Captain William Sirwell, who was supposedly born at the Allegheny Arsenal, so it wasn't unknown for people to be born there. Ron Gancas wrote a book on Sirwell titled, The Gallant Seventy-Eighth.

My brother Jim Wudarczyk wrote a book on the Allegheny Arsenal titled Pittsburgh's Forgotten Allegheny Arsenal. So far, it is the only history of the Arsenal of which I know, although John Carnprobst is writing another, which is reported to exceed one thousand pages and still hasn't been sent to a publisher. Jim's book is available from Closson Press.

Grounds for the Arsenal were purchased from William Foster, (the father of the famous composer, Stephen Foster) in 1814, so William Gamble could not have worked on the Allegheny Arsenal before then.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Tim at TimothyB@courtsquaregroup.com.

Q: Ron Milliken writes - In your article Faith of Our Fathers: Lawrenceville’s Religious Heritage you mention the Second German Methodist Church at 167 40th Street.

My ancestors Harry Warner and Sarah Milligan were married there on April 12, 1900. Do you know where I may be able to find the church records of that marriage?

A: At this time we don't know, but we'll look into it for you and see if we can find anything out for you.

If anyone can help, please contact Ron at rmilliken@stny.rr.com

Q: What do you know about the houses on Ligonier Street? How old are they? Were they originally rental properties? Who owned them - the railroad?

My great grandfather lived at 3432 Ligonier Street in the 1880s - 1914 or so. His name was Thomas Lawrence Brassell. He had 11 children, and his wife, Mariah, died in the house during child birth in 1892.

Any information you can provide would be appreciated.

A: As far as we know the Pittsburgh Junction Railroad did not own the houses on Ligonier Street. They were owned by individuals. The 1890 maps that appear on the Historic Pittsburgh Project website show that most of the lots had owners and buildings. We don't know when the houses were built.

You would have to do a lot by lot search to find out when the individual houses were built.

Based on what we were told, there would have been a mix of owners and renters living on this street during the time in question. Often renters lived in one or two rooms. During this time period, it was unusual for one family to live in an entire house. Sometimes different branches of the same family lived on different floors of the same house. For example, you might have lived on the first floor and your parents and single aunt or uncle would have lived on the second, while your aunt, uncle, and cousins lived on the third.

Q: Hannah Steiner writes - I am looking for information on my Great, Great Grandfather Owen Smythe/Smith 1825-1919, and his son also "Owen Smith" 1877-1954. I will call them #1 and #2 to distinguish one from the other. Owen #1 lived in Lawrenceville from approximately 1870 and died there in 1919 at the age of 98.

*Owen Smith #1 was born in Ireland. He supposedly immigrated here in 1854.

*I have no 1860 census for him.

*I find him on the 1870 census in Pittsburgh Ward 20 as "Orin" Smith with Julia (his wife) age 36 , Mary (presumably a daughter), and Rosie aged 88 (presumably his Mother). Owen, Rosie and Julia are all listed as born in Ireland.

*I find him on the 1880 census in Pittsburgh with wife Julia M age 40 this time,and sons Matthew 6 , John 5, and my Great Grandfather Owen #2 age 3......along the left edge is handwritten "St Marys Cemetery". Daughter Mary is not listed on this census as I have information that she died Oct 1879 at the age of 10 from Diptheria (she is buried in St Marys Cemetery).

*I have no 1890 Census

*Julia dies in 1894 (buried in St Marys Cemetery).

*In the 1900 Census, Owen #1 is living in Conemaugh Township with sons John, and Owen #2.

*In the 1910 census Owen #1 is living in Conemaugh Township with son John.

*In 1919, Owen #1 dies at the age of 98, and is buried in St Marys Cemetery.

St Marys Cemetery was kind enough to share their records with our family, and from that we found that Owen #1 was an employee of the cemetery. There are 14 family members buried in 6 unmarked gravesites in Section O/Lot 159. The cemetery records have notated under Owen #1 records "Little Sisters Of The Poor"

My questions are:

*Any information at all on this family would be so deeply appreciated.

*Owen #1’s wife Julia M's maiden name.

*Owen #1’s mother was Rosie, but what was her husbands name, and her maiden name?

*Could Owen #1 lived at Little Sisters Of The Poor when he died, or did they just pay for the arrangements? What can youtell me about people who resided at Little Sisters Of The Poor in 1919?

*I was told that he lived on the grounds of the St Marys cemetery and probably got the grave sites for free, where on the Cemetery grounds would an employee have lived ?

*Several Funeral homes are mentioned in the records they supplied me with. I believe they are no longer in existence. If anyone could tell me who bought them out, if anyone, I would appreciate it, as they may have pertinent records. "Byrne Funeral Home", "Giltinan Funeral Home", "Kirwin Flannery Funeral Home", "JJ Flannery Funeral Home,” and "Carney Funeral Home".

*I would like to know the exact address where they resided, and on the 1880 census it says MEXNYPOMABY for the Street Name. I can't find any mention of this anywhere, and it is an unusual word, what is Mexnypomaby?

*Is section O in St Marys the Pauper Section? Handwritten notes called it "Owen Smith’s lot" as if he owned it.

* Owen #2 was in the Lawrenceville area in the 1880 census,1910 living on Bigelow Street working as a "cemetery driver". He lived in Indiana County as well. I have been told by family members that he was a "Boxer", and never realized the strong connection to boxing in Lawrenceville until I started researching it. Any information on his Boxing history would be great. That's all I know.

*Any information on any of the other names of individuals buried in the St Marys Cemetery unmarked family plot:

*Rose Smyth-buried 7-28-1870 age 88 (probably Owen #1 Mother)
*Mary Smyth- buried 10-10-1879 age 10 (Owen #1 daughter)
*Joseph McConnell- buried 7-7-1881 age 3 months
*Matthew Smith- buried 4-30-1882 age 55
*James McAtlee- buried 8-12-1884 age 23
*Julia Smythe - buried 2-28-1894 age 56 (Owen #1 wife)
*Mary E Smyth - buried 8-28-1911 age 1 month (Owen #2 daughter) *Rose Smith - buried 2-6-1912 age 82
*Margaret Ruth Smith - buried 5-19-1916 age 1
*Matthew J Smythe - buried 8-18-1917 age 45 (probably Owen #1 son)
*Owen Smythe - buried 1-1-1919 age 98 (Owen #1)
*Mary (Carr) Murphy - buried 4-24-1928 age 62
*Edward O Murphy - buried 7-26-1933 age 77
*John Smyth - buried 12-27-1949 age 75 (probably Owen #1 son) < br>
A: You have so many questions here that we don't know where to start. This will take some time.

We do see Owen Smith Living on Penn Avenue in St. Mary's Cemetery in the 1879-1880 City Directory, which leads us to believe he was the gate keeper as the gatekeeper's house was on Penn Avenue. It was demolished about ten years ago or so. < br>
MEXNYPOMABY STREET seems to be a typo of some sort. As far as we are able to tell, it only appears on the Historic Pittsburgh Website on the page dealing with the 1880 census. We cross referenced some of the men who are listed as living on this street against the City Directories of that time (1880-1882) and found that all the men we checked except on were employed by either Allegheny or St. Mary’s Cemeteries in Lawrenceville. < br>
A fire in the Commerce Building of Washington, D.C. destroyed most of the 1890 census.

Anyone able to help is asked to contact Hannah Steiner at haroldeatyourbeets@yahoo.com.

This information was added on January 20, 2010.

Input from others: Bill Chislett writes - I used to run a Chislett Family History Group and produce a magazine. One of our members was John L Chislett (lives in South Carolina) a descendant of John Chislett and it was through him that I got a copy of the Society of Pennsylvania Newsletter that described Chislett's influence on the architecture of Pittsburgh. In consequence I researched his background here in Bath and Somerset and included an article in The Chislett Chronicle December 2001 that I used to produce. We were already aware of Chislett's design of the cemetery at Allegheny and Crown Hill Indianapolis.

Doug Chaffey (lives in Pittsburgh) also a member of our group and John L Chislett are acquainted and from memory went to the same college/school in Pittsburgh and both attend reunions. (There are Chaffey Chislett family connections).

I no longer run the group and I folded it up after 13 years and 26 Chronicles due to lack of interest by fellow Chisletts. I will photocopy for you the article and send when we get back from holiday.Off tomorrow for a week. I'm sorry I cannot send it by e-mail as it was typed up on an old word processor.

I came across your web site by surfing the web and found it most interesting. Re John Chislett - He was born in Keinton Mandeville Somerset in 1800 the son of William Chislett a stone mason. John Chislett trained as an architect/sculptor in Bath Somerset and was associated with as far as I can ascertain Walter Harris a builder; Joseph Harris a sculptor, builder and modeler and am E. Harris an organist and teacher of the pianoforte.

Before he emigrated from England to the USA (I think via Canada) the was living in Beaminster Dorset from 1823 - 1830.

In Pigot's 1830 Directory of Dorset he advertised himself as a sculptor and professor of Music. Similarly the Directory of British Sculptors credits him with several elegant monuments.

There are many similarities between the Chislett designed buildings in Pittsburgh and those of Bath. In particular the Third Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh and Walcot Church Bath. The facade of Sham Castle a folly designed by the celebrated John Wood and the gateway to Arno's Court resembles that of John Chislett's Gateway to Allegheny Cemetery.

John became a USA citizen in 1838.

As yet, I am unable to connect John's family with mine, albeit Keinton Mandeville is not far from Seavington St. Mary from whence my antecedents came.

If anyone can help Bill, he can be reached at Magbillchisbauk@aol.com.

Q: Aimee Matlack Heinly writes - My ancestor Joseph Matlack appears in the 1840 census for Peebles Twp/Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. His wife, Emily McGregor(y) Matlack was born 13 March 1814, and died 19 March 1843 in Pittsburgh. I am trying to find information on her birth/death that would lead me to information on her parents. Joseph remarried and moved to Ohio after Emily's death. Joseph and Emily's only son (my great-great-great-grandfather) was William Jancy Matlack, born July 30, 1842 in Pittsburgh.

Would there be a list of cemeteries or churches that might house information from this time period?

A: The Historic Pittsburgh Project website has the city directories for that era. These directories list the churches and cemeteries or the times.

Aimee can be reached at aimeeheinly@optonline.net.

Q: At the end of the Civil War my great grandmother Catherine Keating ran a store and lived at 401 44th St, on the corner of Sherrod St. Her daughter Johanna Keating married Patrick Joseph Bowler, and they also lived on the property til WW1.

Any info you have on them or the store would be greatly appreciated!

Susan Friday - susan@overchargerecovery.org

A: So far we have only found the following information.

Patrick Bowler worked as a machinist in 1897. He lived at 44th and Sherrod, which was at that time called Sherman Street. The name changed to Sherrod Street probably around the time Allegheny City merged with Pittsburgh in 1907.

The 1898 City Directory shows - Mrs. P Bowler, of Mrs. C Keating, 345 - 44th. This entry doesn't seem to make sense. However, the following year we see Mrs. Patrick Bowler as a grocer and living at 345 - 44th Street. Patrick lived at the same address, and was listed as a laborer.

The 1901 directory shows Josephine Bowler as the grocer living at 345 - 44th Street with no mention of Catherine.

In 1902 it is Patrick that shows up as the grocer with no mention of either Catherine or Josephine.

Catherine Keating pops up in the 1903 City Directory living at 345 - 44th Street. Patrick Bowler appears as a driver.

In 1904 Josephine lives at the house. In 1905 Josephine is listed as the grocer. The phone number is Fisk 9016-J. By 1910 we find Patrick J. as the grocer, with various other members of the family living at 345 - 44th Street. These include Mrs. James Bowler and Ralph, a telegraph operator.

In 1915 we find a Joseph Bowler living nearby in 4418 Garwood Way and Mrs. Jennie Bowler operating the grocery store at 345 - 44th Street, but residing at 4811 Baum Blvd. Patrick J. was operating a grocery store at the 4811 Baum Blvd. address. Several other Bowlers were living near the Lawrenceville store. They were scattered on Geneva Street, 45th Street, and Garwood Way.

We found no record of them after 1915 living on 44th Street after 1915.

Q: Susan B. Evans writes - My Keoppel family lived in Lawrenceville area in the early 1900. During the early days of WWI My great grandfather was accused of Seditious Utterances against the U.S.(National archives #178875 U.S. Attorney/U.S. Marshal- Pgh. Pa) My Question is how long did this sort of questioning go on. How can I find more info on this case?

Also, sighted in this case was a German society B.V.U. No.2 in Bloomfield on Rosina Alley. He was the door keeper on Sunday. What was this society? Does it still exist? Can I find any records from it.

He was not convicted.

A: We could not find any information on the Keoppel family, the B. V. U. , or this incident. If anyone can help, please contact Susan at jrevans3@gmail.com.

Although the B.V.U. mentioned is in Bloomfield, we would be most interested learning more about this organization and Susan’s great-grandfather.

Q: Joseph J. Tribendis writes - I am researching the McClure family in Lawrenceville, specifically James T. McClure and his brothers Nesbit Knox McClure, John Williams McClure; sisters Elizabeth Hindman McClure, Francis Parmiter McClure, and Mary Jane (McClure) Kirk. They all lived in Lawrenceville from about 1830-1870. James, Nesbit, and John were boot and shoe makers. Elizabeth and Francis never married. Mary Jane married Robert Kirk and moved to Allegheny City. Their parents were both born in County Down, Northern Ireland in about 1875 and named William and Jane McClure. All of the children were born in PA from about 1795-1812.

James was involved in Borough activities and was a charter member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in 1833 and was the town Burgess in 1837.

I know that James and Nesbit are buried in Allegheny Cemetery, but cannot find burial places for the rest. In Elizabeth Hindman McClure’s will it states…“that my body be decently interred in the Washington grave yard in the Borough of Lawrenceville, according to the rites and ceremonies of the Episcopal Church.” I assume she belonged to St. John’s.

My specific questions:

Where is (or was) the “Washington grave yard”?

What other cemeteries were there in Lawrenceville?

Where might I find B/M/D records for St. John’s Episcopal Church or its predecessor church?

A: Here's what we found so far:

James T. McClure - The Second United Presbyterian Church : late First Associate Reformed Church of Pittsburgh, Penn'a. from 1793 to 1876 mentions him as a preacher. (see page 24)

Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities ... 1869-1870 says that he was Secretary of Washington School in the 17th Ward. This is now the 9th Ward. The building is still standing on Hatfield Street, but a rumor is circulating around the neighborhood that there are plans to tear it down as it is in very bad shape.

Nesbit Knox McClure - No information found.

John Williams McClure - There are numerous hits for John McClure on the Historic Pittsburgh Project website, too many for us to search out. You'll have to do it yourself as we don't know if any of these men are from your family or not. There are no hits for either John Williams McClure or John William McClure.

Elizabeth Hindman McClure - No information found.

Francis Parmiter McClure - Many hits for Francis McClure using the Historic Pittsburgh Project, but nothing for Francis Parmiter McClure.

Mary Jane (McClure) Kirk - No information found.

The Washington Burying Ground was located in Lawrenceville between Main and Fisk Streets. Some history of the graveyard can be found in the Lawrenceville Historical Society's book Monster on the Allegheny . . . and Other Lawrenceville Stories. (See http://www.lhs15201.org/publications.htm to order on line or send us a self-addressed, stamped envelope for a list of stores that carry our publications in the Pittsburgh area. We have never been able to locate the Burying records for this institution.

The other cemeteries in Lawrenceville are St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery and the Fourth Presbyterian Cemetery. The latter was absorbed into Allegheny Cemetery.

As far as I've been able to determine, the church records for St. John's Episcopal Church are stored at the Diocese. The archivist can be reached at:

Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh
900 Oliver Building
535 Smithfield Street
Pittsburgh, PA, 15222-2467

412-281-6131
Fax 412-471-5591
webmaster@pitanglican.org

Anyone with additional information can contact Joseph at jtribendis@ventura-group.com.

Q: Gwynne Potts asks - Are you able to tell me what became of Croghan's Hall? I see from litigation that followed his 1782 death that very little was left there after he moved East. Is there a source in the Pittsburgh area that explains the Croghan-Trent-Smallman-Ward relationships better than the two extant biographies? Lastly, is there an area museum or archive that focuses upon the William Croghan, Jr -Mary O'Hara connections to George Croghan and William Croghan, Sr?

A: The Lawrenceville Historical Society only concerns itself with Lawrenceville matters. As Etna lies across the Allegheny River from Lawrenceville, it is not a matter of our concern. You'll need to contact the Pennsylvania Dept. of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for information concerning this structure. However, Croghan's Plantation house is believed to have been in the vicinity of McCandless Avenue and Butler Street in Lawrenceville. Croghan is said to have lost his plantation house when it was burned down by Indians during Pontiac's Uprising of 1763. He is then said to have rebuilt a large, finer house, which was called "Croghan's Hall" in Lawrenceville. (See Monster on the Allegheny . . . and Other Lawrenceville Stories.) We don't know if people are confusing the colonial structure in Etna with the one that was built in Lawrenceville or if the Etna house belonged to another Croghan. The fate of the Lawrenceville "Hall" is unkown to us.

When you ask about the "Croghan-Trent-Smallman-Ward relationships" are you referring to blood relationships or business relationships? Also are you looking for some way in which the four are connected as a group or the individual relationships of Trent with Croghan, Ward with Croghan, and Smallman with Croghan?

Finally, we know of no museum or archive that focuses upon the William Croghan, Jr -Mary O'Hara connections to George Croghan and William Croghan, Sr. Originally, we were informed that William Croghan Sr. and George Croghan, the Indian Trader, who may have been the first white man to set foot in what is now Kentucky were brothers. However, the following source A Century and a Half of Pittsburg and Her People, vol. 2, by John Newton Boucher, New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1908, claims that George Croghan, the Indian trader was no relation to later day Croghans. However, General George Croghan was a brother to William Croghan, Sr. The two Georges were not the same person. (See page 406).

Anyone with more information can reached Gwynne at gwynnepotts@insightbb.com.

More from Gwynne Potts: Actually, Major William Croghan, Sr was the nephew of George Croghan the Trader and came to Philadelphia from Dublin in 1768 to live under the protection of his uncle. Colonel George Croghan of War of 1812 fame was the major's son and Will Croghan, Jr's brother. I am the former Executive Director of Historic Locust Grove in Louisville, Kentucky, George Rogers Clark's last home, and, of course, the home of GRC's sister, Lucy, and her husband, Major William Croghan.

I asked about the Smallman-Trent-Croghan connection to see if a definitive relationship had been established thru research in PA. I know Smallman and Croghan were cousins- would just love to know who the parents were as a way of learning more about George Croghan.

This information was added on January 18, 2010.

Q: Susan Englert, who helped bring us the Pool Party at Leslie Park last year, sends us the following questions.

Do you have any information on:

1) Leslie Park Pool Historian Mark Miller, who works with City Aquatics, gave me the name of a historian who apparently wrote about Leslie Park Pool and Park: Stevwing. (No first name available) He fought the city when they slated our pool for closing.

Do you know him? or Have a contact for him?

2) Leslie Park Pool Plaque Mark Miller said there's a plaque that used to be in the Community Center on the second floor of the now-1-story bathhouse. It had a very nice history of the pool and the park. He thought perhaps the Lawrenceville Historical Society took posession of it after the fire. Any leads on that?

A: Unfortunately, the Lawrenceville Historical Society has no information on Stevwing or the Leslie Park Pool plaque. If you can help, please contact us and/or Susan at susan_englert@hotmail.com.

Q: My name is Chip Desmone, President of Desmone & Associates Architects. We are in the former Pa. Nat. Bank at Doughboy Square, owned by my family.

I am doing a little family research for my mother.

My Great-Great Grandfather was John C. O’Donnell and his brother was Cornelius. They are buried along with a few other ancestors in St, Mary’s. It is my understanding from All Sorts of Pittsburgher’s that he had a grocery store across the street at 3340 Butler St. He was apparently a Council member in the 16th Ward. I have not been able to locate any more info on him. Can you help me? Are there any photos of this grocery store (or him) archived anywhere or articles about what he may have done while representing the 16th ward?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

A: Your Great Grandfather also had a grocery store in the Strip District. It was in the 1200 block of Penn Avenue. He was also the Pittsburgh Postmaster (appointed March, 1894) (see http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pabutler/1895/95x09.htm ) after having been a grocer.

He served on a committee for the formation of St. John, the Baptist Roman Catholic Church. (See http://www.lhs15201.org/articles_b.asp?ID=1.) The Church opened in 1879.

The only John C. O'Donnell we could find in St. Mary's Cemetery is buried in section W. The tombstone says he served in Company E Pennsylvania Volunteers and died on July 7, (1915?). There are several O'Donnell markers, but no first names attached. We don't know if this is your John C. O'Donnell or not.

We contacted both the Republican and Democratic Headquarters and the Allegheny County Bureau of Elections to see if they have any information on your Great Grandfather. Unfortunately, none of them had records that far back.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Chip at CDesmone@desmone.com.

Q: Suzi Farabaugh, writes - Hello- first of all....I love the BURGH! Actually, I lived there for several years. My genealogical lineage has strong ties in Pittsburgh. I am trying to find more information on my grgrgr grandfather John T. Rees' business . It was along Penn Avenue in the mid to late 1800's. He owned a stone/ monument business called John T. Rees and Sons. Later it was called Rees and Sons.

I also wondered what resources you have available, and if you do research there. I also have the Moreland Family that I have strong ties with which also lived in Allegheny County. My grgrgr uncle was a police officer. Nathan Moreland. I wondered if there is a police roster from the mid to late 1800's available as well. I have not found one yet.

Can you also tell me what churches were in the Allegheny County/area-around 1870-1900? Which churches would have used Allegheny Cemetery, and which would have used St. Mary's?

A: There is a small write up about John Rees in a book titled History and Commerce of Pittsburgh and Environs : Consisting of Allegheny, McKeesport, Braddock and Homestead, 1893-4.

This book mentions that the stone cutting business had two locations on being at 1684 Penn Avenue and the other at 4620 Penn Avenue.

A John Rees also appears as a donor of $40.00 to the Relief Fund for those that suffered in the 1845 Pittsburgh Fire. (See Report of the Committee of Distribution of the Relief Fund contributed for the relief of the sufferers by the fire at Pittsburgh, April 10, 1845.) The 1896 City Directory has John living at 5405 Camelia Street. Earlier directories have him living at 54th Street near Butler Street.

We do only research related to Lawrenceville. There is no fee, but donations to the Lawrenceville Historical Society are greatly appreciated.

The 1879-1880 city directory gives a Nathan Moreland as living on Butler Street near the Standard Station on the Allegheny Vallety Railroad. He was a boiler maker by trade. He apparently changed occupations in 1887 becoming a teamster. It's not until 1898 that he finally appears as a policeman. By 1915 he's living at 5644 Harrison Street.

A listing of the cemeteries that were located in Allegheny County should appear in the city directory of a given year. Many of the older directories are available on line via the "Historic Pittsburgh Project." The Catholic churches would have used St. Mary’s Cemetery and the Protestant Churches would have used Allegheny Cemetery.

We know of no police rosters of old.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Suzie at suzif@comcast.net.