Canoe Way

From Pittsburgh Streets
Canoe Way
Neighborhood Bloomfield
Origin of name Modification of Centre, its original name
Centre Alley (until 1881)
Origin of name Its location in a plan of lots
Canoe Alley (1881–1914)
Origin of name Modification of Centre

This alley was laid out as Centre Alley in the 1850s by William Woolslayer, so named because it lay in the center of his plan of lots.[1]

In 1881 a Pittsburgh city ordinance established the names of all thoroughfares in the city and fixed duplicates. The name Centre conflicted with Centre Avenue, so the alley in Bloomfield was renamed Canoe Alley.[2] The name Canoe is probably just a modification of Centre.

Canoe Alley became Canoe Way in 1914 when another ordinance changed all alleys in Pittsburgh to ways.[3]

In a 1937 column in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Charles F. Danver humorously paired Canoe Way with Aquatic Way in Brighton Heights.[4]

See also

References

  1. "Wm. Woolslayer's plan of Bloomfield." Laid out Oct. 1850 and Dec. 1855; recorded Mar. 11, 1874, Plan Book 5, p. 238. Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds 3779228. [view source]bloomfield-woolslayer-plan-2
  2. "An ordinance establishing the names of avenues, streets, lanes and alleys of the City of Pittsburgh." Pittsburgh city ordinance, 1881, no. 33. Passed Feb. 28, 1881; approved Mar. 4, 1881. Ordinance Book 5, p. 212. In Municipal Record: Minutes of the Proceedings of the Select and Common Councils of the City of Pittsburgh, for the Year 1880, pp. 213–234 (Internet Archive pghmunicipalrecord1880). [view source]ordinance-1881-33
  3. "An ordinance changing the name 'alley' on every thoroughfare in the City of Pittsburgh to 'way.'" Pittsburgh city ordinance, 1914, no. 402. Passed Nov. 10, 1914; approved Nov. 16, 1914. Ordinance Book 26, p. 360. In Municipal Record: Minutes of the Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh for the Year 1914, appendix, p. 226, McClung Printing Co., Pittsburgh (HathiTrust uiug.30112108223899; Internet Archive Pghmunicipalrecord1914). Reprinted in the Pittsburgh Post, Nov. 23, 1914, p. 11 (Newspapers.com 86505785), and Nov. 24, p. 12 (Newspapers.com 86505809). [view source]ordinance-1914-402
  4. Charles F. Danver. Pittsburghesque. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Aug. 12, 1937, p. 8. Newspapers.com 90316941. [view source]danver-1937