Source:History-recorded
Francis X. Burns. "History recorded in street names: The way in which the march of events have left their mark on the city of Pittsburg." Pittsburg Post, Dec. 30, 1900, p. 21. Newspapers.com 86393131.
THE names given to the streets of Pittsburg and Allegheny at the various periods during the nineteenth century which is about closed, form the chapters of a unique and interesting history of these municipalities. These titles, like unto the "footprints in the sands of time" in Longfellow's "Psalm of Life" indicate notable events in the history of the country and Western Pennsylvania, and also reminds us of the great men and women who are numbered among our local pioneers and the heroes and heroines of this glorious Republic. The street signs stand like memorial tablets, to do honor to the people and the epochs in our local history worthy of such recognition. The titles bestowed when Pittsburg was yet a village and about the time when the new-born settlement put on the airs of a borough, plainly show that the stirring events of a few years previous were still uppermost in the minds of a patriotic people. The war which the colonies had with the French and Indians, and, later, the great struggle for American independence are memorized [sic] by the names of battles and were given to the thoroughfares and hamlets of both the present big cities. The Point district, where infant Pittsburg first threw off her swaddling clothes, stands out clear in this regard. Here begins Duquesne way and are located Fort street, Redout [sic] alley, Block House way and Pitt street, all clustered about the historical Fort Duquesne, at the headwaters of La Belle revere [sic], as the Ohio river was termed by Colonel Boquet and the soldiers of the French army. Fort Pitt was another name for this same fortification, given by the English army of occupation. It was called after William Pitt, the great English statesman, and for whom likewise Pittsburg is named.
Where the City Began.
In the early portion of the present century the town of Pittsburg was centered in what is known as the Point district. Beyond the present Eleventh street were farm lands and the present court house site a suburb. The town was laid out some years after the Revolutionary war, but the memories of the heroes who took part in that struggle for liberty and independence were still green. The hardy pioneers of this big city wished to honor the men and events, and many streets were named after both. The evidence of this is apparent when they called the present Sixth and Tenth streets after Generals St. Clair and "Mad Anthony" Wayne. Lafayette street still remains the same. William Penn's memory was honored by calling Pittsburg's broadest and longest street after him.
Liberty street's title represents the great boon for which the people of "these United States" had fought for and won. The infant began to assume large proportions; the name of Washington was given to the thoroughfare which then marked the eastern boundary line of the young town. General Grant, with his English troops, fought a battle with the French and Indians on the hill where the court house now stands, and this event is accountable for the name of Grant street.
The same patriotic "spirit of the age" prevailed when more new streets were named after Webster, the great, Lord Chatham, America's friend in the English parliament, while our own House of Representatives and form of government were remembered in the names Congress and Federal streets, while down in the old city Lafayette street was opened and christened. Allegheny, in after years gave its principal thoroughfare the name Federal for the same reason.
Other Pittsburg streets were named in those early days Hancock, Williams, Adams and Henry, after the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Just after the close of the Mexican war there was quite a boom in the extension of Allegheny City, as it was called. New streets were instituted and the titles given to these did honor to the heroes and victories of that struggle with the enemy on our border. Thus we can read to-day in that section of the Northside above North avenue, Rasacca [sic], Palo Alto, Vera Cruz, Monterey and Jackson streets.
Civil War Record.
For years after the Civil war names of soldiers who took part in that conflict and of battles won were given to many of Pittsburg's streets. In one section, beyond Point Breeze, East End, there is a row of streets consecutively named after Generals Thomas, McPherson and Meade, and the names of Grant, Sherman, Sheridan have been given to broad avenues, while the revered name of Lincoln is attachd [sic] to one of the principal East End thoroughfares. Antietam, Gettysburg, Natchez, Fair Oaks, Atlanta, Richmond and Petersburg are the names given to other streets, all commemorating battles.
The late war with Spain is already in evidence in the selection of names. Dewey lane runs from Beechwood avenue to Reynolds street. There is an El Caney alley, while Manila is a new thoroughfare running between Webster avenue and Cliff street.
Many of the old-time streets bear names of the pioneers of both cities and noted professional men, merchants and manufacturers. Among these are Dallas, Denny, Grogan, Schenley, O'Hara, Darlington, Fulton, Black, Robinson, Garrison, Oliver, Dennison, Winebiddle, Negley, Mellon, Larimer, Gazzam, Herron, Hoeveler, Liggett, Dithridge, Singer, Jones, Hampton, Park, Nimick, Stockton, Craig, Neville,, Saulsbury, McCandless, Woolslayer, Irwin, Ross, Brunot, Dilworth, Buchannan, McClelland, Marshall, McKee, Clark, Ihmsen, Darrah, McCook, Sterrett, Collier, Finley, Torrens, Home, Boggs, Miller, Chalfant, Howe, Phipps, Magee, Carnegie, Coleman and many others of equal note. A number of streets also bear religious titles. Among these are SS. Patrick, Michael and Martin, and Ursuline and Loretto streets. There is also a thoroughfare called after Martin Luther.
Some singular names have been given a number of streets and alleys. Among these are Parnell street, Home Rule street, Halfway alley, Rainbow, Sunbeam and Wasp streets.
The various districts within the city which at one time formed boroughs still retain their names, especially with old residenters. When Pittsburg was laying the foundation for becoming the greatest iron, steel and glass manufacturing city in the world, skilled workmen for the mills and factories were brought here from England, Wales and Scotland.
The iron mills and glass factories were located mostly on the Southside, Allegheny's outskirts and out Second avenue. The workmen who settled and built homes in these different districts named the places after the towns they had left abroad. For this reason the present Southside district was divided into Coal Hill, Birmingham and Sligo. Soho was the name given to the mill districts out Second avenue, while the site of the workshops on the Northside was called Manchester. Coal Hill was changed to Mt. Washington, but the names given to the other localities still cling to them.
A Defeat Recalled.
Braddock is called after the ill-fated general of that name, who was defeated by the French and Indians in a desperate battle at that point. Brunots island is named after a pioneer family of great renown, of which the late Felix R. Brunot was a descendant. Gazzams hill is called after another of the early settlers. Bayardstown, now the Nineteenth and Tenth wards, takes its name from another well-known citizen of "ye olden times."
Many changes in the topography of the city have also taken place in the progress of improvements. St. Paul's Cathedral, as built originally, stood on a hill which was much higher than the present hump. Scotch hill was the name of an elevated piece of land which was cut down and is now the Second avenue park. A large section of Boyds hill has been cut away to make space for new buildings. Diamond street, above Smithfield street, was cut through a high hill and the precipitous sides of the two hills made by this cut remained there as an eyesore to the locality for many years.
The march of improvement goes on and events and men of the dawning century will form the calendar from which the names of the coming streets will be selected. FRANCIS X. BURNS.