History: Local: The Early History of the 15th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh, 1925: Bellevue, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives 02/19/2005 by Judy Banja & Linda Braund Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/ _______________________________________________ THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE FIFTEENTH WARD OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH BY MRS. S. KUSSART DEDICATED TO THE SCHOOL CHILDREN OF THE FIFTEENTH WARD, PITTSBURGH, PA. COPYRIGHT, 1925, BY MRS. S. KUSSART. PUBLISHERS: Suburban Printing Company, Bellevue (Pittsburgh), Pa. 1925 [CONT.] Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 31 CHAPTER III Hazelwood At the death of the Hon. Henry Woods, of Bedford, in 1826, he left two sons. They inherited, besides considerable other property, the one-half of the Scotch Bottoms farm (the present Hazelwood), bequeathed to their father by his brother, John Woods, in 1817. The boys were left under the guardianship of James Ross, Jr., and Chas. Bradford, Pittsburgh attorneys, and Josiah Espy, a prominent lawyer of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pa. During their minority, Henry and John George Woods made their home with the family of Josiah Espy, and when the Espy family removed to Columbus, Ohio, the boys accompanied them. There they attended preparatory schools, and later were sent to college. At the age of nineteen years, John George Woods made a visit to his old home at Bedford, Pa., and there met and married Miss Mary Ann Piper, daughter of Major Wm. Piper. The young couple came to Pittsburgh on their wedding trip in a beautiful satin-lined coach. They lived for a time in the old stone house on the Scotch Bottoms farm, in Peebles Township, Allegheny County, Pa., the oldest house in Hazelwood, built by John Woods, prior to 1800. John Woods never lived here, his home being in Pittsburgh, but this house had always been occupied by the tenant on the farm. It is a large, two-story building of irregular stone, and still stands, surrounded by extensive grounds, at the corner of Chatsworth Avenue and Tullymet Street, in Hazelwood. The stone with which it was built was quarried on the farm. The water supply, in early years, was obtained from a well blasted out of the solid rock, to a depth of sixty feet or more. John George Woods (1) and his bride were the first members of the Woods family who ever lived in this house, or on the Scotch Bottoms farm. They remained only until their new dwelling was completed. On an eminence above the present Second Avenue, between Flowers and Hazelwood Avenues, Mr. Woods built Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 32 his home, a large two-story brick mansion, with mansard roof. It was completed about 1840. When the young couple first occupied this dwelling, the country surrounding was covered with fine forests, in which flourished many hazel-nut trees. They gave the name, Hazel Hill, to the eminence chosen as the site of their home, and joined the name, Hazel, to the family name of Woods (dropping the "a" for the sake of euphony), making the name - Hazelwood-which was given to the district; and although, in 1868, this district became a part of the city of Pittsburgh, as the old Twenty-third Ward, it is still known as Hazelwood. During the gold excitement in California, in 1849, John George Woods went West, and was gone two or three years. (2) He was not very successful, and had to write to his brother for funds to return home. The money was sent, and he reached Pittsburgh much broken in health. He was a member of the Duquesne Greys, and saw active service during the Civil War. He died in the West Penn Hospital. His sword, used during the War of the Rebellion, is still in possession of Pittsburgh members of the Woods family. The family of John George Woods and wife consisted of three children: Lucinda, who became the wife of Col. Richard Penn Smith, a descendant of Wm. Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, and they lived on Staten Island, New York; Florence Augusta, wife of Dr. Hilton; and William Henry (named after his two grandfathers), who followed a sea-faring life. They all removed to Philadelphia and are now deceased. The second husband of the widow of J. G. Woods was Dr. Geo. W. Duffy, of Philadelphia. The property of John George Woods, in Hazelwood, was sold off, Marshall Swartzwelder, a prominent attorney, managing the sale of it. Mr. Preston, of the firm of Preston & Everson, who had a manufactory near the Tenth [Illustration] On part of the old John George Woods farm stands the old Nixon dwelling, built in 1865, by Capt. Jos. Nixon, (inset) who purchased about 10 acres, between Second and Glenwood Avenues, and Flowers Avenue and Tecumseh Street. Capt. Nixon was a veteran navigator and the owner of many steamboats. He belonged to a famous family, his mother's brother being Geo. Stephenson, first inventor of the locomotive. Capt. Nixon owned a steamboat landing in Hazelwood, property in Greenfield, and out West. The Second Avenue frontage of the Nixon land is now all built up with fine business blocks, and the old mansion left standing in the rear. Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 33 Street Bridge, Pittsburgh, rented the Hazel Hill mansion for a time. Then it was the home of Marshall Swartzwelder and family. Later, the late Hill Burgwin, Esq., purchased the dwelling and the ground surrounding it, fronting on Second Avenue, between Flowers and Hazelwood Avenues, and extending back on the hill to about Sylvan Avenue. The Hazel Hill mansion was the Burgwin family home until Mr. Burgwin's death, in 1898. Soon afterward, his heirs laid off a plan of lots on the grounds, which had become valuable for building purposes, and the old mansion was torn down, about 1900, and Hazel Hill partially leveled. Chatsworth Avenue was extended through the tract to Flowers Avenue, and many handsome brick dwellings have been built on this land, within the last twenty-five years. The Second Avenue frontage is now entirely built up with large brick business blocks. The line of division of the Hazelwood farms of John George Woods and his elder brother Henry (better known in Pittsburgh as Harry) Woods, was about the present Berwick Street ( a little cross street between Second and Chatsworth Avenues, city side of the Lewis Recreation Park). Both farms fronted on the Monongahela River, and extended for about a mile from it. Henry - Woods' tract extended from Four Mile Run (near the present Greenfield Avenue) to about the present line of Berwick Street, and John George Woods' farm from that point to the present Tecumseh Street. There were about 530 acres in the two farms. John George Woods sold a tract (now the Lewis Recreation Park) at an early day, to his father-in-law, Maj. Wm. Piper. On part of the John George Woods farm there was laid out, in 1853, a plan of lots, between the Monongahela River and the Braddock's Field Plank Road. R. E. McGowan, was the surveyor, and the plan was recorded July 24, 1856 (3). Another plan, or subdivision of this farm, was surveyed by Mr. McGowan, and recorded July 6, 1857 (4). Several large tracts were sold to individuals. Additional sales of the remainder were made, following the completion of the Pittsburgh & Con- Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 34 nellsville Railroad through this district, in 1861. That railroad adopted the name-Hazelwood-for their station in this locality (5). The sale of the Hazelwood farms owned by the Woods brothers followed the completion of the Braddock's Field Plank Road, in 1851, and that of the Pittsburgh & Connellsville Railroad (now the B. & 0. R. R.) in 1861. Henry Woods, Jr., after completing his course in college at Gambier, Ohio, went West, in 1844. His relatives still possess the pistol which he carried with him across the Rocky Mountains, with which he shot many buffaloes. After his return, he came to Pittsburgh to visit the family of his uncle, the Hon. James Ross, and while he was there, he met Miss Rachel Elizabeth Keller, daughter of Daniel and Prudence (Jackson) Keller. The Keller family originally owned the land on the site of St. Francis Hospital and St. Mary's Cemetery, Pittsburgh. Henry Woods married Miss Keller, and brought his young wife out to Hazelwood, to choose a site for a home, but she preferred the city, she said, "to the backwoods". Accordingly, the farm was kept rented, and their first home was on Penn Street (now Penn Avenue), on the site of the present Joseph Horne store, when that part of Pittsburgh was among the best of the city's residential districts. Henry Woods was Collector of the Port. of Pittsburgh, during the administrations of Presidents Taylor and Fillmore, and was one of the commissioners appointed by the Government to superintend the erection of the new Custom House and Post Office at the corner of Fifth and Smithfield Streets (on the site of the present Park Building) (6). Mr. Woods was instrumental, together with other men of means, in securing the building of the Braddock's Field Plank Road along the right bank of the Monongahela through his own and other farms, and (7) was one of the managers of the road. He had run once, unsuccessfully, for the office of sheriff of Allegheny County, Pa., before being elected in 1861. He still held the office at the time of his death (8). [Illustration] Oldest House in Hazelwood, built by John Woods, the Pittsburgh attorney, prior to 1800. Stands in extensive grounds, corner Chatsworth Avenue and Tullymet Street. Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 35 In April, 1855, Mr. Woods removed with his family to Hazelwood, to a new house he had built near the present Marion Station, on the B. & O. R. R. This was the home of the family until 1859, at which time the lease expired on the old stone dwelling, corner of Chatsworth Avenue and Tullymet Street. Mr. Riddle, the last occupant, vacated the premises, and the family of Henry Woods removed to this old dwelling, which was their home for many years. Mr. Woods called his land here Tullymet, a name still preserved in that of the street. On the hill back of the stone house, a fine peach orchard was set out by Mr. Woods. It consisted of 1,500 trees, and proved a veritable gold mine to his family when the trees began bearing. The peaches were of large size, and fine quality and flavor. They sold readily at $5 per basket, and the money derived from this source was to help in paying for the education of the children of the family. Mr. Woods was also successful in getting thirteen magnolia trees to grow in the grounds near his home. They throve in this uncongenial climate, when his neighbors labored in vain to keep their trees of the same kind alive. Financial reverses came to Henry Woods and family, by reason of the dishonesty of a friend. This man, in whom Mr. Woods had the utmost confidence, was trusted with the funds for the erection of a large Protestant Hospital in Allegheny City. Mr. Woods had gone security for him, and when he decamped with the hospital funds, Mr. Woods was forced to make the amount good. He owned a farm in Fayette County, Pa., another in Ohio, property inherited from his father at Bedford, Pa., and vicinity; and his Hazelwood farm. All of this property was sacrificed. Some parts of the Hazelwood farm had already been sold off. The first tract sold was to Wm. Watson and brothers. John J. Roggen purchased, about 1850, a large tract of Henry Woods farm, fronting on the Monongahela River, and other individuals had purchased smaller portions. Mr. Woods laid out a plan of lots on his land, between the Monongahela and the Braddock's Field Plank Road, which were advertised in the Pittsburgh papers as Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 36 for sale, in July, 1853 (9). Another part of the farm was surveyed by R. E. McGowan, in October, 1857, and this plan was recorded October 14, 1859. It was above the Braddock's Field Plank Road (marked on the plan as 60 feet wide), and on the city side adjoined the Wm. Watson property, and on the opposite side that of John George Woods and his father-in-law, Major Wm. Piper. Mr. Woods did not long survive the loss of the property. He died at Cresson, Pa., in August 1863. He left his widow, four daughters and one son. His daughter, Rachel, died in 1873; Prudence died in 1893; and Maria in 1905. The only son, Harry, youngest of the family, died in 1882, at the age of twenty years. The family was left in straitened circumstances after the death of Mr. Woods. Of the fine farm in Hazelwood, all that was left to them was the family home, the old stone house, corner of Chatsworth Avenue and Tullymet Street, and some ground surrounding it. This also is now owned by other parties. Mrs. Woods was a fine musician. She and her sister, Mary D. Keller, as young ladies, were among the most accomplished amateur musicians of their day in Pittsburgh, and enjoyed the friendship of Stephen C. Foster, the famous Pittsburgh composer and song writer. He dedicated the song, "There's a Good Time Coming", to Miss Mary D. Keller, and a "Gallopade and Waltz", to Miss Rachel E. Keller (later Mrs. Woods). Mr. Foster did not always write the words of his songs, but often fitted the music to some poem which caught his fancy, as in the case of the song, "There's a Good Time Coming", on the printed copy of which it is stated that the words were taken from the London Daily News . After the marriage of Henry Woods and Miss Rachel E. Keller, Mr. Foster was a frequent visitor at their home, on the corner of Fifth and Penn, on the site of Joseph Horne's store. The Woods home here became a center for many musical folks in Pittsburgh. Stephen C. Foster married Miss Jane McDowell, daughter of Dr. McDowell (and a sister of Mrs. John D. Scully, of Hazelwood). One evening, Mr. Foster had [illustration] Mrs. Woods, seated at piano purchased for her by her husband, Henry Woods. Guitar on which Stephen C. Foster frequently played (Afterward stolen by a servant and never recovered). Old tray from which Gen. Washington was served at Woods home, Bedford. Box on stand, containing pantograph with which Col. George Woods prepared plan of Pittsburgh, after his survey in 1784. Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 37 brought a friend Mr. W. H. McCarthy (10), who frequently wrote the words for Mr. Foster's songs and was a well-known actor, to visit the Woods family. During the evening Mr. Foster composed the music of the song, "Jennie With the Light Brown Hair", so called in honor of his wife. It was published by Firth, Pond & Co., and was on sale at Henry Kleber's music store, in Pittsburgh, in June, 1854 (11). One evening, a party consisting of Messrs. Stephen C. Foster, Marshall Swartzwelder, Richard Cowan, and John Cust Blair were serenading the Woods family from the front porch steps. Nellie Bly, a comely colored servant, poked her head out of the cellar door to listen to the music. Mr. Foster observed her and asked, "Who is that?" Mrs. Woods replied, "That is Nellie Bly." The visitors were invited into the house. Mr. Foster, seized with one of his flashes of inspiration, sat down to the piano and improvised, played and sang the song, "Nellie Bly", with al-most the identical words and music afterward published and sung the world over. The daughter of a slave in the Woods family, Nellie Bly remained with the family for many years after slavery had become a thing of the past, dying at an advanced age. She was very proud of the song composed by Mr. Foster and named for her. The death of Miss Mary D. Keller, a few days before the date set for her wedding, occasioned profound grief to her family and friends. Mr. Foster composed the song, "Where is Thy Spirit, Mary?" and dedicated it to her memory. For some time after the death of her beloved sister, Mrs. Woods could not touch the piano which recalled many memories of her. One day, Mrs. Woods went to Woodwell's store in Pittsburgh, to purchase a new parlor chair (a handsome chair, upholstered in maroon-colored velvet, still owned by members of the Woods family). Henry Kleber had recently returned from Europe, where, in 1851, he had purchased two pianos, one in Paris, France, and the other in Leipzig, Germany. They were on exhibition, and Mrs. Woods, known to be a talented musician, was invited to Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 38 try these fine instruments. There were not many pianos in Pittsburgh at this time, as they were so costly that few could afford to buy them, and such instruments as these, much superior to the ones in general use, were rare. Upon the return of Mrs. Woods to her home, she could talk of nothing else. The next morning, Mr. Woods purchased the piano of German make, which bears the name, Frederick Haupt, and was the first instrument of its kind ever brought to Pittsburgh. Stephen C. Foster had also seen and admired this piano, and Mr. Woods had hardly left the store when Foster entered, for the purpose of buying it. For this reason, and because it was so often used by him, or by Mrs. Woods, in playing over one of his new compositions, this piano was jokingly referred to in the Woods family as "Stephen Foster's piano". It is a handsome instrument, of rosewood, and has two candlestick holders in front. In the kindness of her heart, and for the sake of the beloved mother and aunt who were friends of the great composer in the days when they were all young people together, Miss Mary K. Woods, the only surviving child of Henry Woods and wife, presented this rare old instrument, a couple of years ago, to Mrs. Marion Welsh, daughter of Stephen C. Foster, to place in the old Foster home in Lawrenceville, now owned and maintained by the city of Pittsburgh. In the possession of Mrs. Woods, was a large volume of the works of Stephen C. Foster. It was shown to the writer, and contains, besides many others, the compositions dedicated to Mrs. Woods and her sister, by Mr. Foster. One of these is the song, "Sadly to My Heart Appealing", dedicated by Mr. Foster to Mrs. Woods. The book was presented to the Woods family by Morrison W. Foster (who was . "Uncle Mitt," to the Woods children), a brother of Stephen C. Foster. In January, 1864, the death of Stephen C. Foster took place in New York City (12), but his remains were brought to Pittsburgh for interment. In later years, a movement was started in Pittsburgh for the erection of a monument in honor of Pittsburgh's most famous composer and song writer, and subscriptions were received James Ross, Jr. [Portrait] Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 39 for this purpose. Mrs. Woods gladly contributed some of the original scores of Mr. Foster's songs which were in her possession, and by this time very valuable, for the benefit of the fund. She was much gratified at the successful termination of the project. On Sept. 12, 1900, there was unveiled in Highland Park a handsome statue of the famous composer of whom Pittsburgh is so proud, and whom our whole nation delights to honor. The death of Mrs. Woods took place on Christmas day, 1904. She had survived her husband forty-one years. The only surviving members of the Woods family, in Pittsburgh, still bearing the family name, is Miss Mary Keller Woods, daughter of Henry and Rachel E. Woods. She is the great-granddaughter of Col. George Woods (or Judge Woods, as he was called in later life), of Bedford, who laid out Pittsburgh in 1784. Miss Woods has owned many priceless old family records, some of which, being advanced in years, she has already given to those for whom she intends them. Among these, besides those already mentioned in this history, are books, music, bric-a-brac, swords, pistols, etc. She has presented books to both the Carnegie Library in Hazelwood and the main Carnegie Library, Schenley Park. A library of over one hundred volumes, including books originally owned by her father, and those of her two grandfathers, Henry Woods, of Bedford, and Samuel Keller, an early iron merchant in Pittsburgh, was presented by Miss Woods to the Carnegie Library, of Pittsburgh. Glenwood James Ross, Jr., son of the Hon. James Ross, became the owner of 530 acres of the Scotch Bottoms farm (the present Glenwood), in 1840, at the death of his aunt, Miss Mary (or Polly) Woods, daughter of Judge George Woods, of Bedford. At the time of his father's death, in 1847, James Ross, Jr., was the only one of the three children of the Hon. Jas. Ross and wife, Ann (Woods) Ross, surviving. His brother, George Woods Ross, had met his death accidentally, by drowning, and his sister, Mary Jane, wife of Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 40 Edward Coleman was deceased, leaving three daughters. The bulk of the large estate left by the Hon. James Ross went to this son, his namesake. He owned the Ross family home in Allegheny City; the Ross property on Grant's Hill; the Ross summer home up the Allegheny River, near the present Aspinwall; and considerable other property, besides the Scotch Bottoms farm of 530 acres bequeathed to him by the will of his aunt, Miss Polly Woods. Like his father, Jas. Ross,, Jr., was an attorney. He was admitted to the bar of Allegheny County, Pa., on April 17, 1822, on motion of John B. Alexander. Ill health prevented Mr. Ross from being very active in the practice of his profession. His death occurred on Saturday, Nov. 7, 1851. The following is the notice of it: "James Ross, Esq. died Saturday night, about 9:00 o'clock, at his country residence, 'The Meadows.' He had been ill for some weeks of an asthmatic affection, but had not been regarded as in any great danger. Strong hopes had been entertained of his recovery. Suddenly, the evening of his death, there was a change for the worse, rapidly followed by death." (13) It is stated that Mr. Ross was a man "of intelligence, refined tastes, and liberal charity. He inherited great wealth, but, on account of ill health, was restrained from active public usefulness." The funeral took place Tuesday, Nov. 11, 1851. The name of Glenwood originated in this way. One of the first tracts of land sold from the Ross farm consisted of about six acres, purchased by a number of wealthy club-men, who erected thereon, about 1852, a large club house called the Glen Hotel. Its site was above the present Second Avenue, on Renova Street, at the mouth of a beautiful glen, hence the locality was named Glenwood, the name Glen being joined to that of the original owners, Woods, (with the "s" omitted). It became a part of the old Twenty-third Ward of the City of Pittsburgh in 1868, (now the Fifteenth Ward), but is still called Glenwood. Some of the members of this club had used their influence in getting the Braddock's Field Plank Road built through Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 41 the Scotch Bottoms farms. There were several large hotels built along the route of the road, about the time it was completed, in 1851, and at Turtle Creek, near the terminus of the road, two or three hotels were built. The Glen Hotel, however, differed from these, while it was run by the club, in that it was conducted for the use of the members and their friends only. The club employed a manager to conduct the hotel, Jos. F. D. Keating, acting in this capacity for a time. These wealthy clubmen had a long race track, extending from Glenwood down to the present Soho, or Twenty-second Street Bridge, and many exciting races were run over this track. Among the jockeys riding horses in these races may be mentioned Felix Laverty, Barney Winslow, and Peter Quinnot. Blooded horses owned by members of the club were pitted against race horses brought out from the city or its suburbs (14), the stake being sometimes $500 or more to the winner. As the end of the race was reached, at the present Twenty-second Street Bridge, the jockeys began sawing on the reins, and yelling "So-ho" at the excited horses, endeavoring to bring them to a halt. This is said to be the origin of the name Soho. The Glen Hotel was a very large building and fronted toward the present Second Avenue, standing about one hundred and fifty feet above it, on ground now occupied by Renova Street. The main building had a frontage of about two hundred feet. A porch about ten feet wide extended along the entire front of the building, and there were porches at both ends also. Two wings extended back from each side of the main building, there being an open space, or kind of court, left between these wings. After the club was discontinued, this large frame building was conducted in the summer of 1856, as a summer hotel, by Jos. F. D. Keating (15). It is described at that time as having "most beautiful grounds and shade trees in front, and a most inviting lawn and grove in the rear; springs, arbors and swings have been supplied by nature and art". The Right Reverend M. O'Connor, Bishop of the Dio- Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 42 cese of Pittsburgh, purchased the property, according to the following notice: (16) "The Glen Hotel. This fine building, which was sold by the sheriff, a few days ago, for the small sum of $6,500, is about to pass into the hands of Bishop O'Connor, who purposes converting it into a Seminary for the education of such Catholics as desire instruction in the higher branches of literature." It was devoted to the education of young men for the priesthood, being called St. Michael's Seminary, and was very successful, becoming one of the leading Catholic institutions of the kind in the Pittsburgh district. There were generally a hundred or more students attending school here at one time. Among these students was the Rev. Daniel J. Devlin, the present pastor of the St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church, in Hazelwood. In 1877, St. Michael's Seminary was discontinued, and the pupils went to other institutions to finish their courses. The building was not in use for a time. In 1881, it was again opened as a hotel and had been conducted by four different proprietors before it burned to the ground, early in April, 1883. The Munsons, who still conduct a large hotel on Second Avenue, in Glenwood, were the occupants at the time the building burned down. The will of James Ross, Jr., bears date of Feb. 8, 1848, and disposes of an estate of about $500,000. The disposal of the Scotch Bottoms farm of 530 acres (the present Glenwood) was made as follows: "I devise, in fee, to Mary L. Woods, Elizabeth S. Anderson, Anna Dike, (wife of Nathaniel Dike), and to Wm. Addison, Chas L. Bradford and Hugh Brady Wilkins, in trust, in the name hereafter mentioned-Mary, wife of Frank Johnston, to be equally divided among the said four parties, to wit: Mary L. Woods, one- fourth; Elizabeth S. Anderson, one-fourth; Anna Dike, one-fourth, and the said trustees of Mary Johnston, the remaining one-fourth, all my land situated in Peebles Township, Allegheny County, and State of Pennsylvania, on the Monongahela River, adjoining the property of John George Woods, the said land Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 43 being the same which became vested in me, by virtue of a conveyance from my deceased aunt, the late Mary Woods; and also by proceedings in partition between myself and Henry Woods and John George Woods, I direct that the said Mary L. Woods pay out of her share the sum of two thousand dollars to her sister, Margaretta (wife of John Dike), and I hereby charge the said bequest in favor of Margaretta Dike on the said share of Mary L. Woods." (17) The two unmarried cousins named above, Mary L. Woods and Elizabeth S. Anderson, had been making their home with James Ross, Jr., who was a bachelor. He bequeathed them his household furniture, including the silver plate, and books in his library. By a codicil to his will, dated Sept. 13, 1851, Mr. Ross made the following changes: "Chas L. Bradford, who is named in my last will and testament as one of the executors thereof, being out of the United States, and there being an uncertainty as to the time of his return, I do hereby substitute in his place and stead as one of my executors, the Hon. Hopewell Hepburn, of Pittsburgh. I revoke the devise of one-fourth part of the Scotch Bottom tract to my said executors for the use of Mary, wife of Frank Johnston, and do hereby devise the said one-fourth of said Scotch Bottom tract to Mary, wife of Frank Johnston, her heirs and assigns, absolutely." There were several bequests of money, including one of $5,000 to Virginia, daughter of Nathaniel and Anna (Woods) Dike, and one of $10,000 to Mary L. Woods, to be paid to her by the executors in quarterly payments, during her lifetime. The bulk of the estate of James Ross, Jr., was bequeathed to his nieces, daughters of his only sister, Mary Jane (Mrs. Edward Coleman), deceased. The two daughters of Dr. John Anderson and wife, of Bedford, who each received one-fourth of the Glenwood farm, as heirs of James Ross, Jr., had been members of the Ross household for many years. (18) After the death of Mrs. Ross, in 1805, her sister, Miss Mary (or Polly) Woods came to Pittsburgh and took charge of the Ross home. Dr. Anderson's wife died Nov. 28, 1815, and their little daugh- Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 44 ter, Mary Woods Anderson, born Nov. 20, 1813, came to Pittsburgh to make her home with the Ross family. In 1821, her sister, Elizabeth Stewart Anderson, born in 1814, followed her, and these two girls grew up and were educated here. (19) Elizabeth S. Anderson never married. In 1864 she was still living at the Ross summer home, "The Meadows," on the Allegheny River, near Pittsburgh. (20) Her death occurred in 1865. Her Glenwood property had been largely sold off by that time, but her name is perpetuated in that of Elizabeth Street, Fifteenth Ward. Mary W. Anderson was married, Jan. 11, 1843, to Francis Johnston (son of Washington and Ann Poyntell Johnston), who was born in October, 1816, and died Sept. 10, 1863. Mrs. Johnston died Dec. 25, 1872. The Glenwood holdings of this family are referred to in Allegheny County records as the "Johnston" estate. Francis Johnston and wife had three children: Alexander Johnston, born Oct. 20, 1843, died unmarried May 5, 1876; Ross Johnston, born Sept. 1, 1848, was married Sept. 18, 1779 [sic], to Anna Dike Blair, daughter of Thos. S. and Virginia (Dike) Blair, and died March 11, 1885, leaving his widow and infant daughter, Virginia. Mary Espy Johnston married Dec. 27, 1877, Prof. William Milligan Sloane (son of James Renwick W. and Margaret Milligan Sloane), who was born Nov. 12, 1850. He was a member of the faculty of Princeton University, and later head of the Historical Department at - Columbia. The Sloane family now reside at Princeton, N. J. Prof. Sloane and wife are the parents of four children, all married: James Renwick and Francis Johnston Sloane; and Mary Renwick (Mrs. Jos. L. Delafield) and Margaret Milligan (Mrs. Sloan). (21) Some of the land in Glenwood is still owned by the Johnston heirs. Johnston Avenue is named for this family. By the will of James Ross, Jr., two daughters of George Woods, 3d. (and granddaughters of Judge George Woods, of Bedford) were each bequeathed one- fourth of the Glenwood farm. These were Mary L. Woods and Ann (Woods) Dike. Their father, George Woods, 3d, died Aug. 25, 1807, at Bedford, Pa., and his widow, Mrs. Anna Woods, removed with her family of four daughters to Steubenville, O., where she had already been preceded by her parents, Dr. John Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 45 and Martha (Johnston) McDowell, of Philadelphia. There Anna Woods married Dr. Nathaniel Dike. They were the parents of three children: Virginia, who married Thomas S. Blair, of Tyrone, and made her home in Pittsburgh; and George and Wm. L. Dike, who both died unmarried. Mary L. Woods never married. In the will of the Hon. James Ross, of Pittsburgh, her uncle, it is stated that she had been a member of his family "since infancy." After the death of their "Aunt Polly" and "Uncle Ross," the cousins, Mary L. Woods and Elizabeth S. Anderson, continued to make a home for James Ross, Jr., seeming more like sisters to him than cousins. Upon the death of James Ross, Jr., Mary L. Woods returned to Steubenville, O., where her sister, Margaretta (Mrs. John S. Dike) lived. There she died, in 1859. Her will bears date of May 16, 1859, and was probated before the court of Jefferson County, O., July 15, 1859. (22) The executors were Humphrey H. Lavitt, of Cincinnati, O., and Thos S. Blair, of Pittsburgh, Pa. The Glenwood property, Peebles Twp., Allegheny Co., Pa., had by this time been partly sold off, but Miss Mary L. Woods owned considerable other property. Her house and lot, corner Church and Market Streets, Steubenville, O. (formerly the property of Nathaniel Dike, Esq..) was bequeathed to her sister, Margaretta (Woods) Dike, together with all the household goods, plate, books, etc. Five-sixths of the income from all bonds, notes and securities owned by Mary L. Woods, at her death, were bequeathed to her sister, Margaretta Dike; and one-sixth to Wm. L. Dike, son of Anna (Woods) Dike, another sister. At the death of Margaretta Dike, all the property she had inherited from Mary L. Woods was to be equally divided between the two surviving children of Anna (Woods) Dike, i. e., Wm. L. Dike and Virginia (Mrs. Thos. S. Blair). As Wm. L. Dike died unmarried, Mrs. Thos. S. Blair may be regarded as the sole heiress of Mary L. Woods and the Dike families. As the interests of the Anderson sisters, Elizabeth S. Anderson and Mary W., wife of Francis Johnston, became vested in the two surviving children of the latter, Ross Johnston (who married Anna D., daughter of Thos. S. Blair and wife, thus partially uniting the Blair and Johnston interests) and Mary E. Johnston Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 46 (Mrs. Wm. M. Sloane, of Princeton, N. J.) we find the land in the Glenwood farm, in the Allegheny County court records, referred to as parts of the "Johnston" and "Blair" estates. Thomas Shoenberger Blair, son of Thomas and Florinda (Cust) Blair, was born at Kittanning, Nov. 26, 1825. He married, Dec. 21, 1847, Virginia, daughter of Dr. Nathaniel and Anna (Woods) Dike, of Steubenville, O. Mrs. Blair was born June 26, 1828, and died Aug. 9, 1878. For many years, Thos. S. Blair was associated with the Shoenbergers in the steel business, in Pittsburgh.- He left that company and formed a stock company of his own, to make steel by a new process. This company erected the Blair Iron & Steel Works, near the site of the present Glenwood Bridge, Fifteenth Ward. The works were not a financial success, and the firm. soon discontinued business. The home of Thos. S. Blair was a large, three story frame dwelling on the hill above Second Avenue, apposite the present Glenwood Car Barns of the Pittsburgh Railways Company. The house was surrounded by spacious and well-kept grounds, back of which was a garden. Beyond that was a large fruit orchard. There is still standing, on the upper side of Second Avenue, near the Glenwood Car Barns, a little one-story cottage yet occupied as a dwelling. This was the gatehouse or lodge at the entrance of the grounds, and was occupied by the Blair's gardener. A driveway led up from the little cottage to the Blair home. Mansion Street, Gleenwood, is named for the Blair "Mansion," which is still standing, on Sunnyside Street, and occupied as a tenement house. It would be overlooked by anyone not expressly searching for old buildings. Blair Street is named for the Blair family and Dike Street for Mrs. Blair's people. Lytle Street was named by Mrs. Blair for a niece of John H. Shoenberger. Thomas S. Blair died Oct. 22, 1898, leaving three surviving children: George Dike Blair, of New Castle, Pa.; Thos. S. Blair, Jr., of Chicago, Ill., and Mrs. Harvey Childs, of the East End, Pittsburgh, Pa. (23) In the Allegheny County records we find "Thomas S. Blair's Plan of Ross Common," recorded Sept. 30, 1852. (24) "Allegheny County, ss. Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 47 Before me, the subscriber, the Recorder of Deeds, &c., for the said County, personally came Thomas S. Blair, and acknowledged the foregoing plan, called Ross Common, to be his act and deed, and devised that the same be recorded as such. Witness my hand and seal, this 30th day of September, A. D., 1852. Samuel Fahnestock, Recorder." This plan of lots lay between the Braddocks Field Plank Road and the Monongahela River, and between Allegheny (now Alluvian) and Vespucius Streets. The method of procedure followed by the heirs of James Ross, Jr., in selling off the Glenwood farm, is shown by a letter written Oct. 26, 1852, to Mr. Wm. Barker, Sr., who had purchased several lots fronting on the present Second Avenue. Not being sure of the title given him for these lots, Mr. Barker consulted Wm. M. Shinn, a prominent Pittsburgh attorney, who replied as follows: (25) Wm. Barker, Esq.: Dear Sir: I have examined the deed for lots Nos. 19, 20, 21 and 22, in the town of Roscommon, executed by Nathaniel Dike, Frank Johnston and Thos. S. Blair, and also the deed upon which they claim title. It appears that the late James Ross devised the lands out of which the lots are carved to Mary L. Woods, Elizabeth S. Anderson, Anna Dike and Mary Johnston, the two last named being married women. The division above named (the husbands of the married ones joining in the deeds) conveyed the property to E. M. Stanton, Esq., in pursuance of which, a plan was made and prepared. The act of April 11, 1848, provides that the separate property of a married woman shall not be conveyed 'without her consent first has been asked and obtained and duly acknowledged before one of the Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas of this Commonwealth.' The provisions of this law have not been complied with in the conveyance above recited, and I am therefore of opinion that the deed to you does not convey a good title. I have therefore prepared a deed which, if executed by the parties, will cure the defect. You should retain both deeds. Yours truly, Wm. M. Shinn." Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 48 The tract purchased by Wm. Barker, Sr., on March 28, 1852, from the heirs of James Ross, Jr., included the old stone cottage built by Miss Mary (or Polly) Woods, in 1818, which had been used by the various- tenants on the Glenwood farm, before any land was sold off. During the years that Miss Woods owned the Glenwood farm, from 1817 until her death, Oct. 28, 1840, no member of the Woods family ever lived in this stone cottage, and the house still continued to be occupied by the tenants on the farm, during the ownership of James Ross, Jr., from 1841 to 1851. A farmer named Wilson (for whom Wilson Station, near West Elizabeth, is named) once occupied the old cottage, and raised some fine wheat on the farm. John Davis and family, sons John, Augustus, William and Anthony, and daughter, Rachel (later Mrs. John Mars, of Glenwood) resided in this dwelling, and Mr. Davis died there. Before the death of Miss Woods, Thomas Barker was living here and farming the land. One of his daughters, Elizabeth, became the wife of James Wiley, who was in the tin and copper business in Pittsburgh, but was burnt out in the great fire of 1845. James Wiley and family then resided on the Brownsville road, across from Pittsburgh. Mr. Wiley left home for the purpose of purchasing a farm in Illinois. He died there, after an illness of a few days. His widow moved into the old stone cottage in Glenwood, with her large family, and her sons farmed the land. Her children were as follows: Thomas and George Wiley, who located at Elizabeth, Pa., and died there; James Wiley, who after spending nearly a lifetime in Glenwood and Hazelwood, removed to Dormont, and died there, Aug. 14, 1921, aged 86 years; Mary E. Wiley, wife of Prof. Isaac N. Stevenson, of Hazelwood; Jane Wiley, Mrs. James McGibney; Annie Wiley, Mrs. John Irwin; and Harriet Wiley, who died at the age of eight years. Mrs. Wiley's sons not only farmed on this land, but also raised many sheep on the hillsides. The late James Wiley told the writer that his first recollection of the Glenwood farm was when he was five years of age and came out to visit his grandfather. As he was born in 1836, the date of that visit was 1841. A few years later, his widowed mother moved to the cottage. Mr. Wiley said [Illustration] Stone cottage built in 1818, by Miss Mary (or Polly) Woods, in present Glenwood. Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 49 that at that time the dwellings he remembered standing on Scotch Bottoms were as follows: The stone cottage on the upper part of the tract (Glenwood farm), his home. A four-room house of hewed logs on the site of the present home of the Sisters of the St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church (lower part of the Glenwood farm). The handsome dwelling of John George Woods and family, on Hazel Hill, Hazelwood. The house of Maj. Wm. Piper, father-in-law of John George Woods, which is still standing, being the rear part of the community house, Lewis Recreation Park, Chatsworth Avenue, Hazelwood. The two-story stone dwelling built by John Woods, prior to 1800, the oldest house in Hazelwood, still standing, corner Chatsworth Avenue and Tullymet Street. From this on down to Four Mile Run (near Greenfield Avenue) the only buildings he remembered were the old Watson dwelling and Powder Works. The oldest house in Glenwood is the stone house built by Miss Mary (or Polly) Woods, in 1818. Mr. Wm. Barker, Sr., purchased this, little story-and-a- half cottage and the ground surrounding it, on March 28, 1854, and made this his home. His brother, George Barker, lived with his family in the two-story dwelling of hewed logs which then stood on the .site of the present Sisters' Home of the St. Stephens Roman Catholic Church. Wm. Barker, Sr., was a bachelor, and at his death, his brother, Geo. Barker, became the owner of his Glenwood property. In the 70's, another story was added to the old stone cottage and the entire building remodelled. The lower story, or original cottage, is of irregular stone, and the second story frame. Some rooms were added in the rear, and these also are frame. In recent years, a, sun parlor has been added to the front of the house. So modern is it in appearance that a casual observer would never guess the age of the main part of the building, in which the stone walls are very thick, and the window seats very wide. Originally, there was a fine orchard in front of the house. Upon the death of George Barker Sr., his son, Wm. H. Barker, purchased the Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 50 interests of the other heirs, and since that time this building, No. 5641 Second Avenue, has been his home. George Barker, a brother of Wm. H. Barker, owned a large tract of land between Second and Glenwood Avenues and Trenton Avenue and Elizabeth Street, which he eventually sold off. The oldest residents of Glenwood, at the present time, are Wm. H. Barker and his neighbor, Wm. Cox, who resides at No. 5647 Second Avenue. Glenwood Grove was a well-known pleasure resort for many years. It extended from the present Elizabeth Street to about where the round house of the B. & O. R. R. now stands, on the level bottom land below the present Second Avenue. Under the beautiful shade trees of this grove were held many picnics and other celebrations. There was a dancing pavilion, and parties of young folks drove out from the city to the popular resort. In the early 80's, the B. & O. R. R. built their round house and shops here, the trees were all cut down, and now Glenwood Grove is but a memory in the minds of old residents. The grove covered originally, about five acres. [Photo] Same house, as it looks now. It is the oldest house in Glenwood, and is the home of Mr. Wm. H. Barker, No. 5641 Second Avenue. Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 51 CHAPTER IV (Miscellaneous) Transportation Facilities The traveling facilities of early times were limited. The people living on Scotch Bottoms and Squirrel Hill were farmers and many kept carriages for family use. Others had neither horses nor carriages, and thought nothing of walking long distances. In the 30's, little steamboats began running regularly between Pittsburgh and McKeesport. James Hendrickson, first burgess of McKeesport, operated a line of small packets for years in this trade, and these boats proved a great convenience to people living on Scotch Bottoms. The fare to the city was fifty cents, and the boats took freight also,, at a moderate charge. In 1841, Locks and Dams Nos. 1 and 2 were completed by the Monongahela Navigation Company. This provided a good stage of water for the packets at all seasons of the year. Prior to that, they were compelled to lay up, during low water seasons. In 1844, this company completed their works to Brownsville, and larger packets were used. The Braddocks Field Plank Road Company was incorporated in 1850, and stock to the amount of 1,600 shares offered for subscription, by commissioners Thos. M. Howe, Wm. Eichbaum, E. D. Gazzam, James Ross, Jr., and others. Henry Woods, of Hazelwood, subscribed $10,000 to the stock of the company, and became one of its managers. Several prominent Pittsburgh attorneys, Thos. Williams, Robt. Robb and A. W. Loomis were interested in building this road, as was also James Buchanan, at that time the owner of the Braddocks Field farm. Although the farms on the right bank of the Monongahela were among the finest in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, yet they had not been sold off for suburban home sites because "the people, for years, have had one of the worst roads to travel to be found in the United States." (1) Work was begun in 1850 and by June, 1851, the road was completed to Brown's Coal Works, although the approach to the road at the city line, from the pavement on Second Street (Second Avenue), was still rugged and disagreeable, but the city had authorized the Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 52 grading of the street. Already; "the benefits of the road begin to manifest themselves in the enhanced value of adjacent lands and in the springing up of tasteful dwellings, rural retreats for the smoke-dried citizens of Pittsburgh." (2) Beginning at the city line, near Lock No. 1, the new road extended up the right bank of the Monongahela through Hazelwood and Glenwood farms and the Braddocks Field farm to Turtle Creek, and thence up that creek to the Pittsburgh and Greensburg Turnpike. Its total length was 11 1/2 miles. The roadway was constructed on a liberal scale, and preserved, by means of culverts and embankments, an admirable uniformity of grade throughout, not departing in any part more than two feet in a horizontal line. The track was double, and there were deep ditches on either side to keep it dry. The necessary bridges and culverts along its course were strongly constructed. The plank used were hemlock from Clarion River, up the Allegheny. The Pittsburgh officials sent Major Rowley, street commissioner, with a force of men to fill up and render passable the city approach to the road, and in June, 1851, work was progressing here, Major Rowley stating that he did not expect to leave until he had made his work complete. (3) In Sept. 1851, the road was open for use for its entire length. It formed a fine route for the omnibus lines. An advertisement (4) Sept. 22, 1851, read as follows: "An Omnibus will leave the west corner of the Diamond (Pittsburgh), for Braddocks Fields, Port Perry, Turtle Creek and intermediate places, at 9:30 A. M. and 4 P. M. Leave Nine Mile Run at 7:30 A. M. and 3 P. M. M. and J. Breidenthal, Agents." Messrs. Breidenthal placed a steam ferry boat in operation at the old Six Mile Ferry, to bring over passengers from the other side of the river, and had good landings made on each side of the river for this boat. Frequently excursions by omnibus were made over the road, such as that advertised to take place July 24, 1853, on the large omnibus Seventy-Six, leaving Pittsburgh at 9 o'clock A. M. and proceeding to Brown's Hotel, Turtle Creek. The return trip was made in the evening. Fare, round trip, fifty cents. Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 53 The effect of the building of this road was immediate. Many persons began seeking home sites along its course, and the prediction was made that "Before another year passes by, every desirable spot between the city and Braddocks Fields will be bought up for private residences." (5) A traveler who passed over it at the time it was completed said: "The whole road, for a pleasant drive, can scarcely be surpassed in the country. All it wants are a few more picturesque and tasteful residences along the line, such as Mr. (John J.) Roggen has erected on the bank of the Monongahela, which does credit to his taste and enterprise." (6) The course of the road, in Hazelwood, was about where Chatsworth Avenue is now located. In Glenwood, its course was about where the porches of the first houses on the upper side of the present Second Avenue, below the Glenwood Bridge, are now. The grade of Second Avenue is much lower than that of the Braddocks Field Road. As time passed, the plank on the Braddocks Field Road wore out and were not replaced, except by loads of cinders, etc., for the Pittsburgh & Connellsville Railroad had been completed and was too strong a competitor. The paving of Second Avenue, the first time, was not completed until the 70's. Another great factor in the development and settlement of the Hazelwood and Glenwood farms was the construction of the Pittsburgh & Connellsville Railroad. The part of this road between Pittsburgh and Connellsville was opened on Oct. 10, 1861, and the great event was appropriately celebrated. (7) On that part of the road between the cities of Connellsville, Pa., and Cumberland, Md., the last rail of the track was laid at 3 o'clock P. M., Monday, April 10, 1871. In December, 1875, the Pittsburgh & Connellsville Railroad was leased by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, since which time it has been operated as a part of the B. & O. R. R. system. (8) The stations of the Pittsburgh & Connellsville Railroad along the right bank of the Monongahela, when it first went into operation, were as follows: Birmingham Bridge (Tenth Street Bridge); Soho (Brady Street); Copper Works (C. G. Hussey & Co.); Lin- Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 54 den (Linden Steel Works, not far from the mouth of the present Bates Street); Frankstown (name of little settlement near Messrs. Frank & Wormser's glass factory); Laughlin Station; Elba (near works of Elba Iron & Bolt Company, not far from mouth of Greenfield Avenue); Marion Station (named for Gen. Francis Marion); Hazelwood; Grove Station, near Elizabeth Street and Glenwood Grove); and Glenwood Station, the last before arriving at the site of the present Glenwood Bridge. Horse car lines came into operation in Pittsburgh in 1859. The first line operated out Second Avenue was to the South Side. It was known, in 1870, as the Pittsburgh & Ormsby Passenger Railway Line. Later the stock of this company was acquired by the Pittsburgh & Birmingham Railway Company. The river was crossed over the Birmingham Bridge, now called the Tenth Street Bridge. The first horse car line operated on Second Avenue, beyond the present Tenth Street Bridge, was started and carried on by Thomas Fawcett and his two sons. Mr. Fawcett was the owner of a tract of land near the present Keystone Works of Jones & Laughlin, and adjoining the Craft farm. Fawcett's horse car line went into operation in the 70's. The station or car barn, was a little frame building or shed, on the lower side of Second Avenue, near Jones & Laughlin's Keystone Works. An omnibus line from Glenwood and Hazelwood connected with the horse car line, at the car barn. From the time of the completion of the Braddocks Field Plank Road, omnibus lines had run more or less regularly between Pittsburgh and Hazelwood and Glenwood. As time passed and the plank wore out, this road became very bad, and was as bad or worse than any country road. The story is told by an old citizen that at the Pittsburgh Gas Company's plant (near the present Bates Street) there was such a hole in the road that a horse which had been overcome and fallen dead in his tracks was buried in the hole and earth filled in over his remains, and that this did not any more than level up the road. Jos. F. D. Keating, in the late 50's was conducting the Keating tavern, corner of the present Longsworth Street and Second Avenue, and Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 55 was the proprietor of the omnibus line. He employed as careful drivers as he could find, but sometimes there were accidents. On one occasion, Keating's omnibus turned over at Four Mile Run, something having broken about the vehicle. Men swore and women and children screamed but no one was seriously injured. The weather was bitterly cold, and the passengers were nearly frozen before the omnibus was righted and repaired sufficiently to proceed on its way. The operation of the horse car line out Second Avenue probably began at the time that street was first paved, in the 70's. About the time the first electric street railway went into operation, Second Avenue was again paved, and in 1923, the Pittsburgh Street Railways Company repaved that portion of their track through Hazelwood and Glenwood. The city's part of this work is now about completed. The first successful electric street car line in Pittsburgh was the Pleasant Valley Line, opened in 1889. Cars proceeded from the city over the Ninth Street Bridge into Allegheny City. (9) The system used was that of Frank J. Sprague; the cars being operated from a central plant, with an overhead trolley of Mr. Sprague's invention. By a contract with the officers of the company, Mr. Sprague came to Pittsburgh and superintended the installation of his system, which was already in successful operation in Richmond, Va. Other Pittsburgh companies at once began modernizing their street railways. The men who took an active part in the development of the Second Avenue electric street railway line were Jas. D. Callery, Jas. C. Reilly, Wm. J. Burns and Thos. S. Bigelow. They had control of the old horse car line owned by Thomas Fawcett, and also the omnibus line to Hazelwood and Glenwood. In March, 1890, the Second Avenue line began operating cars by electricity, from the city to Glenwood, where the car barn was located, the fare being ten cents. The first General Superintendent of the line was Wm. J. Burns. The first manager, John Murphy, lived in a large two-story brick dwelling still standing, the first house on the upper side of Second Avenue below Glenwood Bridge. The occasion of the appearance of the first electric street car in Hazelwood and Glen- Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 56 wood was a time of great excitement. It did not run smoothly as the cars do now, but made a noise like a threshing machine, and spat electric sparks from the trolley above and the rails beneath. There had been considerable talk of the havoc to be created among the birds which alighted on the wires, charged with electricity. One Hazelwood boy (10) pursued that first street car for a great distance, watching for the birds to fall to the ground dead, but the expected event never occurred. Successful from the beginning, the Second Avenue, street car line was extended on up the right bank of the Monongahela to Braddock and other points, and this line was operated for about twenty years, when the extension was discontinued. The Glenwood Bridge was built, and the line extended across it to Homestead, Duquesne and McKeesport. A plate on the end of this bridge bears the inscription: "Glenwood Highway Bridge, 1895. Erected by the Penn Bridge Company, of Beaver Falls, Pa. A. L. Schultz, Chief Engineer." To reimburse the company for the expenditure of erection, tolls are charged to foot passengers and vehicles. Upon the erection of Glenwood Bridge, the old Six Mile Ferry was discontinued. Frederick P. Lynch was operating the ferry, before it ceased operations. Old citizens of Hazelwood and Glenwood can remember, before the first B. & O. R. R. Bridge was built, some distance above the present Glenwood Bridge, in the 80's, that trains were ferried across the Monongahela River on big transfer boats, towed by steamboats. The old Ella Layman was one of the steamboats used for this purpose. The second B. & O. R. R. Bridge was built some years ago, the first having worn out. The first electric car line through that part of the Fifteenth Ward included in the Squirrel Hill district was the Duquesne Traction Company line, owned by C. L. Magee, Wm. Flinn and Joshua Rhodes. Its course was out Forbes Street, through the Squirrel Hill section, down Nine Mile Run to Brown's Bridge, across this bridge into Homestead, thence along the left bank of the river to Duquesne and across the Riverton Bridge into McKeesport. The time it went into operation, beyond the Squirrel Hill district, is definitely fixed by the date of completion of Brown's Bridge, Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 57 which was in 1895. This bridge was built by Capt. S. S. Brown, at an approximate cost of $300,000, and was purchased from his heirs by the Allegheny County commissioners and opened to the free use of the public, June 17, 1915. It had been a toll bridge up to that time. The United Traction Company was chartered July 27, 1896, and absorbed the Second Avenue street car line, along with several others. The Consolidated Traction Company was chartered July 24, 1895, and absorbed the Duquesne Traction Company, and some other lines. In 1898, the Philadelphia Company acquired control of the United Traction Company, and soon afterward also of the holdings of the Consolidated Traction Company and other lines. The name, Pittsburgh Street Railways Company, (which is still owned and controlled by the Philadelphia Company) was adopted Dec. 21, 1901, and on Jan. 1, 1902, this company assumed control of the entire system of street railways in the Pittsburgh and Allegheny district. CHURCHES The Christian Church is said to have been the first founded in Hazelwood. A number of persons came here from the First Christian Church of Allegheny, and in 1868 founded the Hazelwood Christian Church. The first pastor was Rev. O. A. Bartholomew, and the church, at Hazelwood Avenue and Blair Street, was built soon afterward. In 1918, the church property was bought by the Jones & Laughlin Steel Company, and the congregation, for two years, worshiped in rooms in the Hazelwood Trust Company Building. Among former pastors of this church may be mentioned Reverends Norton, Wilcox, Slade, Marshall, Pendleton, Stivers, lams. The pastors, after 1900, were Reverends A. E. Ziegler, E. W. Thornton, H. H. Clark, W. G. Winn, T. B. Imhoff, C. W. Berry, E. B. Quick and G. J. Daniels. On Jan. 1, 1921, the Rev. Wm. H. Long became pastor of this church, which then had a membership of 105 persons. He immediately began a campaign for the erection of a new church building. The cornerstone of the new church, Glencaldah and Gertrude Streets, Hazelwood, was laid Sept. 1, 1921, and it was dedicated Sunday, Jan. 13, 1923, there being then a membership of 220 persons. A bell Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 58 which was taken from the tower of the old Allegheny County Courthouse, when that building was razed, was used on the old Christian Church building, at Hazelwood Avenue and Blair Street. It was used for years to ring the curfew in Hazelwood, and sound fire alarms. This bell was removed, when the old church was sold, and now occupies the belfry in the new church. The cost of the new church was $65,000, and its seating capacity is about 500 persons. (11) "The Hazelwood Presbyterian Church was organized July 21, 1869, in the old schoolhouse, corner Second Avenue and Tecumseh Street, by Rev. Dr. McKinney, President of Home Missions, with 21 charter members. The first Session meeting was held in the schoolhouse, Sept. 12, 1869. On Sept. 4, 1869, a lot was purchased, and contract let, for the first church building, located at the corner of Lytle and Longsworth Streets. The first Session meeting held in the new church occurred at 5:30, July 8, 1870. Present were the moderator, Rev. J. S. Stuchell and Elders Benjamin Thompson and M. W. Rankin. The pastors who preached in the first Hazelwood Presbyterian Church were Revs. J. S. Stuchell, D. K. Nesbit, S. J. Plumer and W. W. Faris. During Dr. Faris' pastorate, a more commodious building was erected; also a chapel on Greenfield Avenue. At the annual congregational meeting, on March 17, 1896, the committee appointed to solicit funds for a new building reported pledges amounting to $9,242.50. A committee was appointed to proceed in the building of a plant, not to exceed $15,9004 A farewell service was held in the old church, May 10, 1896. The congregation then worshiped, until the new church was finished, at 3 o'clock P. M., in the Ames M. E. Church. The new building was completed and dedicated March 14, 1897. Forty-nine members were granted letters of dismissal, May 5, 1897, in order that the Greenfield Mission might become a separate church. Besides Dr. Faris, the ministers, during the second church's history were Revs. John M. Gaston, Herbert Heslep, U. W. McMillan, Leon Stewart and H. C. Hutchison. The second church property was sold to Jones & Laughlin Steel Co., in May, 1918. The congregation continued their services on the third floor of the Hazelwood Savings & Trust building Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 59 until Jan. 9, 1921. At a called meeting of the congregation, Aug. 17, 1919, the building committee was instructed to proceed to erect a suitable church, the cornerstone of which was laid Sunday, Nov. 23, 1919. The present edifice, Johnston Avenue, was used for regular services Sunday, Jan. 9, 1921, its total cost being in the neighborhood of $75,000. The auditorium has a seating capacity of 300 and the Sunday School Chapel with four class rooms, has a seating capacity of 250. On the same floor are a pastor's study and choir room. In the basement there are Primary and Beginner's rooms, Men's and Ladies' Class Rooms, and a modern kitchen and gymnasium, which is used for all social activities of the various organizations of the church." (12) A Mission of the Episcopal Church was established at Glenwood about 1868, by Messrs. Hill Burgwin, Jacob W. Paul, W. C. Macrum. John C. Cox, Wm. Cowen, and others, and services were held first in the little frame school house, corner of Second Avenue and Tecumseh Street, by various rectors from the city. The first church building was the little frame church (still standing next to the rectory, lower side of Second Avenue opposite the present church) on land donated by Mrs. Thos. S. Blair and her brother, Mr. Wm. L. Dike, and the children of Mrs. Mary E. Johnston, about 1869. The Parish was organized at a meeting held Feb. 14, 1872, and a charter was granted a few months later. On June 8, 1872, Rev. T. L. Bellam was elected rector. He resigned June 2, 1874. Subsequently, services were held in the church by rectors from the city churches, principally by Rev. H. W. Spaulding, rector of St. Peter's Church, until the election as pastor of Rev. W. F. Dickinson. He resigned Jan. 22, 1879, whereupon Rev. W. R. McKay, rector of St. Peter's Church, took charge and continued in charge until the election of Rev. Douglass C. Peabody, Feb. 9, 1880. Mr. Peabody resigned Jan. 8, 1886, and was succeeded by Rev. H. D. Waller, in June, 1886. Mr. Waller resigned May 1, 1889, and in September, 1889, the Rev. A. D. Heffern was elected. It was during his term of service as rector that the new stone building, known as the Church of the Good Shepherd, corner of Second and Johnston Avenues, was erected. In June, 1900, Mr. Heffern resigned, and was succeeded in Early History of the Fifteenth Ward, City of Pittsburgh 60 November, 1900, by Rev. Geo. W. Eccles, who resigned in 1901. Rev. A. Alexander became rector in February, 1902, and resigned in Aug., 1914. The Rev. Henry D. Drew became rector in September, 1914, and resigned in November, 1920. In Jan., 1921, Rev. F. S. Gray was elected rector. The name of the Church of the Good Shepherd is most appropriate, as its site was the sheep fold, when hundreds of sheep roamed over the hillsides in this vicinity. (13) The Ames M. E. Church, of Hazelwood, was one of Hazelwood's early churches and the large building, comer Second Avenue and Lowrie (now Longsworth) Street was built. In 1918, this church property was sold to the firm of Jones & Laughlin, and the congregation built a frame chapel on Flowers Avenue, which was used for some time. The cornerstone of a handsome new brick church edifice was laid May 27, 1923. On Sunday, Dec. 23, 1923, the dedicatory services of the new Ames Methodist Episcopal Church, on Trenton Avenue, were held. Seven former pastors were present, and made addresses. Their names are Revs. W. S. Lockard, J. F. Murray, W. S. Mansell, A. C. Saxman, C. T. Thompson, G. L. C. Richardson, and F. A. Richards. Rev. J. F. Sparling, pastor of the church, presided. The new church cost $75,000. Its auditorium seats 500, the chapel 300, and there are numerous class and social rooms besides. (14) St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church, corner Second Avenue and Elizabeth Street, was completed in 1872. It was formally dedicated May 7, 1783. Rev. Patrick T. Ward founded this parish, and the pastors who followed him were Revs. John Ward, Stephen Wall, Martin Ryan, and Daniel J. Devlin. Father Devlin took charge of this parish in 1879, and is still in office, the membership of the church being greatly increased during his long pastorate. In 1893, the St. Stephen's Parochial school building, of six rooms, was completed, on the lower side of Second Avenue, near the church building, and the first rectory was built here also. The property of this congregation was sold to the B. & O. R. R., and in 1923 the old church was razed. In 1904, a handsome buff brick church, the largest and finest in this district, was built by this congregation, on the upper ************************ NOTE: This book is divided into 3 files, of which this is the second. The other two files are: http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/history/local/kussart1-30.txt http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/history/local/kussart61-90.txt