Hey anyone who knows about the history of Pittsburgh, a little help

[JohnKleeb]

I have known for years that my grandmother grew up in Pittsburgh but I found out recently that she grew up near what became Three Rivers Stadium. Does anyone know the economic conditions of that area in the 1910's-1920's, thanks, like was it a working class, middle class, area, etc. Thanks again.

[VioletLake]

1. I think that area was working class, but you should do some

research.

Here's what it looks like now:

[JohnKleeb]

3. Maybe this will be of some help

I think my great grandfather was some kind of building maintence engineer for a high rise building. Where can I research this? Looks like a pretty area but I bet it was way more industrial back then.

[VioletLake]

6. Here you go, lazy boy. ;)

Here's a good place to start:

http://www.clpgh.org/exhibit/neighborhoods/northside/nor_n4.html

[JohnKleeb]

8. interesting

[FloridaPat]

18. Where the stadium is was once the Heinz Pickle factory. We use

to go there for tours when I was in grade school. One the river was a huge barge that never went anywhere. Very rusty and empty for decades. That area was basically a factory, industry area in the 50's and 60's.

[JVS]

19. Umm, are you sure. There is a heinz factory slightly up river from...

where the stadiums are now, perhaps that's the one you're thinking of

Here it is

[FloridaPat]

22. And I thought that was why they named it Heinz stadium. So they

didn't tear it down! Do they still have tours?

I do know the barge was there because I was on it once. Right across from the park. Really ugly thing. Lots of ugly buildings and barges over there.

Thanks for the update!

[JVS]

23. They named it heinz stadim because the Heinz company paid them $57,000,000

to do so.

I don't know if they still give tours. I have a few pickle pins from when my mom used to work there in the 80s

[FloridaPat]

24. I remember them well. We had some family friends who owned

the old Heinz home. Can't even remember where it was. We left Pittsburgh when I was 15. Worst day of my life. Got back there a couple of years ago. Turned out to be a beautiful city.

[JVS]

2. Pretty nice neighborhood IIRC, no big factories were there

Mostly houses of mid-level business people who wanted short walks to down-town

[JohnKleeb]

4. I thought so

I always suspected she had a middle class background, not Carnagie wealthy but not like my other grandparents who grew up poor.

[JVS]

5. Here's a map. Oops, left it out

Allegheny Center and Allegheny West were quite posh neighborhoods with a large park in the center that is still there today. North Shore and Chateau are harder to peg down because between the building of the highway, community college and stadiums, not too much is left over. There are some houses, which are row-houses, but by no means were they originally slums.

http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/cp/maps/district6.html

edit: sorry forgot map

[JohnKleeb]

9. Hmmmmm interesting

[JVS]

13. I forgot to post the link

http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/cp/maps/district6.html

[JohnKleeb]

14. Oh thanks

[FloridaPat]

7. The Point was lower class area. It flooded very often. I think they

finally cleared it out after a big flood.

The rivers had been shallow and after they dredged it out, the flooding didn't happen as often. I think they were 4-5 feet deep. It's been a long time since I read about Pittsburgh history.

As for the other side of the river, don't remember hearing much about that.

[JohnKleeb]

11. Thanks, I really dont have a clue what she was

because in the eulogy today it was mentioned that my grandfather was the son of a successful businessman and my grandmother was from a different side of the tracks.

[JohnnyRingo]

10. Nobody knocks down mansions and condos to build sports arenas

It's usually a way to eliminate public housing and force relocation.

[JohnKleeb]

12. So you are saying that this was likely a more poor area?

She lived there in the 1910's, 1920's but not in the great depression era, she married my grandfather in the middle of it.

[JVS]

15. 3 rivers was built in the late 60's

An upper middle-class neighborhood can take a big dive in 50 years. Especially with the dawn of the automobile, which allowed the moderately wealthy to commute

[JohnKleeb]

16. That is true

I think my great grandfather was retiring by the time the automobile got popular though. My grandmother was the youngest of four kids.

[JohnnyRingo]

17. It's on the river

I live within a hundred miles of there...But I'm not that old.
There isn't much residential real estate in that neighborhood these days.

[JohnnyRingo]

20. Here's a good place to start:

http://digital.library.pitt.edu/pittsburgh/

[JohnKleeb]

21. THanks