I live in Steubenville, Ohio. About 30 miles from Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is still a power house, but sadly overlooked. There are world class hospitals, m.d.s, universities, restaurants, museums, the Gateway Clpper fleet, the zoo ect. We come from the west and go through the Fort Pitt. tunnel, as soon as you emerge from the tunnel there she is...it's a spectacular sight in all her glory!
It's fun being in the car with someone who has never been to Pittsburgh and emerging from the Ft Pitt tunnels. POW! The city just magically teleports in front of you. I can't think of any other city that does this.
Clayton has always been my favorite. For a while, I lived across the street on Penn Ave. and took many walks to enjoy its amazing beauty. Fortunately, for all of us, it is still there.
This is because Pittsburgh was the city that built every other city. There would be no skyscrapers in NYC if not for Pittsburgh making all that steel. By the time Pittsburgh was undercut by foreign steel markets, all of our US cities were already established and buildings were built.
Crazy that Pittsburgh was considered the wild western frontier in early American history. Tar and feathering tax collectors in protest in what would later be called the Whiskey Rebellion
I’m a fourth generation Pittsburgher and I couldn’t have done this any better. Spectacular research and cogent details. Bravo, Ken. Such a fun effort is this and all!
Some of the houses off of fifth avenue are still there as Chatham University's dorm rooms and offices. Andrew Mellon's house that is now offices and connected to the dining hall, was connected to them by tunnels that are now caved in.
Chatham has a music and arts summer camp that has some of its classes in the old university mansions. When I went there in the late 90s, the camp pool was in the basement of Andrew Mellon’s mansion. They’ve since built a new pool, but nothing beat walking through the mansion.
@@LaurenWinkler Indeed. In addition to attending the camp one summer, when I was was in high school, I took my lifesaving course (from my mother!) in the pool in the Mellon house. I absolutely loved swimming there. Unfortunately, they have now covered it over and turned the space into a lecture hall. Such a shame, because it was so stunning.
As a lifelong Pittsburgher, this is the episode I’ve been waiting for! Thanks! I went to middle school a block from Clayton and visited it growing up. I’m also partial to the Mellon mansion, since the area is a popular park now, and love the mansions that have become university buildings at Chatham University. I’ve always wanted to see where Andrew Carnegie lived in Pittsburgh. If you can find info, I’d love to see it.
Andrew Carnegie's last home in Pittsburgh before he moved to New York was his mansion called Fairfield. It belonged to Andrew's brother Thomas and his widow Lucy until 1919; Fairfield was bought that year by C. J. Holleman who tore down the mansion and converted the property to a housing development called Carnegie Manor; the current Carnegie Place in Point Breeze runs through the property where Fairfield stood. The carriage house is reportedly all that remains of Fairfield, and it is now a private residence on Carnegie Place.
The topography of Pittsburgh has always fascinated me. Having a point on the peninsula for downtown with all the freeway bridges always looks interesting.
The topology combined with the very sectioned off neighborhoods makes for a unique city. Grids are only found atop the hills for the most part and the winding connections and one way roads are confusing for many visitors. An expected result from basically building on top of cliffs, hills and ravines along 3 rivers.
Trust me when i say this, when its 6pm rush hour traffic and you're stuck on Fort Pitt Bridge bumper to bumper, there is nothing fascinating or interesting.🤣😂🤣 ty for the love tho
@@kross8471 ... people need to learn to weave/zipper better on the under portion of the bridge. Traffic would go much faster if people were patient on the bridge. I was was on it tonight, I ended up letting at least 10 various cars cut over the lanes from left to right.
Good memories of Pgh. from the late 80's. Spent Saturday and Sunday afternoons walking around Shadyside and Squirrel Hill admiring the old houses and trying to clear my head. If I were to revisit the USA, this city will be on my list.
Pittsburgh was quite nice. My first visit there was in 1980. I spent a lot of time there ever since. In 1986 I moved a friend's family to one of those millionaire row homes. We really couldn't believe he was moving there... Until he told us he only paid $250,000 for it. Today, that house is worth $3,000,000, and my friend's dad was only in that house for 4 years from '86 to '90. Then he moved back to Erie. His son and I were on the billy blanks Tae Kwon Do fighring team together, and we fought tournaments together, in Pittsburgh and in Erie, and Akron, and Youngsville.
Roughly a 7% increase in value per year, which is a modest annual improvement over inflation. I'm surprised that, if 250k was cheap back then, it isn't worth 10m today.
I grew up in Southwest Pennsylvania and every year at Christmas every elementary school student in the Laurel Highlands (about an hour east of Pgh) received a small gift from the Mellon family. Generally a small clothing item, but always something useful... They were giving back to the community that supported them, back in the 60s. Sorry most elites forgot their Noblesse Obligé these days.
As a Pittsburgh resident since i was 9 months old, this city's very underrated. I'm happy that this popped up on my recommended feed because i don't see too many videos on it. I grew up (and currently still live) in Penn Hills, which is about 30 minutes from downtown. I remember as a kid in girl scouts and also even now on my work commute, i've gone past the Mellon mansion, and have toured the Frick mansion. Based off of the stories my dad has told me, Pittsburgh has a very rich history and is home to a lot of Polish folks. I've only ever lived here and i don't think i've seen a more culturally diverse city Thank you for making this video, i've never seen anything like it before covering all of the amazing historical parts of this city💙
After watching this I had to look up more info about Heinz. What an interesting man. And I also googled White, Thaw and Nesbit, thank you! That became an interesting rabbit hole! I love obscure history. So many of the same people are always talked about and it’s nice discovering new historical people
I grew up in Sharpsburg right across from his original house. Used to play in that yard . No one ever went to it as a historical site. Mostly just used by kids. Somehow I don't think he'd mind that. Many snowmen lived there.
There's a movie about the White/Thaw/Nesbit affair, made in 1955, called The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing. It doesn't really add much info that you can't learn elsewhere, but it's interesting as one of Joan Collins' first leading roles. A 22-year-old Collins played Evelyn Nesbit.
And fewer still can imagine the problems within. Like no HVAC systems, rusted out and inadequate plumbing. lack of insulation, dangerously antiquated wiring, chimneys and other brickwork in bad need of repointing and many other hazards that are between the walls or floors and therefore can't be seen. Rebuilding a house is 30% more expensive than new construction. Completely rewiring and replumbing one of these houses is just the beginning. The bathrooms and kitchen would have to be completely refurbished a fire sprinkler system and laundry room added. One would need a 7 figure budget just to make it livable. When completed the utility and insurance costs would require the owner to have an income worthy of a mention in Forbes.
I lived in Shadyside from 1990-1992 with my (at that time) 2 young Sons. Nearly every year, we take a drive through Pittsburgh & make sure we always stop at "Little's Shoe Store" in Squirrel Hill & Kennywood. Such happy memories we have of living in Pittsburgh!! : )
Terrific video, Ken! What a pleasure to see so many houses. My favorite here is the Heinz mansion. Thank you for all the time and work that goes into this and the others also. As I was watching I was reminded of a novel that you and your viewers might enjoy. It's "The Valley of Decision" by Marcia Davenport, published in 1944. It's about how a young Irish girl becomes a maid in the home of a wealthy Pittsburgh family in the 1870's and of how the story of her family and of the family she works for become connected over the years and up to the early days of World War II. "The Valley of Decision" is an excellent book that is still good reading today. Part of it deals with the winter during which the ice up in the mountains that was holding back the water of the river gave way during a thaw and the water came crashing into the city. Cary Grant was in the movie version of the novel. Marcia Davenport ten years later published "My Brother's Keeper" inspired by the tragic Collyer brothers in New York City who died in their hoard-filled mansion. It's another excellent book that accurately shows how hoarding starts and what it does to people a little at a time and it was written before much serious study was done on the subject.
I was born in Pittsburgh. My dad was the second Dean of the School of Pharmacy at Duquesne. We left when I was three but I have always loved the stories of Pittsburgh. "The Valley of Decision" remains my favorite book of all time. I won't even say how many times I've read it! I also recommend "Brothers and Keepers" by John Edgar Wideman, As you most likely know, he and his brother grew up in Pittsburgh. John Wideman is a renowned professor and author; his brother was incarcerated for murder.
I grew up in Point Breeze and my family owned 3 different homes there. One was built on on the former Greenlawn mansion, Heinz estate, land at Penn and S. Lang. My favorite home was on S. Lang Avenue with a beautiful round turret. I met Helen Frick once after playing on the Clayton Estate grounds.
I can't believe I lived in Pittsburgh and didn't know some of this! I think the city has definitely made a comeback. I loved living there and it's now been nationally ranked as one of the best cities to move to.
Thanks so much for including the image of the Moreland-Hofstot mansion. When I was living in Pittsburgh I got to know Henry Hofstot well, and was a guest at the house many times. It's one thing to see the exterior facades, but another thing completely to get to move through the interior spaces and marvel at the craftsmanship of this incredible home.
I use to live in Pittsburgh and have visited many of those homes and read books about the history of Pittsburgh. Plus, the John’s Town flood is closely related to many of the millionaires from Pittsburgh. All those millionaires were members of the Johnstown Hunting & Fishing club, located above the Johnstown dam.
The Johnstown flood and Andrew Carnegie’s involvement in it was I think one of the main reasons for his philanthropy He felt guilty for not doing his part for not maintaining the Southfork dam.
These videos always make me homesick for the 'Burgh. I'm living behind Confederate lines in Tennessee now but I always tell people that although I live in Tennessee, I'm still a Pittsburgher through and through.
@@PraveenSrJ01 Grew up next door to you in Penn Hills. I spent more time than I care to remember in Monroeville Mall on the weekends as a teenager in the 80's.
When I was a student at CMU I lived in three different small apartments in the McCook house on 5th ave. It has now been restored and renovated into The Mansions on 5th boutique hotel but for for several decades it was owned by the Bonavita family and operated as a boarding house for CMU students. It was a truly amazing place to live.
Love the ketchup reference! I have a Heinz Mr. Tomato alarm clock, lol. And yes, Heinz was kind to his employees, exceedingly so for the day. But George Westinghouse, another Pittsburgher also did wonderful things for his workers as well. Look him up!
I know comparison photos are difficult to come by, but I thought seeing what these properties look like now was always interesting. You have been able to show that comparison in a couple vids that I remember. I love your content. Thanks for all you do.
@8:56 “scarce remaining architecture”? lol The wealth of architecture in Pittsburgh is a strong point when compared to other cities. That’s why so many movies are filmed here.
Excellent job!! I have lived in pgh my entire life... I am a pgh history buff big time... I was just at Frick yesterday lol... thank you for this great video
There is a mansion on the north side that faces the park. A single millionaire woman had it built. I can't remember her name. Maybe you could have fun finding out who she was? Good luck
@@gieb6428 Is it the three story stone mansion on the corner? If so, I toured that house one Christmas many years ago... It was stunning... elevator and all... At that time it was occupied by a single dad of three boys... I'm going to do some looking around on her... Thanks
Thank you for this wonderful video. A missing bit of information is when the Mellon mansion was torn down, the materials were given to a Catholic parish in New Kensington, Pa. Mount St. Peter Catholic Church still stands and is one of the most beautiful and unique churches in the area. All made from the Mellon mansion!
Growing up in Pittsburgh your school could arrange a field trip to the Heinz factory, no charge and you seen the gigantic soup pots operating, canning, boxing, everything with a guide to answer questions, it was Marvelous. When done everybody would go to a huge cafeteria for a free hot free meal og their products Corn, Beans soup, mashedpotatoes etc, what everybody waited for the whole day was to receive your Pickle Badge, it was a small plastic pickle with Heinz nane in center a gold small pin on back, grade school high school everybody wait to get one, a Really Fond Memory for a kid, now a senior, Thank You, Heinz 57 👍👍
Did you ever wonder about Gerber? I think that was Pittsburgh based as well. I worked with a girl who was marrying into the Gerber family, and I mentioned this to my Mom who was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and she sounded impressed when I told her this info. Gerber fed a lot of American infants last century, and it's a part of American culture, sort of like those who were brought up drinking wine in France. But I did not know Heinz also made Mustard. I am always reminded of this fact when I pass thru the mustard section in the grocery stores. Going back to Gerber, you will see a lot of home movies of kids eating a Gerber meal on the old 8mm silent films parents kept. Those films are treasured, and can never be replaced. Of course, if you put them on a DVD disc!
Yes, Greensburg has some beautiful architecture, and many small businesses downtown, all within walking distance. I just discovered the Caffeinated Cat 🐈
When I grew up in Pittsburgh we were still considered a major city. The 3 largest headquarters cities were New York,Chicago, and Pittsburgh- the perfect triangle. The money here was staggering; we had it all:iron,steel, coal,coke,glass, aluminum. Now, it is all gone.
The east end area.. like shadyside, Lawrenceville, etc… is a time capsule. I’ve spent years doing rehabs and maintenance work on buildings in that area. The yards are filled with old bottles and other stuff they considered trash back in the early 1900’s. I’ve also pulled old newspapers out of walls, dating back to 1904. I personally know of one mansion, that had a safe in the basement. And they had to of placed the safe in there during construction, and then built the rest of the house. Because the dimensions of the safe, and the dimensions of every doorway and staircase leading out. It would’ve been impossible to get the safe out without ripping down walls. After some research, I found out who the original owner was, James Frank Drake.
Grew up in Pittsburgh. I remember sleeping on the porch on hot summer nights and watching the sky turn red from the mills and all of noise coming from the mills. I thought my dad would get me in the mill when I graduated in 1980, he told me the mills are going to shut down so I went in the Navy and returned in 1984. Couldnt find work but landed a job out of state. I wonder if the schools teach local history of Pittsburgh, probably not, it should be required. My mom worked at Heinz in the late 40's and told me how she smelt like vinegar on her street car ride home to Lincoln Place.
@@PraveenSrJ01I felt the nostalgia in this story as did you clearly. But do not be blinded by that. Romanticism aside. Living in Pittsburgh during that time was absolute hell. By far the most polluted city in America at the time.
I like the Moreland-Hoffstot mansion (now apartments) - sort of a mini-Rosecliff. The Morris Kaufmann mansion in Squirrel Hill was another great one. Very good video.
So they did actually turn it into apartments? I recently moved from a few doors away and there were contractors there for a while, but of course it was very quiet as to what they were actually doing.
Amazing. I walked past a few of those buildings nearly everyday and never knew their history. The more I've recently learned about my hometown the more I've come to understand regarding my own life.
Another great video! Love that you covered a wealthy neighborhood this time. You should look into Grosse Pointe outside Detroit. It's where the wealthy automakers built their mansions.
If Pittsburh was in Europe people would travel from far and wide to visit it. Pittsburgh is an extraordinary gem. Its museums alone are worth a visit.P.S. My favorite was John Worthington"s mansion in Squirrel Hill and for a simple reason: I used to live directly across the street from it
Thank you for this lovely feature on the city of my birth and current residence. I grew up and still live right among these fabled mansions, and it's lovely to learn more about the ones that are long gone.
Henry Heinz sounds to be the most impressive man of his time... It is one thing to be a rich company owner, and another thing to care and take care of they're workers.
JL steel mansion in shady side fully renovated. I had the wonderful opportunity to work there. Beautiful grounds with many fountains. The boiler system was unbelievably big. Incredible vaulted ceilings.
The area was beautiful & eclectic!!! Thanks for sharing this exciting video!!! Your right, googling Mr White proved he was a "colorful character indeed"!! 👍👍🙂
I just love how this channel goes into great detail about the different historical mansions in America so cool I love mansions which is what makes this channel so interesting great video and narration! 😊👍🏻
Really enjoyed this video. Of interesting note, significant portions of the dismantled Mellon Mansion were used in the construction of Mount Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Church in New Kensington, PA.
Do you know which parts of the church? Interior or exterior? I live in New Ken. so I'd be interested in seeing it. Also, I lived in Pgh. at one time and visited Mellon Park frequently. A huge garden retaining wall from the original estate still exists there.
Westinghouse also added refrigeration to his home. He was one of the first people to install an ice box or “refrigerator”. Plus, he installed natural gas powered room lights. One day Henry Clay Frick decided to raise the price of “coke” (cooked coal) by 10 cents. Andrew Carnegie became so mad, he never spoke to Frick again. That was the main reason Frick decided to move to New York. In addition, Frick and Carnegie lived close to each other. But after Frick raised the price of the coke, they never spoke to each other.
I’ve lived in Pittsburgh my entire life (50 years). My dad was close friends with some of the Mellon family members. I have only ever heard of a small handful of these historical mansions in the city, even with the close family relationships my father had, so I truly appreciate this!
Ive been in Pittsburgh my entire life, and just recently learned about the King Estate. I don't know a whole lot about the history, but it would have been neat to see it on this video. It was built for Alexander King, the grandfather of Richard Mellon. And it is still currently for sale
Pittsburgh is a great city, great people, great history. Amazing video. Frick’s one house is over in Homestead. It’s a shame they tried to remodel it and ran out of money.
Bay wood is an amazing house, known as the King Estate. You can do a 3d walkthrough of the house online. It has been lovingly restored and is a beauty.
what happened? with the "decline" of the US steel industry, brought on by the owners and corporate finagling of investors, the need and desire to have opulent mansions owned by the very wealthy in the places where they "made their fortunes" on the backs of their employees, also declined. in short they moved outta town...
I’m sure the mansions were completely trolled because of their shoddy business practices. Worms in the wood, too much sand in the concrete, hidden speakers, faulty appliances, etc. The men should have known better. It had already happened in England.
I’ve lived in 7 different cities in 11 years and I moved to Pittsburgh last year for work and holy hell did it surprise me. If you’re going to live in a winter city, think about this one.
Yes, being from McKeesport I can attest to 6-month long winters. Pittsburgh area: One of the top two national regions with the most grey overcast skies. Genuinely nice, hard-working god-fearing family type people.
A few years ago I read 'The Good Provider" which is a very interesting biography on Heinz. Their family home is still in Sharpsburg and is great condition. His mansion was demolished due the the financial responsibility of upkeep. My nephew owns the carriage house which he renovated into apartments. Pittsburgh has so many remaining mansions, but so many were taken down in the name of progress.
My grandparents are part of the grand Pittsburgh mansions. My grandfather's home as a child is a French Restaurant I think in Bloomfield. My grandmother's mansion she grew up in was torn down years ago. Her father was a prominent Judge here in Pittsburgh.
Henry Frick left Pittsburgh because he got into a disagreement with Andrew Carnegie about the increased price of Coke. Carnegie did not want to pay more for Coke and Frick wanted more money for his Coke. After the disagreement, Carnegie & Frick never spoke to each other again.
That isn't correct. He left Pittsburgh for two reasons. The first was that dispute but it wasn't about the price of Coke. When joining Carnegie Steel, Andrew Carnegie had everyone sign an ironclad agreement on the value of their shares. Over time the shares in reality VASTLY appreciated BUT when Frick and Carnegie parted ways, Carnegie only paid him out the value at the original level (costing him hundreds of millions of today's dollars). Frick was also miffed Carnegie let him be blamed for the Homestead strike violence. The other reason was Pittsburgh's horrendous air pollution was essentially dissolving his art collection so he needed to move it. Carnegie did ask Frick later if they could reconcile and speak. Frick replied that they could speak in hell. Tough guy. Survived an assassination attempt wrestling with his attacker after being shot.
Would of bin neat to see the horse buggys running around the neighborhood especially on cold snowy days or the transition to automobiles wonder how they decorated the mansions out side for Christmas lots of interesting stuff to day dream about that's for sure
I haven't visited the Frick house yet, but I have visited the Car and Carriage museum that is part of the Frick museum complex. The Car and Carriage museum shows some astounding early incarnations of the automobile before its general anatomy became set.
I love my city just how it is - a hidden gem. I don’t want us to become like coastal cities where inheritance is the only way to get on the housing ladder.
Living in Pittsburgh, there are still many homes that would be interesting to you. I would check out the book 'Pittsburgh, a Urban Portrait " by Franklin Toker.
From what I'm told (dad was the town historian) Heinz had several mansions in my neighborhood, Aspinwall, and some, if not all of them, are still standing but converted into apartment buildings. A block behind my house is now a baseball field that is technically part of Sharpsburg but that was where the Heinz radish farm was and people in the area from there into Sharpsburg used to complain about the smell of the radishes. There are also still a lot of mansions on the N. Side, mostly near C.C.A.C. where I went to college and some of them are still standing and are either apartment houses or office buildings that belong to the college. Beyers Hall, Jones Hall, West Hall and Huntz Hall. Oops!! No, Huntz was one of the Bowery Boys, "Sach", where I got my nick name when I was in college!
I’ve visited the Frick House. Too bad more of the mansions from the early 1900’s, are not around. At one time, George Westinghouse, Henry Clay Frick, Andrew Carnegie, Henry J Heinz, Andrew Mellon, Kaufman (dry good stores), Phipps, Pitcairn and Schenley. They were all neighbors along 5th Ave or Penn Ave. The homes were close to the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Schenley Park and Phipps Conservatory. Beautiful area of Pittsburgh. I use to live in Pittsburgh several years ago. There is a lots of Revolutionary War history. South Hills are of Pittsburgh has some Whiskey Rebellion history. If you drive closer to the border with Maryland, you will see the actual Mason Dixon Line historical markets, which was the original dividing line between the northern states and southern states prior to the Civil War.
My maternal great-grandfather had a house there.Sadly,it was torn down many years ago,but I remember 3 photos of it that my Mother had.One was of the billiards room,one was of the library,and one was taken at his 50th wedding anniversary dinner.The basement was large enough to hold 200 diners,a full kitchen staff,and a band.Since he owned a bakery,among other businesses, he baked the cake himself.A street in Oakland is named after him and his nrothers,called "Dimling Way".
I grew up in Pittsburg in a small town right outside of the main city. Our home was an old Victorian and it had bay windows, a parlor, fireplace in every bedroom, crown molding, a servants quarters in the attic and a second servants staircase to the kitchen. A lot of old homes in Pittsburg have a certain “grandness” to them. I really miss that style of architecture 💜
Bellevue, right next to Brighton heights and north hills. Our home was very old and beautiful. My parents were very middle class and they bought that home for 100k 30 years ago. I love the house I grew up in, so much character and charm 😊
@@Jordè1222 Awesome! I'm from the same neighborhood (end of North Fremont) I lived in an apartment on Lincoln Avenue across the street from the Rusty Nail when I was in my twenties, too.
interesting video! I spent my teens as a mover in and out of the big name current mansions in Shadyside, Beachwood BLVD, and Fox Chapel, really interesting to see pre WWI wealth. BUt as the narrator said I had to leave in 2011 due to lack of work in my early 20's and moved south, but still love that city!
I enjoy Heinz canned spaghetti in tomato sauce. I am definitely going to carry on enjoying it after hearing what a decent man he was. Thank you for the video!
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I live in Steubenville, Ohio. About 30 miles from Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh is still a power house, but sadly overlooked. There are world class hospitals, m.d.s, universities, restaurants, museums, the Gateway Clpper fleet, the zoo ect. We come from the west and go through the Fort Pitt. tunnel, as soon as you emerge from the tunnel there she is...it's a spectacular sight in all her glory!
30 miles? Not a She
@@gieb6428 sir, what do you mean?
It's fun being in the car with someone who has never been to Pittsburgh and emerging from the Ft Pitt tunnels.
POW! The city just magically teleports in front of you.
I can't think of any other city that does this.
@@protorhinocerator142 you're so ✅️ right!
Omg yes thank you for bringing up the tunnels! They’re so magical
Pittsburgh is the most underrated city in the USA. It's a shame how it has been treated, nice to know it has been slowly coming back.
Democrats ruined pgh
@@kevinrice7635 Not really, the red states below are like developing nations. The Blue states are the only decent states in the USA
@@tnickknight yeah California's got it right...dark blue just for you 💙
@@kevinrice7635 You mean the most successful State in the union by a mile. You better hope they do well, they pay for the poor red states.
PIttsburgh has been amazing since at least 2018! It’s a fantastic city.
Clayton has always been my favorite. For a while, I lived across the street on Penn Ave. and took many walks to enjoy its amazing beauty. Fortunately, for all of us, it is still there.
I'm originally from Pittsburgh and love when focus on my home town...which is filled with extreme history...the wealth at one time was unmatched
This is because Pittsburgh was the city that built every other city.
There would be no skyscrapers in NYC if not for Pittsburgh making all that steel.
By the time Pittsburgh was undercut by foreign steel markets, all of our US cities were already established and buildings were built.
So glad to have been born and brought up in Pittsburgh
Crazy that Pittsburgh was considered the wild western frontier in early American history. Tar and feathering tax collectors in protest in what would later be called the Whiskey Rebellion
I’m a fourth generation Pittsburgher and I couldn’t have done this any better. Spectacular research and cogent details. Bravo, Ken. Such a fun effort is this and all!
Some of the houses off of fifth avenue are still there as Chatham University's dorm rooms and offices. Andrew Mellon's house that is now offices and connected to the dining hall, was connected to them by tunnels that are now caved in.
There are also several on the campus of Community College of Allegheny County on the North Side near West Park.
Courtney, you are exactly correct
Kevin, I attended community College north side campus for a year...amazing mansions there as well
Chatham has a music and arts summer camp that has some of its classes in the old university mansions. When I went there in the late 90s, the camp pool was in the basement of Andrew Mellon’s mansion. They’ve since built a new pool, but nothing beat walking through the mansion.
@@LaurenWinkler Indeed. In addition to attending the camp one summer, when I was was in high school, I took my lifesaving course (from my mother!) in the pool in the Mellon house. I absolutely loved swimming there. Unfortunately, they have now covered it over and turned the space into a lecture hall. Such a shame, because it was so stunning.
I think Pittsburgh is a beautiful city. Her downtown skyline is impressive.
Pittsburgh is an awesome city honestly. One of the best places I’ve visited on my many work trips
I definitely agree wholeheartedly
As a lifelong Pittsburgher, this is the episode I’ve been waiting for! Thanks! I went to middle school a block from Clayton and visited it growing up. I’m also partial to the Mellon mansion, since the area is a popular park now, and love the mansions that have become university buildings at Chatham University. I’ve always wanted to see where Andrew Carnegie lived in Pittsburgh. If you can find info, I’d love to see it.
Andrew Carnegie's last home in Pittsburgh before he moved to New York was his mansion called Fairfield. It belonged to Andrew's brother Thomas and his widow Lucy until 1919; Fairfield was bought that year by C. J. Holleman who tore down the mansion and converted the property to a housing development called Carnegie Manor; the current Carnegie Place in Point Breeze runs through the property where Fairfield stood. The carriage house is reportedly all that remains of Fairfield, and it is now a private residence on Carnegie Place.
@@jfbrennen, thanks!
@@jfbrennen
Cool 🆒
The topography of Pittsburgh has always fascinated me.
Having a point on the peninsula for downtown with all the freeway bridges always looks interesting.
The topology combined with the very sectioned off neighborhoods makes for a unique city. Grids are only found atop the hills for the most part and the winding connections and one way roads are confusing for many visitors. An expected result from basically building on top of cliffs, hills and ravines along 3 rivers.
Trust me when i say this, when its 6pm rush hour traffic and you're stuck on Fort Pitt Bridge bumper to bumper, there is nothing fascinating or interesting.🤣😂🤣 ty for the love tho
Literally defined our country's history.
@@kross8471 ... people need to learn to weave/zipper better on the under portion of the bridge. Traffic would go much faster if people were patient on the bridge. I was was on it tonight, I ended up letting at least 10 various cars cut over the lanes from left to right.
Wait til you drive here. Opinion will change guaranteed.
Good memories of Pgh. from the late 80's. Spent Saturday and Sunday afternoons walking around Shadyside and Squirrel Hill admiring the old houses and trying to clear my head. If I were to revisit the USA, this city will be on my list.
I lived in Shadyside while attending Carnegie Mellon University. ❤
I was born and raised in monroeville a suburb of Pittsburgh and moved to Raleigh Durham 24 years ago
The Moreland-Hoffstatt mansion on 5th Avenue was, and still is, my favorite house in Pittsburgh. You should do a tour of this grand house.
Pittsburgh was quite nice. My first visit there was in 1980. I spent a lot of time there ever since. In 1986 I moved a friend's family to one of those millionaire row homes. We really couldn't believe he was moving there... Until he told us he only paid $250,000 for it. Today, that house is worth $3,000,000, and my friend's dad was only in that house for 4 years from '86 to '90. Then he moved back to Erie. His son and I were on the billy blanks Tae Kwon Do fighring team together, and we fought tournaments together, in Pittsburgh and in Erie, and Akron, and Youngsville.
Roughly a 7% increase in value per year, which is a modest annual improvement over inflation. I'm surprised that, if 250k was cheap back then, it isn't worth 10m today.
The people who bought those giant homes in shadyside and friendship in the 80’s are making bank now
A million dollars 💵 went a really long way in 1986. About $3 million in todays money
Being from Pittsburgh, I appreciate your recent coverage. Thank you 🙏🏼
Me too!
And I too!
As do I!
Me included ❤
I grew up in Southwest Pennsylvania and every year at Christmas every elementary school student in the Laurel Highlands (about an hour east of Pgh) received a small gift from the Mellon family.
Generally a small clothing item, but always something useful...
They were giving back to the community that supported them, back in the 60s.
Sorry most elites forgot their Noblesse Obligé these days.
Wow! What a nice story to hear and thing to remember. Did any of the other rich families do this for the communities?
As a Pittsburgh resident since i was 9 months old, this city's very underrated. I'm happy that this popped up on my recommended feed because i don't see too many videos on it. I grew up (and currently still live) in Penn Hills, which is about 30 minutes from downtown. I remember as a kid in girl scouts and also even now on my work commute, i've gone past the Mellon mansion, and have toured the Frick mansion. Based off of the stories my dad has told me, Pittsburgh has a very rich history and is home to a lot of Polish folks. I've only ever lived here and i don't think i've seen a more culturally diverse city
Thank you for making this video, i've never seen anything like it before covering all of the amazing historical parts of this city💙
After watching this I had to look up more info about Heinz. What an interesting man. And I also googled White, Thaw and Nesbit, thank you! That became an interesting rabbit hole! I love obscure history. So many of the same people are always talked about and it’s nice discovering new historical people
Nesbit was from Tarentum, only thing she had going for her were her looks and used that to her advantage, or abused it.
I grew up in Sharpsburg right across from his original house. Used to play in that yard . No one ever went to it as a historical site. Mostly just used by kids. Somehow I don't think he'd mind that. Many snowmen lived there.
Watch the movie Ragtime. And there are tons of documentaries on youtube. And others that are not so good.
There's a movie about the White/Thaw/Nesbit affair, made in 1955, called The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing. It doesn't really add much info that you can't learn elsewhere, but it's interesting as one of Joan Collins' first leading roles. A 22-year-old Collins played Evelyn Nesbit.
What a pity that these glorious homes were demolished. They are all beautiful and one can only imagine the wonders within.
And fewer still can imagine the problems within. Like no HVAC systems, rusted out and inadequate plumbing. lack of insulation, dangerously antiquated wiring, chimneys and other brickwork in bad need of repointing and many other hazards that are between the walls or floors and therefore can't be seen. Rebuilding a house is 30% more expensive than new construction. Completely rewiring and replumbing one of these houses is just the beginning. The bathrooms and kitchen would have to be completely refurbished a fire sprinkler system and laundry room added. One would need a 7 figure budget just to make it livable. When completed the utility and insurance costs would require the owner to have an income worthy of a mention in Forbes.
@@danielebrparish4271glad and grateful I have a nice hvac system in my 25 year old house 🏠 in Cary, NC
@@danielebrparish4271 Not always. Look at the renovation of the King Estate in Highland Park.
Nice history about others times the Pittsburg City.
It was never called that
So much history in the city of Pittsburgh! Great presentation! Thank you
I lived in Shadyside from 1990-1992 with my (at that time) 2 young Sons. Nearly every year, we take a drive through Pittsburgh & make sure we always stop at "Little's Shoe Store" in Squirrel Hill & Kennywood. Such happy memories we have of living in Pittsburgh!! : )
Its ironic its call Little's after the family but a lot of their sales a for people with big feet. 😀😀👍
I got shoes from there when I was a kid 1950s
@Yippee Skippy are you from the south side where they have all those bars.
@Yippee Skippy Thank You My Friend it was great talking about the Burgh.🍺🍺👍
I love Pittsburgh, I go to school a little outside the city and every time I go it feels so cozy
Terrific video, Ken! What a pleasure to see so many houses. My favorite here is the Heinz mansion. Thank you for all the time and work that goes into this and the others also.
As I was watching I was reminded of a novel that you and your viewers might enjoy. It's "The Valley of Decision" by Marcia Davenport, published in 1944. It's about how a young Irish girl becomes a maid in the home of a wealthy Pittsburgh family in the 1870's and of how the story of her family and of the family she works for become connected over the years and up to the early days of World War II. "The Valley of Decision" is an excellent book that is still good reading today. Part of it deals with the winter during which the ice up in the mountains that was holding back the water of the river gave way during a thaw and the water came crashing into the city. Cary Grant was in the movie version of the novel. Marcia Davenport ten years later published "My Brother's Keeper" inspired by the tragic Collyer brothers in New York City who died in their hoard-filled mansion. It's another excellent book that accurately shows how hoarding starts and what it does to people a little at a time and it was written before much serious study was done on the subject.
I was born in Pittsburgh. My dad was the second Dean of the School of Pharmacy at Duquesne. We left when I was three but I have always loved the stories of Pittsburgh. "The Valley of Decision" remains my favorite book of all time. I won't even say how many times I've read it! I also recommend "Brothers and Keepers" by John Edgar Wideman, As you most likely know, he and his brother grew up in Pittsburgh. John Wideman is a renowned professor and author; his brother was incarcerated for murder.
Thank you -- I am new to Pittsburgh, and would love to ready historical fiction about the area.
I grew up in Point Breeze and my family owned 3 different homes there. One was built on on the former Greenlawn mansion, Heinz estate, land at Penn and S. Lang. My favorite home was on S. Lang Avenue with a beautiful round turret. I met Helen Frick once after playing on the Clayton Estate grounds.
I can't believe I lived in Pittsburgh and didn't know some of this! I think the city has definitely made a comeback. I loved living there and it's now been nationally ranked as one of the best cities to move to.
One of the cheapest. Cheapest. Not best.
Come back from what?
And one of the most racist for its size.
@@devinmcclain9201same w/ portland, denver, chicago, austin, newark...
@@devinmcclain9201not necessarily even though I was bullied in the mid nineties as an Indian in a white Catholic school 🏫
Thanks so much for including the image of the Moreland-Hofstot mansion. When I was living in Pittsburgh I got to know Henry Hofstot well, and was a guest at the house many times. It's one thing to see the exterior facades, but another thing completely to get to move through the interior spaces and marvel at the craftsmanship of this incredible home.
Wow -- how fortunate you are to have known Hofstot and to have been inside that opulent home.
WOW! A lot of fascinating information here.. I love these videos but at the same time it saddens me to see so much of Pittsburgh's history destroyed,
I use to live in Pittsburgh and have visited many of those homes and read books about the history of Pittsburgh. Plus, the John’s Town flood is closely related to many of the millionaires from Pittsburgh. All those millionaires were members of the Johnstown Hunting & Fishing club, located above the Johnstown dam.
I am from Johnstown and the actual name of the club was "Southfork Hunting and Fishing Club".
@@don1643 Thanks, for informing me about the correct name of the Hunting and Fishing Club in John’s Town.
The Johnstown flood and Andrew Carnegie’s involvement in it was I think one of the main reasons for his philanthropy He felt guilty for not doing his part for not maintaining the Southfork dam.
In his own book, The Gospel of Wealth, Carnegie says that a man who dies rich dies disgraced.@@janetcarbone4213
Johnstown@@kathleenmartin8334
I like these. Would be cool to point out streets on a map where these houses are. I'm always trying to get oriented.
Wow was thinking the exact same thing. I even goggle for a map while watching and couldn’t really find much.
These videos always make me homesick for the 'Burgh. I'm living behind Confederate lines in Tennessee now but I always tell people that although I live in Tennessee, I'm still a Pittsburgher through and through.
Hope you get to visit soon.
@@ClueSign
Just there this past October.
What part of Pittsburgh are you from? I’m from monroeville
@@PraveenSrJ01
Grew up next door to you in Penn Hills. I spent more time than I care to remember in Monroeville Mall on the weekends as a teenager in the 80's.
Heinz was a very good man with the most beautiful mansion! Thanks for the wonderful history lesson.
Does he have any great grandchildren who are still alive?
@@PraveenSrJ01 John Kerry the politician married a Heinz descendent.
When I was a student at CMU I lived in three different small apartments in the McCook house on 5th ave. It has now been restored and renovated into The Mansions on 5th boutique hotel but for for several decades it was owned by the Bonavita family and operated as a boarding house for CMU students. It was a truly amazing place to live.
CMU is a very beautiful campus and been there with my Boy Scout troop in 1999-2000
Your grammar is terrible for a CMU alum. My professor would be shaking her head
A lot of art students lived there in my time at CMU.
Not many factory managers could "ketchup " to the great things Henry Heinz was doing for his employees 😁
GOOD ONE!!!!!
I want to groan but I'm prevented from doing so by the fact that I'll probably use this joke at the first opportunity.
Love the ketchup reference! I have a Heinz Mr. Tomato alarm clock, lol. And yes, Heinz was kind to his employees, exceedingly so for the day. But George Westinghouse, another Pittsburgher also did wonderful things for his workers as well. Look him up!
Westinghouse was quite kind also
Cute comment
I know comparison photos are difficult to come by, but I thought seeing what these properties look like now was always interesting. You have been able to show that comparison in a couple vids that I remember. I love your content. Thanks for all you do.
@8:56 “scarce remaining architecture”? lol The wealth of architecture in Pittsburgh is a strong point when compared to other cities. That’s why so many movies are filmed here.
That comment wrecked the video. Guys clearly never been to Pittsburgh
Excellent job!! I have lived in pgh my entire life... I am a pgh history buff big time... I was just at Frick yesterday lol... thank you for this great video
There is a mansion on the north side that faces the park. A single millionaire woman had it built. I can't remember her name. Maybe you could have fun finding out who she was? Good luck
@@gieb6428 Is it the three story stone mansion on the corner? If so, I toured that house one Christmas many years ago... It was stunning... elevator and all... At that time it was occupied by a single dad of three boys... I'm going to do some looking around on her... Thanks
Thanks for showing us around some of the great mansions on millionaire's row in Pittsburgh. Ken you make every video interesting and entertaining.
Hi, Don, are you the Don Shaw I know, Jan's husband? I'm Wendy H. from WT and temple (don't like to use my last name here, though).
@@wendyannh Sorry, I'm not the Don Shaw you know.
Cleveland, the sister city to Pittsburgh also had a millionaires row. Long gone. Detroit, our older sibling had a lot of millionaires.
Pittsburgh is really beautiful 🤩 city 🏙️ since 2018
Grew up in Pittsburgh but have lived all over the country. Came back in 2005 and can think of no other place I'd rather live.
Except of course Cary, NC outside of Raleigh Durham
Originally from Pittsburgh Northside now in Virginia Beach
I agree… we all may have moved away from Pittsburgh… and I moved back.
Yes, Pittsburgh has its problems but there is no place like Pittsburgh.
@@PraveenSrJ01 You sir, you need a life. Desperately 😂
I love the queen Annie.with the trim work. Thanks for sharing wonderful videos.and each one I learn something new.blessings to you 👩🏻🌾🤗
What a fascinating history. This video makes me want to visit the fine city of Pittsburg (I visited once as a child). Thanks for the video.
Please do visit we would love to have you here
Pittsburgh-with-an-"h" would love to have you visit.
Add the H. It is part of Pittsburgh history also.
Hope you visit, and if you do, take a visit to the Heinz History Museum in the Strip District; a great place full of local history and artifacts.
Thank you for this wonderful video. A missing bit of information is when the Mellon mansion was torn down, the materials were given to a Catholic parish in New Kensington, Pa. Mount St. Peter Catholic Church still stands and is one of the most beautiful and unique churches in the area. All made from the Mellon mansion!
Growing up in Pittsburgh your school could arrange a field trip to the Heinz factory, no charge and you seen the gigantic soup pots operating, canning, boxing, everything with a guide to answer questions, it was Marvelous. When done everybody would go to a huge cafeteria for a free hot free meal og their products Corn, Beans soup, mashedpotatoes etc, what everybody waited for the whole day was to receive your Pickle Badge, it was a small plastic pickle with Heinz nane in center a gold small pin on back, grade school high school everybody wait to get one, a Really Fond Memory for a kid, now a senior, Thank You, Heinz 57 👍👍
Did you ever wonder about Gerber? I think that was Pittsburgh based as well.
I worked with a girl who was marrying into the Gerber family, and I mentioned
this to my Mom who was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and she sounded
impressed when I told her this info. Gerber fed a lot of American infants last
century, and it's a part of American culture, sort of like those who were brought
up drinking wine in France. But I did not know Heinz also made Mustard. I am
always reminded of this fact when I pass thru the mustard section in the grocery
stores. Going back to Gerber, you will see a lot of home movies of kids eating a
Gerber meal on the old 8mm silent films parents kept. Those films are treasured,
and can never be replaced. Of course, if you put them on a DVD disc!
I'm from Pittsburgh, you should see the old houses in neighboring towns and smalls cities like Greensburg, Butler, Washington, Ligonier etc.
Yes, Greensburg has some beautiful architecture, and many small businesses downtown, all within walking distance. I just discovered the Caffeinated Cat 🐈
When I grew up in Pittsburgh we were still considered a major city. The 3 largest headquarters cities were New York,Chicago, and Pittsburgh- the perfect triangle. The money here was staggering; we had it all:iron,steel, coal,coke,glass, aluminum. Now, it is all gone.
So true
Now you got green energy so is it worth the trade off for our political class to move all our jobs into China for the slave labor
The east end area.. like shadyside, Lawrenceville, etc… is a time capsule. I’ve spent years doing rehabs and maintenance work on buildings in that area. The yards are filled with old bottles and other stuff they considered trash back in the early 1900’s. I’ve also pulled old newspapers out of walls, dating back to 1904. I personally know of one mansion, that had a safe in the basement. And they had to of placed the safe in there during construction, and then built the rest of the house. Because the dimensions of the safe, and the dimensions of every doorway and staircase leading out. It would’ve been impossible to get the safe out without ripping down walls. After some research, I found out who the original owner was, James Frank Drake.
Definitely 💯
Grew up in Pittsburgh. I remember sleeping on the porch on hot summer nights and watching the sky turn red from the mills and all of noise coming from the mills. I thought my dad would get me in the mill when I graduated in 1980, he told me the mills are going to shut down so I went in the Navy and returned in 1984. Couldnt find work but landed a job out of state.
I wonder if the schools teach local history of Pittsburgh, probably not, it should be required.
My mom worked at Heinz in the late 40's and told me how she smelt like vinegar on her street car ride home to Lincoln Place.
I’m from Lincoln Place born in 1975 and moved away in 1989 after our mother passed we lived on Ollie st…
Life was really nice 👍 before smartphones and the internet 🛜
@@PraveenSrJ01I felt the nostalgia in this story as did you clearly. But do not be blinded by that. Romanticism aside. Living in Pittsburgh during that time was absolute hell. By far the most polluted city in America at the time.
I like the Moreland-Hoffstot mansion (now apartments) - sort of a mini-Rosecliff. The Morris Kaufmann mansion in Squirrel Hill was another great one. Very good video.
So they did actually turn it into apartments? I recently moved from a few doors away and there were contractors there for a while, but of course it was very quiet as to what they were actually doing.
@@wendyannh It's listed as apartments online now. I remember that it was for sale several years ago (not that i could afford it!).
@Louis Yes, but I have still never seen any actual listings for them, and there are only rare signs of life around the house.
Amazing. I walked past a few of those buildings nearly everyday and never knew their history. The more I've recently learned about my hometown the more I've come to understand regarding my own life.
Another great video! Love that you covered a wealthy neighborhood this time. You should look into Grosse Pointe outside Detroit. It's where the wealthy automakers built their mansions.
If Pittsburh was in Europe people would travel from far and wide to visit it. Pittsburgh is an extraordinary gem. Its museums alone are worth a visit.P.S. My favorite was John Worthington"s mansion in Squirrel Hill and for a simple reason: I used to live directly across the street from it
I live in Pittsburgh but I grew up in Cincinnati. I adore both cities for many reasons. ❤
I love Pittsburg, Cleveland, and Chicago. All great cities, with great Histories.
... and I admire Westinghouse.
Thank you for this lovely feature on the city of my birth and current residence. I grew up and still live right among these fabled mansions, and it's lovely to learn more about the ones that are long gone.
Henry Heinz sounds to be the most impressive man of his time... It is one thing to be a rich company owner, and another thing to care and take care of they're workers.
JL steel mansion in shady side fully renovated. I had the wonderful opportunity to work there. Beautiful grounds with many fountains. The boiler system was unbelievably big. Incredible vaulted ceilings.
The area was beautiful & eclectic!!! Thanks for sharing this exciting video!!! Your right, googling Mr White proved he was a "colorful character indeed"!! 👍👍🙂
I just love how this channel goes into great detail about the different historical mansions in America so cool I love mansions which is what makes this channel so interesting great video and narration! 😊👍🏻
City of Champions... Past, Present and Future! Excellent video! We shared it on our website. #pghnice
Squirrel Hill.
Jacobean Revival is my absolute favorite.
HAVE BEEN TO PITTSBURGH MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS. LOTS TO SEE STILL!!!!!
I am not from Pittsburgh, but I find it hard to argue that any large city in the USA is as topographically aesthetic as Pittsburgh
Really enjoyed this video. Of interesting note, significant portions of the dismantled Mellon Mansion were used in the construction of Mount Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Church in New Kensington, PA.
Hey I know that place. I've attended mass there.
Do you know which parts of the church? Interior or exterior? I live in New Ken. so I'd be interested in seeing it. Also, I lived in Pgh. at one time and visited Mellon Park frequently. A huge garden retaining wall from the original estate still exists there.
I'm from Pittsburgh and everyday I think just how lucky I am to live here. So much innovation it's shocking!
Very interesting and well done video. Thanks
Westinghouse also added refrigeration to his home. He was one of the first people to install an ice box or “refrigerator”. Plus, he installed natural gas powered room lights. One day Henry Clay Frick decided to raise the price of “coke” (cooked coal) by 10 cents. Andrew Carnegie became so mad, he never spoke to Frick again. That was the main reason Frick decided to move to New York. In addition, Frick and Carnegie lived close to each other. But after Frick raised the price of the coke, they never spoke to each other.
Great content Sir
Hello from Butler County Birth Place of the Jeep. Western Pa is the Best!!!
In Highland Park there is the King Estate which is sitll standing. It was a favorite point to walk to when I lived in that area.
I’ve lived in Pittsburgh my entire life (50 years). My dad was close friends with some of the Mellon family members. I have only ever heard of a small handful of these historical mansions in the city, even with the close family relationships my father had, so I truly appreciate this!
Ive been in Pittsburgh my entire life, and just recently learned about the King Estate. I don't know a whole lot about the history, but it would have been neat to see it on this video. It was built for Alexander King, the grandfather of Richard Mellon. And it is still currently for sale
When we hit the lottery, we are going to buy it!
Pittsburgh is a great city, great people, great history. Amazing video. Frick’s one house is over in Homestead. It’s a shame they tried to remodel it and ran out of money.
Bay wood is an amazing house, known as the King Estate. You can do a 3d walkthrough of the house online. It has been lovingly restored and is a beauty.
I’m so glad you did this!!!!
This was great. Thank you.
what happened?
with the "decline" of the US steel industry,
brought on by the owners and corporate finagling of investors,
the need and desire to have opulent mansions owned by the very wealthy
in the places where they "made their fortunes" on the backs
of their employees, also declined.
in short they moved outta town...
I’m sure the mansions were completely trolled because of their shoddy business practices. Worms in the wood, too much sand in the concrete, hidden speakers, faulty appliances, etc. The men should have known better. It had already happened in England.
Have you ever been to Pittsburgh?
Doubt it tool
@@sicigregory3518 Nope.
I lived here my entire 39 year life and this video had actually taught me a few things
I’ve lived in 7 different cities in 11 years and I moved to Pittsburgh last year for work and holy hell did it surprise me. If you’re going to live in a winter city, think about this one.
Yes, being from McKeesport I can attest to 6-month long winters.
Pittsburgh area: One of the top two national regions with the most grey overcast skies.
Genuinely nice, hard-working god-fearing family type people.
A few years ago I read 'The Good Provider" which is a very interesting biography on Heinz. Their family home is still in Sharpsburg and is great condition. His mansion was demolished due the the financial responsibility of upkeep. My nephew owns the carriage house which he renovated into apartments. Pittsburgh has so many remaining mansions, but so many were taken down in the name of progress.
My grandparents are part of the grand Pittsburgh mansions. My grandfather's home as a child is a French Restaurant I think in Bloomfield. My grandmother's mansion she grew up in was torn down years ago. Her father was a prominent Judge here in Pittsburgh.
Restoration
Henry Frick left Pittsburgh because he got into a disagreement with Andrew Carnegie about the increased price of Coke. Carnegie did not want to pay more for Coke and Frick wanted more money for his Coke. After the disagreement, Carnegie & Frick never spoke to each other again.
That isn't correct. He left Pittsburgh for two reasons. The first was that dispute but it wasn't about the price of Coke. When joining Carnegie Steel, Andrew Carnegie had everyone sign an ironclad agreement on the value of their shares. Over time the shares in reality VASTLY appreciated BUT when Frick and Carnegie parted ways, Carnegie only paid him out the value at the original level (costing him hundreds of millions of today's dollars). Frick was also miffed Carnegie let him be blamed for the Homestead strike violence. The other reason was Pittsburgh's horrendous air pollution was essentially dissolving his art collection so he needed to move it. Carnegie did ask Frick later if they could reconcile and speak. Frick replied that they could speak in hell. Tough guy. Survived an assassination attempt wrestling with his attacker after being shot.
Would of bin neat to see the horse buggys running around the neighborhood especially on cold snowy days or the transition to automobiles wonder how they decorated the mansions out side for Christmas lots of interesting stuff to day dream about that's for sure
I haven't visited the Frick house yet, but I have visited the Car and Carriage museum that is part of the Frick museum complex. The Car and Carriage museum shows some astounding early incarnations of the automobile before its general anatomy became set.
I love my city just how it is - a hidden gem. I don’t want us to become like coastal cities where inheritance is the only way to get on the housing ladder.
Thats how it is in NYC. That's part of why im here
Living in Pittsburgh, there are still many homes that would be interesting to you. I would check out the book 'Pittsburgh, a Urban Portrait " by Franklin Toker.
From what I'm told (dad was the town historian) Heinz had several mansions in my neighborhood, Aspinwall, and some, if not all of them, are still standing but converted into apartment buildings. A block behind my house is now a baseball field that is technically part of Sharpsburg but that was where the Heinz radish farm was and people in the area from there into Sharpsburg used to complain about the smell of the radishes.
There are also still a lot of mansions on the N. Side, mostly near C.C.A.C. where I went to college and some of them are still standing and are either apartment houses or office buildings that belong to the college. Beyers Hall, Jones Hall, West Hall and Huntz Hall. Oops!! No, Huntz was one of the Bowery Boys, "Sach", where I got my nick name when I was in college!
I’ve visited the Frick House. Too bad more of the mansions from the early 1900’s, are not around. At one time, George Westinghouse, Henry Clay Frick, Andrew Carnegie, Henry J Heinz, Andrew Mellon, Kaufman (dry good stores), Phipps, Pitcairn and Schenley. They were all neighbors along 5th Ave or Penn Ave. The homes were close to the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Schenley Park and Phipps Conservatory. Beautiful area of Pittsburgh. I use to live in Pittsburgh several years ago. There is a lots of Revolutionary War history. South Hills are of Pittsburgh has some Whiskey Rebellion history. If you drive closer to the border with Maryland, you will see the actual Mason Dixon Line historical markets, which was the original dividing line between the northern states and southern states prior to the Civil War.
Closer to the the Southern border is Fort Necessity too.
@@Heatherofscots I’ve visited Ft Necessity several times.
Great expose series. Enjoy very much.
My maternal great-grandfather had a house there.Sadly,it was torn down many years ago,but I remember 3 photos of it that my Mother had.One was of the billiards room,one was of the library,and one was taken at his 50th wedding anniversary dinner.The basement was large enough to hold 200 diners,a full kitchen staff,and a band.Since he owned a bakery,among other businesses, he baked the cake himself.A street in Oakland is named after him and his nrothers,called "Dimling Way".
I remember Dimling's Candy... an old famous name in Pittsburgh candymakers!
Difficult if not impossible, now. Could you include Floor plans? And, maybe Grounds plans.
I grew up in Pittsburg in a small town right outside of the main city. Our home was an old Victorian and it had bay windows, a parlor, fireplace in every bedroom, crown molding, a servants quarters in the attic and a second servants staircase to the kitchen. A lot of old homes in Pittsburg have a certain “grandness” to them. I really miss that style of architecture 💜
Please don’t knock the “h” out of Pittsburgh.
Oh that’s really embarrassing lol thanks! My autocorrect did that 😅
What small town?
Bellevue, right next to Brighton heights and north hills. Our home was very old and beautiful. My parents were very middle class and they bought that home for 100k 30 years ago. I love the house I grew up in, so much character and charm 😊
@@Jordè1222 Awesome! I'm from the same neighborhood (end of North Fremont) I lived in an apartment on Lincoln Avenue across the street from the Rusty Nail when I was in my twenties, too.
Thanks for these videos. I find them so interesting!
interesting video! I spent my teens as a mover in and out of the big name current mansions in Shadyside, Beachwood BLVD, and Fox Chapel, really interesting to see pre WWI wealth. BUt as the narrator said I had to leave in 2011 due to lack of work in my early 20's and moved south, but still love that city!
Beechwood blvd. Born and raised.
Should do a video on Linden Hall in Dawson PA
I live nearby here.Love this place. Have gone to a few Christmas parties here!!!
Love the Burgh. The view from Mt Washington is fantastic.
I never been up mt Washington before, I might have to go up there
I enjoy Heinz canned spaghetti in tomato sauce. I am definitely going to carry on enjoying it after hearing what a decent man he was. Thank you for the video!
I was hoping this was about Ridge Ave in old Allegheny City.
Great video! Even though I knew some of this info, I didn’t know all! I’m born, raised and still living in Pgh!!
I took care of an elder who spent her life here,she was fun!
Kings Estate is still my favorite just because I grew up in Morningside and played in Heths Run woods as a kid
Do you have a picture of 921 Ridge Avenue before it was torn down? It was the home of Henry Lafayette Collins in 1905
I haven't been able to find a picture of it yet. I'll add it to my list to my list of homes to search for. Cheers!
That will be much appreciated. He was my great-uncle.