CARRICK HISTORY
From Carrick-Overbrook Historical Society
Contents
Carrick Glossary of Terms
Our Name:
- Carrick-on-Suir – Carrick Post Office was named after this Irish City of Dr. John O’Brien who had the honor of naming the first post office in this area of Baldwin Township in 1853. Wikipedia Carrick-on-Suir
- Carrick Swan and Rock – official emblem of Carrick-on-Suir, Ireland. Rock because in Gaelic Carrick means Rock and swans because it is located on the River Suir which has many swans.
Articles, Booklets, Photos and Notes about Carrick
- Articles about Carrick - Compilation of newspaper articles and research papers about Carrick Borough and the Carrick Neighborhood.
- Brownsville Road - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 1900 story
- Carrick's Borough's 10th Anniversary - 1914 Booklet
- Carrick Borough Building - 1906 dedication Booklet.
- Carrick Walk About - Article that appeared in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette by Diana Nelson Jones on March 28, 2009.
- Depression Life - Article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about life in the depression by Carrick native Emily Pritchard Cary.
- Early Carrick History - A letter to Harriet Duff Phillips from a Mr. Bennett who talks about very eary Carrick History. There is no date on this letter.
- Ghost Stories - Stories of the ghosts and spirits of Carrick
- The Hornaday Road Report - by Joe Krynock. Joe explains how the Hornaday Road project started and how the History Society was started.
- History of Carrick Borough - This speech, documented on March 22,1927, probably the best speeches delivered in Carrick High School, was made on February 3, 1927, by Beatrice Evans who graduated on that night.
- Historical Marker Applications - The Society has applied for two Pennsylvania Historical Markers for John M. Phillips and Harriet Duff Phillips. These are the applications.
- Open the Door to the Hilltop – John M. Phillips’ slogan to widen 18th Street and pave it.
- Photos of our Beautiful Neighborhood - Post your favorite photos of our neigborhood here.
- Pittsburgh Leader 1904 - One of the most quoted newspaper articles about Carrick Borough written in 1904.
- South Side Iron, Steel and Glass and the connection to Carrick and Overbrook - Research by Joe Krynock
- Trolleys in Carrick - This page contains photos and articles about trolleys in Carrick and adjoining neighborhoods
Buildings and Homes
- 1425 Brownsville Road - This is our Crown Jewel Victorian
- 145 Madeline Street - Home of Emily Pritchard Cary
- 1726 Brownsville Road - Home of John J. Flemming
- 2449 Valera Street - Home of Garnham, Charles W. 'Gus'
- 2920 Brownsville Road-Home of Robert F. Phillips torn down for a food store building.
- Impton - The home of John M. Phillips and Harriet Duff Phillips
- 2724 Churchview Avenue - Does anyone know the history of this home? This had to be owned by a very rich individual.
Businesses
- A & P Store – First in now the old Isaly’s, then moved to a small room near Brentwood Bank, maybe in 1933, where the Melrose Theater was built.
- Caruso’s Music Store - One of Carrick's oldest businesses and possible site of a Carrick Post Office.
- Cost Cutters - Established 1985 in the Carrick Shopping Center
- Dudt’s Bakery – located at Belplain Avenue and 2552 Brownsville Road. Highly rated throughout the South Hills. Cameron Dudt owner.
- Esso Station – Located at Brownsville Road and Claus Avenue.
- Kraus' Carrick Isaly's - Business owned by Councilman Bruce Kraus' Family.
- Landefeld Dry Goods Store – Across from Melrose was Brentwood Bank.
- Lennix Gulf Station – was also a trolley barn later on and the end of the line until line extended to the current Bank site and bus turn around.
- Mr. Erny’s – Home and Funeral Home built in 1928 across from Raleigh Square.
- Shell Gas Station – now Lennox Gulf
- Shemmelrock Funeral Home – Funeral Home in Carrick at current site of Carrick Shopping Center.
- Stanley’s Parlors – Bowling lanes and apartments.
- Storch’s Electric Marble and Granite Works – at what is now the Dairy Queen Property.
- Valdiserri’s Fruit Market – across from Zimmerman Cemetery closes 1932.
- Yago’s Hardware – Located next to current Carrick Hardware.
Cemeteries
We recently were informed about a web site titled FindAGrave.com. This web site has information about our cemeteries and by joining their site you can add photos and information too.
- Beth Abraham Cemetary - 800 Stewart Ln, Pittsburgh, PA 15227 maybe part of Beth Abraham Congregation, 2715 Murray Ave' Pittsburgh, PA 15217
- Birmingham Cemetery - (a/k/a Zimmerman Cemetery, a/k/a Lorch's Cemetery, a/k/a German United Protestant Evangelical Cemetery), 2511 Brownsville Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15210
- Concord Presbyterian Church Cemetery – Among other famous Carrick residents it was also the burial site of John Maugridge Snowden, mayor of Pittsburgh 1825-1829 and namesake of Snowden township, later renamed South Park Township.
- St. Adalbert - Predominently Polish Catholic Cemetery, the parent church is located in the South Side of Pittsburgh on South 15th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
- St. George - now called Saint John Vianny
- South Side Cemetery - 1404 Brownsville Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15210. This is a non demoninational cemetery located in the heart of Carrick. Many of the area's most influential individuals have made this their final resting place. Reference is made to this cemetery in this article Pittsburgh Leader 1904.
Facts
- British Columbia Connection – Mountain named after John M. Phillips
- Carrick’s Acreage – size in acres of Carrick in 1927 -1,015
- Carrick First – First Borough to lay all streets on a six inch base. As a result there is still little need for repairs on these streets.First sanitary sewer system in Western Pennsylvania
- June 21, 1904 – Carrick becomes a borough.
Holidays
- Bird Day - created in the late 1800s to teach children about nature and to promote bird in the neighborhoods.
- Tree Day - Arbor Day in Carrick see John M. Phillips
Houses of Worship
- Birmingham United Church of Christ - 25 Carrick Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15210
- Concord Presbyterian Church – 1907 Brownsville Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15210, was one of the first churches built in Carrick in 1831. First church building built in 1832. Burial site of John Maugridge Snowden, mayor of Pittsburgh 1825-1829 and nameske of Snowden township, later renamed South Park Township.
- Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses - 2401 Raven St, Pittsburgh, PA 15210
- Lutheran Church of The Redeemer - Lutheran, 1628 Brownsville Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15210
- St. Basil’s School and Church – Roman Catholic, 1735 Brownsville Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15210. Originally located on Cherryhill Street at the site of Roosevelt School. Church was built at the current location in 1907.
- St. Pius X Church - Byzantine Catholic, 2336 Brownsville Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15210, Built on the site of John M. and Harriet Duff Phillips home of Impton.
- Saint Wendelins Catholic Church - Roman Catholic, 2728 Custer Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15227
- Stewart Ave Lutheran Church - Lutheran, 2810 Brownsville Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15227
- Zion Christian Church Incorporated]]- 98 Hornaday Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15210, formerly the Union Baptist Church
Landmarks
- Agnew Glass Works – Located at the intersection of Brownsville Road and current E. Agnew Avenue.
- Alpha Sign Company – first company to install billboards on Brownsville Road in Carrick. Signs called eyesores even at that time.
- Brownsville Plank Road – known by that name because of the 4’ plank road for clean riding and maintained by tolls.
- Brownsville Road – At one time was an Indian Trail was also known as Brownsville Pittsburgh Toll Road, Brownsville Plank Road, Southern Avenue and Brownsville Road. The road had at one time three toll booths, was a mud rutted road impassible in spring and fall, used by farmers to transport livestock to Pittsburgh and was a stagecoach route to Brownsville PA. John M. Phillips was called Boardwalk John because of his effort to plank Brownville Road and widened the road to its current width.
- Brownsville Road names – Southern Avenue, Brownsville Plank Road, Birmingham and Brownsville Macadamized Turnpike Road, Brownsville Avenue.
- Bucks Tavern – A toll booth, hotel and tavern for travelers using Brownsville Road to Brownville. Currently the Italian Club. Built in 1818, burned in 1853.
- Carrick Bank – first bank to be organized in the community. C. H. Stolzenbach becomes the first President. Biddle Boys said to have robbed Carrick Bank in their bank robbing spree.
- Carrick Borough Building – located next to the current Caruso’s Music Store
- Carrick Hotel - Also known as the Hotel Carrick and is currently the location of Acapulco Joe's Bar and apartment.
- Carrick Library – formerly operated by the Fire Company was established in 1930. Library Link
- Carrick Literary Society - Definitely not to be confused with the current Carrick Literary Club at 210 Copperfield Avenue.
- Carrick Mural - Currrently being painted on Vern's Electric Building. Once the site of Agnew Glass Works and Werner Moving and Storage Company.
- Carrick Post Office – First government post office in Baldwin Township established in December 23, 1853. Possibly currently Caruso’s Music Store.
- Carrick Telephone office – Located at Overbrook Boulevard and Brownsville Road. 1904 had 50 subscribers, by 1910 had 300.
- Concord Church – was one of the first churches built in Carrick in 1831.
- Craillo area of Carrick near Concord Church.
- Engleartville – First name of the Carrick area named after Engleart Glass Company.
- Hornaday Road - named after William T. Hornaday by John M. PhillipsWilliam Hornaday was an environmentalist and naturalist and friend who accompanied John M. Phillips on many excursions to classify animals. Also see Phillips Properties.
- Impton - Mansion's name of John M. Phillips and Harriet Duff Phillips Also see Phillips Properties.
- Keeling Coal Company owner of a coal mine on St. Patrick Street in Mt. Oliver. The mine was connected with the South Side by an incline, now the site of South Side Park, that ran from St. Patrick St. to 21st St. The mine continued under Mt. Oliver, crossed a ravine on a 200 yard trestle over Wagner Street, and continued under Carrick near Bruner and Linnview Avenue. It then continued underground to Spiketown, where it emerged again. Coal from the Bausman mine was tranferred to a train pulled by a steam locomotive, and transported through the Keeling mine to the coal incline.
- L’Enfant L'Enfant - Mother's statue– Mother and child sculpture currently residing at Overbrook Boulevard and Ravilla Street since 1966. Originally called L’Enfant was donated to the Mother’s House. Won second price in Paris, France. Sculpted by Roger Bloche.
- Maytide Street - Named Maine Street before Overbrook Borough became and Carrick Borough became part of the City of Pittsburgh
- Mothers' Club of Carrick - The Mothers’ Club of Carrick was a philanthropic organization founded by Harriet Duff Phillips. This is the location of their first meeting house that was located at the corner of current Spokane and Parkfield Avenues.
- Nicholodean – Currently the St. Basil’s Credit Union and was the site of Carrick Library.
- Passionist Convent – Erected in 1910 and was one of the first of its kind in America.
- Phillips Park – named after John M. Phillips for the many donated trees and swimming pool. Also known as Dilly’s Grove, Southern Park and Carrick Park was originally a Trolley Traction Park with vaudeville acts, roller coasters, merry go rounds and other attractions. Dilly’s Grove was part of the Coffey Estate bought in 1904 for $29,000
- Phillips Properties - Scattered from Downtown Pittsburgh to the South Side (Birmingham) to Carrick this is a compilation of the Phillips properties by Robert F. Phillips.
- Phillips, Robert F. home - Home on Brownsville Road demolished for the now vacant Giant Eagle building. See Phillips Properties
- Raleigh Square – Once a farm and land taken in 1928 and prior to that year farm was here. The farm was not taken care and fire destroys the 2 story, frame, unpainted house of the farmer who had a wife and 8 children. Sold by the farmer who had 8 children but could no longer make ends meet. Land comprised of an area along Brownsville Road from the Phillips’ residence to Willies (across from Clifton Street to Maytide Street and on back to Phillps’ residence. The land bordered by Biscayne Avenue to around Wysox Avenue to Maytide Street to Valera Street.
- Spiketown – Comes into existance in 1868. The area around current Volunteer’s Fields. Neighborhood of homes built by miners of the Keeling Coal Company. Said to be called Spiketown because the miners used mine spikes to build their homes. Also said to be named after the Speiker Family whose large family also lived in the area.
- Stewart Avenue – named after the great Stewart Farm.
- Toll Stations – First toll station was located at Knox Avenue, another at the current Italian Club and a third at current Churchview Road
- Traction Park – Current Phillips Park becomes a “traction park.” Previously known as Dilly’s Grove and Carrick Park. Purchased as a Community Park. Dedicated at a great 4th of July celebration in 1914.
- Utility covers - From Carrick Borough's past this is an assortment of utility covers. Can you find where they all are?
- William Wightman’s Land – Bought from the Indians for one iron ax by William Wightman. Area from present Parkfield Street to Maytide Street along Brownsville Road then west along Saw Mill Run. Present Verizon telephone building on this land.
- Wilson's Farm - John Wilson - Wilson's Farm – was one of the original settlers of this area. A revolutionary war soldier who was granted land for service in the Revolutionary war and operated a farm from current Biscayne to Parkfield to Route 51. Overbrook Boulevard was once called Wilson’s Alley.
- Valera Street - A portion of Valera Street is in an plan called Raleigh Square
Library
- Carnegie Library - Carrick - 1811 Brownsville Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15210 Carnegie Library Link
Maps
- Coal Mine Maps - A collection of underground coal mine maps under Carrick, Overbrook and the area. Courtesy of Carol Anthony.
- Maps - A collection of maps, plans and diagrams of Carrick
- Wilson Warranty Map of Wilson, Robert - one of the first settlers in Carrick
Organizations
- Mothers' Club of Carrick - The Mothers’ Club of Carrick was a philanthropic organization founded by Harriet Duff Phillips.
People
- Agnew, John - Also see Agnew Glass Works
- Agnew, Mary - Also see Agnew Glass Works
- Bauman, Wm. Wm. Bauman – First Police Chief
- Bausman, Nicholas Nicholas Bausman - early settler and landowner in 1818 sells the Carrick area to Noble Calhoun for $5,000.
- Boardwalk John – nickname for John M. Phillips because he wanted to build a 4’ wide boardwalk from Mt. Oliver to the 3rd. toll gate. He had a vision of a future 60’ Right of Way street and sidewalk and had citizens volunteer to build the street. As a demonstration of what a 60’ Right of Way paved road and sidewalk would look like, John M. Phillips purchases the property across from his 2236 Brownsville Road home so he could lay sidewalks and widen and pave Brownsville Road.
- Cary, Emily Pritchard Emily Pritchard Cary - She was a native of Pittsburgh and now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. Emily writes about her life in Carrick.
- Calhoun, Noble Noble Calhoun - 1842 sells Carrick to William Noble for $17,000
- Carrick Centurions - A collection of Carrick residents who have reached the century mark birthdays.
- Dawida, Audrey Audrey Dawida - Wife of Michael Dawida and community volunteer. Audrey was active in the neighborhood's history.
- Dawida, Michael Michael Dawida – State Representative, State Senator, Allegheny County Commissioner
- DeLuca, Mark - Carrick native and Muay Thai fighter won the Thai Boxing Association-Sanctioning Authority (TBA-SA) Superlightweight World Championship on Saturday Nov. 8, 2008, in Des Moines, Iowa.
- Devlin,Peter A. Peter A Devlin – one of the area’s first settlers. Log cabin moved to Phillips Park but no one remembers it there. One photo in the old South Hills Record shows it on Walton off Churchview.
- Diehl, Adam Adam Diehl – First Borough Burgess lived 2338 Brownsville Road.
- Donely, Wm. McCurg William McCurg Donely – First Borough Engineer
- Eld, John John Eld - grandson of John J. Fleming once lived on Valera Street. John provided photos of his house.
- Finch, Walter – First Street Commissioner
- Fleming, John J. John J. Fleming – industrialist and inventor who lived in Carrick and worked as the chief engineer of Phillips Mining and Manufacturing Company.
- Garnham, Charles W. 'Gus' - World War II winner of Distinguished Service Cross
- Haupt, J. A. J. J. A. J. Haupt – Fifth Burgess
- Hazlett, Rev. John – Pastor Concord Presbyterian Church in 1872 starts academy for Higher Education at his home, Oak Grove, on Brownsville Road and corner of Stewart Avenue. Academy was the first school south of the Monongahela River to provide secondary education for older boys and girls.
- Jumbo – Motorcycle cop in Carrick Borough in the 1920’s
- Lemon, John John Lemon – First Borough Solicitor
- Markowitz, Nick Nick Markowitz – early (1976) Carrick Historian who contributed many works, research and authored dozens of article about Carrick.
- Miners - A collection of coal miner photos not of Carrick but possibly a representation of how life was in the coal mines for our former residents.
- Noble, William William Noble - 1855 sells 100 acres for $45,000 and in 1865 sells 100 acres for $106,000. Probable namesake of Noble's Lane.
- Nusser, John John Nusser – Third Burgess
- O'Brien, Dr. John Dr. John O’Brien – named the first US Post Office in this area in 1853 after his home town of Carrick-on-Suir.
- Phillips, Anna Jane - Daughter of Harriet Duff Phillips and John M. Phillips. Married to Joseph Shuman.
- Phillips, John John Phillips – Owned a mansion that sat in the middle of current Hornaday Road and owned 12 acres of land that became known as Phillips Manor.
- Phillips, Harriet Duff Harriet Duff Phillips – Wife of John M. Phillips, daughter of Dr. Duff. 1913 founded Mothers Club. 1916 founded Brashear Settlement. 1934-1938 President of the PA. Federation of Woman’s Clubs. Pioneer of Planned Parenthood Program, 1956 Phillips Elementary School named after her father and her. South Side Hospital Board of Directors. Board member of Pittsburgh Board of Education.
- Phillips, James - one of John Phillips' sons. Photo of property holdings.
- Phillips, John M. John M. Phillips – nephew of John Phillips, PA Game Commissioner, City of Pittsburgh Councilman, creator of Phillips Park, owned mansion at 2336 Brownsville Road named Impton, conservationist, creator of state parks, instrumental in the creation of the Boy Scouts of America earning the title "Chief Silver Top" by American Indians who taught and knew him. John M. Phillips was also a naturalist, environmentalist, Boy Scout Founder in Pennsylvania, owner of Phillips Mine and Manufacturing Company. In 1924 President Calvin Cooledge named him chair of a national conference on conservation.
- Phillips' Children John M. Phillips’ Children – 3 daughters Mrs. Anna Jane Phillips Shuman, Mrs. Mary Phillips Lutz, Mrs. Margaret Phillips Chalfont, 2 sons John M. Phillips, Jr. (Whitehall Borough Councilman), James M. Phillips. Also had 13 grandchildren.
- Rudiak, Natalia A. - In 1997 named Carrick High School's Senior of the year.
- Russell, Robert – First Borough Clerk
- Saits, John John Saits – First Borough Tax Collector
- Sankey Wm.; Phillips John M.; Benz, Phillip; Hartung, Richard; Dieterle Jacob; Eiler, Henry; Werner,John - First Council of Carrick Borough
- Sankey, William, Jr. William Sankey, Jr. – Fourth Burgess
- Schenk, Henry Henry Schenk – Second Burgess
- Seemiller, Danny - Danny Seemiller is an American table tennis player. By 1972, he was the number one qualifier on the U.S. World Team. he has won five U.S. Men's Singles Championships (in 1976, 1977, 1980, 1982, and 1983). He was once ranked #19 in the world.
- Shuty, Betty - Local resident
- Speicher, Joseph – Carrick Historian in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
- Sprenkle, Wm. H. – President Principal of Schools from 1909
- Stanford, J. S. J. S. Stanford – First Postmaster of the Carrick Post Office in December 23, 1853
- Stolzenbach, C. H. C. H. Stolzenbach – First President of Carrick Bank
- Stolzenbach, A. H. - First Borough Treasurer,
- Tepe, Marie Brose Marie Brose Tepe - Also known as "French Mary"
- Trott, Ellsworth C. Ellsworth C. Trott – Last Burgess of Carrick Borough 1927.
- Warble Alexandra - Carrick High School 2008 Extra Effort Awardee
- Wilson, James James Wilson – First Carrick Borough Post Master
- Wilson, John - John Wilson - Wilson's Farm – was one of the original settlers of this area. A revolutionary war soldier who was granted land for service in the Revolutionary war and operated a farm from current Biscayne to Parkfield to Route 51. Overbrook Boulevard was once called Wilson’s Alley.
- Wilson, Robert - one of the first settlers in Carrick Wilson Warranty Map
Schools
- Carrick High School- The first graduating class was in 1926.
- Concord Elementary School – current location is the fifth location. Originally built on the back of Concord Church as one room and became known as Concord. Second location at Brownsville Road and Agnew Avenue, Third location on Agnew Avenue and Dowling. Forth location on Carrick Avenue. Fifth and final location on Brownsville Road and Biscayne Avenue.
- First school in Carrick – name unknown but reference is made to a school in a house at Brownsville Road and Wynoka Street.
- St. Basil’s School and Church – Originally located on Cherryhill Street at the site of Roosevelt School. Church was built at the current location in 1907.
- Roosevelt Elementary School - Originally located on The Boulevard and named Quentin Roosevelt Elementary School after Theodore Roosevelt's son.
Sports
- Sports Teams - Amateur and Church affiliated teams in Carrick
Streetcars
- Carrick Streetcar Ordinance – “If a streetcar picked up a fireman on the way to a fire, streetcar was not allowed to stop except to pick up another fireman.”
- Horse Trolley - last run article
- Traction Park – Current Phillips Park becomes a “traction park.” Previously known as Dilly’s Grove and Carrick Park. Purchased as a Community Park. Dedicated at a great 4th of July celebration in 1914.
- Trolleys in Carrick - This page contains photos and articles about trolleys in Carrick and adjoining neighborhoods
- Trolley 59 Carrick – Double ended trolley operated in the 1920’s during rush hour and turned around on a short track spur at the corner of Brownsville Road and Crailo Street.
- Trolley Barns - Carrick Shopping Center where the current Foodland is located was a brick trolley barn, demolished in the 1950's and the end of the line at one time.
Who are you
- Who are you - A collection of photos with no description and need an explanation.
Notice
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