Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-01
TALES OF OLD TIMES
When the Southside Was a Small
Village Amid the Woodlands.
MEMOIRS OF EARLY RESIDENTS.
The Neglected Grave of the Founder of
Birmingham Borough.
THE FIRST CHURCH, SCHOOL AND MILL

Amid the hustle and progress of the pres
ent date, what is more interesting than to
hear the tales of eye olden tymes" from the
! lips of the aged men of the place; the old
residents, who have seen a city spring up
around them, oftentimes placing their once
| quiet homes in the midst of noisy. busy
industrial center? Or perhaps they were once
on a busy street. but now all is changed. The
streets have different names, and where the
early settlers we're wont to gather nuts or
enjoy other sports, are now solid blocks of
houses or manufacturing plants. They are
strangers at home. The city has outgrown
their knowledge and they, like their houses,
are l,ndmarks of another time in history.
The Southslde has many who can claim a
long residence in this section; but
of the oldest men-those who can
remember when the Southside was
but little village; when Carson
street was not; when hickory nuts grew in
| the upper part, afterward East Birming-
ham; in fact, before recent progress had
transformed wood and dale into a busy,
| throbbing city, there are few. Among
thess Squire James Salisbury, now in his
S1styear, is referred to when one asks of
olden times. Mr.. Salisbury came to the
Souhside in 1910, and was a resi-
dent of Pittsburg from 1926 until
the former date. He is not
the Oldest resident, but from his long term
| of service in the borough Of Birmingham,
and later as alderman, he has become very
familiar with old things in the history of
this side OF the river. He was justice in
the borough from 1862 until it joined the
city in 1872, and afterward served as alder
man in the Twenty-eighth ward until two
years ago.
A NEGLECTED GRAVE.
The borough of Birmingham was organ
lied in 1927 and was very prosperous. The
second year the levy of taxes did not quite
aggregate $500, which would give some idea
of the value of real estate and the
number of inhabitants at that time. Birm-
ingham extended from Union alley (run-
ming north and south) to Sixth street. The
whole tract. for some distance up the Monon-
gahela, once belonged to Oliver Ormsby.
DR.. Bedford, who obtained the land and laid
out Birmingham borough, was an English
man. The Market House square was
donated by him to the city. He stood very
high in Masonry, and before he died built a
tomb and monument for himself at the head
v
with Masonic emblems, but the inscription
has been obliterated. He was buried in the
tomb in 1922, having died at the age of 62.
DIR. Bed lord presented the ground at the
head of Twelfth street to the Methodist
Church for q building site, with the provis-
ion that his tomb should not be disturbed
The church was built in 1S49, but, contrary
to the provision, the monument was allowed
to be cast down, and remained buried
until the property was sold to
John Nusser, as a result of dissension in
the church over this action. Mr.. Nusser
dug up the monument, and it can be seen
to-day intact except as to the inscription.
Some time ago Mr.. Bedford's English rela-
tives searched for the bones, but could not
find them. Mr.. and Mrs. Nusser knew
where they were, but would not tell, saying
that they should not be disturbed, and to-
day the remains of the founder OF the
borough of Birmingham lie in an unmarked
grave, the exact location being known only
to very few.
FIRST CHURCH AND SCHOOL.
Squire Salisbury is still true to the old
borough. He says that he does not believe
in large cities, and thinks it would have
been better for the borough had it never
Joined the city. One OF the advantages he
claims small places have over large cities is
that in small municipalities statements are
printed annually of the moneys paid out
and the work OF councils, and there is not
SO much business that the people are unable |
to keep track OF events, while under the |
larger powers of city 1t is hard to tell what |
has become of their money.
The first school house in the borough was |
built on the site of the present market |
house. The oldest church is the little build |
ing near the Bingham Street NJ. E. Church. |
It was built by the Methodists. Not long |
after it was erected they moved to the U. P. |
Church property, on the site OF the Fifteenth |
street school house, which site they bought |
from the latter congregation. Later they |
again came back to their original location |
and built the present church. The United
Presbyterian congregation built church on |
Fourteenth street on the site of the Monroe |
property, and later the present church
In the 'Squire's time Neville street (pow |
MurieD was the main thoroughfare, and |
to Sixteenth street, and terminated in race /
track, from Seventeenth to Twentieth street,
and back at the edge of the hill. Teams |
used to cross the Monongahela to Grant
street at low water, and Mrs. Salisbury re-
members we'll when an ox-roast was held by
the Democrats in 1888 on the bar in the
middle of the river, from Tenth street to the
Point. The demonstration was in celebra-
ton of Governor Porter's election.
SOME OTHER RECoLLECTIoNs.
The Sligo mills. as most readers already
know, were the first on this side of the river.
having been started in 1920. The first glass
house was the O'Hara. The first burgess of
the borough of Birmingham was Edward
Ensel Sr.
John Gallagher is another of the old resi-
-1o,a |
past. He came to Birmingham in 1916.
being babe at the time. He is now IN
his 18th year. He remembers gathering
nuts on the old hickory bottoms, afterward
as East Birmingham in 1886.
comprised ten acres
from Union alley to
Seventeenth street, and was bought
BY company who operated the old Biz
Glass Works. East Birmingham
extended from Sidneyville on up. Sarah,
Mary, Jane and Sidney streets were named
after the daughters of Oliver Ormsby, and
Wharton street after son-in-law.
Mr.. Gallagher's father was the first shoe
healer on this side of the river. As to the
oldest houses there is some disagreement.
The old English double house on Muriel
street. opposite Squire Hartman's present
residence. is an ancient dwelling. Possibly
t is the oldest landmark.
Dennis Doran, William Beck and Joseph
Mcintosh are three others among the oldest
'esidents. Dennis Doran dates his residence
back to 1S45. Mr.. Beck came to the South
de about 1887. Joseph Mcintosh has re-
ided on this side since 1925. Another of
he old citizens is Michael Ward. He has
,een here since 1886. He called to mind an
I'D story that has doubtless been told many
lines, but will still be of interest to the
younger generation.
A LOCAL GHOST STORY.
It is in regard to bit of history which