Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-04
HOMES OF THE PAST,
Some Beautiful Old Time
Country Seats That Are
Now a Memory.
THEIR NAMES STILL LIVE.
4 Famous Indian Chief Once Spread
His Wigwam at Guyasuta.
sTORYOF THE SCHENLEY MANSION.
Natures Lavish Gifts to Stately seuthsids
Residences
sTORYoF THE sCHENLEY MANSION.
Natures Lavish Gifts to Stately seuthside
ResidenceL
DEER CREEK is YET 4 SUMNER JOY


these places are still in existence. The best
known, perhaps, of the old estates Is Guya.
Euta, the home of Mrs William Darling
ton, who was Miss O'Hara The place took
its name from Guyasuta, the famous Indian
chieftain, prominent in Pontiac's war and
whose grave is beneath q spreading oak
tree in one part of the grounds Not q
hundred yards west of the house beneath q
Iplintered walnut tree tradition SAYS Guya-
Buta had a wigwam.
The house is of brick, painted gray, with
wide halls and porches and great stately
looking rooms filled with heirlooms. 1t
contains the most complete historical library
in the State and the finest private conser-
vatory about Pittsburg The approach to
the house is by a sylvan avenue
several hundred yards in length
The estate contains over 200 acres
and has been in the O'Hara family
for century. Guyasuta station takes its
name from the estate.
The PIcnics on the Meadow,
Adjoining the Darlingtons is the old
Ross place. What is now Ross Grove was
originally part of the estate of Mr.. James
Ross who owned about 1000 acres in that
section. He built substantial mansion on
the grounds, which was called 1.-The Mead
ows." The property has of late been
rented to strangers. Just at present it is
used as picnic house. 1t won its name
from the character OF the land.
Colonel Croghan. Mrs. Schenley's father,
built and named "Picnic" the old Schenley
mansion that stands in the midst of 150
acres of woodland out Stanton avenue. 1t
was considered in his time a place of
prlncely magni6cence and even now a very
impressive building. 1t is of brick, three
stories high, painted dark brown, and is sur
rounded bv wide colonnaded piazzas In
the rear is the one-story structure occupied
by Colonel Croghan while erecting the
main building He died before it was en-
tirely completed. 1t was occupied by Mrs
Schenley and her husband while the estate
was being settled up, and again for few
months on Mrs. Schenley's attaining her
msjority. Since then for 80 years it has
been unoccupied, but faithful attendant
still keeps 1t Just as it was left, and ready
al moments notice to receive the family.
The First Fine Country Seat.
The Ormsbys, one of the Oldest Pittsburg
families, had the first fine country seat in
the region. 1t was on the Southside, and
was known as the Ormsbv Place. Mr. John
Ormsby, an officer in the Revolutionary
War, with his daughter, resided in it. The
Southslde was then almost an unbroken
wilderness, and the house was surrounded
by grounds that owed their beauty to no
other landscape gardener than nature.
Whitehall was built by Mrs. Sara Collins,
widow OF Thomas Collins, ESQ.,, who, as her
portrait by Sully bears witness, WAS
beauty as well as q social leader and at
tracted to their home all the distinguished
visitors to the city. She entertained Daniel
Webster on one of his visits here. The
house was white and stood in the midst of a
grove OF 19 acres and had fine conserva-
tories. Porches on both floors made pleas
ant lounging places for the afternoon when
it was the custom of the ladies of the house
to repair to them with their fancy work.
A TIace of Ideal Beauty.
A number of other fine old fashioned
homes were grouped near Mrs. Collins
Across from it, after his marriage to her
daughter, the late Judge Wilson McCand-
less, OF the Supreme Court build Ali
quippa, another celebrated country seat.
Aliquippa was place of ideal beauty. It
had wide porches, gables aud bay windows,
and in the summer was covered with flow |
ing ylnes from which the odor of roses
and honeysuckles were waited. The spa-
cious grounds were marked on three sides |
by poplar trees, while the river ran along |
the fourth. Private pleasure boats |
showed the family taste for the |
water. Aliquippa, like its neighbor, |
Whitehall did a great deal of entertaining. |
The Supreme Court Judges and all the iu-
dicial or political dignitaries of the day |
were entertained by its master and mistress
d Judge McCandless so named the place be-
cause Washington crossed the Allegheny
~ +lnara
quippa, after having been the guest of
George Croghan.
Still standing at Penn avenue and Fifty
second street is Echo, the one-time home of
Mrs. Mowry, daughter of Judge Addison,
whose tombstone is one of the Oldest and
Quaintest of those still standing in Trinity
churchyard 1t is a two-story, double brick
house, and was SO named on account of q
real or imaginary echo.
On ground that now forms part of the
Allegheny Cemetery stood the home of |
Richard Biddell, Esq, the once famous
l'ittSburg lawyer. The house, which was
burned many years ago, was called the
Knoll although it was built in ravine.
Richard Biddell. Jr., and the wife of Rev.
John Hall McIlvane, of the Church of the
Ascension, New York, are children of the
owner Of the Knoll.
Another o. the many pretty places in the
arlStocraile colony in the Eighteenth ward
was ard Is Elm Cottage, now the home of
MRS. Mary B. Foster, sister-in-law of the
y on Morrlson B. Foster and of Stephen C.
oster, the song writer. The place was
Oult by Judge Trevanion Dallas,
whose relative, Judge George NJ Dallas,
vas vice President with Polk. Judge
Ieorge Dallas was the father of the George
VI -Dallas, OF Philadelphia, recently ap-
pointed to the Court of Appeals by Presi-
lent Harrison The house is a story and a
lalf high, covered with vines, surrounded
'y trees and furnished tastefully. 1t is one
u the most charming places about Pitts.
burg.
Farther out of the CITY in the early mart
IF the century Judge Wilkins built his
country seat, Homewood, from which |
= omewood station has taken its name.
luuge wilkins was a prominent LAWYER.
United States District Judge, Secretary of
under President Tyler and Minister to |
Russia His wife was a great beauty and a
lister Of Vice President George NJ. Dallas
The house was in the colonial style, with
oity porehes and imposing pillars 1t
1000 IN the middle of park of GOO acres
nd was always filled with guests The
uburb OF tie city now known as Home
rood stands on what were Judge wilkins, ,
rounds. he had five children to inherit j
is wealth, and although the house still 7
lands IS 1t was tine estate has been sold. !
he house was bought by the Cclemana 8
Mrs James Hutchison, Judge Wilkins \
aughter, occupied an estate adjoining. 1t I
as called Gums place and the deserted t
lansiOn may still be seen in Homewood, q o