Market Square is a public space located in Downtown Pittsburgh at the intersection of Forbes Avenue (originally named Diamond Way in colonial times) and Market Street. The square was home to the first courthouse, first jail (both in 1795) and the first newspaper (1786) west of the Atlantic Plain, the Pittsburgh Gazette. A public/private modernization in the late 2000s has re-established the square as a social and cultural hub.[2] A great number of restaurants, ranging from fast casual to fine dining, cafes and retailers occupy ground level buildings immediately facing the square, while housing units and offices occupy upper levels.[3]
George Woods and Thomas Vickroy, while creating the city block plan for streets in Pittsburgh's core, created Market Square in 1784. It was known originally as "Diamond Square" or "Diamond Market" for the Scotch-Irish idiom "Diamond" representing a public commons or square.[4]
Seat of governmentedit
By the mid-1790s, the first Allegheny County Courthouse was constructed in Market Square.[4] It was occupied until 1836 when construction was completed on a Grant Street complex several blocks away.
On July 8, 1794, the newly formed "borough" of Pittsburgh established a "Public Market House and Stalls" on the eastern half of the square. It also was the site of the original city hall for the borough and then city of Pittsburgh until May 22, 1872 when the second city hall opened at Oliver and Smithfield. The Courthouse was abandoned at the square in 1836 after the completion of a new county seat, and sold to private interests at auction on August 11, 1841.[6]
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Market Square provided a central location in the city, hosting much social and economic activity.[7] By the mid-1970s, however, Market Square was in a state of decline resulting from increased traffic, crime and business closures. Preservationists and the city of Pittsburgh designated the area a historic landmark in an attempt to retain the square's crumbling architecture and style.[7]
21st Centuryedit
Major renovation work began in August 2009 to transform the square into a European-style piazza, completely reopening in late 2010.[8] All vehicle traffic was diverted around the square to increase pedestrian-friendliness, and more outdoor seating was provided.[9] Nearby, new apartments, condominiums and office space with ground-level retail have been fitted into historic buildings.[10] Renovations accelerated growth of Market Square, and numerous restaurants opened in 2011, further increasing social activity within the square.[11]
Festivals and eventsedit
Market Square is a frequent location for local events and celebrations, including a farmers' market held every Thursday and a Christmas village.[12] The square also holds many temporary non-repeating events; as an example, in the lead up to the reviving of an airline route between Pittsburgh International and London Heathrow, British Airways launched a promotional British-style telephone booth in the square where locals were able to enter raffles and competitions for free flights and other prizes.[13]
^(PDF). City of Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-01-08. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
^Market Square Informational Website, published by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. Accessed 7 February 2012.
^Market Square Attractions 2012-01-22 at the Wayback Machine, published by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
^ abMarket Square History 2011-10-28 at the Wayback Machine, published by Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership with content from Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
^The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania History 2013-10-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
^Information obtained from legal proceeding involving Market Square, filed 2 October 1950. Retrieved via internet 7 February 2012.
^ abSmith, Brady; HJ Heinz History Center (8 December 2011). "Let's Learn From the Past: Market Square". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
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Market Square is a public space located in Downtown Pittsburgh at the intersection of Forbes Avenue originally named Diamond Way in colonial times and Market Street The square was home to the first courthouse first jail both in 1795 and the first newspaper 1786 west of the Atlantic Plain the Pittsburgh Gazette A public private modernization in the late 2000s has re established the square as a social and cultural hub 2 A great number of restaurants ranging from fast casual to fine dining cafes and retailers occupy ground level buildings immediately facing the square while housing units and offices occupy upper levels 3 Market SquareCity of Pittsburgh Historic DistrictPittsburgh Landmark PHLFMarket SquareLocationMarket Square in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USABuilt founded1890sCPHD designatedDecember 28 1992 1 PHLF designated2009 Contents 1 History 1 1 Seat of government 1 2 Presbyterian Convention 1 3 20th Century 1 4 21st Century 2 Festivals and events 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editGeorge Woods and Thomas Vickroy while creating the city block plan for streets in Pittsburgh s core created Market Square in 1784 It was known originally as Diamond Square or Diamond Market for the Scotch Irish idiom Diamond representing a public commons or square 4 Seat of government edit By the mid 1790s the first Allegheny County Courthouse was constructed in Market Square 4 It was occupied until 1836 when construction was completed on a Grant Street complex several blocks away On December 7 1791 the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania gaveled in its very first session at the square 5 On July 8 1794 the newly formed borough of Pittsburgh established a Public Market House and Stalls on the eastern half of the square It also was the site of the original city hall for the borough and then city of Pittsburgh until May 22 1872 when the second city hall opened at Oliver and Smithfield The Courthouse was abandoned at the square in 1836 after the completion of a new county seat and sold to private interests at auction on August 11 1841 6 Presbyterian Convention edit On May 26 1858 the city hall courthouse was the host of the conference of Presbyterians that led to the merger forming the United Presbyterian Church of North America citation needed 20th Century edit nbsp Nicholas Coffee Co located in Market SquareThroughout the 19th and 20th centuries Market Square provided a central location in the city hosting much social and economic activity 7 By the mid 1970s however Market Square was in a state of decline resulting from increased traffic crime and business closures Preservationists and the city of Pittsburgh designated the area a historic landmark in an attempt to retain the square s crumbling architecture and style 7 21st Century edit Major renovation work began in August 2009 to transform the square into a European style piazza completely reopening in late 2010 8 All vehicle traffic was diverted around the square to increase pedestrian friendliness and more outdoor seating was provided 9 Nearby new apartments condominiums and office space with ground level retail have been fitted into historic buildings 10 Renovations accelerated growth of Market Square and numerous restaurants opened in 2011 further increasing social activity within the square 11 Festivals and events editMarket Square is a frequent location for local events and celebrations including a farmers market held every Thursday and a Christmas village 12 The square also holds many temporary non repeating events as an example in the lead up to the reviving of an airline route between Pittsburgh International and London Heathrow British Airways launched a promotional British style telephone booth in the square where locals were able to enter raffles and competitions for free flights and other prizes 13 See also editMellon SquareReferences edit Market Square City Designated Historic District PDF City of Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission Archived from the original PDF on 2010 01 08 Retrieved 2010 01 06 Market Square Informational Website published by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership Accessed 7 February 2012 Market Square Attractions Archived 2012 01 22 at the Wayback Machine published by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership Retrieved 7 February 2012 a b Market Square History Archived 2011 10 28 at the Wayback Machine published by Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership with content from Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Retrieved 7 February 2012 The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania History Archived 2013 10 02 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 7 February 2012 Information obtained from legal proceeding involving Market Square filed 2 October 1950 Retrieved via internet 7 February 2012 a b Smith Brady HJ Heinz History Center 8 December 2011 Let s Learn From the Past Market Square Pittsburgh Post Gazette Pittsburgh Retrieved 7 February 2012 Boren Jeremy 25 August 2010 Market Square reopens businesses eager for patrons Pittsburgh Tribune Review Pittsburgh Retrieved 7 February 2012 permanent dead link Market Square s 5M Renovation to Begin Aug 1 News Story WPXI Pittsburgh Archived from the original on 2011 06 07 Retrieved 2009 06 22 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2010 12 06 Retrieved 2009 06 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link On the Menu A humming dining scene gave Pittsburghers lots of great new tastes in 2011 Pittsburgh Post Gazette Market Square Pittsburgh Visit Pittsburgh 2020 03 06 Retrieved 2021 03 31 After 20 Years British Airways Returns To Pittsburgh Offering Non Stop Flights To London 2019 03 27 Retrieved 2021 03 31 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Market Square Pittsburgh Official Market Square Merchants Association Website Official Website from Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership Official Blog 40 26 26 N 80 00 09 W 40 440669 N 80 002547 W 40 440669 80 002547 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Market Square Pittsburgh amp oldid 1160154110, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
