William Penn Snyder House

The William Penn Snyder House is an historic building, which is located at 850-854 Ridge Avenue^[4][5] in the Allegheny West neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

William Penn Snyder House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
City of Pittsburgh Historic Structure
Pittsburgh Landmark – PHLF
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Location	852 Ridge Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Coordinates	40°27′1.08″N 80°0′57″W / 40.4503000°N 80.01583°W / 40.4503000; -80.01583
Built	1911
Architect	George Orth and Brother
Architectural style	French Renaissance Revival, Renaissance Revival
NRHP reference No.	76001599^[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	May 3, 1976^[1]
Designated CPHS	March 15, 1974^[2]
Designated PHLF	1972^[3]

A three-story, late French Renaissance-style brownstone, which was built on "Millionaire's Row" in 1911 at a cost of $450,000,^[6] it was described by The Pittsburgh Press in 1976 as "the city's sole example of the small 'town palace.'"^[7]

Presently more than a century old, the building was added to the List of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks in 1972,^[3] the List of City of Pittsburgh historic designations on March 15, 1974,^[2] and the National Register of Historic Places on May 3, 1976.^[1]

History

Designed for iron industry millionaire William Penn Snyder^[8] by George Orth, with construction beginning in 1911,^[9][10] the William Penn Snyder House was completed in early January 1912,^[11] and received significant media coverage of its opening when the Penn family hosted a combined housewarming for their new residence and a debutantes' ball in honor of their daughter on January 19, 1912.^[12]

The William Penn Snyder House was added to the List of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks in 1972,^[3] the List of City of Pittsburgh historic designations on March 15, 1974,^[2] and the National Register of Historic Places on May 3, 1976.^[1]

Located in the historic, Pittsburgh neighborhood of Allegheny West, the home was proposed for inclusion in a new city historic district by the Pittsburg Historic Review Commission at its meeting in early September 1989.^[13]

Present day

Babb, Inc., an insurance brokerage firm currently owns and occupies the building.

Gallery

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  William Penn Snyder (1861–1921)

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. "Local Historic Designations". Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
3. Historic Landmark Plaques 1968-2009 (PDF). Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
4. "7 City Structures Labeled Historic." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 5, 1974, p. 13 (subscription required).
5. "7 City Structures Gain Historic Status." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, March 21, 1973, p. 31 (subscription required).
6. Carlin, Margie. "Allegheny West ... Eight Blocks Of Old-Fashioned Charm." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, p. 27 of pp. 24-27.(subscription required).
7. "North Side Snyder House Listed As Historic Site." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, June 27, 1976, p. 106 (subscription required).
8. McHugh, Roy. "Doomed By Divine Providence." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, December 12, 1976, p. 2 (subscription required).
9. "7 City Structures Gain Historic Status," The Pittsburgh Press, March 21, 1973.
10. "Theater Party and Supper." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, November 25, 1911, p. 12 (subscription required).
11. "Society." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Daily Post, December 31, 1911, p. 12 (subscription required).
12. "Brilliant Ball," in "Society." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, January 20, 1912, p. 12 (subscription required).
13. "City panel OKs Allegheny West historic district; council to vote." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, September 9, 1989, p. 7 (subscription required).