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Click on the map to enlarge. The Borough of West Liberty, formed in 1867 and formerly part of Lower St. Clair Township, was annexed into the City of Pittsburgh on January 6, 1908. At the time, West Liberty was divided into two distinct neighborhoods, Beechview and Brookline, with West Liberty Avenue as the dividing line. The Blue shaded area on the above map shows the original 1908 boundaries of the Community of Brookline. In 1908, Brookline was bordered by the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Beechview, Bon Air and Carrick, and the townships of Scott and Baldwin. As the City of Pittsburgh continued to expand, the community of Brookline also grew, with new territory added to the census tracts in 1916, 1930 and 1950. Three years later, the green area was annexed into the City of Pittsburgh from Baldwin Township when City Council passed Ordinance #312 on November 21, 1911. The area was already under development as a section of Brookline by the West Liberty Improvement Company even though it was still part of Baldwin.
Then, in 1930, the red area was rezoned as part of Brookline when the Borough of Overbrook was annexed into the city. This rezoning was rife with political intrigue and is a move that, to this day, causes consternation among Overbrook civic leaders. Finally, in 1947 the yellow section of the map was annexed into the city from Baldwin Township, putting an end to the growth and completing the present-day boundaries of Brookline.
<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> POLITICAL INTRIGUE SURROUNDS
CITY PARTITION After much research, we were able to come up with this explanation as to why such a significant part of Overbrook was rezoned and added to the Brookline census tract. The Overbrook area broke from Baldwin
Township in 1922 and became a distinct borough. Some of the Overbrook leaders
wanted very much to become part of the city of Pittsburgh, but the majority
of the residents continually voted down their referendums.
In the mid-1920s the area of East
Brookline began to develop quickly, and the resulting population increase was
enough to swing the vote in favor of annexation. These East Brookline voters
were overwhelmingly in favor of joining the city, and they were also very much
in favor of having their children attend Brookline Elementary School rather
than the borough's Fairhaven and Overbrook Schools. Now, the head of the borough council,
anticipating an annexation in the near future, began racking up millions of
dollars in debt making public improvements (road, sewer, electric) in the old,
established Overbrook area, believing that these debts would be assumed by
the city when the big day of union came. In a 1929/1930 referendum, another
vote was cast and the result was in favor of annexation, but the vote was
close. The long-standing Overbrook residents again voted against and, as
anticipated, the new East Brookline residents were nearly 98% in
favor. When the annexation finally occurred,
a long and bitter battle began in the courts over the city assumption of the
Overbrook Borough debt, one that would not be settled until 1954. In a
gesture of support for the East Brookline residents with regards to their
desire to attend Brookline Elementary School, the city redrew the boundaries
of the two neighborhoods, rezoning the large East Brookline tract and some
other land tracts along Breining Street, including the Anderson Farm and the
sizeable Brookdale subdivision, as part of the Brookline census
tract. Hence, Overbrook lost their claim to
East Brookline and the rest of that large tract of red territory due to
municipal bitterness over the alleged corrupt practices of the former
borough council along with the poor response of long-standing borough
residents towards the union with the city. The fact that the new East
Brookline residents overwhelmingly wanted to be part of the city of
Pittsburgh and the community of Brookline was rewarded. Call it the "Brookline/Overbrook
Border Controversy" or whatever you like. No matter what the dispute is
refered to, it is an interesting historical part of the growth of the
community of Brookline. VOTING, JUSTICE AND
SCHOOLS In related news, as far as city
wards go for voting purposes, the established part of Brookline (West
Liberty or West Brookline) remained part of Ward 19, while the new section
(East Brookline) remained part of Ward 32 along with Overbrook. When the
small yellow section was annexed in 1950 it was added to Ward
32. With regards to civil complaints
and the local District Justices, Ward 19 residents are served by the justice located on Brookline
Boulevard. Ward 32 residents are served by the justice located on Brownsville
Road. Also of interest as far as school
choice goes is that within the 1950 yellow area is a subdivision called
Highview Acres, built in the early 2000s on the hilltop across from
McNeilly Road. It is the only tract in the city where residents can choose
whether they want to go to city public schools or to suburban (in this case
Baldwin) schools. |
