West Liberty Avenue (1915)

Homes just north of Brookside Avenue in March, 1915.
A cluster of West Liberty Avenue homes, just north of Brookside Avenue, in March 1915.

The West Liberty Avenue improvement project of 1915-1916 was one of the biggest efforts yet by the City of Pittsburgh to modernize the newly annexed communities of Brookline and Beechview. West Liberty Avenue was the central artery through what was once West Liberty Borough. Heading north towards the city line at Dormont from Warrington Avenue, the community of Brookline stood on the eastern side and Beechview was to the west.

The project involved laying new sewers and other infrastructure improvements, widening the roadway from two to four lanes, upgrading the existing streetcar line and the installation of new sidewalks and lighting. Shown here are a random collection of images beginning in March of 1915.

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March 1915

Looking north from near the city line
towards the Brookline Junction.    Homes near the city line, looking north
towards Wenzell Avenue.
Looking north from the city line near Stapleton Street (left), and homes on the Beechview side.
West Liberty Elementary School, on Pioneer Avenue, is visible at the top of the left photo.

 

Homes along the Brookline side near the city line.    A West Liberty Avenue home near Stapleton Avenue.
Homes along the Brookline side near Stapleton Avenue and the city line.

 

Looking north from near the city line
at Beechview homes along West Liberty
Avenue and Wenzell Avenue.    Looking south at Beechview homes
along West Liberty Avenue. The first
home is the Beinhauer Funeral Home.
Looking north from the city line at Beechview homes along West Liberty Avenue and Wenzell Avenue (left), and looking
south from the Brookline Junction. The building in the forefront is Beinhauer's Funeral Home and family residence.

 

Looking north towards the Brookline Junction.    Surveyors working at the Brookline Junction.
Looking north from the city line towards the Brookline Junction (left) and surveyors working at the junction.

 

Looking south from the Brookline Junction towards Dormont.    Boys sit on a stack of wood near the Brookline Junction.
Looking south from the Brookline Junction towards Dormont (left) and two boys sitting on a stack of wood, watching the
construction of the West Liberty Avenue sewer line. By 1915 the junction had become a busy traffic intersection.

 

The Pittsburgh Coal Company Power Plant
at the Brookline Junction.    An outbound trolley approaches Belle Isle Avenue.
The Pittsburgh Coal Company power plant at the Brookline Junction (left) and a trolley approaching Belle Isle Avenue. The
power plant was no longer in operation and would be demolished to make room for the wide intersection at the junction.

 

The intersection of Saranac Avenue.    Workers across from the intersection
with Belle Isle Avenue.
A load of pipes sit at the intersection with Saranac Avenue (left) and workers across from Belle Isle Avenue.
The men on the right are standing by the entrance to the present-day Wendy's restaurant.

 

A billboard advertising homes in Robinson
Place off of Belle Isle Avenue.    A home near Belle Isle Avenue.
A billboard advertising new seven-room homes in Robinson Place (left) and a home near Belle Isle Avenue.

 

A view of homes between Belle Isle and Pauline Avenue.    Approaching Pauline Avenue.
Homes between Saranac Avenue and Pauline Avenue (left) and a view of the roadway approaching Pauline.

 

a home at the intersection with Pauline Avenue.    The roadway approaching the intersection with Ray Avenue.
A home at the intersection with Pauline Avenue (left) and a view of the roadway approaching Ray Avenue.

 

Flanders General Store across from Ray Avenue.    A laundry at the intersection with Ray Avenue.
Pedestrian traffic near Flander's General Store (left), and a laundry (right), at the intersection with Ray Avenue.

 

Homes north of Ray Avenue on the Beechview side.
Beechview homes north of Ray Avenue near the bend leading to Capital Avenue.

 

A wagon heading southbound from near
Capital Avenue towards Ray Avenue.    The Beltzhoover home at the bend leading to Capital Avenue.
Looking north towards the intersection with Capital Avenue (left) and the Beltzhoover home at the bend leading to
Capital. The Beltzhoover residence was one of the many homes set to be demolished during the reconstruction.

 

The Car Stop at the intersection with Capital Avenue.    The walking board sideway across from Stetson Street.
The Car Stop at the intersection with Capital Avenue (left) and the walking board sidewalk across from Stetson Street.

 

Traffic approaching Stetson Street.    The intersection with Stetson Street.
Wagon and trolley traffic approaching the intersection with Stetson Street. The streetcar is at the Stetson Car Stop.

 

Looking south at homes between Stetson
Street and Cape May Avenue.    The roadway looking south from near Stetson
Street towards Capital Avenue.
Looking south at homes near Stetson Street (left) and a view of the roadway looking south towards Capital Avenue.

 

Homes across from Stetson Street.
Beechview homes along the hillside across from Stetson Street.

 

A view from Stetson Street to Cape May Avenue.    Bupp Contractor and Builders across from Cape May Avenue
A view from Stetson Street to Cape May Avenue (left) and Bupp Contractor and Builder across from Cape May.

 

A view from Cape May north towards Brookside.    A view from Sauter Place south towards Brookside.
Two views towards Brookside, one from Cape May northwards (left) and the other from Sauter Place southwards.

 

Homes above West Liberty Avenue at Brookside.    A view from Brookside north towards Sauter Place.
Homes above West Liberty Avenue at Brookside (left) and a view from Brookside north towards Sauter Place.

 

Travellers pass Sauter Place heading towards Pioneer Avenue    A traveler heading towards Warrington
approaches the Pioneer Avenue intersection.
Travelers passing Sauter Place (left) and Pioneer Avenue (right) heading towards Warrington Avenue.

 

Workers rest near Pioneer Avenue.    A view south towards Pioneer Avenue from Warrington.
Workers rest near Pioneer Avenue (left) and a view south towards Pioneer from Warrington Avenue.

 

A man stands at the Pioneer Avenue intersection.    A view from Pioneer Avenue north towards Warrington.
A man stands at the Pioneer Avenue intersection (left) and a view from Pioneer to Warrington Avenue.

 

Wagons near Warrington Avenue.    A wagon full of gravel near Warrington Avenue.
Wagons loaded with construction materials near Warrington Avenue.

 

A home at the intersection of West Liberty Avenue and
Warrington Avenue. The view is south towards Pioneer.    The facade of the home at the corner
of West Liberty Avenue and Warrington.
Two views of a home that stood at the intersection of West Liberty Avenue and Warrington Avenue. This home stood
in the path of the proposed new sewer line and would have to be moved in the upcoming months.

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April 1915

Workers near the Brookline Junction.    Workers near the Brookline Junction.
Workers near the Brookline Junction. The photo on the left shows the Knowlson Methodist Church, the oldest in Brookline.

 

Sewer line work near Belle Isle Avenue.    Sewer line work near Belle Isle Avenue.
Sewer line work near Belle Isle Avenue.

 

A Marion Steam Shovel near Belle Isle Avenue.
One of the big Marion Steam Shovels of Booth and Flinn Construction working near Belle Isle Avenue.

 

Sewer work near Brookside Avenue.    Sewer work near Brookside Avenue.
Sewer work near Brookside Avenue. The billboard advertises "Beautiful Homes" in Brookline, only eight minutes away.

 

Workers in the sewer trench near Brookside Avenue.    A home north of Brookside Avenue.
Workers in a sewer trench near Brookside Avenue (left) and a home between Brookside and Sauter Place.

 

A home nestled under the Pioneer Avenue hillside
north of Brookside Avenue near Sauter Place.
A home nestled next to the Pioneer Avenue hillside, north of Brookside Avenue near the Sauter Place plan.
The hillside home is along the lower end of Pioneer Avenue and is still standing today.

 

A wagon stands alone across from Sauter Place.    The sewer trench ran right under the porch
of the Shaffner home at Pioneer Avenue.
A wagon stands alone across from Sauter Place (left) and the sewer trench running under the porch of the Shaffner home.

 

The Shaffner home just north of Pioneer Avenue.    The West Liberty Hotel at the
intersection with Warrington Avenue.
The Shaffner home near Pioneer Avenue (left) and the West Liberty Hotel at the intersection with Warrington Avenue.

 

Work on the new sewer near Warrington Avenue.    Work on the new sewer near Warrington Avenue.
Work on the new sewer line near the intersection with Warrington Avenue. In the path of the line is the Warrington home
that needs to be moved out of the way to get to Saw Mill Run creek. The home was put on bricks and moved to the right.

 

Work on the new sewer near Warrington Avenue.    Work on the new sewer near Warrington Avenue.
Work on the new sewer line near the intersection with Warrington Avenue.

 

A view of the sewer line looking towards Pioneer Avenue.    The home that stood in the path of the
sewer line was moved out of the way.
A view of the sewer line looking towards Pioneer Avenue (left); The home that stood in the path of the sewer was moved.

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May 1915

The church at the Brookline Junction.    The Oyer home just south of the Brookline Junction.
The old Knowlson Methodist Church (left) and the Oyer home near the Brookline Junction.

 

The new sewer line near Cape May Avenue.    A Marion shovel trenching near Sauter Place.
The new sewer line near Cape May (left) and ongoing trench work near Sauter Place.

 

Trench work near Sauter Place.    The new sewer near Pioneer Avenue.
Trench work near Sauter Place (left) and an engineer stands in the new sewer line north of Pioneer Avenue.

 

Homes in Sauter Place, under the Pioneer Avenue hillside.
A home in the Sauter Place plan, just under the Pioneer Avenue hillside.

 

The new sewer near Warrington Avenue.    Theo Lau's produce store at Warrington Avenue.
Engineers stand in the new sewer line (left) and Theo Lau's produce store at Warrington Avenue.

 

The sewer line stretches from Pioneer Avenue to Warrington.    The wagon works near Warrington Avenue.
The sewer line stretches from Pioneer Avenue to Warrington (left) and the wagon works at the intersection.

 

The Shaffner home is a staging area for the work.    Looking towards end of the sewer
line at Saw Mill Run Creek.
A staging area next to the Shaffner home (left) and the sewer line approaches Saw Mill Run Creek.

 

Green and Evans Lumber Company.    The end of the sewer line.
The Green and Evans Lumber Company at the intersection with Warrington Avenue (left) and the end of the sewer line.
The hillside in the distance, once a quarry, will be the spot where the Liberty Tunnels are cut.

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July 1915

West Liberty Avenue at the Brookline Junction.    Workers installing the new streetcar tracks.
Construction work at the Brookline Junction.

 

A view from the Brookline Junction towards Dormont.    Kerr's Practical Horseshoeing and Wagon Building.
A view from the Brookline Junction towards Dormont (left) and Kerr's Practical Horseshoeing and Wagon Building.

 

Sewer line work near Pauline Avenue.    Sewer line work north of Stetson Street.
Work on the sewer line near Pauline Avenue (left) and north of Stetson Street.

 

Dooley's Meat Market at Stetson Street.    Homes north of Stetson Street.
Dooley's Meat Market at Stetson Street (left) and homes north of Stetson on the Beechview side.

 

Homes between Stetson Street and Cape May Avenue.    Sewer line work between Stetson
Street and Cape May Avenue.
Homes (left) and sewer line work (right) between Stetson Street and Cape May Avenue.

 

A view from Pioneer Avenue to Warrington Avenue.
A view from Pioneer Avenue towards the intersection with Warrington Avenue.

 

A brick worker sits on a pile of bricks near Cape May.    Construction workers near Brookside Avenue.
A brick layer sits on a pile of bricks near Cape May Avenue (left) and workers near Brookside Avenue.

 

Brick layers work just south of Brookside Avenue.    Construction workers near Sauter Place.
Construction workers near Brookside Avenue (left) and Sauter Place.

 

Wagons await a load of gravel near Sauter Place.    Wagons await a load of gravel near Sauter Place.
Wagons await a load of gravel near Sauter Place.

 

The railroad tressel at Pioneer Avenue.    The Shaffner home near Pioneer Avenue.
The railroad tressel (left) and the Shaffner home (right) at Pioneer Avenue.

 

A trolley car towing supplies and a Kaufmann's
wagon near the Warrington Avenue intersection.    Elijah Lee's Horseshoeing and Wagon Building.
A special trolley car towing construction materials and a Kaufmann's Delivery wagon (left) and
Elijah Lee's Horseshoeing and Wagon Building near the intersection with Warrington Avenue.

 

An old man sits near an outhouse by Warrington Avenue.    A boy stands next to the end of the sewer
line at Saw Mill Run Creek.
A man sits near an outhouse (left) and a boy stands at the end of the sewer line, near Warrington Avenue.

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August 1915

A view from the city line towards the Brookline Junction.    A home near Stapleton Avenue and the city line.
A view from the city line towards the Brookline Junction, showing West Liberty Avenue homes.

 

A view from the Brookline Junction towards Dormont.    A South Hills Ice Company wagon being
repaired at Kerr's blacksmith shop.
A view from the Brookline Junction towards Dormont (left) and a South Hills Ice Company wagon being repaired at Kerr's.

 

Traffic at the Belle Isle Avenue intersection.    Construction work and busy traffic from Belle
Isle Avenue through to Pauline Avenue.
It's a busy construction and traffic day from Belle Isle Avenue through to Pauline Avenue.

 

Workers laying the streetcar tracks.    A home at the intersection with Pauline Avenue.
Workers toil on the streetcar tracks (left) and the home at the intersection with Pauline Avenue.

 

Roadwork from Pauline Avenue north towards Ray Avenue    A laundry at the intersection at Ray Avenue.
Roadwork from Pauline Avenue north towards Capital Avenue (left) and a laundry located at Ray Avenue.

 

Work on a gas line near Capital Avenue.    Traffic passes Stetson Street.
Work on a gas line near Capital Avenue (left) and traffic passing Stetson Street.

 

Looking north from Stetson to Cape May.    A view from Cape May looking south towards Stetson.
A view looking north from Stetson towards Cape May (left) and the reverse angle, from Cape May south towards Stetson.

 

A view looking north from Brookside to Sauter Place.    A home at the Sauter Place intersection.
A view looking north from Brookside Avenue to Sauter Place (left) and a home at the intersection with Sauter Place.

 

Trench work continues south of Pioneer Avenue.    The intersection with Pioneer Avenue, looking north.
Trench work continues south of Pioneer Avenue (left) and a view of the Pioneer Avenue intersection, looking north.

 

Looking north from Pioneer Avenue
towards Warrington Avenue.    Looking south towards Pioneer Avenue
from Warrington Avenue.
Two views of the Pioneer Avenue intersection, looking north towards Warrington (left) and south from Warrington.

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A view looking south towards the
Brookside Avenue intersection.
A view looking south towards the Brookside Avenue intersection in April, 1915.

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