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Nancy Palmieri and Maggie on Fort Squirrel Hill
1863. As General Robert E. Lee advances north, near panic erupts in Pittsburgh and Allegheny.
1461 men suspend business in factories, shops and mines to build Fort Squirrel Hill. Thousands more built other fortifications to secure the three rivers.
Had the Redcoats made it to our 3 rivers, history would be different and the dirt forts would remain as monuments. Instead we have only maps or markers to indicate their existence.
Though the old dirt forts are long gone, their locations can be found on historic maps. From strategic locations with impressive views, generals could see the advancing enemy along the river, some of the best views in all of Pittsburgh.
When the history is not preserved in books, the best source is often the oral history of folks whose families have lived in the area for generations.
I was lucky enough to find Nancy Palmieri and her dog Maggie. Nancy has lived in the neighborhood of Fort Squirrel Hill for 34 years and her family for longer than that.
Nancy has graciously agreed to be our tour guide for this article and subsequent articles as we explore the history of Fort Squirrel Hill.
Pointing to the house across the street, Nancy said, “That’s where they watered the horses. There is a spring inside the neighbor’s house and there are mines up here, too. The fort was up here because of the way they could see the river.”
Nancy showed me paths and stairways that connect up and down the hills throughout the neighborhood. They were used for both pedestrians and horses. In the Fifties when her husband was growing up there were still Indian arrow heads to be found, but those have been discovered by now.
Today old Fort Squirrel Hill is a cohesive neighborhood. Neighbors look out for each other. Many owners have been there for generations. Their children have come back and restored the family homesteads. It’s just a nice place to live.
Down below you can see 2nd Street. Marion Train Station was below the Fort. Nancy pointed out where the turntable was located. “Damien and Company is there now,” she said.
We walked past signs for Hazelwood Greenway. “After the fort was torn down, there was coal mining up here. A lot of people were killed, due to gasses. Stay away from that pond,” she warned. That’s a mineshaft.”
We hope you enjoy the slideshow. Nancy and Maggie promise lots more interesting scenery from Old Fort Squirrel Hill.
July 4, 1776 Squirrel Hill Simon Girty & family owned most of Squirrel Hill - history forgets!
Simon Girty of Squirrel Hill labled traitor for defecting
European settlers captured by Indians had to run the gauntlet - a long avenue of whips
Comments
I've been around the Squirrel Hill area for decades and thought I'd heard everything, but I've never heard any reference to Fort Squirrel Hill. My grown son is something of a local history buff, too, so this is a real surprise. It's great to learn something new, thanks.
There is also an area at Arlington Avenue and Sterling Street called "the fort." This was also a Civil War fort. It is now a playground.
Fort Squirrel was mentioned in an article in the Nov-2011 issue of The Valley Mirror newspaper...in a feature which was titled "SAGA OF CAMP COPELAND". For a xerox copy, drop a note to
Bryant Schmude
c/o PA TROLLEY RR
#1 Museum Road
Washington, PA 15301...
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