Jews Hill (Pittsburgh)

Jews Hill is an obsolete colloquialism that had referred to a sprawling area of the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where many Jews lived. Several synagogues were built in the area. It of historical significance to students of the history of the city of Pittsburgh. Redevelopment of the area commenced in the 1950s and is still in progress. Most of the homesites and other structures which were intact in 1950 have been turned into dust. Vacant lots and parking lots are now common sights.

Citizens

Many Jewish merchants conducted businesses in the area. They sold clothing, notions, housewares, food, etc., and worked as tailors, etc. Soda water bottlers manufactured flavored carbonated beverages. Jews were postmen, too.

Of course, many non-Jewish people lived in the area as well. They included a wealth of European immigrants of various types.

Jewish soda water bottlers

Hutchinson Patent Stopper pop bottle of Louis Cohen and sons

The production of soda water ("pop") was carried on by Jews for about 85 years (1885-1970). They placed advertisements in R. L. Polk city directories with which their activities may be revealed and verified. Prominent amongst them were Phil Fisher, Louis Cohen, Max Solomon, Louis Marick, and A. Sigal of Acme Soda Water Co. They placed their products in bottles that were equipped with Hutchinson springs and assorted other types of bottles.

Jewish cemetery

A Jewish cemetery was located near Webster Avenue and Kirkpatrick Street,[2] but the corpses which had been buried there appear to have been removed to the Jewish cemetery that was established some miles away.

1908 Wylie Avenue

Plaque on 1908 Wylie Avenue

A Hebrew inscription above a doorway

In 1915, the Hebrew Institute of Pittsburgh constructed a building at 1908 Wylie Avenue in the heart of Jews Hill. In 1942, the structure became the meeting place for Kay Boys Club, a vaunted organization that disappeared after "gender specific" organizations became unpopular. A third group occupies the structure in 2007.

The history of the structure is written on a plaque which is attached to the front of the building.

Dinwiddie Street

Former domiciles of Jews in Pittsburgh

Homes on Dinwiddie Street were the finest on Jews Hill. Slumlords converted many of them into small apartments and single room units to rent them to poor people and others who had no use of a large home. Many buildings have been demolished, leaving vacant lots where they had existed.

Large Catholic churches preponderate

1902 Catholic church on the corner of Centre Avenue and Washington Place

Around the beginning of the twentieth century, a number of large preponderating Catholic church were constructed in Pittsburgh. All of them still exist. Two were built along Centre Avenue right smack dab in the middle of "Jews Hill." Currently, the one built in 1902 is called Epiphany. The other has been turned over to "Blacks" and is called Saint Benedict the Moor. An effort is being made to present the area as a "cultural center" of "African Americans."

The influences of Catholics predominates in the city of Pittsburgh at this time (2007). Other groups of religious citizens, Jews amongst them, are less active and less visible.

Gallery

• 
  A Star of David on the eastern face of this building
• 
  72 Miller Street was a synagogue in 1920 [1]
• 
  A former synagogue at 25 Miller Street
• 
  Former Russian church on Reed Street
• 
  Former Union Hall at 35 Miller Street
• 
  Maltreated carved stone on Union Hall
• 
  Old grade school on Miller Street
• 
  Landmark plaque on old grade school
• 
  Hebrew lettering on 1908 Wylie Avenue
• 
  Razing of structures
• 
  Surviving old structures in August, 2007
• 
  Rubble near the present synagogue
• 
  Old marble Irene Kaufmann settlements is the most architecturally significant building on the hill