![Woman seated on car with steel mill in background, 1940s. Teenie Harris, Carnegie Museum of Art [The Pittsburgh Art Blog]
Teenie Harris, Photographer: An American Story: Heinz Galleries, CMOA, on exhibit until April 7, 2012](http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly2sirEtcB1qakblyo1_500.jpg)
Woman seated on car with steel mill in background, 1940s. Teenie Harris, Carnegie Museum of Art [The Pittsburgh Art Blog]
Teenie Harris, Photographer: An American Story: Heinz Galleries, CMOA, on exhibit until April 7, 2012
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 27, 1917
The Grand Opera House was destroyed by fire, along with other Fifth Avenue buildings, including the Frank and Seder Store. [Historic Pittsburgh]
PITTSBURG, Pa., Jan. 27 — Fire, which swept through a section of the retail business district here today, destroyed the Frank & Seder department store, the Grand Opera House, the Hilton Clothing Company and a dozen or more smaller buildings, with a loss estimated at $2,500,000. Four firemen were seriously hurt and a dozen or more so badly injured that they were removed to hospitals.
It appeared for a time as though the fire would sweep the entire square, but heavy fire walls, built in anticipation of such an eventuality, finally stayed the progress of the flames, which ate through the hundreds of tons of merchandise piled in the stricken buildings.
The fire is said to have started in the J. C. McCrory & Co. 5 and 10 cent store, soon after midnight, but gave the firemen no concern until shortly after 4 o’clock, when it had eaten its way into the Frank & Sader store. A general alarm was then turned in, but the flames, hidden from view by dense clouds of smoke, had made such progress into the adjacent buildings that they were seen to be doomed. Firemen were seriously handicapped by the intense cold, it having been necessary to carry hot water from neighboring restaurants to thaw street hydrants before streams under pressure were available.
The fire ate its way down Fifth Avenue from Smithfield Street toward Wood Street and, breaking windows in buildings across Fifth Avenue, drove scores of guests from their rooms in the Newell Hotel. [Gendisasters, Lewistown Evening Journal]
![Loew’s Theatre, 1930s (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 26, 1926
Marcus Loew announced plans to erect the largest theater in Pennsylvania, a 4000-seat house on the site of the old Hotel Anderson, Sixth and Penn, at cost of $2.5 million. [Historic Pittsburgh]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly1vlvFVJX1qakblyo1_500.png)
Loew’s Theatre, 1930s (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 26, 1926
Marcus Loew announced plans to erect the largest theater in Pennsylvania, a 4000-seat house on the site of the old Hotel Anderson, Sixth and Penn, at cost of $2.5 million. [Historic Pittsburgh]
![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 25, 1890
Journalist and Pittsburgh native Nellie Bly completed her trip around the globe in 72 days, 6 hours and 11 minutes. [Historic Pittsburgh; Wikipedia]](http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly1wnaOY4W1qakblyo1_500.png)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 25, 1890
Journalist and Pittsburgh native Nellie Bly completed her trip around the globe in 72 days, 6 hours and 11 minutes. [Historic Pittsburgh; Wikipedia]
![Children waiting for the bus, Hill District, 1951. Richard Saunders. [Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh]](http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly9s4pcTOa1qakblyo1_500.png)
Children waiting for the bus, Hill District, 1951. Richard Saunders. [Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh]
![Map of Pennsylvania’s disputed colony territory (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 24, 1774
Pennsylvania challenged Virginia’s claim to Pittsburgh by arresting Dr. John Connolly and removing him to Hannastown to stand trial. [Historic Pittsburgh]
From Len Barcousky for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (2007):
Squabbles between Virginia and Pennsylvania over which colony had jurisdiction over the region continued for more than 20 years. The dispute culminated in 1774 with a clash that saw rival militias and magistrates threatening and arresting each other.
British troops had abandoned Fort Pitt in 1772. Less than two years later, Lord Dunmore, who was Virginia’s Royal Governor, authorized a sometime-Fort Pitt resident, Dr. John Connolly, to raise a militia to take control of the frontier outpost. Dr. Connolly’s recruiting poster called for a public meeting on Jan. 25, 1774.
When Capt. Arthur St. Clair, Pennsylvania’s representative in the region, saw one of the posters, he arrested Dr. Connolly the day before the meeting. He had him jailed at Hannas Town, the county seat of the then much larger Westmoreland County. (read more)](http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly1yg9kknE1qakblyo1_500.png)
Map of Pennsylvania’s disputed colony territory (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 24, 1774
Pennsylvania challenged Virginia’s claim to Pittsburgh by arresting Dr. John Connolly and removing him to Hannastown to stand trial. [Historic Pittsburgh]
From Len Barcousky for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (2007):
Squabbles between Virginia and Pennsylvania over which colony had jurisdiction over the region continued for more than 20 years. The dispute culminated in 1774 with a clash that saw rival militias and magistrates threatening and arresting each other.
British troops had abandoned Fort Pitt in 1772. Less than two years later, Lord Dunmore, who was Virginia’s Royal Governor, authorized a sometime-Fort Pitt resident, Dr. John Connolly, to raise a militia to take control of the frontier outpost. Dr. Connolly’s recruiting poster called for a public meeting on Jan. 25, 1774.
When Capt. Arthur St. Clair, Pennsylvania’s representative in the region, saw one of the posters, he arrested Dr. Connolly the day before the meeting. He had him jailed at Hannas Town, the county seat of the then much larger Westmoreland County. (read more)
![View of Haig & Haig, Puffed Rice and Wheat, and Prince Albert Tobacco billboard advertising, 1913. Pittsburgh City Photographer Collection, Archives Service Center. [University of Pittsburgh Digital Archives]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l7bo3gQUqG1qakblyo1_500.jpg)
View of Haig & Haig, Puffed Rice and Wheat, and Prince Albert Tobacco billboard advertising, 1913. Pittsburgh City Photographer Collection, Archives Service Center. [University of Pittsburgh Digital Archives]
![Earl Wild (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 23, 2010
Pittsburgh-born classical pianist, Earl Wild, dies at the age of 94. [Historic Pittsburgh; Wikipedia]
From a profile by Andrew Druckenbrod for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (2005):
One of the titans of the 20th century pianist realm, he left in the ’30s to grab fame elsewhere. But he returned to teach at his alma mater (class of ‘37), Carnegie Mellon University, since 1992. Granted, Wild didn’t reach Vladimir Horowitz fame in his absence, but he is easily as big as other Pittsburghers in many fields who returned here to much more ballyhoo. (…) Wild’s first big gig was performing for KDKA Radio with its orchestra and doing solos, a position he landed after executives heard him give an on-air performance at age 12. (read more)](http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly15n3Wv151qakblyo1_500.jpg)
Earl Wild (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 23, 2010
Pittsburgh-born classical pianist, Earl Wild, dies at the age of 94. [Historic Pittsburgh; Wikipedia]
From a profile by Andrew Druckenbrod for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (2005):
One of the titans of the 20th century pianist realm, he left in the ’30s to grab fame elsewhere. But he returned to teach at his alma mater (class of ‘37), Carnegie Mellon University, since 1992. Granted, Wild didn’t reach Vladimir Horowitz fame in his absence, but he is easily as big as other Pittsburghers in many fields who returned here to much more ballyhoo. (…) Wild’s first big gig was performing for KDKA Radio with its orchestra and doing solos, a position he landed after executives heard him give an on-air performance at age 12. (read more)
![Monongahela House on Smithfield Street, early 1900s (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 22, 1920
B. F. Jones, Jr., of Jones and Laughlin Steel, purchased the old Monongahela House for $750,000 with the intention of converting it into an office building. [Historic Pittsburgh]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly14x7lptx1qakblyo1_500.jpg)
Monongahela House on Smithfield Street, early 1900s (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 22, 1920
B. F. Jones, Jr., of Jones and Laughlin Steel, purchased the old Monongahela House for $750,000 with the intention of converting it into an office building. [Historic Pittsburgh]
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 21, 1979
The Pittsburgh Steelers win the Super Bowl 35-31 over the Dallas Cowboys. Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw is named Super Bowl MVP. [Youtube]
New post from the Heinz History Center blog: Construction of the Civic Arena, 1958-1961. William V. Winans collection.
Woman seated on car with steel mill in background, 1940s. Teenie Harris, Carnegie Museum of Art [The Pittsburgh Art Blog]
Teenie Harris, Photographer: An American Story: Heinz Galleries, CMOA, on exhibit until April 7, 2012
![Northway Mall, north of Pittsburgh (and the first indoor mall in Pennsylvania), 1960s [Flickr]](http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyfj4kh1jT1qakblyo1_500.png)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 27, 1917
The Grand Opera House was destroyed by fire, along with other Fifth Avenue buildings, including the Frank and Seder Store. [Historic Pittsburgh]
PITTSBURG, Pa., Jan. 27 — Fire, which swept through a section of the retail business district here today, destroyed the Frank & Seder department store, the Grand Opera House, the Hilton Clothing Company and a dozen or more smaller buildings, with a loss estimated at $2,500,000. Four firemen were seriously hurt and a dozen or more so badly injured that they were removed to hospitals.
It appeared for a time as though the fire would sweep the entire square, but heavy fire walls, built in anticipation of such an eventuality, finally stayed the progress of the flames, which ate through the hundreds of tons of merchandise piled in the stricken buildings.
The fire is said to have started in the J. C. McCrory & Co. 5 and 10 cent store, soon after midnight, but gave the firemen no concern until shortly after 4 o’clock, when it had eaten its way into the Frank & Sader store. A general alarm was then turned in, but the flames, hidden from view by dense clouds of smoke, had made such progress into the adjacent buildings that they were seen to be doomed. Firemen were seriously handicapped by the intense cold, it having been necessary to carry hot water from neighboring restaurants to thaw street hydrants before streams under pressure were available.
The fire ate its way down Fifth Avenue from Smithfield Street toward Wood Street and, breaking windows in buildings across Fifth Avenue, drove scores of guests from their rooms in the Newell Hotel. [Gendisasters, Lewistown Evening Journal]
![Pittsburgh skyline along the Monongahela River, 1902 [Brady Stewart]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lydhebsrzu1qakblyo1_500.png)
Loew’s Theatre, 1930s (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 26, 1926
Marcus Loew announced plans to erect the largest theater in Pennsylvania, a 4000-seat house on the site of the old Hotel Anderson, Sixth and Penn, at cost of $2.5 million. [Historic Pittsburgh]
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 25, 1890
Journalist and Pittsburgh native Nellie Bly completed her trip around the globe in 72 days, 6 hours and 11 minutes. [Historic Pittsburgh; Wikipedia]
Children waiting for the bus, Hill District, 1951. Richard Saunders. [Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh]
Map of Pennsylvania’s disputed colony territory (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 24, 1774
Pennsylvania challenged Virginia’s claim to Pittsburgh by arresting Dr. John Connolly and removing him to Hannastown to stand trial. [Historic Pittsburgh]
From Len Barcousky for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (2007):
Squabbles between Virginia and Pennsylvania over which colony had jurisdiction over the region continued for more than 20 years. The dispute culminated in 1774 with a clash that saw rival militias and magistrates threatening and arresting each other.
British troops had abandoned Fort Pitt in 1772. Less than two years later, Lord Dunmore, who was Virginia’s Royal Governor, authorized a sometime-Fort Pitt resident, Dr. John Connolly, to raise a militia to take control of the frontier outpost. Dr. Connolly’s recruiting poster called for a public meeting on Jan. 25, 1774.
When Capt. Arthur St. Clair, Pennsylvania’s representative in the region, saw one of the posters, he arrested Dr. Connolly the day before the meeting. He had him jailed at Hannas Town, the county seat of the then much larger Westmoreland County. (read more)
View of Haig & Haig, Puffed Rice and Wheat, and Prince Albert Tobacco billboard advertising, 1913. Pittsburgh City Photographer Collection, Archives Service Center. [University of Pittsburgh Digital Archives]
Earl Wild (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 23, 2010
Pittsburgh-born classical pianist, Earl Wild, dies at the age of 94. [Historic Pittsburgh; Wikipedia]
From a profile by Andrew Druckenbrod for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (2005):
One of the titans of the 20th century pianist realm, he left in the ’30s to grab fame elsewhere. But he returned to teach at his alma mater (class of ‘37), Carnegie Mellon University, since 1992. Granted, Wild didn’t reach Vladimir Horowitz fame in his absence, but he is easily as big as other Pittsburghers in many fields who returned here to much more ballyhoo. (…) Wild’s first big gig was performing for KDKA Radio with its orchestra and doing solos, a position he landed after executives heard him give an on-air performance at age 12. (read more)
![Downtown Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, 1964 [Cardcow]](http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly1z59TuFA1qakblyo1_500.jpg)
Monongahela House on Smithfield Street, early 1900s (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 22, 1920
B. F. Jones, Jr., of Jones and Laughlin Steel, purchased the old Monongahela House for $750,000 with the intention of converting it into an office building. [Historic Pittsburgh]
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 21, 1979
The Pittsburgh Steelers win the Super Bowl 35-31 over the Dallas Cowboys. Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw is named Super Bowl MVP. [Youtube]
New post from the Heinz History Center blog: Construction of the Civic Arena, 1958-1961. William V. Winans collection.
