On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 15, 1951 

The Panthers open legendary Fitzgerald Field House with a victory over Columbia. The arena will serve the city for 51 seasons. [Wikipedia; Historic Pittsburgh] 

(via thepittsburghhistoryjournal)

On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 13, 1948

Carnegie Tech announces a $4 million building and renovation program in a move to relieve overcrowding. [Historic Pittsburgh; Explore PA History] 

(via thepittsburghhistoryjournal)

Fort Duquesne Bridge, Pittsburgh, 1964 

On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 12, 1964 

A 21-year-old Pitt chemistry major drives a 1959 Chrysler station wagon off the end of the unfinished Ft. Duquesne Bridge and lands unhurt, making world news, comedy shows and D.J. Rege Cordic. [Wikipedia]

(via thepittsburghhistoryjournal)

On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 11, 1944 

Thousands of Monday night Christmas shoppers were stranded Downtown by a 15-inch snowfall; all hotels were filled to capacity and lobbies were pressed into service as shelter; mills, schools, and many other activities were forced to suspend for two days. [Historic Pittsburgh; The Pittsburgh Press] 

(via thepittsburghhistoryjournal)

On This day in Pittsburgh History: December 10, 1973

Bruno Sammartino regains his WWE title. 

(via thepittsburghhistoryjournal)

On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 8, 1941 

pgdigs:

“Young men volunteer for Army Air Corps after Pearl Harbor attack”

Pittsburgh was “coming to a slow boil” one day after Japanese fighter planes attacked Pearl Harbor, the Post-Gazette reported. Streets in the Golden Triangle were packed with Christmas shoppers still recovering from the shock of the news they’d received the previous day.

People gathered around radios in offices, hotel lobbies, theater foyers and bars as President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress for a declaration of war against Japan. Hundreds line up on Diamond Street, where a public address system piped out Roosevelt’s historic statement, “Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy … ” School children listening to the speech elsewhere in the city applauded, but this crowd listened grimly.

Eager, patriotic young men lined up at Army, Navy and Marine recruiting stations on Smithfield Street. A Post-Gazette reporter heard them ask, “How soon can we leave?”

A note on the back of this print states it was made at an Army Air Corps recruiting station. We at the Digs studied the image for some time and wondered about the eventual fate of these volunteers.

(Photo credit: Unknown)

— Steve Mellon

(via thepittsburghhistoryjournal)

On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 7, 1893 

Phipps Conservatory is completed. [Cardcow] 

(via thepittsburghhistoryjournal)

Chatham College sophomores make decorations for the Christmas Dance, 1955 [University of Pittsburgh Digital Archives] 

(via thepittsburghhistoryjournal)

On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 6, 1955

Pittsburgh Pirates legend Honus Wagner passes away in Carnegie. [Wikipedia; From Deep Right Field]

(via thepittsburghhistoryjournal)

On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 5, 1933 

At 5:31 p.m., flash news hits that Utah and Ohio join Pennsylvania as the necessary two-thirds to end Prohibition. [The Pittsburgh Press]

(via thepittsburghhistoryjournal)

On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 4, 1882

Allegheny General incorporates. [Wikipedia] 

(via thepittsburghhistoryjournal)

On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 3, 1954

KDKA is renamed as Westinghouse closes on the largest purchase in television history as WDTV signs off. [Wikipedia; The Pittsburgh Press] 

(via thepittsburghhistoryjournal)

On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 2, 1919

Henry Clay Frick dies at 69, leaving over $2.68 billion, including $26.8 million to the city to develop Frick Park on his estate. Since May, both H. J. Heinz and Andrew Carnegie have died. [Wikipedia]

(via thepittsburghhistoryjournal)

On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 1, 1913

Gulf Oil opens the world’s first drive-in service station at Baum and St. Clair streets in East Liberty. [Wikipedia; Explore PA History]

(via thepittsburghhistoryjournal)

On This Day in Pittsburgh History: November 30, 1955

Pennsylvania College for Women was renamed Chatham College and announced a $12 million development program. [Historic Pittsburgh] 

(via thepittsburghhistoryjournal)