William Penn Snyder House Explained

William Penn Snyder House
Coordinates:	40.4503°N -80.0158°W
Built:	1911
Added:	May 3, 1976
Refnum:	76001599
Designated Other1 Name:	City of Pittsburgh Historic Structure
Designated Other1 Date:	March 15, 1974^[1]
Designated Other1 Abbr:	CPHS
Designated Other1 Link:	List of City of Pittsburgh historic designations
Designated Other1 Color:	black
Designated Other1 Textcolor:	gold
Designated Other2:	PHLF
Designated Other2 Date:	1972^[2]

The William Penn Snyder House is an historic building, which is located at 850–854 Ridge Avenue^{[3] [4]} in the Allegheny West neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

A three-story, late French Renaissance-style brownstone, which was built on "Millionaire's Row" in 1911 at a cost of $450,000,^[5] it was described by The Pittsburgh Press in 1976 as "the city's sole example of the small 'town palace.'"^[6]

Presently more than a century old, the building was added to the List of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks in 1972, the List of City of Pittsburgh historic designations on March 15, 1974, and the National Register of Historic Places on May 3, 1976.

History

Designed for iron industry millionaire William Penn Snyder^[7] by George Orth, with construction beginning in 1911,^{[8] [9]} the William Penn Snyder House was completed in early January 1912,^[10] and received significant media coverage of its opening when the Penn family hosted a combined housewarming for their new residence and a debutantes' ball in honor of their daughter on January 19, 1912.^[11]

The William Penn Snyder House was added to the List of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks in 1972,^[2] the List of City of Pittsburgh historic designations on March 15, 1974,^[1] and the National Register of Historic Places on May 3, 1976.

Located in the historic, Pittsburgh neighborhood of Allegheny West, the home was proposed for inclusion in a new city historic district by the Pittsburg Historic Review Commission at its meeting in early September 1989.^[12]

Present day

Babb, Inc., an insurance brokerage firm currently owns and occupies the building.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Local Historic Designations . Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation . Pittsburgh . 2011-08-05.
2. Book: Historic Landmark Plaques 1968–2009 . Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation . Pittsburgh, PA . 2010 . 2011-08-05.
3. "7 City Structures Labeled Historic." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 5, 1974, p. 13 (subscription required).
4. "7 City Structures Gain Historic Status." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, March 21, 1973, p. 31 (subscription required).
5. Carlin, Margie. "Allegheny West ... Eight Blocks Of Old-Fashioned Charm." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, p. 27 of pp. 24–27.(subscription required).
6. "North Side Snyder House Listed As Historic Site." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, June 27, 1976, p. 106 (subscription required).
7. McHugh, Roy. "Doomed By Divine Providence." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, December 12, 1976, p. 2 (subscription required).
8. "7 City Structures Gain Historic Status," The Pittsburgh Press, March 21, 1973.
9. "Theater Party and Supper." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, November 25, 1911, p. 12 (subscription required).
10. "Society." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Daily Post, December 31, 1911, p. 12 (subscription required).
11. "Brilliant Ball," in "Society." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, January 20, 1912, p. 12 (subscription required).
12. "City panel OKs Allegheny West historic district; council to vote." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, September 9, 1989, p. 7 (subscription required).