Melwood Avenue

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Melwood Avenue
Neighborhoods North Oakland, Polish Hill
Origin of name Melwood plan of lots
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Orleans Street (1867 – ca. 1890)
Portion North Oakland, north of Denver Street
Origin of name Perhaps New Orleans, Louisiana
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Meyran Avenue (1870–1875)
Portion Polish Hill
Origin of name Charles Meyran
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Zouave Street (until 1904)
Portion Between Centre Avenue and Bayard Street
Origin of name Probably "Ellsworth's Zouaves," a regiment led by Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth
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Melwood Street (1881–1910)
Origin of name Melwood plan of lots
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Fleetwood Street (1916–1929)
Portion Polish Hill
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Melwood Street (1929–1945)
Portion Polish Hill
Origin of name Melwood plan of lots

The part of this street in Polish Hill was laid out as Meyran Avenue in the 1870 Melwood plan of lots.[1] The 1872 Hopkins atlas labels the plan "Millwood" and indicates that it was laid out by "Reineman, Meyran, Dickson & Others,"[2] which implies that the street was named for one of the developers, though the name Meyran does not appear on the plan itself (apart from the name of the street). This atlas shows the residence of Robert Dickson on Meyran Avenue in the center of the plan;[2] in the 1882 edition, the house is labeled "Meyran et. al."[3]

Meyran was likely Charles Meyran, born in Germany in 1833, who was involved in many businesses in Pittsburgh: he was a jeweler, a part owner of several railroad companies, the founder of the Germania Savings Bank in 1870 and its president, and an organizer of the Canonsburg Iron and Steel Company and the Manufacturers Natural Gas Company.[4][5]

The name Meyran Avenue conflicted with Meyran Avenue in Oakland (also named for Charles Meyran), so it was changed to Melwood Avenue in 1875.[6] The name Melwood Street was officially established by a Pittsburgh city ordinance in 1881.[7]

The part of Melwood Avenue in North Oakland north of Denver Street was laid out as Orleans Street in 1867 for Charles A. Colton. The other streets in the plan were Winter Street (later Wassatch Street), Dover Street, Gold Alley (today Gold Way), Silver Alley (today Gomez Way), Denver Street, and Byron Street.[8][2] The theme in Colton's plan established by Gold Alley and Silver Alley might have extended to Orleans Street and Denver Street, as both New Orleans and Denver were locations of the United States Mint. The New Orleans Mint was established by a bill signed by President Andrew Jackson on March 3, 1835.[9]

It is unclear exactly when Orleans Street became part of Melwood Street. An 1881 Pittsburgh city ordinance officially established the name Orleans Street, "from Denver street to Property line."[7] The 1889 Hopkins atlas shows that the two streets had been joined, but the part in North Oakland is still labeled Orleans Street.[10] It seems that Orleans Street was considered part of Melwood Street by 1895, for a city ordinance in that year indicated that Melwood Street extended to Centre Avenue;[11] this is also shown in the 1898 Hopkins atlas.[12]:5,7

The part of Melwood Avenue between Centre Avenue and Bayard Street was first laid out in 1867 as an unnamed street in a plan of lots for William Mazet.[13] Its name was officially established as Zouave Street in 1881.[7][12]:8 This name is likely connected to "Ellsworth's Zouaves," the 11th New York Infantry Regiment, led by Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth (1837–1861), for whom nearby Ellsworth Avenue is named. Zouave Street was made part of Melwood Street in 1904.[14]

The whole length of Melwood Street, from Herron Avenue to Bayard Street, officially became Melwood Avenue again in 1910.[15]

In 1916, Melwood Avenue in Polish Hill was renamed Fleetwood Street.[16] This was undone in 1929; the street was changed back to Melwood Street.[17] It was changed again to Melwood Avenue in 1945.[18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Melwood plan of the subdivision of the Brereton property: Laid out by Reineman, Dickson and others, Pittsburgh." Laid out Aug. 1870; recorded Nov. 5, 1870, Plan Book 4, pp. 66–67. Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds 3778834. [view source] melwood-plan
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Atlas of the Cities of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, and the Adjoining Boroughs, p. 43. G. M. Hopkins & Co., Philadelphia, 1872. http://historicpittsburgh.org/maps-hopkins/1872-atlas-pittsburgh-allegheny; 1872 layer at Pittsburgh Historic Maps (https://esriurl.com/pittsburgh). [view source] hopkins-1872
  3. ↑ Atlas of the Cities Pittsburgh and Allegheny, plate 10. G. M. Hopkins & Co., Philadelphia, 1882. http://historicpittsburgh.org/maps-hopkins/1882-atlas-pittsburgh-allegheny; 1882 layer at Pittsburgh Historic Maps (https://esriurl.com/pittsburgh). [view source] hopkins-1882
  4. ↑ History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: Including its early settlement and progress to the present time; a description of its historic and interesting localities; its cities, towns and villages; religious, educational, social and military history; mining, manufacturing and commercial interests; improvements, resources, statistics, etc.: Also portraits of some of its prominent men, and biographies of many of its representative citizens, pp. 556–557. A. Warner & Co., Chicago, 1889. Google Books DwzYAAAAMAAJ; Internet Archive historyofalleghe1889cush. [view source] history-of-allegheny-county
  5. ↑ Clifford C. Ham. Marilyn P. Ham, ed. Historic Oakland: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Articles from The Oakland Newspaper: 1989–1995, p. 16. Oakland Planning and Development Corporation, Pittsburgh, 2007. [view source] ham
  6. ↑ "An ordinance changing the name of Meyran avenue, in the 13th ward, to Melwood avenue." Pittsburgh city ordinance, 1875, no. 97. Passed Oct. 25, 1875; approved Nov. 1, 1875. Ordinance Book 4, p. 140. In Municipal Record: Minutes of the proceedings of the Select & Common Councils of the City of Pittsburgh for the year 1875, p. 173, Herald Printing Company, Pittsburgh, 1876 (Google Books QblEAQAAMAAJ; HathiTrust chi.096598889; Internet Archive pghmunicipalrecord1875). [view source] ordinance-1875-97
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "An ordinance establishing the names of avenues, streets, lanes and alleys of the City of Pittsburgh." Pittsburgh city ordinance, 1881, no. 33. Passed Feb. 28, 1881; approved Mar. 4, 1881. Ordinance Book 5, p. 212. In Municipal Record: Minutes of the proceedings of the Select and Common Councils of the City of Pittsburgh, for the year 1880, pp. 213–234 (Internet Archive pghmunicipalrecord1880). [view source] ordinance-1881-33
  8. ↑ "Plan building lots situated in the City District Pitt Township: Laid out for Chas. A. Colton Esq." Laid out Aug. 1867; recorded June 3, 1869, Plan Book 3, p. 289. Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds 3778739. [view source] colton-plan
  9. ↑ Greg Lambousy. "New Orleans Mint." The French Quarterly Magazine, Feb. 1, 2018. https://frenchquarterly.com/history/new-orleans-mint. [view source] lambousy
  10. ↑ Atlas of the City of Pittsburgh, vol. 2, plates 11, 22. G. M. Hopkins & Co., Philadelphia, 1889. http://historicpittsburgh.org/maps-hopkins/1889-volume-2-atlas-pittsburgh; included in the 1890 layer at Pittsburgh Historic Maps (https://esriurl.com/pittsburgh). [view source] hopkins-1889-vol-2
  11. ↑ "An ordinance granting unto the Central Passenger Railway Company, its successors, lessees and assigns, the right to enter upon, use, and occupy certain streets, lanes, alleys and highways, and to lease its franchises and property, or either." Pittsburgh city ordinance, 1895, no. 491. Passed June 10, 1895; approved June 17, 1895. Ordinance Book 10, p. 344. In Municipal Record: Minutes of the proceedings of the [Select and Common Councils] of the City of Pittsburgh, for the year 1895–6, appendix, pp. 34–35, H. W. Juergen & Co., Pittsburgh (Internet Archive pghmunicipalrecord1895). Reprinted in the Pittsburg Press, June 22, 1895, p. 7 (Newspapers.com 141566143). [view source] ordinance-1895-491
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Real Estate Plat-Book of the City of Pittsburgh, vol. 1. G. M. Hopkins & Co., Philadelphia, 1898. http://historicpittsburgh.org/maps-hopkins/1898-volume-1-plat-book-pittsburgh-east. [view source] hopkins-1898-vol-1
  13. ↑ "Sub-division of a piece of ground situated in Oakland Tp. Allegheny Co. Pa.: Made for William Mazet Feb. 27th A. D. 1867 by Charles Reischspfarr, surveyor." Laid out Feb. 27, 1867; recorded July 27, 1868, Plan Book 3, p. 252. Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds 3778699. [view source] mazet-plan
  14. ↑ "An ordinance changing the name of Zouave street between Center avenue and Bayard street to 'Melwood street.'" Pittsburgh city ordinance, 1904, no. 129. Passed June 13, 1904; approved June 18, 1904. Ordinance Book 16, p. 174. In Municipal Record: Minutes of the proceedings of the [Select and Common Councils] of the City of Pittsburgh, for the year 1904–1905, appendix, p. 61, Devine & Co., Pittsburgh, 1905 (Internet Archive Pghmunicipalrecord1904). [view source] ordinance-1904-129
  15. ↑ "An ordinance establishing the names of the avenues, streets, lanes and alleys in the City of Pittsburgh." Pittsburgh city ordinance, 1910, no. 716. Passed Mar. 31, 1910; approved Apr. 5, 1910. Ordinance Book 21, p. 359. In Municipal Record: Minutes of the proceedings of the [Select and Common Councils] of the City of Pittsburgh for the years 1909–1910, appendix, pp. 328–381, Devine & Co., Pittsburgh, 1910 (Google Books doQzAQAAMAAJ; HathiTrust uiug.30112108223832; Internet Archive Pghmunicipalrecord1909). Reprinted in the Pittsburgh Post, Apr. 29, 1910, pp. 12–16 (Newspapers.com 86616256, 86616285, 86616314, 86616333, 86616343), and Apr. 30, pp. 12–16 (Newspapers.com 86616643, 86616672, 86616694, 86616726, 86616748). [view source] ordinance-1910-716
  16. ↑ "An ordinance changing the names of certain streets, ways and place, in the City of Pittsburgh." Pittsburgh city ordinance, 1916, no. 35. Passed Feb. 14, 1916; approved Feb. 15, 1916. Ordinance Book 27, p. 366. In Municipal Record: Minutes of the proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh for the year 1916, appendix, p. 12, Eureka Printing Company, Pittsburgh (Internet Archive Pghmunicipalrecord1916). [view source] ordinance-1916-35
  17. ↑ "An ordinance changing the name of Fleetwood street in the 6th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh, from Herron avenue to the former location of Ridgway street, now vacated, to 'Melwood street.'" Pittsburgh city ordinance, 1929, no. 576. Passed Aug. 1, 1929; approved Aug. 7, 1929. Ordinance Book 41, p. 598. In Municipal Record: Minutes of the proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh for the year 1929, appendix, p. 435, Kaufman Printing Co., Pittsburgh (Internet Archive Pghmunicipalrecord1929). [view source] ordinance-1929-576
  18. ↑ "An ordinance changing the names of certain avenues, streets, roads and ways in the City of Pittsburgh." Pittsburgh city ordinance, 1945, no. 137. Passed Apr. 30, 1945; approved May 1, 1945. Ordinance Book 53, p. 597. In Municipal Record: Minutes of the proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh: For the year 1945, appendix, p. 86, City Printing Company, Pittsburgh (Internet Archive Pghmunicipalrecord1945). [view source] ordinance-1945-137
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