Notes:Iron Way
1830: Source:Barbeau: Drawn but not labeled.
1847-06-28: "An ordinance establishing and fixing a grade for Second street, in the second and eighth wards," in Source:Digest-1849, p. 289, mentions Iron Alley.
1852: Source:Mcgowin-1852: "Iron Alley" from Bluff Street to the Monongahela River. Adjacent: 90. Kensington Rolling Mill & Nail Factory, Alex Miller.
1854-02-24: https://frederickdouglasspapersproject.com/s/digitaledition/item/9319: Letter from Charlotte K⸺ to Frederick Douglass, from "4, Iron Alley, Pittsburgh."
1855-06-30: "Sheriff's sales," Daily Pittsburgh Gazette, pp. 1–2 (Newspapers.com 85642091, 85642094): "Also—The one undivided half part of the following described pieces of ground in the city of Pittsburgh, with the Kensington Rolling Mill and its appurtenances thereon erected: Beginning on Second street, at the distance of 88 feet from the corner of Iron Alley and Second street, thence southwardly by a line parallel with Gas street 110 feet to Greenough street, thence westwardly along Greenough street 25 feet, thence by a lot of the Pittsburgh Gas Company, and parallel to Gas street 110 feet to Second street, thence along Second street eastwardly 25 feet to the place of beginning. ¶ Also—All those certain other lots or pieces of ground situate on Second street, at the corner of Iron alley, thence eastwardly along Second st. 142 feet 4¾ inches to Brewery street, thence southwardly along Brewery street 350 feet, more or less to the Monongahela river, thence down the same about 340 feet to Iron alley, thence by said alley about 350 feet to the place of beginning."
1857-02-04: "Pittsburgh Councils," Daily Pittsburgh Gazette, [p. 3] (Newspapers.com 86453455): "Mr. Reed presented a resolution for the closing up of Iron Alley, in the Eighth Ward, as now situated, and for the opening of an alley of the same width in another position. ¶ Referred to a special Committee, consisting of the members from the Eighth Ward, in conjunction with Mr. Phillips, of the Second Ward. C. C. concurred."
1857-02-25: Daily Pittsburgh Gazette, [p. 3] (Newspapers.com 86453527): "Mr. Morrow, a remonstrance of A. McMaster, W. B. Negley and others, against the proposed change of the location of Iron alley. Referred to special Committee having charge of the subject. C. C. concurred."
1858-08-16: "An ordinance altering the grade of Second street, and for other purposes" authorized the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Rail Road Company to build its tracks across Iron Alley. Printed in the Daily Pittsburgh Gazette, 1858-08-19, [p. 2] (Newspapers.com 86445313); 1858-08-20, [p. 2] (Newspapers.com 86445335); and 1858-08-21, [p. 2] (Newspapers.com 86445357).
1866-12-28: "Street Commissioner Flinn's report," Daily Post, p. 1 (Newspapers.com 86519035): "The Commissioner calls attention to the constantly increasing travel on Second street, and says the street is only forty (40) feet wide from Ross street to the Gas Works. It should be at least sixty (60) feet in width. When the street is being repaired it is hardly possible to perform the work, as it cannot be closed up on account of its being the only outlet in that direction. He recommends as a remedy that Gas street be opened to Brewery, which is now open from Try to the Kensington Iron Works. A portion of the Schenly [sic] estate is situated on both sides of Gas street, in the rear of Parry's Foundry, and the agents claim some sixty feet. By the opening of Gas street to Brewery street, the only property to be passed through is the yard of the Kensington Iron Works, of Messrs. Lloyd & Black. Mr. Flinn suggests that the city vacate Iron alley for the use of that firm, and take in exchange the property necessary to open Gas street. He says Iron alley is now of no service to the city, and owing to its location never will be."
1868-04-06: "An ordinance authorizing the grading, paving and curbing of Greenough street, from Try street to Iron alley." In Source:Municipal-record-1868 following the proceedings for 1868-04-14.
1881-03-04: Source:Ordinance-1880-1881-33: "Iron alley, from Bluff street to Monongahela river, Sixth ward."
1891-11-06: Source:Ordinance-1891-1892-374: "An ordinance authorizing the construction of a sewer on Coward, Cooper and Bluff streets, from Chestnut street to connection with sewer on Iron alley."
1895-09-19: "Echoes of the night," Pittsburg Press, p. 8 (Newspapers.com 141570160): "A petition was presented to Director E. M. Bigelow by J. W. Tygard and other citizens of that neighborhood, protesting against obstruction across Greenough street and Iron alley, at H. Lloyd Sons & Co.'s mill, on Second avenue."
1895-11-09: Source:Street-closed, Source:Alley-fenced-in: Suit charging H. Lloyd, Sons & Co. with obstruction of the highway.
1896-01-14: "Cunning ring tactics again," Pittsburg Post, p. 3 (Newspapers.com 86401106): "James R. Flynn, chairman of the committee on surveys, among a lot of other ordinances, presented one vacating Bothwell street, between North Highland and Euclid avenues, and Iron alley. Iron alley is the little alley that leads into Lloyd's mill, on Second avenue, opposite the Yellow Row. It is no thoroughfare and is used for a loading place."
1896-01-18: Source:Ordinance-1895-1896-701 vacated Iron Alley from Second Avenue to Greenough Street (First Avenue).
1896-03-18: Source:Closing-up-an-alley: Property owners appeal vacation.
1897-06-12: "Big lot of business," Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette, p. 2 (Newspapers.com 85565811): "The surveys committee affirmatively recommended to councils the following measures: Ordinances . . . repealing the vacation of Iron alley."
1897-06-14: Source:Municipal-record-1897-1898, Common Council, p. 139: "Also, ¶ From the Committee on Surveys, with a negative recommendation, ¶ S. C. Bill No. 1063. An Ordinance entitled 'An Ordinance repealing an ordinance entitled "An Ordinance authorizing the vacation of Iron alley from Second avenue to Greenough street," approved January 18, 1896.' ¶ Which was read. ¶ Mr. Armstrong moved ¶ That further action upon the bill be indefinitely postponed. ¶ Which motion prevailed."
1897-07-19: Source:Municipal-record-1897-1898, Common Council, p. 178: "Mr. Moore presented ¶ No. 1576. Petition for the vacation of Iron alley, from Second avenue to Greenough street, (now First avenue). ¶ Also, ¶ No. 1577. An Ordinance authorizing the vacation of Iron alley, from Second avenue to Greenough street, (now First avenue). ¶ Which were referred to the Committee on Surveys."
1897-09-10: Source:Action-postponed, Source:Surveys-committee-meets: In the Surveys Committee, action was postponed on the ordinance vacating Iron Alley because $100 had not been paid to the city.
1897-10-08: Source:Many-measures-approved, Source:Surveys-committee-met: "At a meeting of the surveys committee of Pittsburgh councils yesterday afternoon an ordinance authorizing the vacation of Iron alley, from Second avenue to Greenough street, was referred to a special committee. A remonstrance has been filed against it, and there is some dispute as to whether the signers are abutting property owners."
1910-04-05: Source:Ordinance-1909-1910-716: Not listed directly, but "First av., from Iron ay. to Liberty av., 1st wd."
1911-05-31: Source:Ordinance-1911-apr-june-84 authorized a contract with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company that included "The grade of Iron alley shall be changed and established to conform to the proposed grade of Second avenue."
1911-05-31: Source:Ordinance-1911-apr-june-107 authorized the grading, regrading, paving, repaving, etc. of Iron Alley from Second Avenue to Greenough Street, among other streets.
1911-07-31: Source:Ordinance-1911-june-dec-123 established the grade of Iron Alley from Greenough Street to Second Avenue.
1912-03-22: Source:Ordinance-1912-101 authorized the grading, regrading, paving, repaving, etc. of Iron Alley from Second Avenue to Greenough Street, among other streets.
1912-11-04: Historic Pittsburgh 715.123012.CP: Road improvements on Second Avenue, from Iron Alley to Ross Street.
1912-12-05: Historic Pittsburgh 715.123054.CP: Second Avenue improvements at Iron Alley looking east towards Brewery Street.
1912-12-06: Historic Pittsburgh 715.123053.CP: Second Avenue improvements at Iron Alley looking to Try Street and Ross Street.
1912-12-31
- Historic Pittsburgh 715.123079.CP: Improvements on Second Avenue from Iron Alley looking to Ross Street.
- Historic Pittsburgh 715.123080.CP: Improvements on Second Avenue at Iron Alley looking east towards Brewery Street.
1913-01-21: Historic Pittsburgh 715.133136.CP: Photograph of Second Avenue looking west from Iron Alley to Gas Street.
1913-03-04: Historic Pittsburgh 715.133193.CP: Photograph of Second Avenue looking west from Iron Alley.
1916: Source:Street-directory-1916, p. 106: "Iron way, from Bluff to Greenough, 1st wd."
1917-06-06: Source:Municipal-record-1917, p. 298: "Also ¶ No. 3605. Communication from William F. Wimmer asking permission to erect a weigh scale on the south side of a blind way alongside his property at Second avenue and Iron way."
1923: Source:Hopkins-1923-1, plate 8, shows Iron Way.
1925-07-16: Source:Ordinance-1925-302, authorizing the construction of a sewer on First Avenue, mentions Iron Way.
1928: City of Pittsburgh Geodetic and Topographic Survey, sheet no. 2 (Historic Pittsburgh 002e1928) shows the alley, but it is not labeled.
1929: Source:Hopkins-1929-10, plate 14, shows Iron Way.
1938: Census Tract Index to Pittsburgh Streets and House Numbers (Historic Pittsburgh 31735070050335) lists Iron Way (1st Ward, census tract 1 B).
1967-01-04: "Mercy Hospital area parking bans eased," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, p. 13 (Newspapers.com 88067704): "The stretch is between the S. Tenth Street Bridge and Iron Way, near Downtown."
1983-07-06: "Sale by the Treasurer of the City and School District of Pittsburgh of real estate to satisfy unpaid claims for either city and school taxes and/or water and sewage charges to be held Monday, July 18, 1983 at 10:00 a. m., D. S. T.," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, pp. 14–15 (Newspapers.com 89555870, 89555871): "FIRST WARD ¶ . . . ¶ 10.—704 Corporation, Partial City and School Claim $27,510.82; 2-P-122 704–706 Second Ave., Lot 60 × avg 109.85 Second Ave. S W cor Iron Way, 8½ sty Steel & Conc Bldg 704–706, 2–3 Light Structures, Steel Roof Structure (Illuminated), roof sign, 2–6 Lite Structures."
1991-06: "Improvement subdivision site plan of Public Safety Complex situate in 1st Ward, City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., PA for Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh" (Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds 3500246) does not show Iron Way.
