Berlin Way

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Berlin Way
Neighborhood Upper Lawrenceville
Origin of name Berlin, Germany
Berlin Alley (until 1914)
Origin of name Berlin, Germany

The part of this alley between 51st Street and 52nd Street was laid out in 1873 as part of a plan of lots by Christian Siebert, Peter Keil, and John Siebert.[1] Its name was established as Berlin Alley by a city ordinance in 1881,[2] and it was officially opened in 1886.[3] Its name refers to the capital of Germany; both Christian and John Siebert were born in that country.[4][5]

The part of the alley between 52nd Street and McCandless Avenue was laid out by Christian Siebert in 1889[6] and officially opened in 1893.[7]

Berlin Alley became Berlin Way in 1914 when an ordinance changed all alleys in the city to ways.[8]

In July 1942, amid anti-German sentiment, there was a push to rename Berlin Way to Moran Way, after 81-year-old "Mother" Sarah Moran, the street's oldest resident, who had lived at 1501 Berlin Way for 55 years. Moran's own suggestion was Hathaway Street.[9][10] It seems that nothing came of these proposals.[11]

See also

References

  1. "Plan of lots situated in the 18th Ward Pittsburgh being part of the Mowry property, laid out by Messrs. C. Siebert, P. Keil and John Siebert." Laid out Aug. 1873; recorded Oct. 18, 1873, Plan Book 5, p. 205. Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds 3779199. [view source]siebert-keil-siebert-plan-of-lots
  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
  3. "An ordinance authorizing the opening of Berlin alley, from Fifty-first street to Fifty-second street." Pittsburgh city ordinance, 1886, no. 144. Passed Jan. 11, 1886; approved Jan. 15, 1886. Ordinance Book 5, p. 395. In Municipal Record: Minutes of the proceedings of the Select Council of the City of Pittsburgh, for the year 1885, p. 285, E. S. Giles, Pittsburgh, 1885–1886 (Internet Archive pghmunicipalrecord1885) and Municipal Record: Minutes of the proceedings of the Common Council of the City of Pittsburgh, for the year 1885, p. 250, E. S. Giles, Pittsburgh, 1885–1886 (Internet Archive pghmunicipalrecord1885). [view source]ordinance-1886-144
  4. John W. Jordan, ed. A Century and a Half of Pittsburg and Her People: Genealogical memoirs of the leading families of Pittsburg and vicinity, vol. 4, pp. 275–277. Lewis Publishing Company, 1908. Historic Pittsburgh 04awn7797m. [view source]pittsburg-and-her-people-4
  5. John W. Jordan. Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania Biography, vol. VIII, pp. 20–21. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York, 1917. https://digital.libraries.psu.edu/digital/collection/digitalbks2/id/3925. [view source]ency-pa-biog-8
  6. "Christian Siebert's plan of lots: 18th Ward, Pittsburgh." Laid out Mar. 1888; recorded Sept. 20, 1888, Plan Book 8, p. 25. Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds 3780200. [view source]christian-siebert-plan-of-lots
  7. "An ordinance authorizing the opening of Berlin alley, from Fifty-second street to Harrison street." Pittsburgh city ordinance, 1893, no. 142. Passed June 5, 1893; approved June 7, 1893. Ordinance Book 9, p. 169. In Municipal Record: Minutes of the proceedings of the [Select and Common Councils] of the City of Pittsburgh, for the year 1893–4, appendix, p. 46, Devine & Co., Pittsburgh, 1893–1894 (Internet Archive pghmunicipalrecord1893). [view source]ordinance-1893-142
  8. "An ordinance changing the name 'Alley' on every thoroughfare in the City of Pittsburgh, to 'Way.'" Pittsburgh city ordinance, 1914, no. 402. Passed Nov. 10, 1914; approved Nov. 16, 1914. Ordinance Book 26, p. 360. Reprinted in the Pittsburgh Post, Nov. 23, 1914, p. 11 (Newspapers.com 86505785), and Nov. 24, p. 12 (Newspapers.com 86505809). [view source]ordinance-1914-402
  9. "Berlin Way families are tired of name: Soldiers in army and of industry live there: Urge change to Moran way, honoring oldest resident, a gentle grandmother." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 7, 1942, p. 10. Newspapers.com 90013180. [view source]berlin
  10. "Strip declares blitz against its Berlin Way: Residents demand renaming to Moran Way." Pittsburgh Press, July 7, 1942, p. 26. Newspapers.com 143400870. [view source]blitz
  11. George Swetnam. "Here in Pittsburgh." Pittsburgh Press, Sept. 29, 1947, p. 15. Newspapers.com 149729673. [view source]swetnam