History of 834 Ridge Avenue

Our building, at 834 Ridge Avenue, is located in the historic North Side of Pittsburgh, PA.  It was once a part of the Western Theological Seminary as the the library building next door.

Western Theological Seminary was dedicated January 10, 1856.  The structure was considerably smaller than the original building, but contained a chapel, class rooms, and suites of rooms for twenty students.  It was partially destroyed by fire in 1887 and was immediately revamped.  Seminary Hall was torn down November 1, 1914, to make room for the new buildings.

The first dormitory was made possible by the generosity of Mrs. Hetty E. Beatty.  It was erected in 1859 and was known as "Beatty Hall".  This structure had become wholly inadequate to the needs of the institution by 1859 and the Rev. C.C. Beatty furnished the funds for a new dormitory which was known as "Memorial Hall", as Dr. Beatty wished to make the edifice commemorate the reunion of the old and New School branches of the Presbyterian Church.

The old library building was erected in 1872 at an expenditure of $25,000, but was poorly adapted to library purposes.  It was been replaced by a modern library equipment in the group of new buildings.

The building is an important local example of the Collegiate Tudor style, which had been popularized by the Philadelphia architectural firm of Cope and Stewardson with their Dormitories of the University of Pennsylvania.  The style become enormously popular in America during the first two decades of this century, but it was later ousted from public favor by Collegiate Georgian which is still with us today.  The present Pittsburgh Theological Seminary buildings in the East End are in that style.

As a part of "Millionaires' Rows", The building is still a little less than half made up of the original 1872 structure.  Thus the side and rear walls are soft, handmade brick, as was typical of pre-1890 construction.  Some of the dressed stone from the 1872 structure is still visible in the basement areas, and the more prevalent rubble stone is even more visible (the dressed stone was used in visible areas, such as the exposed part of the basement in the facade.)In 1933, the present facade, (Ridge Avenue side only) was added in Collegiate Gothic Style, built of hard brick with some stone (and or concrete) trimmings.  The interior was also completely redone in 1933, as evidence by the textured plaster, typical of early twentieth century public buildings (especially of Gothic style structures) found throughout the buildings.  Subsequent remodellings, however, have resulted in the removal of most interior trim, all windows, and many other features, giving away to more contemporary replacements.  The only major interior detail remaining is the 1933 staircase.

In 1933, the old library building was rebuilt as "Lowrie Hall", a residence for visiting missionaries.  According to the minutes of the Presbytery, the architect was Hannah and Sterling and the builder was Nicola Building Company. 

Lowrie Hall, which was erected in 1933, is a memorial to Rev. John Cameron Lowrie, D.D., of the Class of 1832, the first graduate of the Seminary to go to the Foreign Mission field.  Dr. Lowrie was the founder of Presbyterian Missions in North India, and servces as a Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, USA from 1838 to 1891.

The building contained seven apartments for the use of  missionaries during their furloughs.  These apartments varied in size from suites of two rooms with kitchenette and bath to an apartment with five rooms.  All the suites were furnished an equipped with modern electrical appliances for housekeeping, and the latest type of plumbing.  The heating system was connected with the central plant of the institution.  The rental for the apartments were nominal.

Information provided in report form by Terry A. Necciai on June 16, 1993.  Historic Preservation Consulting, 508 Chess Street,                     Monongahela City, PA  15063