Father Pitt

Why should the beautiful die?


J. D. Thompson Building

608 Wood Street

This building on Wood Street, right across from the subway station, was probably put up in the 1880s; it appears on an 1890 map as belonging to Jonathan D. Thompson, and in 1923 still belonged to J. D. Thompson. The elaborate stone front is liberally decorated with incised patterns. We would call the style Italianate; the architect probably thought of it as Italian Renaissance.

Update: Note the comment from “Camerafiend” below, which gives us news clippings to show us that this building was designed by E. M. Butz and built in 1874. E. M. Butz is perhaps most famous as the architect of the Western Penitentiary.

608 Wood Street


One response to “J. D. Thompson Building”

  1. Camerafiend

    I was just researching this building the other day! It was built in 1874 and designed by E. M. Butz.

    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-post/182524126/

    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-commercial/182523418/

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