Originally a Catholic hospital, later known as just Pittsburgh Hospital. Now it is the Champion City Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The main building was put up in about 1902; the architects were Schickel & Ditmars of New York,1 who were most famous for Catholic churches, including the immense Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, but also designed a number of hospitals.
The addition on the Frankstown Avenue end has not weathered well.
Postwar additions might have been designed by Press C. Dowler, who we know designed the School of Nursing behind the hospital in 1946 (which we’ll see soon).
- “Plans for School Building,” Pittsburgh Daily Post, October 15, 1901, page 10: “Preliminary work has been started on the Finley property in Frankstown avenue and Beechwood boulevard, recently purchased by the Charity hospital for new buildings. The plans for the hospital have been completed by Architects Shickel [sic] and Dittmars [sic], of New York. The buildings will cost $500,00 [sic]. The preparatory work being done is under the charge of John Flannagan.” Washington Boulevard used to be part of Beechwood Boulevard until it was renamed. Maps from 1903 on show the outline of the original building as it still stands, and the 1890 layer shows the property belonging to George Finley. ↩︎
Leave a Reply