Tag: Pius Street

  • St. Michael’s Mädchen Schule, South Side Slopes

    St. Michael’s Mädchen Schule

    It seems certain that this building, formerly the girls’ school for St. Michael’s parish, will be demolished sooner or later; what has saved it so far is the expense of demolishing a large building in a neighborhood with low property values. But the South Side Slopes, like many city neighborhoods, have become much more valuable lately.

    Right now, the building appears to house a whole alternate civilization of “homeless” squatters. In an ideal city, perhaps, it could continue to do so, but with a city budget for maintaining it and providing the elementary comforts to the residents. We do not live in that ideal city.

    At any rate, it seemed worth stopping to record a few details of the building before it disappears entirely, and another piece of Pittsburgh’s rich German history is gone. We also have a few pictures from a year and a half ago, including a composite view of the front.

    Entrance, perspective view
    Entrance
    Inscription

    “St. Michael’s Mädchen Schule” (“St. Michael’s Girls’ School”).

    Inscription

    “Errichtet A. D. 1872” (“Erected A. D. 1872”).

    Inscription

    “Wiedererbaut A. D. 1900” (“Rebuilt A. D. 1900”).

    Pilaster
    St. Michael’s Mädchen Schule
    Kodak EasyShare Z981.