Gardner Field, Troy Hill: Gardner & Herman Streets
I walk the perimeter of Gardner Field, peering through the chain-link fence and studying the slope below. I’m looking for signs of a short, narrow street. Throughout its existence, it has been known as Chestnut, Hazel, and, finally, Harpster. It’s an astounding number of name changes, and I wonder why they occurred. Today, street names rarely change because municipalities have layers of bureaucratic processes and approval (plus the cost of making new signs, updating maps, and so on). Clearly, indulging residents’ naming preferences in the 1800s was much more manageable. While the “lost” segment of Chestnut-Hazel-Harpster is intriguing, the hillside is too overgrown and steep for solo exploration, so I pivot my attention to the ballfield. As I scan the thick green grass of the outfield, I wonder if any human remains have ever risen to the surface after a long bout of rain. That might sound shocking and gruesome, but this very spot held the Troy Hill Cemetary (Protestant) and the Catholic Graveyard in the late 1800s. While documentation exists that the interred were moved to other burial sites, I wonder how rigorous the record-keeping was. Could a few misplaced documents or hillside-tumbling headstones have resulted in bones being left behind? If old souls still wander about, I hope they enjoy the bleachers behind home plate and cheer for the neighborhood team.
Love Pittsburgh’s City Steps? Get a Copy of the NEW Book!
City Steps of Pittsburgh: A History & Guide explores the history of the steps and the neighborhoods in which they were built. It also includes 13 guided walks and 20+ locations worth visiting—all with detailed descriptions, directions, and resources for creating your own urban hiking adventure. All areas of Pittsburgh are represented: north, south, east, and west. The book is available through all online shops (including our publisher) and local and independent bookstores.