Squrriel Hill by The Squirrel Hill Historical Society

Arcadia Publishing

Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood began on the frontier of western Pennsylvania 250 years ago and developed into a vibrant urban community. Early settler John Turner, half brother of renegade Simon Girty, survived capture by Native Americans and experienced firsthand the change from dangerous wilderness to established farming community. Wealthy landowners Henry Clay Frick and Mary Schenley bestowed Squirrel Hill its grand public parks. Hyman Little, Herman Kamin and countless others moved to the hill and made it Pittsburgh's premier Jewish community, with a tightknit cluster of synagogues, temples and a thriving business district. The Squirrel Hill Historical Society and editor Helen Wilson explore the fascinating history of one of Pittsburgh's historic neighborhoods.

The Squirrel Hill Historical Society, formed in 2000, is a nonprofit organization run by volunteers dedicated to researching, preserving and celebrating the history of Squirrel Hill, the largest and most diverse neighborhood in the city of Pittsburgh. The SHHS offers monthly lectures on topics of local interest and walking tours of historic places in the community. It has amassed a collection of texts, photographs and memorabilia and maintains a Museum Board at the local branch of Carnegie Library, with changing exhibits about Squirrel Hill's history. Its website, squirrelhillhistory.org, presents historical information about the neighborhood, information about speakers and topics, and a link to the SHHS presentations, which are posted on YouTube. Membership in SHHS is growing as more people come to share its enthusiasm for the history of their vibrant neighborhood.