Babcock Mansion, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Aug 8th 2007 at 1:03PM

Pittsburgh recently made the Forbes list of most affordable cities. The probably weren't thinking about the high end of the market but there are deals there too. Check out the Babcock Mansion, a vintage beauty in the Shadyside area that dates back from the 1880s. The elegantly columned home was designed by Pittsburgh Architect George Orth for the founders of the Babcock Lumber company. The home has entertained presidents, Madam Curie, Mary Pickford and a host of others. The home has five bedrooms and all sorts of period details including stained glass, ten exquisite fireplaces, hardwood floors, chandeliers and ornate ceilings. It's gorgeous although as we often see with older homes, it might not work for those with more modern wishes like a home theater and a massive bathroom. It is listed at just $1.85 million. After the jump, walls that whisper history.

Tags: babcock, estate of the day, luxury real estate, LuxuryRealEstate, mansion, pennsylvania, pittsburgh

Filed under: Estates

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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)

j. g. pastorius Aug 10th 2007 2:19AM

Well, I grew up in Pittsburgh, too. Of course I recall when neither the Steelers nor the Pirates could win a game, and saw it change entirely. There is barely any resident of this town who is not totally devoted, but at the same time almost anybody who can leaves Pittsburgh. The reason is labor unions, taxes, and Democratic/populist corruption.

The climate is lovely, the people friendly, the culture great, and the demographics that of a Florida retirement county. The 'Burgh is about the only major metro center losing population. Why? Give the unions the upper hand and you get Cleveland, Detroit, and Pittsburgh. The New Deal is alive and well here. Where else would Clinton have gone to announce some new socialist initiative than a Pittsburgh river mill town?

When I was a boy, during the war, Pittsburgh made more steel than Germany and Japan combined. When the Golden Gate Bridge and the Empire State Building were constructed, only a Pittsburgh fabricator could supply the steel. Westinghouse, where alternating current and nuclear power were developed was once the major employer in Pittsburgh. It's all gone now, including Mesta Machine, once the premier manufacturer of steel making equipment. Why? Unions, liberals, and Democratic politicians.

I wish it could be different, but it may take another generation before the unions are discarded. All those Steeler fans you see in other cities? They are not travelers, they live there, people displaced from Pittsburgh who retain the old loyalties.

I love the 'Burgh, but I must say, frankly, we are getting what the previous generation wrought. That's why housing is so affordable. People find opportuity elsewhere

kitt Aug 10th 2007 11:57AM

Very nice I will send these picts. to a friend of mine who lives in PA. You can get a nice house here in So. California for 1.5 mil but not a mansion. The outside of the house is very nice. I like the kitchen, the stained glass, most of the rooms but not the room with all the green & the green carpet on the stairs. OH well, I guess I will have to pass on this sale, lol. The only color of green I like is money!

Cindy Aug 10th 2007 4:31AM

I, too, think Pittsburgh is a great city. I live just 25 miles west of Pittsburgh, near Weirton, WV. I recently had surgery at Allegheny General Hospital. I totally agree with comment #18, about coming thru the tunnels into the city...Beautiful!! And I simply LOVE the old Mansions!! I am not a modern kind of person. Give me history and tradition. Go Steelers !!!!!

Al Aug 14th 2007 4:48PM

I am a native of the Pittsburgh area and grew up in the surrounding area. I moved to Washington DC over 20 years ago even though it is a great city, it doesn't have the feel/the closeness of Pittsburgh residents. The city offers anything you want great culture, medicine, people sporting events and sport activities within 30 or less miles. I am glad to see there are alot of major companies located in the city in the High Tech and finance area too. There are a lot of Great manisons and houses in Pittsburgh that are affordable compared to the Washington DC area. Three years ago I bought an older house for weekends and retirement in a few years in the Pittsburgh area (Mt. Pleasant, PA) now that is where there are affordable houses.

Cnasfan Aug 10th 2007 8:52AM

GO STEELERS!

Steve Novalk Aug 10th 2007 9:43AM

All these beautiful homes..built on the the hard work of all the dumb ethnics . who incidentltly gave us all these corrupt unions, politicians etc.,a

Devynn Aug 10th 2007 1:54PM

you can take that house and shove it! i'm a midwestern city girl through and through. and PA MAY have affordable housing and health care and whatnot, compared to its more expensive coastal cousins, but it's still in the northeast. it'll NEVER be as affordable as the midwest. and in the end, a midwestern i'll always be. GO CHIEFS! :)