62 S Harrison Avenue

The brick Colonial Revival-style home owned by Brian Maier is located at 62 South Harrison Avenue on the corner of South Harrison and Caughey Avenues. In 1900 the the property was conveyed to Edward P. McMillan for $500, and MacMillan probably constructed the present house that year. Edward P. McMillan was a bookkeeper for the Enterprise National Bank of Allegheny. The 1900 federal census lists his residence as 53 Harrison Avenue, three houses up from #62, but this may be the result of changing street numbers — not uncommon during the development boom of the early 20th century. The McMillan household included Edward, his wife Ida, sons Carter and Warren, and daughter Grace. The inscription “C.C. McM Jan. 7, 1907” is carved into the attic floor of Brian’s house, undoubtedly the work of Carter C. McMillan who would have been 15 years old at the time. In October 1905 the Enterprise National Bank and Edward P. McMillan were at the center of a well-publicized scandal involving alleged conspiracy and bank fraud. When the crime was discovered, a cashier committed suicide, and several officers including McMillan were convicted and sent to prison. After repeated entreaties by Ida McMillan and others, President Theodore Roosevelt commuted the 6 and ½ year sentence to 2 and ½ years, and Edward was released in July 1909. There were other consequences, however; the property of the bank and all of the convicted officers was liquidated in early 1907 in order to return money to depositors. In March 1907 — only two months after young Carter C. McMillan had carved his initials into the attic floor — the McMillan family’s home at 62 South Harrison was sold at sheriff’s sale. On April 1, 1909 the property was 62 S Harrison Avenueconveyed to Benjamin and Margaret Moore for $2,900. The Moore family would own it for the next 98 years. In August 1945, Benjamin Moore conveyed the property at 62 South Harrison Avenue to Benjamin H. and Lucy C. Moore for $1.00. The elder Benjamin was still living as 62 South Harrison at the time of the death in 1959. Benjamin H. and Lucy Moore would live at 62 South Harrison for the rest of their lives. Like his father, Benjamin H. Moore was a pillar of the community. Following Lucy’s death in 1974, Benjamin remained in the house until his own death in 2000 at the age of 97. Near the end of his life he conveyed the property at 62 South Harrison to his niece, Martha M. Tea in February 1997. In 1961 Martha had married Charles Miller Tea, Jr. in the same room at 62 South Harrison where her parents had wed, wearing the same wedding dress as her mother and grandmother. Martha was a freelance cellist who taught and performed throughout the Pittsburgh and Butler areas. This home is a fine example of one of the early 20th century’s most popular residential building forms, the American Foursquare, ubiquitous throughout Bellevue, Avalon, and Brighton Heights. At 62 South Harrison, the use of Colonial Revival ornamentation — a style that put great value on symmetry and proportion — strongly accentuates the balance and symmetry of the basic Foursquare form. The facade of the house is rigidly symmetrical, with a central entrance flanked by a pair of windows on the first floor and four windows on the second floor, as well as a full-width front porch featuring four columns linked by a balustrade. The house possesses many outstanding decorative features exhibiting a high level of early 20th century craftsmanship: beautiful leaded glass windows, a full-height side bay, dentilated cornice, and a prominent front dormer with entablature featuring a pair of windows. Inside are seven fireplaces, quartersawn oak staircase and balustrade, original faux-grained woodwork and doors, and three sets of working pocket doors. All of its important architectural features are meticulously preserved. Brian Maier bought the house nearly two years ago. He has done minor work-painting, landscaping, and repairs to the woodwork in the short time he's lived there. Brian is surprised and disappointed that the original wrap-around porch was destroyed rather than saved as were so many other of the original architectural details. His favorite place is the front parlor. "It lends itself to quiet reflection as well as entertaining guests. The antique furniture and lack of modern distractions, i.e., TV, encourage guests to converse and play parlor games."