Bigham House

By Leepaxton at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Location:

655 Pennridge Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15211

Description:

Bigham House is a distinguished mid-19th-century Classical Revival residence built around 1849 atop Mount Washington—a wooded, elevated setting that offered both privacy and strategic vantage for those seeking refuge. Commissioned by Thomas James Bigham (1810–1884), an abolitionist lawyer, newspaper publisher, and Pennsylvania legislator, the home served as a station on the Underground Railroad, where freedom seekers found sanctuary and assistance during their journey north.

Notably, Bigham’s trusted nurse, Lucinda Bryant, is believed to have signaled arriving individuals from the balcony—often with a lantern or quilt over the railing—to guide them safely inside. After remaining in the family until the early 1930s, the residence was preserved and repurposed by the Buhl Foundation as a community clubhouse known today as Chatham Hall within the innovative Chatham Village cooperative neighborhood.

The house is individually recognized as a Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation landmark and contributes to the National Historic Landmark District of Chatham Village. Blending architectural significance and deeply moving historical legacy, Bigham House stands as one of Allegheny County’s rare surviving homes linked directly to abolitionist action and the Underground Railroad.