Byers-Lyons House

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

Location:

808 Ridge Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Description:

The Byers-Lyons House, located at 901 Ridge Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Allegheny West neighborhood, is a striking example of Renaissance Revival and Châteauesque architecture. Built in 1898 by the architectural firm Alden & Harlow, the mansion was originally commissioned as a dual-family residence for industrialist Alexander M. Byers and his daughter and son-in-law, J. Denniston Lyons. The building’s unique features include a central courtyard framed by a cloistered arcade, tall stepped gables, ornate chimneys, and polychrome brickwork with brownstone trim. Each wing of the house reflects its respective occupant’s style—Byers’s side showcasing Victorian opulence, while the Lyons side is more subdued and Edwardian in character.

Inside, the structure boasts over ninety rooms, with fine woodwork, fireplaces, and a grand staircase. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970s and is a designated historic landmark by both the city and the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. Today, the building serves as Byers Hall, part of the Community College of Allegheny County’s Allegheny Campus. Though now an academic facility, the mansion retains much of its original architectural integrity and is also the subject of local folklore, including eerie tales of tragic accidents and ghostly activity, adding to its mystique and historical allure.