Nicholas Way House

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

Location:

4108 Beaver Rd, Sewickley, PA 15143

Description:

The Nicholas Way House, also known as the Abishai Way House, stands at 108 Beaver Road in Edgeworth, Pennsylvania. Constructed in 1838, it’s an elegant example of Greek Revival architecture—characterized by its balanced proportions, classical symmetry, and refined detailing. Its historic and architectural significance was formally recognized in 1978 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and again in 2002 when it was designated a historic landmark by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation.

As part of what became one of the region’s earliest planned residential communities, the house reflects both the prosperity and design sensibilities of the early 19th-century suburban elite. The model was to create a serene, leafy environment for professionals and their families—a contrast to the industrial bustle of Pittsburgh’s core—grounded in a sense of permanence and tasteful refinement.

The home’s Greek Revival style would have originally featured hallmark elements such as a prominent entryway framed by pilasters or columns, perhaps a pedimented gable, and other classical details—underscoring the influence of ancient Greek architecture on American domestic design. While today the house is cherished for its historic value, it also represents the enduring quality of early suburban planning and the architectural trends that sought to convey education, civic virtue, and cultural aspiration in private residences.

In sum, the Nicholas Way House is both a preserved artifact of Edgeworth’s early development and a fine representative of Greek Revival architecture in Western Pennsylvania.