"Of three or four principal points that were fixed upon for establishing large Arsenals of construction, at which all the munitions appertaining to the Ordnance Department might be collected by purchase and fabrication, the position occupied by the Allegheny Arsenal was deemed second to none in its convenience of location for communicating with, and supplying large and important sections of exposed inland and maritime frontier.

"The importance of this position as a strong connecting link between the Canadas and her military stations on the Mississippi was duly appreciated by the French, and the bones of many a gallant European, whose lives were sacrificed to the natural desire to possess the occupancy of so commanding a post, are even now to be seen whitening the luxuriant and highly cultivated meadows of Braddock's Field.

"As a position whence supplies may be sent to our Northwestern frontier posts on the great tributaries of the Mississippi, New Orleans, the fortresses that protect that great city, and to the chains of permanent defences on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the Allegheny Arsenal can have no equal, and the superior means it possesses of selecting from among the numerous manufacturing establishments in its immediate vicinity, artisans of every description and of great skill, of procuring all the various materials required in the construction of arms and military equipment of all kinds, renders it one of the most important arsenals of construction in the United States.

"The abundance of coal near this arsenal, and its trifling cost, gives to it one decided advantage over every other; and its contiguity to manufacturies of almost every description, and especially those at which iron is shaped and fashioned to man's will, renders its situation, in this respect, exceedingly convenient for the construction of carriages and machines, into which this material largely enters."

Here we are tempted to stop a moment for a reflection. What a broad vision the men of those days had to take in so many points of connection between the Arsenal and its situation and such wide stretches of territory it would benefit, and by which it would be benefited!

Were they living today, it does not seem too much to say, and were they leaders, as they were then, that there

would not be the delay and hesitancy we are witnessing to-day in responding to the demand of the government for the elevation of the bridges over the Allegheny River; or complying with the apparently simple conditions for securing the appropriations for improvements on the Allegheny and Ohio rivers. Furthermore, the Ohio River and Lake Erie Canal would either be an actuality now, or advancing speedily toward its completion.

The wide survey that the government was able to take in the days of Captain Wooley and Wm. B. Foster, it is still in position to take to-day, and we may be sure that the relations it has in view go far beyond the ken of those whose vision is confined within the narrow limits of our local horizon. Could we rise to the height, as some seem to have done, from which the government contemplates the improvement referred to, we would see the advantages and benefits for the business and welfare of the country at large, and incidentally this community, which would surely result. Great as Pittsburgh is undoubtedly now, as an industrial centre, it cannot be compared with what it would be if we engaged in sympathetic action corresponding with the plans of the government. Slowness on our part to act and grasp what is within our reach may be the occasion of much regret in the future, particularly when we see other communities possibly of more vivid vision and quicker activity, enriched by advantages that should have by every right of situation belonged to us. The recollection of the pressure of the government in behalf of the contemplated improvements would make the sting of disappointment all the more sensible.

You will pardon this digression, I am sure, when I remind you that the lesson of the location of the Arsenal in this district, though of the distant past, and the reasons that brought it about, would, if well remembered and acted upon, assure for this community a consistency of action that would steadily develop the possibilities of Greater Pittsburgh to dimensions of actuality corresponding with advantages which, in not a few respects, surpass those to be found in any other portion of the world.

Now let us take up again the thread of the story of "Earlier Lawrenceville."

As the government went on adding to its purchases of

land and erecting buildings for the purposes of the Arsenal, there was a consequent increase in the population of the town and vicinity.

Meanwhile there set in an increase of mercantile and manufacturing concerns of all kinds, each of which brought its quota to add to the population.

Nor was this advancement of a character to indicate the mushroom growth and development of a boom town. It bore evidences of a permanency to be compared with that of the Arsenal. In the town and the neighborhood, to quote the words of the "Pittsburgh Directory of 1837", "A number of professional, mercantile and manufacturing classes erected dwelling houses, country seats and gardens; so that from a barren part Lawrenceville has become one of the most interesting spots in Western Pennsylvania."

The Directory goes on to say: "The citizens of Lawrenceville and neighborhood are an industrious and sober class of people, and from the fact that there are there three Churches, three Sunday Schools, a Literary Institute and a Lyceum, so extensively known and patronized by the great and good of all nations, affords sufficient evidence of the respectabilty and quality of its society at large."

Elsewhere we learn there were three Churches in the town, viz. an Episcopal, a Presbyterian and a Methodist Church, with a Sunday School attached to each.

We may infer from what is stated in the "Pittsburgh Directory of 1815" that the Catholics were served by Rev. Wm. O'Brien, Pastor of St. Patrick's Church; the Seceders by Rev. Robt. Bruce, Pastor of Church on 7th St; the Covenanters by Rev. Jno. Black, Pastor of Church on 7th St. and the German Lutherans by Rev. Jacob Schnee, Pastor of Church on Smithfield St.; all in the Borough, as it was at that time, of Pittsburgh.

The following list enables us to form some idea of the character of the population when Wm. B. Foster laid out the town of Lawrenceville, taken from the Directory of 1815. Danl Beltzhoover, Gentleman. James W. Brading, Brick Maker. Saml Byington, Blacksmith. James Clark, Shopkeeper. John Coxe, Sawyer. Thomas Crown, Bricklayer. Hugh Galbreath, Carpenter. Jacob Gossbury, Blacksmith. Moses Gray, Sawyer. Samuel Kingan, Stone Mason. Saml

Little, Stone Mason. James McBride, Laborer. David McKelvey, Brickmaker. John McMurday, Carpenter. James McNabby, Stone Cutter. Aaron Meeker, Paper Maker, Steam Paper Mill. David Noyes, Shop Keeper. John O'Connor, Carpenter. Thomas O'Connor, Carpenter. Seth Risley, Paper Maker, Steam Paper Mill. Saml Remmington, Carpenter. James Patrick, Mason. Henry Sarber, Shop Keeper. James Sarber, Innkeeper. John Sarber, Innkeeper. Joseph Scott, Paper Mill, Steam Paper Mill. Kenneth Thompson, Stone Cutter. Robt. Wilson, Laborer. Captain A. R. Wooley, U. S. Ordnance Dept. Jacob Jelter, Paper Maker, Steam Paper Mill.

This list seems to show a settlement of people mostly of English, Irish and Scotch origin or ancestry; and, as I suppose is to be expected in a new town springing up in the neighborhood of a new Arsenal, of tradesmen, laborers and shopkeepers, almost entirely. Professional and other classes came gradually and settled in and around the town, as shown by subsequent Directories.

Wm. B. Foster, founder of the town, established a residence in 1814 upon a tract of land belonging to him just outside the town on the south side of the Pittsburgh and Greensburg Turnpike, on what was known as "Bullitt's Hill," a height commanding a view up and down the river for miles. There he built a beautiful white cottage where he with his family spent many happy years, and hospitality and kindness prevailed. There, too, Stephen C. Foster, his son was born, who grew up to be the pride and glory not only of Lawrenceville, but of America, as a composer of music and writer of ballads. His fame is worldwide.

The exact location of the spot where the "White Cottage" stood was thought to be a lot on Penn Avenue, opposite the Pennsylvania National Bank at the Forks of the Road.

The frame house that still stands there resembles the pictures we see of the Foster home, except the porch which was removed about fifteen years ago. The older residents of Lawrenceville held that that was the original "White Cottage," and even those residents who survive, and whose memory goes back many years, still make the same claim, notwithstanding the fact that the city purchased the proper

ty where it stood in 1914, the transfer having been made by James H. Park, et ux, by deed dated April 17th of that year. Indeed, the late Mr. Morrison Foster was under the same impression, and was accustomed, as I was told, to point to the frame house near the Forks of the Road as the old Foster Home.

However, in 1912 or 1913 he called upon me, and asked me to accompany him for the purpose of examining the property. After strolling over the ground, seeming puzzled, he suggested that we go out Penn Avenue a little further, which we did, until we reached the property fronting on Penn Avenue between Ligonier and Denny Streets. After examining this property he hesitated, until he saw the old spring house, which was in a tumble-down condition. Then he said: "This is the place. This springhouse gives me my bearings. But that is not the house. Our house was a frame structure, while this is brick. But it seems to be built on the old foundation."

The city has improved this property and put the building in condition to serve as a Museum in which there are stored a few relics of Stephen C. Foster. It is known now as "The Foster Memorial.”

Resuming our narrative with regard to Earlier Lawrenceville, the town, meanwhile, grew and developed until finally it was considered that its conditions were such as to entitle it to the dignity, rights and privileges of a borough.

Accordingly, nineteen years after it had been laid out, by an Act of Legislature, approved Feb. 18th, 1834, the incorporation of Lawrenceville as a borough took place.

There were amendments to this Act, as a result of additions made to the territory of the borough, by separate Acts of Mch. 13th, 1847 and April 21st, 1852.

After a brief career of thirty-three years from 1834 it was annexed to the City of Pittsburgh by an Act of Assembly, approved April 6th, 1867 (P. L. 846; also p.p. 78-82, Pgh. Digest).

Its boundaries seem to have been then: the Allegheny River from 33d St. to 51st St.; 51st St. to Butler St.; Butler St. to about 48th St. thence by an irregular line Southwardly and Westwardly and again Southwardly to Penn Ave., a little Westwardly to 44th St. thence along Penn Ave. West