Neill Log House

Neill (Neal) Log House
Neill (Neal) Log House in June 2019
Neill Log House is located in Pittsburgh
Neill Log House
LocationEast Circuit Road near Serpentine Drive in Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°26′09″N 79°56′08″W / 40.435847°N 79.935606°W / 40.435847; -79.935606
Builtca. 1795
Part ofSchenley Park Historic District[1] (ID85003506)
Significant dates
Designated CPNovember 13, 1985
Designated PHLF1970[2]
Designated CPHSFebruary 28, 1977[3]

The Neill Log House (also spelled Neal) is a historic log cabin in Schenley Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It was built during the second half of the 18th century and has been most commonly attributed to Robert Neill (Neal), with an estimated construction date possibly anywhere from 1765 to 1795.[4][5][6] This estimate is based on architectural evidence as well as the large increase in value of the land during Neill's period of ownership which would indicate he made substantial improvements.[6] However, the earlier date of 1765 claimed in some sources, would associate the building with an earlier landowner, Ambrose Newton.[7][8] In 2024, a dendrochronology study determined that the beam over the fireplace, believed to be original to the house's construction, was dated to be from 1795, which was the date that Robert Neal sold the cabin to John Reed. It is known by records that Robert Neal purchased the land in 1779 and sold the cabin and land in 1795.[9][6] Extrapolation of the known dates of Robert Neal's purchase and date the property was sold and the large increase in value during Robert Neal's ownership indicating he made substantial improvements likely mean it may have been built by him between 1779-1794.

The Neill (Neal) Log House is the oldest existing residential structure (house) in Pittsburgh. Other existing buildings such as the Old Stone Tavern built in 1756 (not confirmed) and the Fort Pitt Block House built in 1764 are not residential structures.[4] The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation placed a Historic Landmark Plaque on the building in 1970.[2] In 1977, it was named a City of Pittsburgh Designated Historic Structure.[3] It is part of Schenley Park U.S. Historic District.[10]

  1. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory–Nomination Form: Schenley Park Historic District". National Archives Catalog. National Park Service. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Historic Landmark Plaques 1968-2009: Architecturally significant structures, districts, and designed landscapes in the Pittsburgh region" (PDF). Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Designated Historic Buildings Structures and Sites Located in the City of Pittsburgh" (PDF). Historic Review Commission of Pittsburgh. October 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-01-08.
  4. ^ a b Kidney, Walter C. (1997). Pittsburgh's Landmark Architecture. Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. p. 377.
  5. ^ Stotz, Charles M. (1936). "The Robert Neal Cabin" (PDF). Library of Congress. Historic American Buildings Survey. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Arensberg, Charles Covert (July 1969). "The Spelling of Robert Neill Who Built the Neill Log House in Schenley Park". Western Pennsylvania History. 52 (3). Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania: 275–279. ISSN 1525-4755. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  7. ^ Stewart, Howard, ed. (1943). Historical Data, Pittsburgh Public Parks. Pittsburgh: Greater Pittsburgh Parks Association. pp. 33–35. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Miller, J. M. (February 1913). "Pittsburgh's Wilderness Homes". The Craftsman. 23 (5). New York: Craftsman Publishing Co.: 587–593. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  9. ^ Belser, Ann (March 7, 2024). "Neill Log House gets new lease on life with completion of latest reconstruction". NEXT Pittsburgh. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  10. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.