PHOTOS BY SHOWINGTIME + LISTING MEDIA SERVICES

When their beloved Uncle Walter died last summer, sisters Deb and Sue found themselves the unexpected new owners of a home — in a city they didn’t live in.

“My dad and Walter Duffin were best friends, but my sister and I were really surprised to find that we were his beneficiaries,” says Deb, who, like her sister, resides in Massachusetts. “Both of us fell in love with the home, though.”

Deb says that after growing up in Massachusetts with her father, Duffin graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and then moved to Pittsburgh to work for the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory in West Mifflin.

While at MIT, he met his wife, and the couple later purchased 433 E 11th Ave. in Munhall from her aunt.

At Bettis, Duffin worked in a laboratory on submarine technology while spending his free time maintaining the grand old house. Deb describes her uncle as a brilliant, quirky man — and his home tells the story of his varied interests.

“He was a physicist, so he would DIY many things in the house,” she recalls.

When larger repairs were needed, Duffin would store away the pieces of the original millwork or trim so that a future owner could fully restore the home if desired, Deb says. He also created space within the home to display meaningful artifacts — such as a collection of model tanks and planes — as well as over 10,000 books.

“He had so many things that were really intriguing,” says Deb.

The sisters took their time to clear out the home, adding many of the items left behind needed to be treated with care. As the collections were rehomed, Deb says she and Sue began to fully see the character of the elaborate, 5,000-square-foot space.

“This home is really meaningful to us. We want to sell it to someone who is also moved by the Edwardian interior and stained glass,” Deb says. “It would be a crime to not preserve it, so I see it as my responsibility as his executor to protect his legacy.”

A self-professed lover of old homes, Deb laughs as she admits her husband didn’t want the maintenance of owning one — a fact that has been proven true over the past year of preparing her uncle’s home for the market.

“I myself live in new construction, which is super boring,” she says. “My house looks like every other new house on the market.”

Neither of sisters live in Pittsburgh, which guided their decision to sell the property; they’ve since listed the home for $250,000 with Steve and Brett Chupinka of K & S Real Estate, Inc.

A father-son duo, the Chupinkas have roots in Munall, so they know the history and significance of the community.

“This home is incredible,” says Steve. “It’s in the historic part of Munhall, right across from the Carnegie Library and Music Hall.”

While preparing the home for the market, care was taken to board up the original stained glass windows so they would not become damaged; professional cleaners also tackled the decades worth of treasures Duffin collected. In addition, a new furnace was added last fall while the roof is in good condition.

Although some parts of the interior will require work for the next owner, the home is the definition of “good bones,” according to the realtors.

Steve adds the home’s original central staircase and stained glass captured his heart immediately, and he can envision many uses for the sprawling property.

“It would make an incredible bed and breakfast,” he notes.

The century-old home also comes with a storied history. In the basement is an Art Deco-style bar that was part of a Prohibition-era speakeasy. Still in place is a “Pittsburgh potty” and shower near the bar, which was used by patrons tiptoeing in for a nightcap after a day at the mill.

The property’s large, tiled front porch looks out onto the library as well as a small, triangular park designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, who is credited with designing much of Central Park in New York City and Mellon Park in Pittsburgh.

Inside, the grand home is not short on space. The large first floor is centered around the stunning stained glass triptych on the main staircase. A second staircase leads directly from the kitchen to a third-floor butler’s suite.

Large, bright rooms are filled with elaborate millwork and glass details. A parlor runs along the front of the house, while a large dining room is connected to the kitchen by the butler’s pantry. There’s also original pocket doors and wood floors ready to be refinished into their former beauty.

While some parts of the walls have been opened up for repairs, the sisters say all of the removed pieces were carefully stored in the basement. The owners add that while the home is not quite move-in-ready, they’ve sought to make restoring it as easy as possible.

On the second floor, the primary suite is truly a trip back to the turn-of-the-century. The two primary bedrooms are connected by a jack-and-jill bathroom. Two other large bedrooms each include a fireplace and walk-in closet. The third-floor butler’s suite also could be used for more bedrooms, office space or storage.

Outside, the grounds are a blank slate. Three walls of a garage still exist around a parking pad, and a new roof could turn it into a garage once more. The home also is located in a walkable area of Munhall, and it has close-knit neighbors who have been invested in its history for years.

Deb says that one of her favorite memories of her time in Pittsburgh is from a local celebration of life held for Uncle Walter.

“These 80-year-old men were debating the temperature of black holes and how fast time travels; it was just so … incredible,” she says. “These are the types of discussions that these brilliant men had, and I was so privileged to get to be there and listen.”

About: Munhall
Population: 10,738
Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Located on the west bank of the Monongahela River, not far from Interstate 376, residents of Munhall can easily access Downtown. The airport is a 30-minute drive. PRT buses run through the area as well. Residents of Munhall do not need a car due to the walkable business district and access to The Waterfront, which is packed with grocers, restaurants and retail spots.
Schools: Steel Valley School District (steelvalleysd.org)
Neighborhood: There is a tight-knit community in Munhall, with many residents having lived in the community for their whole lives. While a large part of the Homestead Works of the Carnegie Steel Company once existed in Munhall, today an influx of recent development is also bringing new residents to the community. The walkable business district gives the community an old time feel, and the proximity to The Waterfront and Sandcastle Water Park is a plus for residents, too.