PHOTOS BY STEEL CITY VISUALS

When William and Mary Mohrmann first chose to build a life on the corner of North and Cedar avenues, the North Side was not yet incorporated into Pittsburgh proper — that wouldn’t happen until 1907.

The couple, who were both first-generation American children of German immigrants, had a liquor business on East Ohio Street in the then-bustling Allegheny City. While their first home was a few blocks away on Avery Street, the 5,000-square-foot house they constructed in 1880 at 1010 Cedar Ave. is where they would spend the rest of their lives.

After William died at age 43, Mary went on to run a boarding house on the future site of Allegheny General Hospital, which today sits directly across from the house.

According to Allegheny County records, the home has changed hands at least seven times since the couple first built it more than a century ago — but its original features remain surprisingly untouched.

Current owners Kristin and Scott Fox bought the home three years ago, when Realtor Christian Musuraca of Howard Hanna put the property on their radar.

“It was a really unique property, and we both love old homes,” says Kristin. “He knew we were always looking for something that had been well preserved.”

While the home’s previous owners had attempted to run a bed-and-breakfast business at the property, the time-consuming renovations that had to meet local building requirements took a long time; their dream was never realized.

“They invested about $1.2 million dollars,” Musuraca says of the previous owners. “My favorite features are the claw-foot tubs in the king-sized, Pittsburgh-themed rooms, which have fun names like Rogers, Wilson and Carnegie.”

Musuraca is also a fan of the double fireplaces in the expansive living room. There’s even room for the pool table, which happens to be included in the sale.

Indeed, all of the property’s current furniture is included in the sale; the home is now on the market for $880,000, and that price tag comes with peace of mind.

Despite the intricate steps involved in restoring a historical home, Musuraca says the Cedar Avenue house currently meets all Historical Review Board requirements. It also has five bedrooms and eight bathrooms — making it a perfect candidate to be a single-family home, an inn, a vacation property or a congregant living community.

“What’s interesting is that each bedroom has an ensuite bathroom,” says Kristin.

A rear two-story apartment could also be cordoned off from the rest of the home, making a comfortable in-law suite or apartment for an adult child.

“There are so many things I love … From the gas fireplaces and exterior gas lighting, to the high ceilings, to the warmth,” Kristin says.

While the home’s grand front staircase draws attention, Kristin says she loves the simple back staircase just as much.

“The whole house is just cozy and warm, and the afternoon light is amazing,” she says. “I can picture family holiday parties here, or gatherings on the patio or front porch.”

Few historical homes in the city have as much original charm left as untouched as 1010 Cedar Ave. From the wavy glass windows to the carefully carved millwork throughout, the home — which was designed in the Second Empire style — stands sentry on a busy corner in much the same way it always has.

The newly restored fountain in leafy Allegheny Commons Park sits right across from the home’s front porch, harkening back to the days when the green space was used to collectively graze and water livestock in the fledgling city.

For the last three years, the Foxes have used the home as a rehabilitation facility for those struggling with addiction. Changes to the program mean the home no longer suits the couple’s needs.

They are still sad to see it go.

And while the Foxes have never lived in this home, they spent a great deal of time there helping residents of the program. They love the community they’ve come to know in the North Side, and they’re contemplating retiring to a smaller home in the neighborhood someday. In particular, Kristin loved sitting on the front porch in the nice weather and gazing over the park.

“It’s hard to separate out my love for the house specifically from the business we built there, but, I think the connection to the North Side itself just stands out for me,” she says.

Meg St-Esprit is a Bellevue-based freelance journalist who covers real estate, lifestyle, education, parenting and travel for a variety of local outlets including Pittsburgh Magazine, PublicSource, Kidsburgh, Pittsburgh City Paper, and City Cast Pittsburgh. Meg offers Hot Property, an inside look into unique and historic homes on the market. Each week, Hot Property goes behind the For Sale sign to share the story of a special Pittsburgh-area home.

About: Allegheny Center
Population: 1,513
Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Residents of the North Side neighborhood enjoy easy access to all of the city’s main arteries. From this home, residents can also catch regular Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses and can walk or bus to the North Side’s T stops. It’s also a 20-minute drive to the airport via Interstate 376.
Schools: Pittsburgh Public Schools (pghschools.org)
Neighborhood: Dominated by Allegheny Commons Park, Allegheny Center is home to the National Aviary. The park also contains the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, plus a large lake and a seasonal farmers’ market. Residents can also catch a show at the New Hazlett Theater.