The Stories Behind Pleasant Hills ’ Street Names
Deb Morinello , West Jefferson Hills Historical Society
Ever wondered how the streets of Pleasant Hills got their names ? In this article , we ’ ll explore the origins of some of the names behind these streets .
Let ’ s begin with the Broadway Drive section , part of what ’ s known as Plan 5 . This area was developed by Hankoff and Rose , who named many of the streets after Jefferson Township Commissioners : Rennie , Stevens , Colson , and Slater Drives , along with Beedle Circle . But why the commissioners of Jefferson Township ? Before 1947 , Pleasant Hills was part of Jefferson Township , and these names reflect that legacy . est Jefferson Hills BOROUGH OF JEFFERSON HILLS NEWS
Some streets in Pleasant Hills are tributes to early residents or local figures :
• Betty Rae Drive : Named after Betty Rae Hleba , believed to be the first baby born in the modern community of Pleasant Hills . Her family lived in a house on Old Clairton Road that was later purchased by the Harry Vance family and is now the Professional Center .
• Green Drive : This street honors the Bill Green family , who once owned a farm near the Sequoia athletic field . The Green family property stretched from Old Clairton Road to Green Drive , and the Bill Green Shopping Center now occupies the site of Bill Green ’ s former nightclub .
• Baker Drive : Named after Ma Baker , who ran a tearoom in a white house above the Cloverleaf approach on Ott Drive . Interestingly , Ott Drive was named after Ma Baker ’ s sister , who lived there .
In contrast , some streets in Pleasant Hills take their inspiration from beyond Pennsylvania . The Olsen Construction Company , fresh from working on the floors of the Agricultural Extension Building in Washington , D . C ., named several streets after landmarks associated with the U . S . government . Vernon Park likely comes from Mount Vernon , George Washington ’ s famous home , and streets like Capitol , Constitution , Senate , and National Drives clearly echo this theme .
The Hi-Tor Woods development brings a bit of Scottish flair to the area . Streets here were influenced by the High Tor estate of A . W . Robertson and the Torrence family , with “ Tor ” coming from the family name .
Nature has also left its mark on the street names in Pleasant Hills . For example , Yarrow Lane and Millet Lane are named after common weeds that once grew in the area . Arbor Lane gets its name from a nearby arboretum , and Oakcrest Lane is a nod to the trees that were growing there .
Oddly enough , there ’ s no street in Pleasant Hills named after the area ’ s founder , William Walker , despite his significant contributions . Walker ’ s property once served as a stagecoach stop and even as a gathering place for the local militia during the early days of Western Expansion . However , his legacy lives on in the name of the borough itself , which was derived from his land patent , “ Pleasant Hill ” ( no “ s ”).
These are just a few of the stories behind Pleasant Hills ’ street names , each offering a glimpse into the area ’ s history and the people who shaped it .
Saturday , January 25 , 2025 , at 1:00 P . M . Community Rooms of Jefferson Hills Municipal Building
“ Allegheny County ’ s Bettis Airport ” presented by Sue Morris and Brian Butko
WJHHS Events Saturday , February 22 , 2025 , at 1:00 P . M . Community Rooms of Jefferson Hills Municipal Building
“ Moving History : The Lincoln Assassination and Pittsburgh ”
presented by Vincent Ciaramella
Wednesday , March 26 , 2025 , at 7:00 P . M . Community Rooms of Jefferson Hills Municipal Building
“ Marketing the Presidency : 125 Years of Presidential Artifacts ”
presented by Steve Mihaly
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