The first time Sondra and Jeremiah White saw this brick Tudor in East Pittsburgh, they were charmed.
“I personally loved the brick sidewalks and the shrubs,” Mrs. White said, referring to the neat row of hedges that surrounds the corner lot and storybook house.
They found the inside just as enchanting, with a stone fireplace, original stained-glass windows, hardwood floors and built-in cubbies.
But now the Whites have outgrown the three-bedroom, one-bath house at 556 Ridge Ave. and have put it on the market for $55,000 (MLS No. 1073005) with Erica Newport of Coldwell Banker Real Estate (724-864-2121 or www.pittsburghmoves.com). It is open by appointment.
When the home was built in 1931, many of East Pittsburgh’s 6,200 residents worked at the nearby Westinghouse Electric plant. The builder used premium materials and included details not always found in homes of that period.
By the arched front door, a small cubby for keys mimics the door shape and a built-in bench is perfect for taking off and storing shoes and boots. There are several stained-glass windows, textured plaster and original crystal doorknobs for even more charm.
Virginia and Carl Kimmerle, the previous owners, bought the house in 1950 and lovingly preserved it for 52 years, Mrs. White said.
“They took beautiful care of it. When we moved in, there was a Magic Chef stove from the 1950s still working. I held on to it until 2014, when we replaced the stove and dishwasher.”
The Whites removed old carpeting and painted the walls, but made few other changes. In the 13-by-13-foot living room, the original radiators and cover are under the window. The stone fireplace is flanked by a pair of stained-glass windows with tulips in the center. Both casement windows work and have their original brass hardware.
The couple stored the original dark-stained French doors that separated the living room and the dining room and another solid door leading to the entry hall to prevent damaged. The 12- by- 11-foot dining room has hardwood floors and a door leading to the quaint covered side porch.
The 9- by- 9-foot kitchen has a tall, built-in spice cabinet, an arched alcove contains the refrigerator. There is a gas stove and dishwasher. White cabinets with a cathedral door detail are set above a wallpaper backsplash and vinyl floor that was laid over hardwood.
Another stained-glass window is in the staircase landing. The three bedrooms on the second floor range is size from 9 by 9 feet to 13 by 11 feet. Some have exposed hardwood floors. There is a full bath with a shower-tub combination and mosaic tile floor.
The basement has an original Pittsburgh potty in the corner and is surrounded by a wooden enclosure. The Whites replaced some basement windows with glass block from a 100-year-old farm. “It looks like it fits the house,” she said. There is a newer water tank and boiler and window air-conditioners. A home warranty is included.
The property’s county assessed value is $39,500 (www2.county.allegheny.pa.us/RealEstate/Search.aspx). Over the last three years, eight single-family homes have sold on Ridge Avenue for prices ranging from $14,500 in May 2011 to $61,500 in June 2012. (www.realstats.net).
The home is on the corner of Ridge and Grandview avenues and the back porch offers a view of the Westinghouse Bridge. There is a one-car integral garage.
“We have a park across the street with a play area for the kids,” Mrs. White said. “It has been a wonderful home for us. If we had more space, we would consider staying here. The kids don’t want to move.”
Rosa Colucci: 412-263-1661 or rcolucci@post-gazette.com. Twitter: PGRosa_Colucci.
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East Pittsburgh at a glance
Website: eastpittsburghboro.com
Inside out: Turtle Creek was a lifeline for early settlers of the half-mile area that became East Pittsburgh Borough. John Frazer, a trader, built his home at the mouth of the creek in 1748. In 1894, Westinghouse Electric Corp. opened its factory here and many of the borough’s 6,000 residents worked at the plant in the 1920s and ‘30s. Notable engineers included Nikola Tesla and Bertha Lamme Feicht, the company’s first female engineer. In 1928, Westinghouse Electric successfully demonstrated the new medium of television.
The George Westinghouse Memorial Bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places. When it was opened on Sept. 10, 1932, more than 30,000 people came to celebrate what was then the world’s longest arched concrete span at 1,598 feet. It rose 240 feet above the valley, so tall that an 18-story building could fit under it.
Schools: Woodland Hills (www.whsd.net)
Enrollment: 3,828
Average SAT scores: Reading, 449; Math, 450; Writing, 439 (Woodland Hills High School)
Annual taxes per $100,000 of assessment: $3,973 (median property value is $29,600)
Borough: $1,345. (13.45 mills)
School: $2,240.00 (22.40 mills)
*County: $388 (4.73 mills)
Earned income tax: 1 percent
*Includes the Act 50 Homestead Exclusion, which reduces the assessed value of a primary residence by $18,000.
First Published: February 26, 2016, 3:08 p.m.