A Brief History of Marshall-Shadeland
The history of Marshall-Shadeland is complex… the area has changed names several times. The largely residential Marshall-Shadeland was annexed by Allegheny City in 1870. The neighborhood is bordered by Woods Run Ave., Riverview Park and Highwood Cemetery. The neighborhood was originally called “Woods Run” after John Ross, a settler there. The neighborhood’s library is still called Woods Run. It was called Shadeland-Halls Grove in 1974 in a Neighborhood Profile by Urban Planning Department. This helped separate the neighborhood from the Woods Run Industrial District.
1977 brought the name Marshall-Shadeland. The 1977 Atlas the name was found in said that the community was named after Archibald M. Marshall, an Irish grocer. The area is predominantly Slovak, with Italians, Russians, Irish and German. Recently, residents of the area have been calling it Brightwood. The City of Pittsburgh’s website even refers to the neighborhood now as “Marshall-Shadeland (Brightwood).”
Fun Facts about Marshall-Shadeland
What’s interesting about Marshall-Shadeland is that the community actually extends west to the Ohio River but ends at California Ave. The area between California Ave. and the river is the home of the State Correctional Institution. The community is quite accessible via public transportation, including 500, 16A, 16B and 16D. Marshall-Shadeland is surrounded by six neighborhoods, including Brighton Heights, California-Kirkbride, Chateau, Manchester, Perry North (Observatory Hill) and Perry South.
