Allegheny Arsenal
N 40° 28.039 W 079° 57.628
17T E 588127 N 4480145
Quick Description: An important military installation from the 1800's is now a nice park next to a school in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood.
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 11/12/2006 6:45:24 PM
Waymark Code: WMYHA
Views: 91
Long Description:Marker Text:
Designed by Benjamin H. Latrobe and constructed in 1814. The
Arsenal was used as a military garrison, in the manufacture and
storing of supplies during the Civil War, Indian Wars, and Spanish
American War.
What the marker doesn't mention is that there was a famous and
tragic explosion of munitions at the Arsenal during the Civil War.
The following is from a newspaper account at the time:
"It was during the second year of the Civil War and during the
second engagement of the battle of Antietam that Sept. 17, 1862,
the War Department sent a hurry order to the superintendent of the
Arsenal for a supply of ammunition. Col. Simonton, who was
commandant at the arsenal, had just completed a new ballast
driveway leading from the Butler St. entrance to the magazine
house.
A team hauling a wagonload of powder was the first vehicle to use
the road. As it rumbled over the new road it is thought that fire
struck by the horses' shoes ignited some scrappings of powder that
littered the driveway. Then followed one of the worst catastrophes
in the history of the city.
The driver of the wagon and a small boy who accompanied him were
blown to atoms. The magazine house in which were employed 83
persons, mostly girls, was demolished and some of the bodies were
never found.
The force of the explosion wrecked houses, tore down ceilings and
shattered windows in dwellings for miles around. The detonation was
heard from the forks of the road to the Sharpsburg bridge and many
persons thought they were in the midst of an earthquake. For more
than a week the entire city was plunged in mourning."