I found this at an abandoned house, can't find any info

[hotrod53]

I found this in the front yard of an abandoned house near Pittsburgh. It's cast metal, my first thought was some sort of a grave marker but why in someone's front yard? It's smooth on the back, the holes make me think it screw mounts on something.

 

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[mojjax]

Very cool , how big ?

 

[Anduril]

I found this in the front yard of an abandoned house near Pittsburgh. It's cast metal, my first thought was some sort of a grave marker

but why in someone's front yard? It's smooth on the back, the holes make me think it screw mounts on something. View attachment 1718257

...maybe the individual recovered?

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Maybe a Carriage License issued in 1904. I found a similar one about 2”x3” in Pittsburgh.

 

[Joe-Dirt]

Looks like a life span of someone, maybe a cheapo headstone?

 

[Retired Sarge]

Maybe a burial niche marker.

 

[JPM]

I have seen some items similar in the past but different shapes. If it is the same, it was put on buildings in a specific town or area. Almost like survey markers are put places. For example, maybe a historic district. I'm not sure of that though.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Just a coincidence... ?
Dave

William K. Cavett
Birth: 1836
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death: 4 Nov 1904 (aged 67—68)
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial: Homewood Cemetery
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA
Plot Section 9 - Lot 406 - Grave 1

 

[ToastedWheatie]

This is a stretch, but maybe railroad aficionados can translate.
Looks like this one "section" of Pittsburgh railroad was started in 1836 and completed in 1904?

Bridges and Tunnels of Allegheny County and Pittsburgh, PA - Railroad History, Pittsburgh Plan, 1923

"RAILROADS -- A PART OF THE PITTSBURGH PLAN

SECTION VIII
SHORT HISTORY OF RAILROAD DEVELOPMENT IN PENNSYLVANIA

The development of transportation facilities in Pennsylvania, particularly through the Pittsburgh District, constitutes one of the most brilliant chapters in engineering history. The deeds accomplished in overcoming the apparently insurmountable difficulties interposed by nature, are a lasting tribute to the men of genius and vision who lived in that great constructive period preceding and following the Civil War.

The following brief sketch of the rapid development of transportation facilities within the Pittsburgh District illustrates the importance of the District to the railroads, especially when one considers the great cost of railroad construction in this territory.

Pennsylvania System

The first great step in linking East to West took place during the years 1826 to 1835, when definite connection by railroad and water was established between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. What was called "The Pennsylvania Route of 1836" was made up of four divisions as follows.

Division No. 1. The Columbia Railroad (a horse car road), extending from Fairmount water works in Philadelphia to Columbia, a distance of 82 miles. The horses were later replaced by locomotives.

Division No. 2. The Central Division of the Pennsylvania Canal, extending along the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers from Columbia to Hollidaysburg, 172 miles. The lockage in this division was 747 feet. There were 18 dams, 33 aqueducts and 101 locks. The canal was 40 feet wide at the top, 28 feet wide at the bottom, and 4 feet deep.

Division No. 3. Allegheny Portage Railroad, from Hollidaysburg to Johnstown, crossing the crest of the Allegheny Mountains and having a total length of 37 miles. The crossing of the mountains was accomplished by the use of four miles of "inclined planes," consisting of a series of 10 separately operated grades, varying in length from 1607 to 3117 feet, the steepest of which did not exceed 10 per cent. Each grade, or plane, was provided at its head with a stationary engine which operated a cable to which were attached the railway cars. On descending grades the cars were gravity propelled and, on level or nearly level grades, first horses, and later locomotives, were used. The ascent from Hollidaysburg to the Summit was 1,398.71 feet in 10.10 miles. The descent to Johnstown was 1751.58 feet in 26-1/2 miles. This stretch of tracks was subsequently relocated and all but one or two of the inclined planes avoided.

Division No. 4. The Western Division of the Pennsylvania Canal, extending from Johnstown to Pittsburgh, a distance of 104 miles. The lockage over this portion was 471 feet. To carry this section there were built 64 locks, 10 dams, 2 tunnels, 16 aqueducts, 64 culverts, and 152 bridges.

Within Pittsburgh, the canal followed closely the right-of-way now used by the Conemaugh Division (West Penn) of the Pennsylvania Railroad, crossing the Allegheny River at 11th Street by means of an aqueduct. It extended across Penn Avenue, supported by a stone arch bridge, and came to an end in a small basin at Second Avenue. Basins were provided east and west of 11th Street and north of Liberty Avenue, and a larger basin at about the location of the present Grant Street freight yards.

The distance from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia was travelled in 3 days and 19 hours.

The total cost of the canals and portage railroad, not including Division No. 1, was approximately $10,000,000.00, all of which was paid by the State of Pennsylvania. For a time the canals and portage railroad were a great success, but later, on account of the high cost of maintenance, and difficulties of operation, they gradually became a financial burden to the state. By the year 1855, the Pennsylvania Railroad was in successful operation from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, making further use of the canal route unprofitable. It was offered for sale in 1855, with no bidders. It was again offered for sale in 1857, and was purchased by the Pennsylvania Railroad, operated by that road for three months at a loss, and then abandoned.



The first railroad into Pittsburgh was the Ohio and Pennsylvania, now the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, which was put into operation in 1852. It terminated on the North Side, at Federal Street. In 1856 the original Fort Wayne bridge was built and the road then entered Pittsburgh proper. In 1858 a crossing of Penn Avenue was effected after much municipal opposition, and the road was brought into the "Union Station," making through and uninterrupted traffic practicable from Philadelphia to Chicago.

In 1854 what is now the Pittsburgh Division was completed, its terminus in Pittsburgh being at the present site of the Duquesne Freight Station. This was an especially strategic position, as navigation interests also centered at that point, and the interchange of freight was a considerable item. The Duquesne Station was reached by a single track in Liberty Avenue, which was not removed until 1905 when, in connection with the elevation of the Federal Street Station and bridge, a double track elevated line was substituted along the Allegheny River adjacent to Duquesne Way. Two years previous to the completion of this road, through trains were operated from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, a part of the old Portage Railroad being used.

The Allegheny Valley Railroad was begun in 1853 and completed to Kittanning in 1856.

The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad (Panhandle Division) entered Pittsburgh in 1865, and the Pittsburgh, Virginia & Charleston Railroad (Monongahela Division) was completed to Homestead in 1873. The Chartiers Valley Railroad, later a part of the Panhandle Division, was built in 1866.

The West Penn Railroad (Conemaugh Division) was completed from Freeport to Federal Street Station and opened for traffic in 1866. The Butler Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad was built in 1871.

The "first Union Station," which accommodated all branches of the Pennsylvania System, was constructed in 1863. It was destroyed by rioters in 1877 and rebuilt as a temporary structure, which endured until 1899, when construction of the present station was begun.

The Ohio Connecting Railway, consisting of 9 miles of track and a double track bridge over the Ohio River, was opened for traffic in 1890. The Brilliant Branch or cut-off from East Liberty to Aspinwall, with connection to the Allegheny Division, was put into operation in 1904. These last two pieces of construction are the most important works in this vicinity in recent times, and afforded a much needed flexibility in operation of the Pennsylvania Railroad through Pittsburgh."



"

 

[A2coins]

Awesome guess now that would be sweet. I love RR related stuff