Neill Log House

When Ambrose Newton built this log house in the 18^th Century, he had no idea he was designing a future storage shed. Nor had he any idea his house would eventually be in the middle of a golf course. But the Neill Log House is one of the oldest structures in Pittsburgh. It gets its name from its second owner, Robert Neill. It may have been built in the 1760s according to some records, but other records indicate circa 1787. Robert Neill later purchased the house. The house consists of massive wooden timbers infilled with mud.
I wasn’t able to find much on Robert Neill. The house was later sold to Col. James O’Hara and it later passed to his famous granddaughter, Mary Schenley. The house has served as a picnic pavillion, a storage shed, and a rest area for the golf course. I’ve seen this house many times from the golf course and I’ve always been fascinated by it. Today it is unused.