Brashear, John A., House and Factory
Why it's listed
Built in 1886 on a terrace above Perrysville Avenue in Pittsburgh's Perry Hilltop area, the John A. Brashear House is a three-story frame house in the Second Empire style, with a mansard roof and a porch added around 1910. Directly behind it at the top of the hill stands a two-story brick factory of the same year, where Brashear ground lenses and made optical instruments. William Thaw donated the land, and regional industrialists helped finance both buildings. Brashear, a scientist known for diffraction gratings and photographic doublets, lived in the house from 1886 until his death in 1920. The factory continued producing optical equipment until about 1954, including bomb sights during World War II. The nomination argues the property is important for its link to Brashear's scientific work, his manufacturing and his role in local education, and for its remaining architectural fabric despite later alterations.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property is significant for its association with John A. Brashear, a scientist who made telescope lenses, diffraction gratings and optical instruments here. It also argues the factory reflects the industrial activity of Pittsburgh and Brashear's role in local business and education.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 12001093, listed December 26, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1954 Perrysville Ave., Pittsburgh |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | December 26, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12001093 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1886-1954 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Second Empire |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Some parts of the house were damaged in a 1992 fire and the house has been converted to apartments; the factory has boarded-up windows and the wash house is in advanced deterioration. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.46493, -80.01277 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 12001093.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15229643
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.