John Frew House

John Frew House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Pittsburgh Landmark – PHLF
The house in 2024
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Location	1566 Poplar Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	40°25′45.52″N80°3′31.03″W / 40.4293111°N 80.0586194°W / 40.4293111; -80.0586194
Built	Between 1790 and 1840
Architectural style	Colonial Revival, Greek Revival
NRHP reference No.	01000593 [1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	May 30, 2001 [2]
Designated PHLF	1984 [3]

The John Frew House, also or formerly known as the Rachel and Robert Sterrett House, is an historic house in the Westwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}

History

Of the five extant pre-1800 structures remaining in the City of Pittsburgh, ^[9] the John Frew House is the only one that is currently being used as an occupied house. ^[10] Its location on Poplar Street places it on the City of Pittsburgh side of the border between Crafton and Pittsburgh. ^{[4] [5] [11]}

The original stone section of the house and the adjacent stone springhouse were built circa 1790. ^{[12] [13]} The Greek Revival addition to the house was built circa 1840. A garage was then added to the springhouse circa 1950. ^[14]

Preservation of the home began in the 1930s. ^{[15] [16]}

It was subsequently listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. ^{[1] [17]} The house also has a landmark plaque from the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, and it was added to the List of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks in 1984.

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
2. David R. Majka (November 2000). National Register of Historic Places Registration: Pennsylvania SP Frew, John, House. National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved December 8, 2025. (Downloading may be slow.)
3. Historic Landmark Plaques 1968-2009 (PDF). Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
4. City of Pittsburgh Westwood Neighborhood Map Archived 2010-11-29 at the Wayback Machine , Pittsburgh, Feb. 2003. Accessed 2010-11-09.
5. Borough of Crafton Zoning Map Archived 2008-10-11 at the Wayback Machine , Crafton, 2004-08-18. Accessed 2009-01-08.
6. John Frew House, window, Pennsylvania Digital Library, University of Pittsburgh. Accessed 2009-01-08.
7. "History's Houses." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, January 19, 1936, p. 46 (subscription required).
8. "Drive Begun to Preserve Historic Buildings in Pittsburgh Area." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, January 5, 1936, p. 43 (subscription required).
9. Scott, Erin Keane. "The Midwest." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Magazine, June 30, 2015.
10. Bauder, Bob. "Residents living in history as Pittsburgh preps for bicentennial." Tarentum, Pennsylvania: TribLive, June 23, 2016.
11. Google map showing Sterrett St. continues as Poplar St.
12. Bauder, " Residents living in history as Pittsburgh preps for bicentennial," TribLive, June 23, 2016.
13. "John Frew House, front with porch." Boston, Massachusetts: Digital Public Library of America, retrieved online December 29, 2022.
14. Mulkearn, Lois and Edwin V. Pugh. A Traveler's Guide to Historic Western Pennsylvania , pp. xi, 93. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: University of Pittsburgh Press, June 15, 1954.
15. "Drive Begun to Preserve Historic Buildings in Pittsburgh Area," The Pittsburgh Press, January 5, 1936.
16. "Early Pennsylvania Houses Make Up Interesting Show." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 10, 1936, p. 26 (subscription required).
17. "Notices: Historical and Museum Commission: National Register Nominations to Be Considered by the Historic Preservation Board," in Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol. 31, No. 6, February 10, 2001. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Fry Communications for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Legislative Reference Bureau.