Gilfillan Farm facts for kids
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Gilfillan Farm
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Farm in 2008 from Boyce Road to south
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Upper St. Clair Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania |
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| Nearest city | Pittsburgh |
| Area | 15 acres (6.1 ha) |
| Built | ca. 1850 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002155 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | 1979 |
Gilfillan Farm is a historic farm located in Upper St. Clair Township, Pennsylvania. It sits where Washington Road (also known as U.S. Route 19) and Orr Road meet. This farm is still working today, and most of its buildings were built in the mid-1800s.
The main house at Gilfillan Farm shows a mix of old and new styles. It combines the classic Greek Revival look with the more detailed Victorian style. The farm stayed in the same family for a very long time, until 2001. Even though the area around it grew into a suburb of Pittsburgh, the farm remained. Because of its history, Gilfillan Farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Today, the Upper St. Clair Historical Society owns and cares for it.
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Exploring the Farm's Buildings
The farm property covers about 15 acres of land. It gently slopes down towards the west. On the east side is Washington Road, and Orr Road is to the south. A large 60-acre park owned by the township is to the north. The South Hills Village shopping mall is also nearby. The farm is fenced, and there are sidewalks along the roads.
The Main Farmhouse
The main house is a two-story building made of red brick. It has three sections, called bays, and a roof covered with slate shingles that slopes on two sides, known as a gable roof. A large section was added to the back of the house later. The oldest building on the farm is a stone springhouse located nearby.
The windows of the house have fancy wooden frames, called lintels, and white pine moldings around them. A porch with wooden columns runs across the front (west side) of the first floor. The main front door has a red glass window above it, called a transom, and similar windows on the sides, called sidelights. These windows have a cool frosted grape design.
Inside the house, many of the original details are still there. The doors have white pine moldings, just like the outside. One of the living rooms has a fireplace mantel also made of pine. The other two fireplaces on the first floor are made of slate and marble.
Other Farm Structures
A covered walkway, called a breezeway, connects the main house to a brick wash house behind it. The wash house is one story tall and also has three bays. Behind the wash house, you'll find a small building called a smokehouse, used for curing meat.
Close by is a large barn, about 40 by 60 feet. It's built with a wooden frame on a stone foundation. The barn's roof has two vents. Next to the barn is the stable, which has seven stalls for horses. Other buildings on the farm include a wagon shed, a shop, a pig pen, a chicken coop, and a granary for storing grain.
The Farm's Long History
The Gilfillan Farm was first started by Alexander Gilfillan in the 1760s. His family was one of the very first to settle in this area. They grew crops like corn and hay, and raised sheep and cattle. Alexander's grandson, John II, built the main farm buildings you see today between 1857 and 1868. The last building, the barn, was built during a special event called a community barn raising, where neighbors helped each other build.
In 1976, the Gilfillan family sold the land around the farm to the township. This land has since been turned into a park with a 1.25-mile walking trail. The Gilfillan family continued to live and work on the farm until the last family member passed away in 2001. Margaret Gilfillan left the farm to the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair. She also left money to help take care of the farm. Today, you can visit the farm by making an appointment or during Upper St. Clair Community Day, which happens every May. You can also rent parts of the farm for private events.
