Regent Square History

Regent Square began as a collection of farm properties in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It began to emerge as a community in 1863 when Judge William Wilkins purchased 650 acres in this area. In 1872, after hiring an engineer/architect to draw up plans for a subdivision, Wilkins recorded "The Devon Plan," as the land was then called.

In a subsequent expansion, William E. Harmon of Harmon Realty purchased additional land and had, by 1919, acquired The Devon Plan and renamed it Regent Place, changing it later to Regent Square.

It's worth noting that in this same year, the Pittsburgh industrialist Henry Clay Frick willed 150 acres near his home, called Clayton, to the City of Pittsburgh. Today, Frick Park sits at the edge of Regent Square, and has become one of the neighborhood's defining characteristics. Through later acquisitions, the park ultimately has grown to 550 acres, and is considered a treasure by residents and visitors alike for its vast green spaces, numerous trails, shelters, wildlife, flora and fauna.

Historically, the neighborhood was home to Pittsburghers of varied incomes. It's said that George Westinghouse encouraged his executives to build here and some of the larger homes reflect this story. You'll find an interesting architectural mix in Regent Square. George Scheibler, the well-known architect, also built several homes for residents here.