Deutschstown Historic District in Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Stephen Collins Foster
American Composer
— 1826–1864 —
Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 18, 2014
1. Stephen Collins Foster Marker
Inscription.
Stephen Collins Foster. American Composer. As a young man, Stephen Foster lived opposite this site on Union Avenue and, with his family, regularly enjoyed the park. Here he composed the music for his first published song, “Open Thy Lattice Love,” which was dedicated to a neighbor. “Old Folks at Home” was also penned here. Stephens father, William Barclay Foster, was mayor of Allegheny City from 1842 to 1843. Stephen Foster is considered the preeminent American songwriter of his era. “Oh! Susanna,” “Camptown Races” and “Beautiful Dreamer” are three of his best known compositions. Foster is buried in Allegheny Cemetery, near his Lawrenceville birthplace. He is honored in a museum at the Stephen Foster Memorial on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus.
As a young man, Stephen Foster lived opposite this site on Union
Avenue and, with his family, regularly enjoyed the park. Here he composed the music for his first published song, “Open Thy Lattice Love,” which
was dedicated to a neighbor. “Old Folks at Home” was also penned here. Stephens father, William Barclay Foster, was mayor of Allegheny City
from 1842 to 1843.
Stephen Foster is considered the preeminent American songwriter of his
era. “Oh! Susanna,” “Camptown Races” and “Beautiful Dreamer” are three of his best known compositions. Foster is buried in Allegheny Cemetery, near
his Lawrenceville birthplace. He is honored in a museum at the Stephen Foster Memorial on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1842.
Location. 40° 27.161′ N, 80° 0.12′ W. Marker is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County. It is in the Deutschstown Historic District. Marker can be reached from the intersection of East Ohio Street and Cedar Avenue. It is in Allegheny Commons Park’s East Park, which is near PNC Park Stadium and Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pittsburgh PA 15212, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. This area of today’s Pittsburgh was once Allegheny City.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . . 1. Wikipedia Entry for Stephen Foster. Foster is acknowledged as “father of American music.” He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970, and he was also inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010.
“My Old Kentucky Home” is the official state song of Kentucky, adopted by the General Assembly on March 19, 1928. “Old Folks at Home” is the official state song of Florida, designated in 1935. Because of the racial lyrics, “Old Folks at Home” (“Swanee River”) was modified with approval from the
Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 18, 2014
2. Stephen Collins Foster Marker
Stephen Foster Memorial; after a lengthy debate, the modified song was kept as the official state song, while “Florida (Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky)” was added as the state anthem.
Foster’s minstrel song “Camptown Races” was a hit when it was published and is well-known to this day. It is used in several ways, such as football chants and even in Looney Tunes. (Submitted on September 7, 2014.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 549 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on September 7, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
