The Pauline Hanauer Rosenberg Residence

By Sydni Canney 

March 2021 

The Pauline Hanauer Rosenberg Home sits idly at 417 Lockhart Street in the North Side of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in what was originally known as Deutschtown. The home is most notably known for one of its most preeminent residents, Pauline Hanauer Rosenberg. While Mrs. Rosenberg was in residence, the home served as a conduit for many transformative social events and connections within the Jewish community.

“Stained Glass,” Matthew W.C. Falcone. One of the many unique features of the Rosenberg residence is the beautifully crafted stained glass manufactured by William Nelson himself.

The nineteenth century home was built with Richardson Romanesque architectural style in the late 1880s by Caroline Nelson. William Nelson, husband of Caroline, was one of Pittsburgh’s most highly renowned stained-glass manufacturers and the Rosenberg residence is one of the few residences left where his stained-glass artistry can be seen. In order to understand the influential presence that this home has on Jewish life in Pittsburgh, it is imperative to explore the accomplishments of Rosenberg herself. One of the original thirteen founders of the National Council of Jewish Women, a transcendent leader in pioneering a new way of education for children, and a requisite figure in aiding Jewish immigrants coming to America, Rosenberg was a trailblazer in every sense of the word.

Since Rosenberg was also a progressive member of the Pittsburgh Women’s club, it was not uncommon for meetings to be held at her residence. The Club Movement, or Women’s Club, helped women in asserting their autonomy as well as facilitating their role in shaping and transforming public policy. Salient topics such as women’s rights, immigration, education, and the Jewish community were regularly echoed throughout the three thousand square-foot home. Mrs. Rosenberg’s transgressive work has much greater merits beyond improving existing institutions. The National Council of Jewish Women was the first of its kind. Before its establishment in 1893, there had been no such organization that encouraged the unity of Jewish women and the preservation of their religion.

brick building with cars in front
“Rosenberg Building,” Matthew W.C. Falcone. This is an image of the entire building originally built by the Nelsons, one of which is the Rosenberg residence.

In addition to Rosenberg’s extensive work in the National Council of Jewish Women’s Pittsburgh chapter, she also co-founded what became one of the country largest settlement houses. Located in Pittsburgh, the Columbian school more commonly known as the Irene Kaufmann Settlement House was a place for educational, moral, and religious training. The Irene Kaufmann Settlement became an integral part of the community and another aspect of progressive Jewish life in Pittsburgh that had been studiously touched by Rosenberg. She was no stranger to progressive causes. In fact, she would often receive guests at her Deutschtown home that were prominent national figures dedicated to a variety causes such as immigration, education, women’s rights, and active in the Jewish community. The Deutschtown home was so well known for Rosenberg’s work in social activism that the residence was even listed as her official business correspondence by the National Council of Jewish Women.

Even eighty years after her passing, Rosenberg’s incredible work in the Jewish community of Pittsburgh is still being recognized. On April 24th of 2020 the Pauline Hanauer Rosenberg residence was awarded recognition as a historic landmark by the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office and Rosenberg’s accomplishments were given a state historic marker by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Today, the marker, which stands valiantly outside the Deutschtown home, triumphantly embodies Rosenberg’s decades of transcendent work and accomplishments for the myriad of disparaged communities that were forever altered through her endeavors.

Featured Image 

“Front View of Rosenberg Home,” Matthew W.C. Falcone. This is the street view of the Pauline Hanauer Rosenberg home on 417 Lockhart street.

Further Reading 

Lederman, Sarah Henry. “Settlement Houses in the United States.” Jewish Women’s Archive, Jewish Women’s Archive, jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/settlement-houses-in-united-states, https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/settlement-houses-in-united-states.

Rogow, Faith. “National Council of Jewish Women.” Jewish Women’s Archive, Jewish Women’s Archive, https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/national-council-of-jewish-women.

“Southwestern District of Pennsylvania Jewish Religious Schools.” Rauh Jewish Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center, jewishhistoryhhc.org/timeline.aspx#3a3d1970-a116-4fa0-baff-605d8c1d897b.

Toll, William. “Club Movement in the United States.” Jewish Women’s Archive, Jewish Women’s Archive, https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/club-movement-in-united-states.

How to Cite 

MLA: Canney, Sydni. “The Pauline Hanauer Rosenberg Residence.” ReligYinz: Mapping Religious Pittsburgh. University of Pittsburgh, 10 August 2021, https://religyinz.pitt.edu/pauline-hanauer-rosenberg-residence/.

APA: Canney, Sydni. (2021.) The Pauline Hanauer Rosenberg Residence. ReligYinz: Mapping Religious Pittsburgh. https://religyinz.pitt.edu/pauline-hanauer-rosenberg-residence/

Chicago: Canney, Sydni. “The Pauline Hanauer Rosenberg Residence.” ReligYinz: Mapping Religious Pittsburgh. University of Pittsburgh, 10 August 2021. https://religyinz.pitt.edu/pauline-hanauer-rosenberg-residence/