Thursday, January 16, 2014

Bridge of Sighs


There is something about a stone building. They seem to stand the test of time and evoke memories of the past.  For me, the Allegheny County Courthouse and Jail stands a one of the most distinctive building ever erected in Pittsburgh.

It was designed in 1883 by renowned Boston architect, Henry Hobson Richardson.  This picture includes the walkway between the Courthouse and the Jail called the "Bridge of Sighs."

There is something about that name that always evoked clear images of inmate walking their fate into the jail after being sentenced.  The jail was moved to a larger more modern facility along the river in 1995, but the city has managed to re-purpose the building.

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