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48 Fritz Street

Posted on Nov 14, 2014 by in Family Homes, Stories

48-Fritz-Street
The Gutowski nuns, Sisters Julia and Gemma
Robert Gutowski (Bob) introduces Morris Arboretum

48-Fritz-StreetThe home where Peter and Bernice Gutowski raised their 11 children.  10 survived 1 died as an infant, as we understand during the great flu pandemic of 1918-19.  The survivors were: Mary, Chester, Edward, Theresa, Agnes, Laura, Leona, Richard, Ruth and Ralph (in order of birth).

The actual address was 48 Welsh but being built on the side of a steep hill, Fritz Street the alley in the rear, was the most common method of accessing the home. Thus in some documents, and by the family as a whole, it was known as 48 Fritz street.

The home was as I remember it 5 stories on the Welsh Rd. side (with three porches overhanging) and 1 on the Fritz Street side.  We all remember Uncle Steve Juarin grabbing us as small children and dangling us of the porch.  That was our memory.  Perhaps it was just a threat.  However as adults we could not imagine the gathering of mothers ever putting up with that activity.  Perhaps it was a grab by the ankles and never quite reaching over the railing.  None the less those porches were forever a source of fun, fright and adventures remembered.  We were certain there may have been some before us that fell but survived.   

This image was featured on the cover of the Pittsburgh Press Sunday insert magazine.  I highlighted the home in the upper right.

   

FrankieGZ

About... Frank Gutowski

Frank Chester Gutowski, born Oct 19, 1947, son of Chester Gutowski and Frances (Panzini) Gutowski, father of Christopher Gutowski and Robert Gutowski, grandfather to Christian, Alex, Xavier, Gavin, Merida Gutowski. Brother to Vincent Gutowski, Robert Gutowski and Bernice Gutowski.

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