The William Flinn Highway

----Still Controversial almost 80 years after his death


William Flinn years after his death is still the center of controversy.  Flinn, who played a prominent role in Allegheny County Politics around the turn of the 19th to the 20th Century, has probably rolled over in his grave numerous times because of the habitual misspellings of his last name.  Businesses on PA 8, the highway that bares his name, for years have spelled his last name 'Flynn.'  I have been guilty of that myself.  Flinn is known for his work in building the Liberty, Armstrong, and Wabash Tunnels.  His son George is known for his work in building the vehicle tubes for the Holland Tunnel.  Flinn died of pneumonia in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1924.

The roadway that bears his name was dedicated 10 years after his death.  However, in 2001, the state legislature rededicated the Allegheny County segment of the highway after former PA State Representative, Rick Cessar.  It seems that the Commonwealth overlooked the fact that the highway had already been designated in Flinn's honor.

Flinn's family emigrated to the Unites States from Manchester, England when he was one year old.  Flinn would be buried in Homewood Cemetery.  Hartwood Acres, the Allegheny County park known for its Christmas Festivities, was formerly the estate of his daughter.

In December 2000, Bruce Cridlebaugh took these photos on the old William Flinn Highway in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. If you have any additional information on William Flinn or the history of the highway feel free to e-mail me.

The three above photos are located on the William Flinn Highway at the Allegheny/Washington County Line. The stone was probably placed the year of the highway's dedication in 1934.  Amazing how it still stands today, and how the landscape around it has changed.

There are two readable plaques facing travelers:

The plaque facing northbound travelers reads:

WILLIAM FLINN
1851 - - - 1924
BUILDER FOR AND AMONG MEN
PATRIOT AND STATESMAN
A GREAT MARSHALL OF MEN IN THE
ADVANCEMENT OF OUR CIVIL LIFE
A GREAT BUILDER
OF EARTHLY CONSTRUCTION
A GREAT BUILDER OF HUMAN CHARACTER

The plaque facing southbound travelers reads:

WILLIAM FLINN
1851 - - - 1924
THIS MARKER WAS
CARVED FROM LIGONIER STONE
TAKEN FROM
THE QUARRIES OPERATED BY
WILLIAM FLINN
BEGINNING IN THE YEAR 1881.

The William Flinn Highway in the South Hills is also known as Old Washington Pike. William Flinn Highway North of Pittsburgh is better known as PA 8. The southern half of the William Flinn Highway at one time was PA 519 until 1970. It also was a former alignment of US 19 in the 1920's. And prior to that, it was PA 8! However, before that it was signed as PA 108 as late as 1919. Along the highway in Washington County, Bruce located this on an older bridge carrying the highway.

Above is the previously mentioned 1919 Keystone, and a close-up photo showing the PA 108 designation. For more detail on the history of PA Route Numbering go here.

Finally here is an elevation marker located on the old bridge: 

Site Navigation, Sources & Links:

  • Return to the SWPA Roads Project
  • Bruce Cridlebaugh
  • US 19 @ PAHighways.com ---Jeff Kitsko
  • PA 8 @ PAHighways.com ---Jeff Kitsko
  • Larsen H. Flinn, Great-Great Grandson of William Flinn
  • Jeff Hartzell
  • William Flinn Obituary. Butler Eagle, February 20, 1924.
  • "Route 8 Dedication Revisited," Susan Seibel. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; N-2, November 11, 2001.

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    Page Created: December 10, 2000
    Last Updated: August 10, 2002

    © 2000-02 William Lawson