Shannopinstown

In the mid- 18th century, before the region became the epicenter of frontier wars, the population was concentrated along the Allegheny River. Shannopinstown was a village of the Lenni Lenape, natives were moved west as the Europeans settled in the Delaware Valley. The exact location of the village is not exactly known but the descriptions of the early fur traders and scouts (including the French under Celeron in 1749 and Christopher Gist for the Ohio Company of Virginia in 1750) seem to point to an area of present day 32nd Street.

This would be an ideal spot to settle as a large flat area along the River and fed by streams coming from springs in the hill.

This map from 1816 shows the stream emanating from the hollow behind the Iron City Brewery site and curving across the flats to reach the River approximately near 33rd Street. To view the area discussed zoom in to the upper right of the map. The stream is long forgotten by most as it was culverted throughout the industrial era. But it still existing below ground. The first picture below is near the source of Two Mile Run, along the railroad tracks not far from the tunnel beneath Center Avenue. The second picture is the mouth of the old stream (culverted many years ago) near 33rd Street.