Grimm Farmhouses c. 2000

Grimm Farmhouses c. 2000

Grimm Farm Houses, 1906

2267/2271 Tilbrook Road

These structures were part of the Grimm farm which extended eastward to encompass part of today’s Community Park. Early records show the land belonged to George Lang, a Revolutionary War veteran who came to the area sometime after the war.  In 1888, his son sold the land to Rebecca Craft, who in turn sold it to Anson Benford, who built the farmhouse in 1906.  In 1918, the house and farm was bought by Lloyd Grimm, who mined coal on the property and, in the 20s and 30s, owned and operated the Grimm Coal Company.

    The main Farm House (2267 Tilbrook Road), is a 2 ½ story, 3 x 2 bay framed house, with two chimneys, and a fieldstone foundation.  It has been modernized with aluminum siding, replacement windows, and a modifications to the pillared porch.

 Over the years various outbuildings were erected. The smaller structure to the east (2271 Tilbrook Road) was originally a washhouse with its own well. It was modified over time into a typical modest farmhouse of the turn-of-the-century.  The structure is a simple gabled roofed house with front gable projection, a central brick chimney, and a field stone foundation, and while there has been internal remodeling, the general plan of the house remains intact. The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation has characterized this house as   “One of the most interesting vernacular wood frame houses in Monroeville.”

Behind the house is a smoke house, still intact. And to the northeast of the main house sits a small cottage built by the Grimms as a guest house for relatives who lived in the city (Wilkinsburg) and wanted to get away for a summer vacation in the “country” of Patton Township.

The property has been handed down through the Grimms to Householders and then to the Witter family, who occupy the main house today.