The Benedum–Trees Building, which is located at 223 Fourth Avenue in downtown

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

, was built in 1905. It was commissioned by Caroline Jones Machesney, the daughter and sole heir of a Pittsburgh banker, making it the first skyscraper in the city ordered by and built for a woman.

History and architectural features

The Benedum–Trees Building was originally called the Machesney Building until 1913, when Machesney sold it for $10 million to

Joe Trees Joseph Clifton Trees was a college football player at the University of Pittsburgh, the first athlete to receive an athletic subsidization at the school, and, possibly, an early professional football player. He later made millions of dollars in ...

and

Michael Late Benedum Michael Late Benedum (July 16, 1869 – July 30, 1959) was a wealthy businessman from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who made his fortune in the oil and natural gas industry in the early 20th century. Benedum was born in Bridgeport, West Virgini ...

, two local men who had made their fortunes by drilling for oil. For the next forty years, the fifteenth floor was home to their offices. The building, designed by Thomas H. Scott, was added to the List of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks in 1973. The building is 19 stories tall. Benedum Trees Oil Company was founded in 1904, by Michael Late Benedum and Joe Trees]in Wheeling, West Virginia. In 1929, Benedum Trees opened a subsidiary Republic Oil Refining Company in

Texas City, Texas Texas City is a city in Galveston County, Texas, Galveston County in the U.S. state of Texas. Located on the southwest shoreline of Galveston Bay, Texas City is a busy deepwater port on Texas's Gulf Coast, as well as a petroleum-refining and pe ...

.https://popularpittsburgh.com/17736-2/ popularpittsburgh.com, Benedum Trees Oil Company]

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Benedum-Trees Building Skyscraper office buildings in Pittsburgh Office buildings completed in 1905 1905 establishments in Pennsylvania