History of Fox Chapel
Until the latter part of the 18th century, Native American tribes hunted and fished in this general area. The first settler in the Fox Chapel area was James Powers, who arrived around 1790. Fox Chapel constantly strives to defend and maintain its special ambience. One of our most important tasks is to preserve this position. Not only is it desirable for Fox Chapel, it is desirable for the entire Pittsburgh area. Our wooded hills and un-crowded residential developments are a valuable regional asset. Fox Chapel is a classic example of what can be done to preserve openness and spaciousness in the very midst of urbanization and industrialization.
Fox Chapel's Location
Situated at the northeastern boundary of Pittsburgh, Fox Chapel is only twelve miles from the Golden Triangle. The Borough covers nearly eight and one-half square miles. Its area extends approximately five miles north of the Allegheny River. Fox Chapel is surrounded by the Borough of Aspinwall and the Townships of Harmar, Indiana and O'Hara.
Schools
Public education for the children of Fox Chapel is provided by the Fox Chapel Area School District. The high school is located in O'Hara Township on Field Club Road just east of the Borough-Township line. The middle school is located in Dorseyville, a small community about four or five miles to the north of the Borough in Indiana Township. Depending on your location in Fox Chapel, elementary school children attend schools located in either Indiana Township or O'Hara Township. No public schools are located in Fox Chapel. For additional information concerning the public school system, you may call (412) 963-9600.
For those who wish private schooling, Fox Chapel offers two such schools. Shady Side Academy, a co-educational school, operates a middle school on Squaw Run Road East and a high school on Fox Chapel Road. For information, call Shady Side Academy at (412) 963-8800.
The Country Day School, located at the Fox Chapel Episcopal Church on Squaw Run Road East, offers private education for kindergarten and grades one through five. For additional information, you may call the headmaster at (412) 963-8644.
Library
Residents of the Borough are fortunate to have a regional library at their disposal. Located in O'Hara Township on Powers Run Road, the Lauri Ann West Memorial Library is funded through private contributions from its members and public grants, Fox Chapel being one of the larger municipal contributors.
Clubs Located in Fox Chapel
There are three private clubs located in the Borough. The Fox Chapel Golf Club, on Fox Chapel Road, and the Pittsburgh Field Club, on Squaw Run Road, offer golf, tennis, swimming and fine dinning. The Fox Chapel Racket Club at the intersection of Hunt Road and Squaw Run Road offers tennis and swimming.
Churches Located In Fox Chapel
Four churches are located within the boundaries of the Borough. The denominations and locations are as follows:
Faith Methodist Church, West Chapel Ridge Road
Fox Chapel Episcopal Church, Squaw Run Road East
Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, Field Club Road & Fox Chapel Road
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Powers Run Road
Parks
The Borough is indeed fortunate in owning over three hundred acres of parkland. All but five acres of this property (McCahill Park) is currently used as open space for passive recreation, i.e., walking trails, bird watching, etc.
The most famous of our various park areas is the one known as the Trillium Trail. It is here that every spring hundreds of thousands of trilliums used to cover the ground like a blanket of snow. The Trillium Trail is known far and wide and until the trillium were decimated by deer, it was enjoyed by thousands of people each year. It is hoped that the Borough's Wildlife Management Program will reduce the size of the herd sufficiently to allow the trillium to regenerate.
The Borough currently has five acres of parkland known as McCahill Park set aside for active recreational use. McCahill Park, located at the corner of Guyasuta Road and Squaw Run Road, includes two baseball fields, a basketball court and a large open field used for rugby, touch football and soccer games.
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve
Headquarters of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania (ASWP) since 1976, Beechwood Farms is one of the largest nature reserves and environmental education centers in Western Pennsylvania. Its 134 acres, most of which have been generously leased to ASWP by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, contain more than 5 miles of walking trails which are open from dawn to dusk every day year-round. The area is comprised of woodlands, fields, streams and a pond and offers a variety of outdoor experiences. Some paths are accessible for individuals with special needs. Indoor facilities include a 125-seat auditorium, an interactive Discovery Room for children, a natural history library, the Audubon Nature Store, classrooms and a modern barn for assembly programs and rentals. Beechwood has a staff of professional and volunteer naturalists to serve its membership and the general public. Beechwood is open to the public at no fee and is located at 614 Dorseyville Road. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., and Sunday 1 P.M. to 5 P.M. Inquiries may be made by calling (412) 963-6100.
Newcomers' Club
The Fox Chapel Area Newcomers' Club provides an opportunity for new residents to meet their neighbors through assorted activities such as bridge, tennis, golf, book club, antique shopping, Ladies' Day Out, Moms and Tots and Destination Dinner. The Newcomers' Club membership is open to all residents of the Fox Chapel Area School District and residents of Forest Manor and Forest Highlands. Meetings are held September through May on the second Friday of the month at 9:30 A.M. at the Fox Chapel Episcopal Church on Squaw Run Road East. Baby-sitting is available.
Photo Source: foxchapeldistrictassociation.org
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