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City renames street corner to honor Kaufmann family
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City of Pittsburgh officials and the Kaufmann family ceremonially renamed one corner of Smithfield Street and Fifth Avenue yesterday, posting a sign declaring the Downtown spot "Kaufmann Way."
The designation won't change street addresses but is meant to honor the family that, in 1871, founded the Kaufmann's department store chain that was headquartered Downtown. It became part of May Department Stores, which was bought by Federated Department Stores in 2005.
In 2006, Federated eliminated several former May brand names, including Kaufmann's, turning their locations into Macy's stores. That change turned the old saying "Meet me under Kaufmann's clock" into an anachronism.
Now, the clock is a few steps from the new street sign.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl attended the morning ceremony, which followed by a few weeks the birthday of John Morris Wolf Sr., 88, grandson of one of the store's founders.
"Our family, its history in southwestern Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh, is something we are extremely proud of, and we thank the mayor for honoring our ancestry in this way," said Julie Arnheim, a member of the Kaufmann family.
First Published August 13, 2008 12:00 am
