The now Demolished G.A. R home where Civil War Veterans Widows lived and where still alive well into late 1990s

 Yes hard to believe a Civil War Veterans where still alive well into 19190s at the G.A.R Home in Swissvale  on Wood Stock Ave.which stands for the Grand Army of the Republic

But it true in fact the last official widow receiving a pension check passed in 2013

The building always has a mystique about no signage except in front and very little you can find on line  and now that it has been demolished it will soon be forgotten altogether

https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2018/02/01/Swissvale-s-historic-Ladies-GAR-home-to-be-demolished/stories/201802010014

 

Built in 1890 to house widows of the war veterans the home was expanded over the years to 53 rooms and eventually some time in 80s started excepting regular civilians  not GAR affiliated it sat facing the river and getting to it was not easy the way streets intersected to it. 

 But your saying to yourself wait a minute how could widows still be alaive that long ? Well in days past  older civil war vets would marry much younger women  as was common in those days a young man would establish himself and then seek a young bride and of course there where some vets who married younger women who where well into their senior years so yes its was possible to ave widows living that long. 

There are still Spanish war vets widows receiving  benefits .

 Its very strange not much was written about or can be found on the old GAR home which gives it all that more mystery since it stayed out of the news.

 

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