Catherine Baker Knoll’s Former Victorian Home Listed for $225,000 in McKees Rocks

At 1037 Chartiers Avenue in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, an 1899 brick Victorian combines original architectural details with a connection to state history. The former home of Catherine Baker Knoll, Pennsylvania’s first female lieutenant governor, is listed for $225,000. The property offers five bedrooms, two full bathrooms, one half bathroom, and 3,345 square feet of advertised living space. The current property listing identifies the home as available for sale.

A covered porch leads into an entrance with an original staircase, decorative glass, and detailed woodwork. Beyond the foyer, the listing describes high ceilings, hardwood floors, and rooms that retain much of their original trim. For those of us who appreciate older houses, these are specific features worth exploring alongside the building’s history and practical layout.

A Home Connected to Catherine Baker Knoll

The listing identifies the property as Knoll’s former residence. An estate-sale announcement for the Estate of Catherine Baker Knoll also gives 1037 Chartiers Avenue as its address, providing additional support for that association.

Knoll became Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor in 2003 and served until 2008. The Pennsylvania Senate’s historical account recognizes her as the first woman to hold that office. Her connection to McKees Rocks also appears in the Heinz History Center’s account of her life and public service.

We can appreciate that history without assuming the sale includes memorabilia or personal possessions. The home’s association with a public figure adds context, while the building itself remains the central subject of the offering. Buyers interested in its ownership history can ask the agent what supporting records are available.

An 1899 Brick Victorian With a Covered Porch

The property’s advertised 1899 construction date places it near the end of the nineteenth century. Current listing information identifies it as a brick Victorian, with a covered front porch, rear porch, and backyard.

The front porch establishes a sheltered entrance before we reach the interior. Depending on its dimensions and condition, it may also accommodate seating without interrupting access to the door.

During a showing, we would look at how the porch connects to the brick exterior and examine its floor, supports, and roof. Those observations help us understand both the appearance and upkeep of a feature that contributes to the house’s street presence.

The brickwork deserves similar attention. Its condition, mortar joints, and previous repairs are practical considerations for anyone planning the next period of ownership.

An Original Staircase, Decorative Glass, and Woodwork

The entrance contains an original staircase, decorative glass, and detailed woodwork, according to the sale description. The listing also identifies surviving original trim and craftsmanship elsewhere in the home.

These features give the entry a clear identity. We would take time to examine the staircase’s shape, railing, and finish, along with the surrounding doors and trim. Understanding what remains can help a future owner make thoughtful decisions about repairs and decoration.

Decorative glass adds another detail to observe as daylight changes. Its precise age and repair history are not established in the information reviewed, so those remain useful questions for a buyer interested in preservation.

The listing describes hardwood floors, while its detailed flooring categories also include carpet and ceramic tile. That distinction matters: hardwood should not be assumed to cover every room.

Five Decorative Fireplaces

The property information records five fireplaces, all classified as decorative. They should therefore be understood as architectural features rather than advertised working heat sources.

For an older interior, decorative fireplaces can provide natural focal points around which to arrange furniture. Their placement and individual details may help distinguish one room from another.

We would inspect their finishes and surrounding surfaces during a visit. Anyone considering converting or restoring a fireplace for use would need a separate professional assessment. The current listing does not promise that the fireplaces can be operated.

Separate Living, Dining, and Family Rooms

The main floor includes a living room, dining room, family room, kitchen, and entrance foyer. Published dimensions give the dining room as approximately 15 by 14 feet and the family room as approximately 15 by 12 feet.

This arrangement allows the principal rooms to serve different purposes. We can imagine keeping a dining table ready for meals while reserving another room for conversation or reading.

Furniture planning should follow the actual doorways, windows, and circulation routes. A room’s usefulness depends on those connections as much as its measurements. Walking the main floor will show how comfortably the kitchen and gathering spaces work together.

The kitchen is listed at approximately 12 by 11 feet. Its layout, cabinet condition, appliances, and available preparation surfaces are details to examine in person before deciding whether changes are needed.

A Former Doctor’s Office With Its Own Entrance

One of the home’s more unusual features is the family room’s separate entrance. The listing states that this room was once used as a doctor’s office and suggests possible use as a home office, private sitting room, or additional living area.

For those of us who work from home, a separate entrance may be useful, depending on how the space connects to the rest of the house. We would look at privacy, light, outlets, and access before choosing its purpose.

The previous office use does not establish current approval for a business or a separate dwelling. Any proposed use beyond ordinary residential living would need to be checked independently.

Five Bedrooms and a Large Third-Floor Room

The advertised bedroom count is five. The room schedule includes a primary bedroom measuring approximately 25 by 13 feet, along with other bedrooms of varying sizes. The listing also describes a 24-by-21-foot room on the third floor.

That third-floor space is presented as a possible guest area, playroom, or office. We would assess its access, ceiling height, heating, and overall condition before deciding how it would fit a household’s needs.

The detailed room schedule provides preliminary measurements for planning a visit. Those dimensions should be verified before ordering furniture or developing renovation plans.

Two Full Bathrooms and a Basement Half Bathroom

The bathroom arrangement consists of two full bathrooms and one half bathroom, with the half bathroom located in the basement. The description highlights a tiled walk-in shower and laundry chute in the second-floor bathroom.

A laundry chute is a practical older-house feature worth examining. Its destination, condition, and usefulness will depend on the present laundry arrangement.

The bathroom locations also deserve attention when reviewing the floor plan. Buyers can consider how they serve the bedrooms and main living areas, rather than relying on the total bathroom count alone.

A Walk-Out Basement and Compact Lot

The home includes a walk-out basement, described as offering substantial storage and access to the outdoors. The lot is advertised at approximately 4,107 square feet, or 0.094 acre.

We would examine the basement for moisture, access, and the condition of visible structural and mechanical components. Its suitability for storage should follow that assessment.

Public water, public sewer, and central air conditioning are reported. Heating information is incomplete across the listing feeds reviewed, so the system type and operating condition should be confirmed with the agent. The available marketing also does not provide a comprehensive renovation history.

The broker’s sale description offers a starting point for further questions about the house, its history, and the current offering.

1037 Chartiers Avenue Property Details

💲 Asking price: $225,000
📍 Address: 1037 Chartiers Avenue, McKees Rocks, PA 15136
📌 Status: Active when checked
🏡 Property type: Single-family residence
🗓️ Year built: 1899
🏛️ Style: Brick Victorian
🛏️ Bedrooms: 5
🛁 Bathrooms: 2 full and 1 half
📐 Advertised living area: 3,345 square feet
🌳 Lot size: Approximately 0.094 acre
🪵 Interior highlights: Original staircase, decorative glass, woodwork, and hardwood floors
🔥 Fireplaces: 5, classified as decorative
🚪 Unusual feature: Former doctor’s office with a separate entrance
💼 Additional space: Approximately 24-by-21-foot third-floor room
🧱 Basement: Walk-out access
🌿 Outdoor spaces: Covered front porch, rear porch, and backyard
❄️ Cooling: Central air
🚰 Utilities: Public water and sewer
📜 Historical association: Former home of Catherine Baker Knoll
🏢 Listing brokerage: Coldwell Banker Realty, The Georgie Smigel Group
📞 Listing contact: 724-776-2963
🔖 MLS: 1780645. Zillow