County jail's deputy warden is turning in his keys after 35 years

Even before he became deputy warden, Ed Urban was fascinated by the history of the Allegheny County Jail.

In two weeks, Urban, 58, will step into the history pages himself, retiring after a 35-year climb that lead him from night shift turnkey to the jail's second-in-command.

"I thought retirement would be an easy decision," the Munhall resident said. "But I spent a lot of sleepless nights."

History wasn't his passion in school but became a touchstone for Urban over the years. It was a way to connect with the profession he enjoyed.

He applied for a job at the jail after finishing a four-year stint in the Marine Corps, where he rose to the rank of sergeant and served in Vietnam. The county didn't call him until two years later, when he'd already moved through several well-paying jobs in the steel and nuclear industries.

Wary of layoff rumors at the Westmoreland County nuclear lab where he worked, Urban leaped, even though it meant a cut in pay.

A year later, layoffs did occur at the lab, and Urban, the son of a city police officer, realized he'd found his calling.

"I learned teamwork in the Marine Corps," Urban said. "You worked together as a team to survive. That was the philosophy when I started working here."

One night, while on duty, he found a rag-tag book in the inmate library, "The Biddle Boys and Mrs. Soffel: A Pittsburgh Tragedy and Romance." Urban was intrigued, but he stuck it in his locker and didn't get around to reading it until a year later.

The story he discovered captivated him. In 1902, Kate Soffel, wife of the prison's warden, became infatuated with thieves Jack and Edward Biddle. She helped them plot a dramatic escape weeks before they were to be hanged for murder. A shootout in Butler County ended the brothers' run, and Soffel died alone, having served two years in the state penitentiary for aiding the plot.

In 1984, the story was adapted for the film "Mrs. Soffel," starring Mel Gibson and Diane Keaton. Urban served as technical adviser for the movie. Photos of him grinning with celebrities from that film -- and several others that were eventually filmed in or around the old jail -- hang on his office wall, next to framed execution warrants, mug shots and jail keys.

In addition to his extensive collection of Soffel memorabilia, Urban is caretaker of a small jail museum in the old jail on Ross Street. Urban loves to take curious visitors through his treasure trove of old leg irons, record books, inmate items and assorted fixtures, although those tours are by appointment only.

He acquired some of his collection through auctions and flea markets, although much of it came from salvaging materials during the old jail's renovation.

All that rummaging yielded the prize of his collection -- a door panel and bullet from a 1912 prison break shootout involving the Flathead mob.

"He saves everything," said Lynda Pastor, Urban's administrative officer, adding that she's going to miss Urban's almost daily history lessons.

"He'll always bring in something, like a photo from 20 years ago," she said. "It's fun."

As Urban moves into retirement, he plans to keep busy. He plans to take his 12-year-old grandson on their annual summer bike trip around Washington, D.C. He wants to find a part-time job, something with "no stress." He wants to volunteer for the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation and the Veterans Administration Medical Centers.

Urban might even get around to finishing the two history books he has been writing over the years. This first is an account of his childhood in Lawrenceville. The second is about -- what else• -- the history of the jail.