Franklin Park's Stone Mansion, Woodside to be commemorated
The Veterans of Foreign Wars celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, and in conjunction, Franklin Park will recognize a local resident, Robert G. Woodside, who helped found the national veterans organization in 1914.
Local historians, business owners and representatives from the VFW will be at Woodside's former home in Franklin Park later this month to dedicate two commemorative markers being placed there.
One marker will recognize Woodside, who was Allegheny County sheriff and controller, along with his service to the VFW.
The other will recognize the house, often called the Stone Mansion, that Woodside had built in 1935 to resemble his father's ancestral Irish cottage.
“It really is an incredible old building,” Franklin Park historian Debby Rabold said. She is working with current owner Joseph Nocito and Robert Schellhaas, who operates Schellhaas Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc. in the building, to erect the markers.
A dedication of the markers is planned at 1 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Stone Mansion, 1600 Stone Mansion Drive, Franklin Park. Nocito is paying for the markers.
“Woodside was a remarkable individual whose record of public service is unrivaled,” Rabold said. “It is fitting that he be remembered during the 100th anniversary of the VFW, which he helped organize.”
Woodside was born in Brooklyn in New York City in 1876 and died in 1964. He served as an Army major in the Spanish American War and re-enlisted to serve in World War I, when he earned the Distinguished Services Cross and Silver Star as a captain and a major.
In 1913, Woodside played a critical role in bringing the nation's two veterans groups, the National Association of the Army of the Philippines and the American Veterans of Foreign Service, together.
After contentious negotiations, the two groups came together in the hope of having more political influence, and on Aug. 1, 1914, the VFW was formed.
Woodside served as the VFW's national commander in 1920 and 1921 while also serving as chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission, which earned him the Medal of Freedom from President Eisenhower in 1954.
VFW state Commander Gary Smith said in an email that Woodside's “efforts helped bring together the numbers of veterans needed to get the attention of the nation so combat veterans could get the respect, honor and support that they deserved.”
His worked resulted in a powerful organization, Smith said. The VFW has nearly 2 million members, according to its website.
“So if Robert could see how his efforts helped create a force as powerful as the modern VFW, he would see veterans of service in combat zones working together regardless of age or military branch making sure that America takes care of its veterans,” he wrote.
Woodside was elected county sheriff in 1921 and later served as Pennsylvania deputy auditor general before he was elected as Allegheny County controller. He served from 1928 to 1948.
The large but cottage-like Stone Mansion, visible from Wexford Bayne Road, contrasts with modern office buildings nearby. Many of its original features, such as intricate woodwork, beamed ceilings and stained-glass windows, still are in place.
Woodside sold the house when he retired in 1948. The property surrounding it was sold to a local developer who built the Stone Mansion Drive town homes in the early 1990s.
The Stone Mansion was transformed into the Gryphon Restaurant in 1989. The Stone Mansion Restaurant came next in 1994 and was replaced by Woodside's Grill from 2009 to 2011.
The funeral home opened at the site in September 2013, after extensive work to restore the building.
Schellhaas said he largely was interested in the property for the location but was impressed by its aesthetics.
Kelsey Shea is a staff writer at Trib Total Media. Reach her at kshea@tribweb.com or at 724-772-6353.
