Fort Black

Fort Black (also known as Fort Squirrel Hill and Fort Chess) was a fort built in Greenfield (then part of Squirrel Hill) in 1863, during the times of the Civil War.

It was located on Bigelow Street (formerly Squirrel Hill Road) between Parade and Shields streets, and had cannons facing the Point, and trenches to protect soldiers.

The fort was one of the most massive of the 27 built at the time to defend Pittsburgh from the Confederates, and like the other forts, was built of mounds of dirt.

A powder magazine was also built nearby, on Beechwood Boulevard.