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Union Labor Temple Webster Avenue and Washington Place

Labor Temple

In May 1910, the Union Labor Temple, located at the corner of Washington Street and Webster Avenue became the "home" for organized labor in Pittsburgh. The building had previously been used by the Shriners and was known as the Syria Temple. A Union Labor Temple Company was created as a vehicle for the various unions who bought shares in the building to manage and maintain it.
Thirty organizations, including the Iron City Trades Council, moved in starting in May; these and a number of organizations began holding meetings there immediately (see list below).
In July 1910, the Iron City Trades Journal reported that "alterations in the building are now in progress which, when completed, will make it the finest and best equipped Labor Temple in the country and perhaps in the world." (ICTJ, Friday, July 6, p. )
It wasn't until Labor Day of 1910 that the Union Labor Temple was formally dedicated in a ceremony held in conjunction with the annual parade, which assembled on Washington Street in front of the Temple.
Prior to their move to the ULT, some of the unions held their meetings at Arnfeld's Hall, 1119 Penn Avenue. A variety of other buildings served as office and/or meeting spaces for other Pittsburgh unions both before and after occupancy of the Labor Temple.
For examples of these places read the list below taken from a 1913 issue (three years after the move) of the ICTJ (Iron City Trades Journal).

View Plat Map from 1923 of the Temple's Location
(Plat Book 1923 v. 1, AIS ffG1264P6H62)
View Plat Map from Historic Pittsburgh Site
1923 Volume 1 - Greater Downtown and Eastern Vicinity: Plate 6b (search for Labor Temple)


Meeting Locations - 1913

 Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers, House Building, Smithfield and Water Streets
Bakers Local No. 12, Arnfeld Building (Penn Ave.)
Bakers Local 44, 1614 Center Avenue
Barbers Local No. 20, J. B. I.U. A. of I., 411 Market Street
Barbers Local No. 541, Anker Hall, 709 East Street, North Side
Bartenders Local No. 188, Labor Temple, 2nd and 4th Sunday at 2:30 PM.
Bartenders Local No. 260 (Braddock), Ford's Hall, 3rd Sunday at 2pm
Misc other Bartenders Locals outside Pittsburgh omitted
Bill Posters and Billers. Sec. G. W. Lowry, 2744 Bergman Street
Blacksmiths and Helpers District Council No. 39, Labor temple, Wednesdays
Blacksmiths and Helpers Local No. 262, Labor Temple, 2nd and 4th Saturdays
Blacksmiths and Helpers Local No. 268, Labor Temple, 1st and 3rd Saturdays
Blacksmiths and Helpers Local No. 484, Schuebert's Hall, Nixon Street, North Side, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays
Boilermakers Local No. 154, Labor Temple, every Friday
Brass Finishers Local No. 272, 417 Wood St., 2nd and 4th Monday
Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers Local No. 3, Arnfeld's Hall, Mondays
Bricklayers Local No. 2, Labor Temple, Friday nights
Brewery Workers Local No. 144, Arnfeld Building, 2nd and 4th Sundays
Brewery Workers Local No 22, Arnfeld Building, 2nd and 4th Sundays
Beer Drivers Local No 67, Arnfeld Building, 1st and 3rd Sundays
Brick Masons International Union, Labor Temple, 2nd and 4th Wednesday
Building Trades Council, Labor Temple, 2nd and 4th Saturdays
Business Agents, Labor Temple, Monday-Wednesday-Friday at 11am
Bookbinders and Rulers
Broom and Whiskmakers Local No. 44, Labor Temple, 3rd Wednesday
Carpet and Shade Workers Local No. 11, Arnfeld's Hall, 3rd Friday
Carpenters District Council, Labor Temple, 1st and 3rd Tuesday