Some two weeks ago the Board of Trade was asked the question as to how that Section of the City known as Morado received its name. The following is taken from an article written by T. Frank Covert which appeared in the local paper in May of 1927. We are reproducing part of the article in full because when we asked as to how Morado received its name a great many people were not aware of what happened, so we are presentling this as a matter of public interest:
"In March 1891, Robert White laid out a plan of lots upon his farm adjoining the Wallace property and a few lots were sold; but in September of the same year John C.Whitla and others having come into possession of the property, made a new plot of the same which they called the 'Metamora " plan, replacing some of the streets and the sizes of the lots and placed it on record.
"This is the beginning of the present village for lots were soon sold according to this plan and some buildings were erected. The growing hamlet was denominated 'Metarnora" to agree with the name of the plan of lots; and which it retained until another of nearby lots was made which was called the 'Moradol plant to distinguish it from the former.
"The latter plan made in 1892, being much larger, and covering contiguish lands, the new Morado surplanted the former in everything except the title of the aforesaid plan of lots, though when the street railway of Wallace's Run was first talked of, it it was frequently referred to as the College and Metamora Street railway. It was, however, chartered as the College and Grandview Electric Street Railway Co., Grandview being the name given to the cemetery laid out about that time upon the crest of the north of Wallace's Run.
The Word Metamore is a prettv one and slips easily off the tongue. Many would prefer it to Morado. It may be the name of an Indian as claimed, but if so he never was well known in Western Pennsylvania or Eastern Ohio. The autobiography of Joseph Jefferson, the actor, was running about the time of the lot plotting in one of the magazines and in it he details an interesting episode in connection with his duties as stage manager of Edwin Forrest, the great tragedian of the past in the character of Metamora a stage Indian; in which Forrest excelled though he detested the role. It is probable that reading this suggested the name to whoever christened the location and the lot plan.
"The Metamora and Morado lots were owned jointly by John C. Whitla, A.R, Leyda, A.M. Jolly and T. P. Simpson, who in 1893 decided to divide then equally. The number of each lot was written on a separate piece of paper, and all shaken together in some office receptacle. Four hats belonging respectively to the four lot owners were placed upon the table and a boy called in from the street. After being instructed and blindfolded the lad drew out of the receptacle the slips., and one at a time deposited them in succession in the four hats until the receptacle was empty. Deeds were then made to each by the other three for the lots whose numbers were found in his hat,
"This was such a novel and wise method of avoiding possible disputes that it was thought fit to bear relating herein as worthy of comparison with the wisdom of Oom Paul Kruger president of Transvaal, who, when two brothers could not agree upon division of inherited land directed that the older brother should divide the same and the younger brother should have the first choice of the Parcels.
There was a flaw, however, in the execution of the plan of allotment, for several years ago in examining the title of one of the lots, now owned by L. Becze but then in possesion of A. R. Leyda the writer discovered that it had been either inadvertently left out of Mr. Leyda's deeds or the slip of paper containing its number had been overlooked. It was necessary to secure quick claim deeds from Jolly Simpson, and the legal representativ of Whitla who had died meanwhike to perfect the title.
The part of White township now the borough of College Hill was cut off and incorporated as a separate municipality in May, 1892, but only after considerable opposition. It is noted upon the Metamora plant of lots that the plot was accepted by council, J. L. McClure burgess, W. H. Fencil, secretary, November 28, 1892.
"The derivation of the title 'Morado, in the absence of proof must be left to conjecture. It is said,like Metamore, to be of Indian origin but if Metamora was only a state Indian's name, Morado appears to be wholly fictitious. It does not savor of Indian nomenclature but rather of Spanish, and certainly there is neither important savage or location mentioned in early regional historical lore of that time.
"It is the writer's opinion, subject to correction, that it was invented by the composition and elimination method of the words upon the side of an ordinary cigar box "Colorado Maduro" (medium color), thus, "Col" was stricken out of the first word, and "aduro" of the other, and changing the positions of what is left., we have M--orado: Q. E. D. as the geometry says. If you don't like this explanation,, and think it worthwhile., you had best conjure up a better one perhaps, for it is a legal fiction that after a lapse of a certain period of time, a newspaper proves itself by its own age, and therefore its contents to be true.
"But however created, Morado is a pleasing
word to the eye and does not give one a hiccoughs to repeat as
do many of the real Red Men names of western Pennsylvania, and
it is fittingly applicable to the suburban district to which it
is applied.