The Great "H" Controversy

From the founding of the great city until present day the debate lives on. Should Pittsburgh end in an "H" or not. The history of this debate sometimes gets muttled and stems off into many tributaries. The understanding to be found is as follows.

The founding family of the state, The Penns, originally called the city "Pittsburgh". Burgh is derived from the word borough which also ends in an "H". So why the controvercy? Well due to spelling errors, federal regulations of the 1800's, and different national decents the "H" was left off for a time.

The town was named after William Pitt. He lived from 15 November 1708 – 11 May 1778. William Pitt was a great British Stateman and has several cities and towns in the U.S.A. named after him.

Dating all the way back to the late 1700's the first typing or spelling errors can be found. Copies of the original charter for the city are missing the "H" but the original has the "H".

Some of the problem comes from the different national decents. Pittsburgh had a large German population which preferred the h-less version. But the English that modified "borough" to "burgh" choice to name it with the "H"

The decision by the United States Board on Geographic Names in 1891 to standardize city names made it official. There will be no "H". This was wildy unpopular in the city. Many pittburghians wanted the "H" because is was unique for one but also because it was the intent of the founders of the city to have it. So after many years of wrangling they got what they wanted. In 1911 the official declaration was that the city will be known as "Pittsburgh".

Now for collectors of memorabilia this presents a chance for great discussion. You can see on different baseball cards from the pre-war periods both being used. If you look at the famous T206 card of Honus Wagner for example. It has no "H". It was produced in 1909. But if you look at all of the Tip Top bread cards, produced in 1910, they have the "H".