By Tom Interval
In 1970, J. Frank Hess and his wife, Betty, bought a house and 56 acres of farmland off Rinaman Road from John Winner, a local attorney. Mr. Hess, who was the president of Elwin G. Smith & Co., referred to the home as “the house on top of the hill.”
Twenty-six years later, the house is still there, nestled in the woods. But other homes occupy the land now—60 to be exact. They’re all part of Country Manor, a small neighborhood located about a mile northeast of Showcase Cinemas North.
Before Country Manor was developed, many animals roamed the rural area, including deer, wild turkeys and foxes. And though civilization seemed to be a million miles away, the Hesses were reminded of how close they were to the city. “You could see the U.S. Steel Building from the property,” said Mr. Hess.
The original house, in which the Hesses lived for 13 years, changed over time. “We did a lot of remodeling,” said Hess. “When the kids came, we put a second floor in.”
But in 1982, the family wanted to move on. The Hesses waited about a year before selling the property to Raymond J. Austin, Country Manor’s developer. “The real-estate business turned around and [Austin] had a reasonable offer,” said Hess.
Austin broke ground for Country Manor in April 1984; and, according to Austin, 60 homes were built within five years. Originally, there were 72 lots; however, 12 of them were on Rinaman Road and were not considered to be a part of Country Manor proper.
Country Manor has one entrance, located on Rinaman Road, about half of a mile past Hickory Hills on the right (driving away from Pine Creek Center).
Driving through the plan, you can see how intimate the neighborhood is. There are only five streets, three of which are cul-de-sacs: High Oaks Court, Fawn Court, Manor Curt, Country Manor Lane and Highvue Circle. The homes lining the streets are Tudor, provincial, Victorian, traditional and contemporary.
The plan is small when compared to others in the area. But the residents of Country Manor don’t seem to mind.
“I like the amount of space between the homes,” said Pam McVicker, “but it’s a small enough plan where you could get to know all the neighbors.” McVicker and her husband, Dan, have lived in the development for four years.
She said she is happy that the plan has only one entrance: “I’m glad it’s not a drive-through neighborhood. It’s a safer community because we know whose cars are coming in here. You know who should be here and who shouldn’t be here.”
In addition to safety factors, many residents like Country Manor because of its natural beauty and location.
Bill Dougherty and his wife, Dabney, have lived in the subdivision for nine years. “When we first moved her, the plan was only two years old,” said Mr. Dougherty. “It was one of the more attractive home-development areas. From the standpoint of location, it was one of the most desirable areas.”
Dougherty, a district sales manager for Eli Lilly (a supplier of insulin), thought the commute to work from the North Hills would be easier than from other areas. “There are no tunnels to worry about,” he said. He also knew that the location would allow his two kids to attend North Allegheny schools and that his family had easy access to church and to shopping malls.
“We really like our location,” said Dougherty. “We like the trees and the quietness of the area. You get a feeling of living in the country, yet you’re a few minutes from the city. You have it all.”
And Country Manor has it all when it comes to neighborhood activities: an annual summer block party; an ice-cream-sundae party for the neighborhood kids’ last day of school; a monthly bunco group; a bimonthly ladies’ day out; an annual progressive dinner and a holiday cookie and ornament exchange. Community activities and other announcements appear in the Country Manor Newsletter.
In addition to activities, the neighborhood has a homeowners’ association, a welcoming committee for new neighbors, a sunshine committee for those who are in the hospital and a directory, which lists the names of residents and children who baby-sit and mow lawns.
Country Manor’s intimate size and style, coupled with the natural beauty of the surrounding wildlife, gives the plan a rural feeling, similar to the one that existed 26 years ago with “the house on top of the hill.”
