A busy intersection - Saw Mill Run Boulevard runs left-to-right in the foreground. Hillsdale Avenue runs down the hill
and across the bridge. Library Road begins here, running south along the row of buildings to the right of the creek.

Pennsylvania State Route 88 is a 67 mile long north-south state highway located in southwestern Pennsylvania. It is one of the oldest state highways in Pennsylvania, designated in 1927. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 119 in Point Marion less than 2 miles from the West Virginia border. The northern terminus is at State Route 51 (Saw Mill Run Boulevard) in Pittsburgh. Route 88 runs parallel to the Monongahela River for almost its whole length.

The 8.5 mile Allegheny County stretch of Route 88 is also designated as Library Road, running through South Park, Bethel Park, Castle Shannon, and ending in Overbrook. Library Road's origins date back to the 1800s, servicing the communities that grew along the path of the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad. For many years from the late-19th to the mid-20th century, Library Road was dominated by coal mining enterprises, like the South Hills and Castle Shannon Coal companies.

These photos begin on the northern end of Library Road, at the Saw Mill Run intersection in Overbrook, and head south to Connor Road in Castle Shannon.

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Left - Library Road in Overbrook, 1909; Right - Construction of Rt88/Rt51 interchange, 1929.

  
Construction of interchange st Library Road (Rt88) and Saw Mill Run Boulevard (Rt51) in 1929.

  
Imblum's blacksmith shop (left) and Luffy's Tobacco Store stood on Library Road near Saw Mill Run Boulevard for many years. Imblum's was in business from 1885 to 1945. Luffy's was also a real estate office, pool room and bowling alley.

  
The Fairhaven Hotel was a popular resting spot for passengers on the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad.

  
Left - The entrance to the South Hills Coal Company at the corner of Library Road and McNeilly Road, also refered
to as Elwyn Street; Right - Library Road approaching McNeilly Road at the bridge.

  
Mining homes on Library Road between Kilarney and Willow Avenue. The homes were razed in 1948.

  
The Castle Shannon Coal Company owned several mines along Library Road. This one between Kilarney and Willow Avenues
operated from 1902 to 1938. The company trucks made local deliveries for residential heating.

  
Left - Library Road between Kilarney and Willow Avenues in 1940. The Castle Tavern stands in the distance.
Right - Connor Road approaching the intersection with Library Road - 1961.

The intersection of Library Road, Shady Run Avenue and Castle Shannon Boulevard in 1930.