The handsome house called the Stephen Foster home stands a few blocks southwest of the Allegheny Cemetery. The historical marker states that "Stephen C. Foster, America's beloved composer of folk music, was born July 4, 1826, and lived in the Pittsburgh area most of his life in "The White Cottage," which stood at what is now 3900 Penn Avenue. After gaining notoriety for writing Christy's Minstrels songs, he slowly declined in health and died in NY in 1864."
Stephen C. Foster is buried in a knoll in Section 21 of the cemetery; his grave is one of the favorite stops on the self-guided tour of Allegheny Cemetery. Visitors interested in additional information on Foster should visit the Stephen Foster Center at 286 Main Street, Lawrenceville; the Stephen Foster Memorial adjacent to the Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh campus in Oakland; and his statue opposite the memorial next to the Carnegie Music Hall.
We sing and play the melodies of Stephen Foster, finding them fresh and tuneful just as generations before us have found them. It has been 128 years since he was buried here, but his music has provided us with joyful tunes that will outlive any ordinary measure. The melodies come lightly to the mind. "My Old Kentucky Home," "Beautiful Dreamer," "Old Folks at Home," and "Oh! Susannah" are just a few that millions have loved and taken to heart. That is a legacy of exceptional worth!
