Location: Boggs Mansion on North Avenue, Pittsburgh’s North Side Featured guests: Evan Addams, owner of Boggs Mansion 3 things that surprised me: 1. This mansion in the Mexican War Streets was built for Russell Boggs, one of the owners of the the Boggs Buhl Department Store, in the late 1800s. Evan explained that the Boggs’ mansion used to host other notable folks of the era. He’s heard that Frick and Carnegie came over to play card games on the porch. The department store was demolished in 1960 to make room for the Allegheny Center Mall, but the mansion is still standing as a bed and breakfast. 2. Evan took us to the top floor of the house, where the former owners of the bed and breakfast had noticed some strange notches in the woodwork. Later in the basement, they discovered a disassembled dance floor that fit perfectly into those notches. They realized that before additional walls has been constructed, the top floor had been a ballroom where the Boggs hosted parties. Today the dance floor is in one of the guest rooms. 3. Evan walked us over to the carriage house behind the mansion. More than 100 years ago, this structure housed carriages and horses. Today, it is home to something very different. Nearly 20 years ago, Acanthus restaurant operated in the space. It was well-reviewed and popular at the time, but less than two years after it opened, the restaurant closed. Walking inside that carriage house, the tables are still set with tablecloths, plates and cutlery. It’s been this way for nearly two decades. Evan says he hopes to get another restaurant in the space soon. One thing that didn’t make the final cut: I asked Evan whether the mansion is haunted, and he says he’s never heard of any ghost sightings. A recent guest said they were determined to see something paranormal, but even they left without a ghost encounter. Additional info: You can book a room at the Boggs Mansion on their website. Want more Yinzer Backstage Pass? Check out our flight with the Pennsylvania Air National Guard as we tagged along for a refueling mission. The post This North Side mansion has a ballroom in the attic appeared first on NEXTpittsburgh. ...read more read less