If you’ve driven through Pittsburgh and spotted a lone chair—often an old wooden kitchen chair or folding chair—sitting curbside, sometimes with a small sign or even decorated, you’ve encountered a beloved Pittsburgh tradition: the "Honking Chair."
It’s not trash. It’s not a mistake. It’s a symbol of community, remembrance, and local pride.
🪑 The Origin: Honoring the Everyday Hero
The practice began informally in working-class neighborhoods like Beltzhoover, Hazelwood, and the South Side, where residents would place a chair on their sidewalk or lawn to honor someone who had passed away—often a neighbor, friend, or family member.
- The chair represents a place for the departed to “sit” while watching over their old neighborhood.
- It’s a quiet, personal memorial that says: “You’re still part of this block.”
Over time, the tradition evolved—and took on a new layer of meaning.
🚗 The “Honking Chair” Phenomenon
