Posts Tagged ‘photowalk’
Scuttling in Shadeland
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Topsburgh to Bottomsburgh part three:
After visiting the Davis Avenue Bridge, accessed via the Perry Hilltop ‘zone,’ your humble narrator began loathsomely forcing the rotting pre-corpse through and along the hazy borders of the Marshall Shadeland and Brighton Heights neighborhoods.
Man, what a ‘zone’! The housing stock here is exquisite.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This church seemed to have constructed atop a giant outcropping of rock, and I couldn’t stop myself from getting a photo of it.
This section of my day is best analogized by an old aphorism of mine from Queens, which is that ‘you pretty much have to walk through Sunnsyide to get to Newtown Creek from Astoria, so just get used to it.’ Also, Queens’ 43rd street used to be ‘the Shell Road,’ so you’re walking through Dutch colonial era NYC history by going that way. Connected the Rycken (Rikers) properties on the north all the way to Newtown Creek on the south. Just saying.
To get where I was going, I needed to scuttle through a couple of residential neighborhoods.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Disturbingly heterogenous, that’s how I’d describe the residential architecture encountered along this route. There were a few row houses, and many examples of ‘Pittsburgh style’ brick home, which features an enormous front porch.
While scuttling along, I saw a curtain drawn back as a shadowy figure observed my passage. I hissed in that direction, in the manner of a stray cat. The curtain fell back to a resting position.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Finally, the end of the world was reached.
At least, it’s the end of this part of the world. It put me right where I hoped to be, but there was a decidedly dodgy street crossing ahead. I was actually a bit anxious about this crossing, which can be difficult to navigate – in a car.
Fear… Fear is the mind killer.
Loping along like some crippled chimpanzee, with my stiffened shoulder and neck due to that slip and fall annoying me, and a perfect mud tattoo of the butt on the back of his filthy black raincoat, your humble narrator nevertheless strove on… and on…
Really, what choice did I have? If you stop moving, you stop moving.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The world – or at least the legal borders of ‘Pittsburgh’ – more or less ends at that fence, which then leads you down to a short set of stairs. Those stairs place pedestrians at a spot never meant for them, despite there being crosswalks and walk/don’t walk signals which were an obvious ‘add-on.’
On the other side of that fence is found Ohio River Blvd./Route 65, a de facto four lane highway masquerading as a local street. Historically speaking, it’s meant to be the deadliest of Pittsburgh’s high speed roads, due to its conditions in the 1960’s and 70’s.
Sounds nice, no?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s the intersection which I was worried about, which theoretically allows pedestrians to cross Ohio River Blvd. and access the walkway to the McKees Rocks Bridge.
You see Junkies with signs here begging for handouts, but this ain’t exactly a safe spot – street crossing wise. Heavy traffic flow from three sides, lots of big trucks, angry pickup truck drivers who had to endure an entire two or three minutes of traffic congestion… brrr…
One survived the crossing, obviously, as these shots were captured at the end of March and here I am still rattling on about them in May. Besides, as I had already hurt myself during that fall, the safety odds were now on my side.
Right? Right? That’s the way the world works, right?
Back tomorrow.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Deer Davis
Monday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Topsburgh to Bottomsburgh part two:
As one may recall, last week your humble narrator had pulsed out the door of HQ and set out upon one of his longish scuttles through Pittsburgh. In accordance with recent interests – the Steel City’s North Side, and in particular – the ‘Perry Hilltop’ neighborhood is where this one started.
A construction project forced me to reroute my steps to get the newest bridge (2025) in Pittsburgh, a pedestrian and bike connector called ‘The Davis Avenue Bridge.’ Along the way, I slipped on a patch of ice and came pretty close to an injury, but managed to walk away just a little stiff.
The reroute put me in front of that baby deer pictured above, so I guess everything was meant to be.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One broke off of the original path at a narrow and steep road called ‘Rodney,’ which carried me away from the descending road to an ascending one. Really narrow road, with no sidewalks. No bueno. Very Pittsburgh.
Saying that, this was only the equivalent of a city block. When a vehicle did pass me by, I just stood to the side and let them transit through.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
At the top of Rodney Road is another abandoned home. This is a huge problem in Pittsburgh, and that’s something which always jumps out at me while moving around the area. So many.
The good news is that you can see the Davis Avenue Bridge directly behind the abandoned house, which means that I had gotten to the top of this particularly steep road and closer to ‘stop 1’ on my scuttle.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Well, there you are.
Yep, I felt a little non-plussed, or ‘non-trussed’ if you would…
Saying all that, getting this bridge ‘modernized’ and replacing the earlier iteration of the span here, which was in danger of collapse, seems to have been a generational project for the folks in the neighborhood across it from the park – which is dubbed as ‘Brighton Heights.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One waved the camera around a bit up here, but the only POV’s on hand were looking back down at the same homes I had just walked past – and where that patch of ice lurked.
That slip and fall did have an effect on me, just not an orthopedic one.
I smacked down onto the pavement with a decent amount of energy, and accordingly my shoulders and neck were a bit sore afterwards.
Hilariously, the bad ankle was just fine even though it was directly involved in the slip and fall, due to my heel striking on that fairly invisible patch of ice.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Accomplished, and I can scratch another Pittsburgh bridge off the list.
Thing is, I wanted a ‘bridge,’ not some mere high flying truss.
Turning my heels and pointing the toes in a direction where more massive infrastructural interests lie, and then scuttling through another set of the neighborhoods which causes the Yinzer jaw to literally drop open when I say I’m ’going there for a walk.’ I’d be heading in a mostly westerly direction, thereby.
Seriously… Fear is the mind killer.
Back tomorrow.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Squeaky wheel
Thurs
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A few random shots from the end of a satisfying scuttle. I swear, the working guys have no idea how esthetically pleasing I find these sorts of arrangements they leave behind. They’re artists, and don’t even know it.
I was moving through the area surrounding Allegheny Commons Park, which has a trench running through it for the railroads.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Norfolk Southern #1832 came through, heading north/west. It was hauling short blue cargo boxes, of the type which sewer solids are shipped within. Likely heading towards the sewer plant nearby the McKees Rocks Bridge, or Ohio. A lot of things nobody else wants end up in Ohio. I’ve been there, and really – they pretty much sent their best to Washington in Vance.
Stay out of Ohio, you’re not ready for what you might see there.
Regardless, one haughtily scuttled on.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This truck caught my eye. I was intrigued by those Doberman silhouettes silk screened on the thing. Also, that’s one crazy truck, yo.
My steps carried me into the ‘ceremonial center’ section of the Coty of Pittsburgh, where the Stadiums are found, and where there’s coincidental opportunities to board the T light rail service and ‘get out of dodge.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
See that mound on the right side of the shot? Coal mine’s historical entrance, as it turns out.
As I mentioned a few posts ago, this coal thing suddenly brings everything into a place where it makes sense. I’m not ‘smart enough’ to really delve into the topic here yet, but I’ve started reading up on the Pittsburgh Coal Company Trust, and others.
Heck of a story there. Eventually, I’ll know enough of it to point y’all at primary sources on the subject.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The T station came into sight, just as one of the light rail units rose out of the tunnel that it travels under downtown within, and climbed up the truss to the terminal stop opposite Acrisure Stadium.
Most of the Yinzers I meet ‘poo-poo’ the T, but I ride it all the time.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
My chariot arrived, and as soon as those doors opened, I was ensconced in a seat. This was about a six or seven mile walk, all told. I had a nice time, and nobody threw any rotting fruit at me, for a change.
Back tomorrow with something different – at this – your Newtown Pentacle.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
A North Sided Hey Now!
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After passing through the California Kirkbride neighborhood and visting the Sunday Street City Steps, one made his way towards a rail yard. This one belongs to Norfolk Southern, and I’m told that it’s called the ‘Island Avenue Yard.’
Historicpittsburgh.org offers this text describing the place as ‘one of the primary junctions of the Norfolk Southern Railroad. It connects lines west into Ohio, south into West Virginia and Maryland, north into Erie, and east towards Philadelphia and New York.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
From ‘up top’ on that vehicular bridge spanning the tracks which is pictured above, I spotted what looked like a great POV for photographing passing trains ‘down here’ and then made my way over to this spot. I had to crash through some brush and agglutinated litter, but I managed to get to that fenceline just in time.
Hey Now!
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’d end up seeing Norfolk Southern #7001 a couple of times over the next hour or so. I tried looking up its ‘specs,’ but it seems that 7001 has been rebuilt – at least once – and it used to part of an entirely different locomotive outfit and everything was super confusing. It made my neck hurt, so – thereby – look, it’s a train!
A fun conversation was struck up with some local who was walking an absolutely gorgeous pit bull. The local was tickled pink that I was taking shots of trains, and shared some neighborhood stories with me.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
NS #7001 was moving on, and then so did I. It’s a ‘walk,’ not a ‘stand’ after all.
I soon wandered into another neighborhood, called Manchester.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
My path involved getting over to the T light rail, a vector which carried me along a series of industrial streets with the occasional residential block mixed amongst them. Ultimately, this area sort of ‘cul de sacs’ nearby Allegheny Commons Park and the West End Bridge.
The park is where that rail trench that I often point the camera at is found.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Son of a gun if I didn’t run into #7001 there again, but this time around they had shed themselves of the cargo which they were formerly hauling. Just the locomotive.
I’ve been noticing, particularly in the last few weeks, that the rail guys are closely visually examining the tracks as the locomotive chugs along, as in the shot above. Any of you rail fan types have an inkling of what they’re likely up to? I’m kind of curious.
Back tomorrow with more.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Sunday Street Steps
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This post visits the ‘Sunday Street’ City Steps in Pittsburgh’s California Kirkbride section, which were installed here in 1946.
The section of ‘sidewalk steps’ on the intersecting Maravista Street (which was described yesterday) offers pedestrians some 54 ‘sidewalk’ or ramp style steps, whereas the Sunday Street section offers a longer course of 90 steps whose proportions are more in tune with common stairs.
When I’m planning out a scuttle, I like to have a ‘goal’ location somewhere along the course. This one was met early in my day.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There’s an amazingly well preserved and kept Victorian era home on the corner of Sunday and Maravista. I was torn by my personal prohibition against taking pictures focused in on people’s houses – as that’s creepy – and my absolute need to get this building in frame for the next few shots as it’s gorgeous.
Fantastic, that. I’m jealous.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One set of steps continues down from Maravista Street to the flatlands of the neighborhood below, and both it and the Sunday Street steps branch off from the common intersection.
I spun around to the right, and got on with things.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Again, not in great shape, these steps but neither am I, so fair.
Same concrete issues as elsewhere, also same bannister problems, but other than a few spots where you wanted to be fairly careful as far as where you stepped down… they’re in passable shape. Won’t win any good government awards, but also not ‘hazardous to human life.’
One proceeded along, with the stair based PTSD singing in my head. Luckily, that Big Special music I was listening to drowned out most of my invasive thoughts.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
From the bottom of the stairs, which were fairly steep – in retrospect.
‘Steep’ has an entirely different meaning in Pittsburgh than anywhere else except – possibly – all of Scotland. Coincidentally, back in the ancient time before the bacteria which rots vegetatation had evolved, Appalachia and Scotland were part of the same forested and moist land mass.
Plate tectonics, yo, it affects us all. The bacteria? Well, there’s a reason that Coal and Oil are found deep underground. Rotting bogs and forests and dead oceans lie down there, and that’s where we draw our petrochemical happiness from.
My recent fascination with coal has led me to read some geological ‘stuff’ which clued me in about the ‘Pittsburgh Coal Seam.’
They didn’t teach this in high school history class back in Brooklyn. At Newtown Creek I learned all about the maritime, sewage, rendering, acid manufacturing, waste handling, swill milk, oil, and gas businesses there. I’m learning about all this coal stuff now.
The history of the Appalachia’s is the history of life, and death, itself.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Ok, goal hit, I got this particular shot which I wanted. It’s sort of a ‘known composition’ as in a lot of people take a photo from somewhere nearby. It’s on the cover of a book, but that’s a far better shot than mine. That photographer either got super lucky, or they had observed the scene in different seasons during different times of day.
Now it was time to wander again, somewhat aimlessly.
My plan for the remains of the day was to eventually get back to a T light rail station, and I intended to get there inefficiently. Wander about, follow my nose, hope for serendipity to strike.
Back tomorrow with more.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
The Newtown Pentacle 