Posts Tagged ‘Washington County’
Shabbos trio
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Odds and ends today, collected along my travels in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area while out and accomplishing other stuff. Pictured above is the neighborhood of Garfield, I’m told, and it is looking towards Oakland and the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning.
As you’re reading this, one is busily preparing for a week long trip to NYC.
Part of my plan is to dispose of my soiled clothing along the way. I’m packing three T-Shirts identical to the one I’ll be wearing while traveling, for instance, and plan on returning to Pittsburgh with just one. Same thing for socks and skivvies. Outer shell will remain the same, so I’ll just have to avoid spilling mustard or something similar on myself and I’ll be good. These garments are in need of renewal/replacement soon anyway.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I found myself in neighboring Washington County one day and was struck by the complexity of an electrical substation which I was passing by. Pulled over and grabbed a quick picture of it, me. My first thought when seeing this was ‘Godzilla trap.’ The big lizard is hopelessly drawn to this sort of infrastructure, according to the historic documentaries that are regularly offered by Japan’s Toho Studios for the world’s education.
Most of what I’m carrying to NYC with me is ‘kit.’ Lenses, tripod, etc., and I’m really trying to make this a ‘one bag’ trip. I could check luggage, but then I’m stuck carrying it around for at least a full day or two. I’ve often fantasized about using Amazon to deliver clothing to me while away from home, in order to not have to check a bag anywhere. Wear it once and drop it in a donation bin after the next ensemble arrives.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The Mobile Oppression Platform, a Toyota, continues to perform admirably. Saying that, it’s got to go back to the mothership periodically for scheduled maintenance. The most recent tire rotation and brake check was accompanied by a flush and replacement of various engine fluids. Fun stuff. Apparently it’s running fine and my tires seem to be holding up well despite their interaction with potholes and train tracks.
I’ve still got a few things to fashion together for the trip. For instance, I need to make foam baffles for my lenses so that I can shoot through windows with minimal reflection. My old set disintegrated.
Postings about my wanderings in the Pittsburgh metro area will continue next week – 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.
no mollycoddle
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After my last trip to the Pittsburgh area, one of the places that really stuck out for me was the City of Wheeling in West Virginia. It’s another one of the so called “rust belt” cities, and is in the middle of trying to reinvent its downtown. It’s a small city, with about 27,000 people living in the city center, but with nearly 150,000 residents residing in the Greater Wheeling Metropolitan Area. The Ohio River defines not just one of its borders, but West Virginia’s border with the State of Ohio. Wheeling is about 60 miles west/southwest from Pittsburgh.
Pictured throughout this post in the 1849 vintage Wheeling Suspension Bridge.
Here’s a mega massive panorama of the Ohio River span, with the more modern Fort Henry Bridge visible in the background.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I find Wheeling very, very interesting – speaking from a photographic point of view. While we driving around, one of the destinations which I wanted to check out was a small overlook park found high above the city. That’s the Ohio River again on the right hand side. I plan on returning here in the future, and especially so during the cold months when the trees are less vivacious.
We had other destinations to visit, after all.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
My pal Max had an interest in Pennsylvania’s Washington County. We drove there, and we were soon standing in front of the magnificent 1900 vintage Washington County Courthouse. This governmental facility is where the seat of Washington County is found.
Washington, PA. also hosts Washington and Jefferson College, and it used to be a “railroad city.” Then it was an “oil city.”
This municipality was at the very center of the Whiskey Rebellion in 1791-94 that challenged the authority of the newly minted Federal Government to tax its citizens. It got all the way up to President George Washington marching towards the rebels with 13,000 militia troops following him.
Shit get real when George Washington is coming at you with an army, yo. That’s what they say in Washington.
No, not really.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I was pretty impressed by the grandiosity and obvious abundance of funding which were incorporated into this court house building. Surprisingly, while casting my research nets out, one of the little fishies that came back revealed that the Pittsburgh Railway Company operated an inter urban trolley service between 1909 and 1953 between Washington and Pittsburgh.
Another pretty interesting place, and not terribly far from Pittsburgh either. Western Pennsylvania is fascinating.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As mentioned, the Washington County Seat is found here, and apparently there’s an architecturally noteworthy City Hall as well, quite nearby where I was standing. In one of the cardinal distances, pictured above, the spires of the Washington and Jefferson College campus rise above the town.
The other direction though…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Something wicked this way comes, thought a humble narrator, and that we should start driving my pal Max’s Mercedes in the opposite direction of an oncoming thunderhead and back towards Pittsburgh with haste.
More! Next Week! 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.
The Newtown Pentacle 