Devlin Field, Arlington: 3000 Devlin Street
Sometimes, I come to a place that I know has a story… but what that story is… is unclear. Devlin Field is one of those places. Quiet and well-kept like a house with plush wall-to-wall carpeting and undisturbed vacuum lines. The vibe isn’t creepy, but doing anything to wreck the good housekeeping feels like a bad move.
Behind the seemingly untouched field are the remains of a basketball court and a parking lot. Much to my surprise, there’s no illegal dumping. Perhaps I’m not the only one who feels wary of disturbing the order.
In the days following my visit, my quest to learn more about Devlin Field takes me down “curiouser and curiouser” rabbit holes. Pittsburgh Orbit has thoroughly explored Loretto Cemetery, which is located next door, and its 100+ years of ethnicities, languages, and burial marker styles. The Historic Pittsburgh archives offer dozens of photos of the construction and ultimate demolition of the nearby World War II-era public housing. And a post on the internet discussion board Civil War Talk describes how free Blacks built Fort Robert Smalls in the park’s vicinity in 1863.
All told, absolutely fascinating! I now know more than I ever imagined was possible about this section of Arlington. 🙂 Devlin Field, on the other hand, is still a bit of a mystery. I’ll just have to leave it as it is, quiet and well-kept.
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