Trip #106 Adelphia Street, Stanton Heights, Pittsburgh took place on February 25, 2018, and was published on March 12, 2018.
The capacity to wonder is a characteristic of the human brain. Sometimes, we wonder about BIG THINGS. What does it look like at the very bottom of the ocean? When will humans travel into deep space? How long must fans wait for the Pittsburgh Pirates to win another world series? And with childlike curiosity, we also wonder about small, everyday kinds of things. Was there once a home on the hillside where a large cluster of daffodils appears every spring? What causes old logs and dead trees to decay into fantastical shapes? Here on Adelphia Street, I’m wondering about the person who carefully installed the asphalt treads and green outdoor turf rug on these old wooden stairs. It’s a unique feature I’ve not seen before, and I’m pretty certain the Department of Public Works had nothing to do with it! Something tells me there’s a story here, and I wonder what it could be…
Field Notes: These are stairs that lead to two houses that aren’t 100% “orphans” (there’s a gravel road on the other side) The steps are covered in astroturf! 🙂
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
Be a good neighbor! Have you visited these stairs and found them in poor condition or that illegal dumping (large items like tires, old furniture, and construction debris) and trash were abundant in the area? There are two things you can do to take action and make our city steps cleaner and safer for everyone! First, grab a photo if you can, and submit a report to Pittsburgh 311. All problems, both broken stairs, and railings, as well as trash and dumping, should be reported to the city. You can easily do this online or by calling. If the location has an abundance of illegal dumping and trash, also contact Allegheny Cleanways, letting them know the location and the nature of the garbage. Thank you!!
