Trip #112 Milroy Street, Perry South, Pittsburgh took place on March 12, 2018, and was published on March 26, 2018.
These stairs look similar to ones built around 1950, but the “official” date for this flight indicates 1982. Whichever date you pick, a great deal has changed in the world since then. Technology, medicine, communication, entertainment. I struggle to find something that has stayed the same! The fantastical scenarios of old sci-fi TV shows have become a reality. Skype and FaceTime, robot vacuums, virtual reality environments. But for every advancement that seemingly makes our lives easier, some degree of hardship sprouts up. Loss of privacy, environmental destruction, and our growing dis-ease with living in this world and one another. Sometimes, I wish I could be back in 1982 watching re-runs of Lost in Space and thinking how cool it would be to have a robot do my chores. Dreaming about a far-off future felt so exciting back then, and I wish I could recapture some of that enthusiasm when I dream about the years ahead.
Field Notes: Milroy is a quiet street not far from the highway. Sunny day, birds singing. There appears to be an “orphan” house here at the mid-point of the steps, abandoned and languishing.
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!!
