Trip #113 Milroy Street to Perrysville Avenue, Perry North, Pittsburgh took place on March 12, 2018, and was published on March 28, 2018.
The wood is faded grey, warped and worn and warm from the sun. At one time, these planks were flat and smooth to the touch, but the knots have become deeper, darker, and the grooved ridges and valleys of the grain appear as thick wrinkles. Nails of rusted reddish-brown slowly extract themselves from the dry and shrinking joints creating crookedness and the sway away from the retaining wall. But still, it looks so pretty set against the large, rectangular slabs of granite block. Two natural elements, shaped by the hands of man, coming together to support one another and create an unconventional beauty.
Field Notes: It’s a little crooked and a little wobbly, but it’s still standing and works just fine! The wood has weathered into a soft grey – just a little lighter than the stone (granite?) that’s used for the retaining wall.
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!!
