Trip #18 Forbes Avenue to Gladstone Road, Squirrel Hill North, Pittsburgh took place on July 15, 2017, and was published on August 14, 2017.
The slate tiles and stonework and architectural details cry faded glory. Is what was here in the yesterdays missed today? I don’t think so. I don’t know if anyone in the now remembers what was once then. This place was something, and it’s still something, but now it’s something else. Something I can’t agree with or feel at ease witnessing. Still, the birds sing their songs in the shade of the trees. The insects whir and hum in the afternoon heat. Some things remain; some things haven’t changed in the time between then and today.
Field Notes: Almost didn’t find this one that connects Forbes and Gladstone as every house has a flight in front of it! The houses on this section of Forbes are old and shabby and clearly rented out to students. Kind of depressing because they could be gorgeous if they were taken care of even just a little bit.
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!!
