Trip #268 Andover Terrace, Upper Hill, Upper Hill took place on March 23, 2019, and was published on April 1, 2019.
The city steps reflect Pittsburgh’s culture during the first half of the twentieth century, and their presence is not surprising to those familiar with its history. Here was a city responsible for producing the materials required of the modern age, the urban age, the race to touch the sky age; it stands to reason that the builders and barons, tinkerers and thinkers needed these practical human transport systems. But what societal values are being reflected today? As we close in on the second decade of the twenty-first century, what innovations will illustrate to those living one hundred years from now who we were and what we stood for?
Field Notes: I’m not sure if these are the stairs Bob Regan is referring to in his book as they are not on Andover Terrace but across the street from it. However, the rails are the right color and the flight goes up to two separate houses, so they could be public stairs instead of private ones.
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!!
