Trip #291 Middle Street, East Allegheny took place on May 11, 2019, and was published on May 24, 2019.
Why does this view look so familiar? Why do I feel like I’ve visited here many times before? That church steeple down the hill, it’s in my mind, my memory, but I can’t place why or how. I’ve never stood on these stairs before. I’ve never walked or driven on this end of Middle Street. The sensation is strange, unsettling. Toto’s “Rains of Africa” blares from a house at the top of the stairs, and its early 1980s association exacerbates my feelings of deja vu. But when I reach into my backpack to take out my notebooks, the answer becomes crystal clear – this IS a familiar view, one I’ve looked at almost every day for the last two years. This view is the cover of Bob Regan’s Pittsburgh Steps book!
Field Notes: This is the flight from the cover of the second edition of Bob Regan’s Pittsburgh Steps book! When I was taking the photo I kept thinking about how I felt I had seen the view before – and indeed I had!
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!!
