Trip #439 Jenkins Street, Windgap, Pittsburgh took place on April 25, 2020, and was published on May 15, 2020.
Imagine you’re driving down Berry Street, keeping your eyes on the road. You’re alert to the other cars, especially if they’re moving too fast or too slow. Chances are, you’re listening to music or a podcast, and while you reach for your cup of coffee or water bottle, you hear that familiar “Ding!” from your phone. Being a person with reasonable common sense, you resist the urge to look and respond, but you’re wondering what those texts are about. You’re preoccupied with all these things as you navigate the corner after Jenkins Street (perhaps crossing the center line a bit, “Whoops! It came up so fast!”), so it’s not surprising you have no idea that there’s an old, wooden flight of city steps barely hanging on to the hillside. However, if you turn on to Charlton Street (using the appropriate turn signal, of course) and walk across Berry, it magically emerges from the landscape. But be careful! Driving while distracted is a national pastime. And that state of mind doesn’t help when you’re looking for the kind of history that hides out in plain view.
Field Notes: I almost missed this flight! The city map shows it as being right on the corner (like sidewalk steps) but in fact, it’s before the paved street. Perhaps this flight led to the “Way” (alley) behind the houses? Or maybe this is where Jenkins Street was originally? Clearly, the main road has been widened since 1950, and the bottom portion of the stairs impossible to get to now.
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.
