Trip #464 Steuben Street – Crucible Street, Elliott, Pittsburgh took place on June 28, 2020, and was published on July 15, 2020.
When I was eight years old, my idea of a fun Saturday afternoon was going to see my Aunts Rose and Thelma, twins who lived “side by each” in a duplex. Aunt Thelma’s apartment was always spotless and organized while Aunt Rose’s was filled with dusty, dilapidated books shelves. I’d have lunch with Aunt Thelma (ham sandwich with iceberg lettuce on Wonderbread) and then go over to Aunt Rose’s to watch Kung Fu and Godzilla movies, often accompanied by a bag of Chips Ahoy. The powerful physicality, non-stop action, and imminent destruction were exhilarating (and a little frightening). Still, we would enthusiastically cheer on each new battle until it was time for me to go home. While it’s been a long time since I’ve eaten a Wonderbread sandwich and my taste in movies has changed, whenever I discover a thoroughly “destroyed” flight, I can’t help but think back to those classic films. It’s not too difficult to imagine a fire-breathing Godzilla wreaking havoc on Steuben Street while Bruce Lee swings nunchucks and immobilizes an entire gang of evil-doers on the rapidly disintegrating stairway. If anything, it’s a much more exhilarating (and a little frightening) reason for why these stairs are now closed.
Field Notes: This flight is right up against Steuben Street (clearly the road was widened after 1949) and it’s completely falling apart. Not much to safely investigate due to the proximity of the main road.
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
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.
