Trip #514 Uxbridge Way, Mount Washington, Pittsburgh took place on October 23, 2020, and was published on November 11, 2020.
For those who are regular followers of this account, today’s visit complements the Vinecliffe Street posts #510 and #511 shared last week. At one time, Uxbridge Way was a narrow lane connecting the Vinecliffe back yards to East Sycamore Street. You won’t find a street sign or location online, but it does show up on historical maps available through historicpittsburgh.org. When the hillside was bulldozed and the homes demolished in 2008, all traces disappeared – except for the railing break.
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Everything we had yesterday, everything we have today, and all we will have tomorrow originate from the Earth and its atmosphere. While our methods have advanced over time, we’re not unlike the medieval alchemists striving to manipulate the elements into new and valuable substances. Yet despite our herculean efforts, we, and all of our creations, will one day return to the place from which they came.
Field Notes: Based on images from Google Street View, the wooden flight that would have gone to Uxbridge Way (an alley that ran off of Vinecliffe St) started here. Everything that was in the area has been demolished – except for the Vinecliffe St stairs) so it’s hard to tell. Best guess!
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.
