Trip #553 Lillian Way, Allentown, Pittsburgh took place on January 21, 2021, and was published on February 19, 2021.
When we’re unfamiliar with a place and its history, there can be a tendency to accept the buildings and streets, homes, sidewalks, and stairs only as they appear in the present moment. We don’t see the farmland sold to create a settlement or the mill demolished to build a highway or the family homes before they became apartments. As we drive through a neighborhood, we often have little knowledge of how it has changed over time. When we look out the window, it’s easy to identify what’s apparent to our eyes but harder to conjure what is no longer visible. While aspects of history may have been removed from view, they’re still a part of our city’s heritage. What is now intangible can only be re-discovered when we actively peel back the layers of time. Once you’ve seen the past, the present never looks the same.
Field Notes: I recently learned that in the early twentieth century, Pittsburgh stopped using the term “alley” and switched over to “way” – as they thought it sounded more respectable. 🙂 Regardless of what they’re called, the ways are generally pretty narrow. Lillian is steep rising from Arlington Ave so the city steps are useful.
Love city steps? Get yourself the latest issue of Mis.Steps: Our Missed Connections with Pittsburgh’s City Steps! Each copy is unique and features 10 randomly selected “trading cards” of Pittsburgh’s 739 public stairways. Visit the Mis.Steps online store to see all issues and place your order.
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.
