Crickets chirp,
The stars sit motionless
In the sky.
Glances at my watch
Are fruitless,
Never seeming to change.
Watching the horizon,
A slight glow
Slowly erupts.
The tip,
An edge of
The crescent moon!
The camera clicks,
Time speeds up,
The moon dramatically
Rises across a distant hill!
The clock slows again
As the earth slowly
Turns towards Venus.
Patience…patience…patience…
6.25.22 3:20AM
The past is all around us, the buildings in our neighborhoods and towns, the technology we hang onto, the faces we see in the mirror and the memories we hold in our in our thoughts. Some of these memories stick with us and others tend to drift into the deep, depths of our brain cells.
During the past few months I have been copying the black and white negatives I had taken 30 or 40 years ago. This was during the midst of my darkroom days, photos taken with celluloid, light sensitive film. Pictures would be taken, the film developed and then hours spent in the darkroom trying to get that one, “special” picture.
When moving into my present home, the darkroom and film developing was left behind. (The processes, not the equipment!) The age of the digital camera was rapidly taking over the photographic market. My developing started going to commercial companies rather than my basement.
The Pittsburgh area had lots of camera stores in those days and when pictures were needed there a couple excellent places where enlargements could be made. It was amazing how many hours were saved by doing this! Never the less, I miss those days in the darkroom!
While copying these negatives onto my computer, I was continuously being reminded of the places and adventures I had experienced. That and the people I shared them with. Most of these weren’t forgotten, they just hadn’t been thought of for decades. Seeing pictures of landscapes which have changed because of buildings being built or removed is reliving history. The cars are dated and signs reflect the times, they are showing us the past.
Trips taken, places visited, experiences... Here are a few shots I’ve recently uncovered and re-remembered. Just a little bit of my own personal history!
Entrance to the Waterworks
(1984)
The city of Pittsburgh had a water treatment plant where the Waterworks Mall is now located. There were acres and acres of underground filtration beds, unused because of more efficient means of purifying the city’s water. They were abandoned and used only for parties and visits by urban explorers. A parking lot now occupies the spot where this shot was taken.
The Civic Arena
(1986)
Before the Civic Arena was torn down, it was a premium spot for concerts and sporting events. The arena was equipped with a domed roof which could be opened, allowing fresh air in. (and letting “smoky” air out) It was always exciting to see the roof open. In the background, the Veteran’s Bridge was still in the process of being built. The dark building in the center was once the Pennsylvania Railroad headquarters. During the 60's it had been scheduled to be demolished but the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation managed to stall the destruction of this building. It is presently the location of the Amtrak station with apartments above, called The Pennsylvanian.
5th Ave, when people used to fill the streets
(1987)
Pittsburgh is a major city and the sidewalks showed it. The storefronts were all occupied and when one closed, another took its place in no time. The buildings were filled with offices and the workers crowded the streets as their work days ended.
Early morning at DeLuca’s
(1987)
There were diners all around the city but some of the best were located in the Strip District. They didn’t cater to sightseers and tourists as much as to the working men and women of the city.
Pencil Vendor in NYC
(1989)
On a trip to New York City I was amazed at the size of both the city itself and the population. My camera got a good workout as I explored the town.
The start of demolition at the Syria Mosque
(1991)
Early in the morning, I took a ride into Oakland to watch workmen remove the 2 Lions from the entrance of the Syria Mosque. After they put the lions on a truck and drove them away, the bulldozer moved in and started with the roof covering the main entrance. I had my high school graduation ceremony there and spent many a night watching my favorite bands perform in it.
Amtrak and Circus trains at the Pgh. Station
(1992)
Amtrak still stops at the Pittsburgh station but the circus trains are a thing of the past. I watched a couple parades where they marched the elephants up to the Civic Arena. The last year I saw it, they were trucked up from the RR station in the early morning. The excitement of the circus was waning.
Workers building a sculpture in Pittsburgh
(1986)
I liked how the workers placing the cobble stones mirrored the sculpture mounted on the wall. The wall is what's left of an old building. This is pure Pittsburgh, always re-building itself!
It's just a couple pictures, a quick journey into the "good old days". I shudder to think how many more pictures are “stored” in the attic. That will be in my future…exploring the past!
Taking my hiking staff out of the car, the humidity was immediately noticeable. It was still fairly early in the morning but already the temperature was in the 80’s. The weather forecasters were warning about dangerous conditions as the day progressed.
Working my way down to the stream on an overgrown path made by fishermen,
I tried my best to avoid brushing against the weeds. Both to avoid the dew
which was still coating them and to avoid any ticks which might be waiting for
me to pass.
The stream was wide but not high. Evidence of high waters could be seen
by the eroded walls on the banks of the far side. I stepped into the water and
was instantly cooled down. Starting across, my staff aided me from slipping on the slick stones. The deepest section reached my knees, the ripples
dampened the bottoms of my shorts. Reaching the far side, I had to go upstream a
bit to find a tree whose roots had been exposed, allowing me to climb out of
the water and up the bank.
On the top of the bank, a large field of tall grass, cat tails and
flowers spread out in front of me. A hillside covered with trees sat at the far
side. The stream ran around the field, in essence, cutting it off from
visitors.
Large bunches of flowers grouped together. High grasses separated the various colors with waving greenish-gold bands. I followed paths that deer had created. The cat tails tend to grow in boggy areas, so I avoided those plants. In the grasses were tall thistles, covered in thorns, I avoided these also.
Ruts lay in the field filled with water and mud, the tops
provided a stable place to walk. My legs had dried off quickly from the
crossing, but my shorts were getting wetter as I walked through the high, dewy weeds.
I passed through batches of white daisies, bluish-purple spiderworts and
crown vetch. Surprisingly, there wasn’t any poison ivy to be seen.
At the far side of the field there is a small rise, the remains of the
Pittsburgh to Butler Short Line, an electric trolley which stretched between
the two cities from 1900 to1931.
Not far
from the cache…back in the day
Remnants of the line can still be seen in numerous places, small bits and
pieces were among the weeds where I was walking.
Climbing onto the old rail bed, avoiding the wild rose bushes, I came to
a spot I had visited just a week ago. I had been searching for a geocache and wasn’t able to
locate it. Leaving a cache “unfound” plays heavily on my mind, so I was determined
to return…soon.
The stream level was low, even after a small rain the night before, a
walk through the stream would be nice and cooling, but most of all, it was that
anal desire to return and find the cache that brought me back today!
I hadn’t brought my GPS, I remembered where I had been. I was pretty sure
the cache was still there, even though no one had found it in close to a year.
I rooted around at the base of the “obvious” tree and then slowly worked my search up the trunk and into its branches. With-in a couple minutes, the find was mine!
It was a small round match holder wrapped in camouflage tape. It was
hanging on a small stick, blending in nicely with the branch behind it.
After signing the log and replacing it for the next cacher, I headed
back. Already the dew had evaporated from the weeds and bugs were
starting to fly around. Still, it smelled wonderful and it sounded delightful. The
birds were the only sounds I heard. I was too far from the stream and no cars
had passed since I left, at least none that I heard.
Haze filled the sky giving the field a muted look, like a painting with
groups of flowers; their colors all mingling together with the grasses to
create a masterpiece in the way only nature can create.
A couple Red Winged Blackbirds flew by and as I neared the stream, I saw a
Baltimore oriole. I was watching for the heron but “he” chose not to show himself to me today.
At the stream, I climbed down the roots of the tree, back into the nice,
cool water. Climbing out of the other side, a much easier climb, I passed a
small batch of yellow Iris and then through another large patch of spiderworts.
Back at the car, my legs had dried already but my shirt was soaked. It was only
10 in the morning and the heat would be continuing to rise as the day
progressed.
It was a great way to start the day, the rest of it would be spent in dark, cool places, avoiding the heat outdoors. I found my cache but seriously...the
best part of the morning was the refreshing walk through the stream, walking
through the field amongst the flowers, enjoying the smells and soaking in the quiet of the morning.
Welcome to a night under the stars. If this is your first time visiting a star party, here are a few guidelines.
Star parties are held to allow the general public access to the telescopes owned by astronomy clubs and astronomers. The goal is to introduce you to the night sky and astronomy. On a good night you can expect to see double stars, galaxies and nebulas along with the moon, planets and satellites. Every time you visit one, different things can be seen.
The telescopes are set up there for you to observe through. All you need to do to look through these instruments is to ask! These are often very expensive, be careful when looking through them and follow the owners instructions. Don’t touch the optics or move the scopes. If you want to look at something else, ask and if possible, the owner will show you.
They will tell you what you are looking at and hopefully be able to answer any questions you might have. If they don’t know the answer, chances are that someone else near-by will!
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Weather plays a big part in star parties. If there are clouds in the sky, chances are the telescopes won’t be set up. Heavy clouds hamper viewing and the members don’t want any moisture getting onto the optics. So saying, rain will cancel these events. If the weather looks threatening, call the observatory before driving up!
(Observatory phone #’s are usually on the clubs web site)
If you have a telescope at home, bring it along. Most star parties have darker skies than those closer to the cities; this will enable you to see more than you normally do. If you’ve never used your telescope before, come up early, while the sky is still light, and someone will be able to help you set it up and explain how it works. If you have a pair of binoculars, bring them along also. You will be surprised at how many stars you can see through ordinary field glasses. Bring a lawn chair if you want, to just sit and enjoy the skies above.
If you are considering buying a telescope, a star party is a great place to see what is available. Compare the views you get through different styles and brands, ask the owners what they like about their scopes and what they would recommend.
Bringing a jacket and a hat and wearing long pants is suggested since the temperature quickly drops after sunset. Most star parties are held on hilltops and there is usually a slight breeze blowing!
There is no smoking or alcoholic beverages allowed near the telescopes and it’s best to leave your pets at home to avoid any problems.
Another important thing is, don’t bring a flashlight! Bright lights are frowned upon at star parties. If you don’t know how to dim your cars lights, please park near the entrance and walk up to the site, it’s won’t be far! This will preserve everyone’s night vision.
After being in the dark for awhile, your eyes become accustomed to the dim light. Your pupils open up to permit more light in, allowing you to see more. Just a brief glimpse from a white flashlight or a car headlight will cause your pupils to shrink. It will then take up to 20 minutes for you to regain the night vision you had before. Astronomers use red flashlights since this won’t cause your pupils to react.
Children are very welcome at star parties; we hope to instill the love of astronomy in them at an early age! Keep your children close at hand. Explain to them about how costly these instruments are and share the need to respect the equipment and the owners.
When you go on trips, check to see if there are any astronomy clubs in the areas you will be visiting. They will usually have the dates of star parties they have planned on their web sites. Major parks have star parties also, their skies are often much darker than what you experience normally and they want to share this with you. Check before you visit. Commonly, star parties are held during the summer months and whenever something special happens, such as eclipses or meteor showers. Keep an eye out for them and come up and visit!
Should you be bitten by the astronomy bug, members will be more than happy to tell you how you can join the club, anyone is welcome to join! You don’t need any expensive equipment, just your enthusiasm!
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To find out more about the Pittsburgh club, the AAAP, their two observatories and their star party schedule, visit;
The night sky is a treasure which is often over looked; a
visit to a star party just might help you see what great things you’ve been
missing! Chances are, I'll be there and I’ll be watching for you! Be sure to say "hi"!
During the hot days of the last week, I found myself indoors more than out. This can be a good thing since I can put a little more effort i...
