A Monday Morning in January

The morning hadn’t offered me anything special, a light snow had fallen during the night, the grass wasn’t even covered. Instead of white, the world outside the window was mostly brown. The roads in the distance were wet; only the glow of the traffic lights added any color to the otherwise dismal scene.

    Sipping the first cup of coffee of the day, I talked with Ann Marie. She told me how wonderful it looked at her house, thick snowflakes and trees outlined in white. We decided to take a ride into the country, away from the city, and see what the weather had brought to others.

    With no real destination in mind, we started off heading in an easterly direction. Avoiding major highways, we basically had the roads to ourselves. Rarely did we have any cars passing or following us; we could take our time and enjoy the views.

    Occasional bursts of snow would hide the scenery from us but they passed quickly. We were treated to fields covered by blankets of snow, tall dark evergreens with white accents on their branches and wooden fences bordering the roads. Every so often we’d see fresh tire tracks cutting across the snow but we didn’t see any livestock or people outside. They were all nice and warm in their enclosures. It was a beautiful day to be out exploring even if the sky was grey.

    A large dump truck pulled in front of us and we took that as a sign to change the road we were on, so when we came to the next intersection, we took it. Left or right didn’t matter, that’s the nice thing about not having to worry about where you’re going.

    We went through woods where everything was outlined in white and went into valleys where it looked as if it hadn’t even snowed at all. We passed houses sitting below high hills, the trees covering them were all different shades of white. The dark buildings stood out against the artistic backdrop.

    In the small community of Salina, we stopped for awhile to investigate an old square chimney. Located in the ruins of a brick manufacturing plant, it sits beside a large pond full of clear water. Pallets and trash can be seen through the water along with a lot of algae. The stack and a small building reflected in the still water. 

    We got out of the car and walked around for awhile. We picked our way across piles of yellow bricks and dried knotweed and took a quick look at what appeared to be an electrical building. Not very large, it had old, vandalized and rusted equipment in it, the windows were all broken. Wooden poles were beside it with crossbeams and insulators on them. Wires no longer connected to anything electrical. The chimney sat in a pile of debris and so, we didn’t get too close to it. What appeared to be a brick opening sat on the other side of a swampy area, we decided to skip visiting it also. (Another time perhaps)

    The plant once belonged to Kier Brothers. Established in the mid 1800’s it was once a major supplier of fire bricks. It eventually was bought by General Refractories Company who ran it until it closed in 1981. 

Approximately 1900

    In 1919, there were 50 men and boys working here, producing 14,000 bricks a day. The bricks were used in industrial furnaces and other high heat applications.

     There were at least two mines at this site where they got fuel and raw materials for the bricks. On an internet site, there was a mention that a mine shaft was right beside the furnace, (see the map above) going in at a 15 degree slope. It eventually went below the surface level of the near-by Kiskiminetas River and needed to be pumped out so that the mining could continue. This might explain the pool of water. In the picture of the chimney and the pond, there appears to be a gated opening underneath the “power” house, this probably is where one of the mines was located. The cold weather started getting to us so we returned to the heat of the car and continued our drive.

    We eventually ended up in the town of Apollo. There we stopped at Dolly’s Diner, an actual old-style diner. Recently moved to the present site from just about a block away, this was just what we needed; a place to get a good meal, with an enjoyable atmosphere.

    We sat at a booth beside the front window, across from the counter. A pair of “regulars” sat in the booth behind us discussing politics and sports. 50’s music played in the background. The coffee came quickly, fresh and dark. We placed our orders and talked about our adventures so far.

    A couple sunny-side up eggs, two slices of bacon and some buttered wheat toast fueled me up for the return trip. The coffee was refilled frequently. As the noon hour approached more customers showed up, we had timed our visit perfectly. After paying our tab we returned to the car satiated and ready for the final leg of our journey.

    The day had been perfect for a drive in the country. In the warmer valleys it had appeared as if no snow had even fallen while on the hilltops it was a winter wonderland. Above the valleys we drove through a country covered in white.

    We found our snow; we visited a “historic” site, ate at an old comfy diner and even saw some “wildlife”! (see the picture above) We made it back home in time to catch an afternoon nap….or maybe I should say, to do some chores. (Yeah, that sounds much better!) Either way, it was great morning!

Visiting The Past

Let's climb into our time machine and travel back into the Pittsburgh that existed in 1986.  These pictures, taken 37 years ago, back in the last century, show some things that have changed in the ensuing years. So often the things we take for granted are just wrinkles in the fabric of time.

    The first is on the 6^th Street Bridge, which is now called the Roberto Clemente Bridge. Do you remember when the city had life preservers mounted on the bridge? I didn’t. If you look at the background buildings, you will see a billboard for Horne’s Department Store. Both the store and the billboard are now gone.

    Who doesn’t remember Gimbel’s? There were some scattered around the Three Rivers area but the main one, was in downtown Pittsburgh. I can remember going to see Santa and visiting their Toyland when I was a kid. I also seem to remember a noisy, narrow wooden escalator going down into the basement. (?)

    The stores were all over the country, originating in Indiana in 1842. The Pittsburgh store opened in 1914 and lasted until the company went out of business in 1986-87. The building later housed the first Barnes and Noble Bookstore in the city and was added to the list of historical landmarks in 1997.

    All the buildings in this block, Liberty and William Penn Place, are no longer standing. The White Tower, Jack’s Sport Haven, The Nixon Hotel, The Liberty Tavern, Mary Ryan’s and the Palace Burlesque Theatre, no doubt all assets to the community, have disappeared.  The August Wilson African American Culture Center resides here now.

    Back in “those days”, Pittsburgh had quite a smorgasbord of adult venues on Liberty Avenue. The vast majority, if not all of them, have disappeared.

    The Art Cinema has been cleaned up and now shows art films in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. (Once called Pittsburgh's red-light district) In 1995 the cinema was renamed The Harris Theater.

    The circus used to come to town yearly, traveling from town to town on the railroads. At one time, unloading their cargo in the strip district and parading the animals up to the Civic Arena for the show. In 1986, they had moved to the rails behind the Pennsylvania Station to park their trains while the show was in the city.

    One morning I was driving through the city before work, looking for a picture or two when one showed up right in front of me. I pulled up at a stop light and there it was, right in the back of a truck!

     The circuses have shut down, their railroad cars sent to museums and the Civic Arena has been torn down so they, as Joni Mitchell would say, could “put up a parking lot”. Looking closely at the picture, you’ll see it was taken in front of a Bell Telephone Company Building, there’s another thing that’s gone! And then, there is that Pittsburgh Press newspaper dispenser...

    We will end with one last picture from the North Side before we return to the present day. The building is still there but the business is gone. Located on Chestnut Street; the sign didn’t last very long, maybe only a month or two. Why…I really can’t imagine.

    So, whenever you’re out and about, keep your camera (or cell phone) near-by. You never know when the things you’re seeing… might disappear!

My Head's a Bit Foggy

 Looking out the window showed nothing but grey. Fog had hidden even the bright lights in the parking lots below. The trunks of the trees appeared only as dark lines in the grey clouds.

    To those going to work or with important appointments, this could be a problem. Some lucky people, myself included, stayed home.

    The fog didn’t present any problems to me. I got quickly dressed and caffeinated and headed out into the colorless world in search of some pictures. Fog has always interested me as a photographer. Distances change, contrast often disappears as do most of the colors in our normally vibrant world. Fog adds mystery to pictures, it hides things from us and it removes the little details. Near-by objects remain sharp while those in the distance cease to exist.

    With my camera and gear, along with that very important cup of coffee, I hit the road. There was no particular spot in mind, much like browsing in a bookstore, when what is needed appears, you stop and get it!

    Eventually I ended up in Emsworth beside the railroad tracks. A thick blanket of fog covered the river, spilling over onto the banks and near-by buildings. Thickening and thinning, the views into the distance constantly changed. The tracks coming into view a mile away could be seen and then the view reduced to only 20 or 30 feet. It was wonderful!

    The air was warm, unusual for a January day. The window was open a bit to allow the sounds of approaching trains to penetrate into the car. The radio quietly played, and a good book helped pass the time between taking pictures.

    Five trains passed, some visible as they rounded the bend in the distance and others appearing out of the thick fog. The only way of telling they were coming was by the sounds of their engines, the warning lights at the crossing and the loud blasts of their whistles. It was the need for more coffee which eventually led me back home. 

    The day remained foggy, and another photo trip was made in the afternoon. Fog such as this should not be wasted!

    Later that night while looking at some of the day's photos, I looked out the window and realized that the fog was thickening once again. Glancing at the clock I noted that a train would be coming past in about 20 minutes.

    Like the impulsive fool that I am, I was soon in the car and heading back onto the roads again. Driving south, the train was soon encountered, or at least the sounds of the train were! The car was quickly turned around and driven to a near-by tunnel.

   Setting up; the camera was attached to the tripod and leveled. Since it was nearly 10 O’clock, the scene was dark, even with the lights in the parking lots. I didn’t want the longer exposures necessary to be blurred. I wouldn’t be able to photograph the train itself, so I was hoping to catch the engine's light as it came out of the tunnel, showing up in the fog. A couple quick shots were taken to ensure the correct exposure and then, I waited…and waited… Finally, I heard the approaching train.The excitement increased! I waited for the light of the engine to illuminate the walls of the tunnel and when it did, I started clicking the shutter. Only a few shots were taken due to the long exposure times and then the train came into view. The bright headlight and its speed rendered any further exposures useless.

    Waving to the engineer as the train passed the car; I loaded the gear into the trunk and headed back onto the road. Pacing alongside the engine, we moved north on rt.8. The first traffic light was red and I knew it would continue to stay that way until the train had passed. I pulled into a parking lot and bypassed the light, and the race was on again. The next light slowed me down as it turned red, the sounds of the loud engine and its blaring horn filled the car. Once the light changed, I increased my speed on the empty highway and left the train behind.

    My destination was a favorite spot, a place I’ve photographed trains for over four decades. Arriving at my spot, I quickly set up the camera and tripod. Carefully I went down a rocky dirt road and set up. I leveled the camera by feel, I didn’t have a flashlight and there were no lights in the valley since no houses or businesses were near-by. I pointed the camera towards where a bridge sat, hoping it was in line. The train could be heard in the distance. I took a shot to determine the proper exposure time and to see if the lens was still focused but it was too dark and foggy to see anything. I changed the settings and tried again, still too dark. I upped the ISO and hoped it would be enough.

The train was almost here, my heart was pounding. The beam of the engine's headlamps could be seen crossing the hillside as it approached. I waited until just before the light hit the bridge and then started shooting.  It was just as I imagined it would be! The light illuminated the bridge beautifully, the fog accentuating the darkness. Adrenalin pounded through my veins. I snapped the shutter until the train came around the bend and its beam illuminated me. It was then that it sunk in…my lens cap was still on!

    No wonder the shots were so dark…

    Watching the train go by, I was laughing. It wasn’t the first time I’d made a mistake and it sure won’t be the last! I listened to the whistle announce the next crossing as I put my gear away and pointed the car towards home.

    I couldn’t help but laugh at myself as I drove home. That shot would have been great! Once again, my excitement had interfered with my photography like it had so many times before. I know it will happen again, but that’s not going to keep me from trying again! It’s all part of the fun of photography!