Waiting for the Clouds to Part

 Sitting on a chair with a book in my hands, I couldn’t help but keep glancing up at the sky. Nearing sunset, the clouds seem to be getting darker and thicker rather than dissipating the way I had hoped. I shook my head and returned to my book.

    This evening brings back many memories and my mind drifted away from the book and slipped back into the past.

    I was sitting outside the Wagman Observatory for a reason. In an hour or two, the moon would be occulting, or covering over, the bright star Antares. This happens every night as the moon's orbit around the earth brings it in front of background stars. They rarely are bright ones like Antares. This occultation could be visible by a person with good eyesight! To watch an event like this through a telescope would be exciting. Watching motion in the generally static sky is always fun to see!

    I was planning on watching through the 11” Brashear telescope. The moon and Antares could both be seen with binoculars at sunset after I arrived, but sadly, the clouds followed me up to the hilltop. Every so often a clear patch of sky would appear only to quickly disappear again. I had to chuckle, it is such a common occurrence here in Pittsburgh.

    “Back in the day” as the saying goes, I used to go on car trips to observe and time occultations, especially grazing occultations! This is when the moon's orbit takes it close enough to a star that it disappears and reappears as the moon's mountains cross in front of it. If you’re lucky you might see this happen more than once. To observe this, you have to be within a narrow strip on the earth. Outside of this strip, you will either see the star miss or else just disappear behind the lunar disc. Positioning is very important!

    John Holtz is the man in the astronomy club who coordinated these excursions. Often we would drive for an hour or more to get to a location. The planning involved looking at topographic maps and locating a spot that could be accurately defined. We weren’t using GPSs in those days. Hopefully there would be a spot to pull off and a flat area big enough to set up a telescope. Along with our telescopes we brought a tape recorder and a shortwave radio so we could listen to WWV to get an accurate time. The results would be sent to IOTA, the International Occultation Timing Association to be added to other reports from other observers.

    Living in the western end of Pennsylvania unfortunately brought a lot of disappointing trips. Clouds and poor weather seem to occur ANY time an astronomical event happens in this area. (I say this with jaundiced eyes.)

Section of a map plotting a graze on

April 2^nd, 1994 around Dorseyville

    For me, the work before an event was always fun. Locating these narrow strips of visibility on maps; defining where the best line and where the outside strips would be, marking the maps and then deciding where I would go was something I looked forward to. In the days before Google Maps, we relied on our “old” maps to define where we’d go. The drive there was fun also, usually in the middle of the night, not knowing what to expect when I arrived.

    After many a long drive, I would watch the clouds drift by with no sight at all of the moon, let alone the star. I’d wait until after the event would have happened before I tore down my equipment, just in case the sky might clear. Then, I’d hit the road towards home again.

BUT, every so often, things would go as planned. The sky would be clear, there would be a nice place to set up my telescope, no cars would drive by shining their lights into my eyes and no policemen would stop by just as the star was disappearing. The radio would catch the time station clearly and we could easily see the occultation. I would drive home feeling victorious! These trips made all the other failures worthwhile. The failures just made the successes that much more exciting!

    Back to the present, the occultation was clouded over. The next night, I was sitting in the same spot. I was with some fellow club members and we were hoping that the clouds would clear up so that our star party could continue as planned. Pittsburgh weather and astronomy are archrivals and sadly the weather is usually the bad guy. In the meanwhile, I sit, read and talk with my friends as we wait for the clouds to part.

Abandoned and Almost Forgotten

 Situated around the country are thousands of places which once were whirlwinds of activity; manufacturing plants, factories, stores, furnaces and homes, places which have been deserted and left behind. The people who worked or lived in them took off, possibly due to economic reasons, disease or poor water. These places now sit empty and are slowly decaying, returning to nature.

    Ivy, often poisonous, grows over the faces of the buildings. Roots spread between the bricks and their roofs collapse, allowing sunshine and greenery to fill the once dark rooms.

    Occasionally, some places appear to have been used the day before with machinery sitting in neat rows, but if you look closely; the start of rust is evident on the once oiled surfaces. Most often, signs of previous trespassers remain; broken glass, damaged equipment and scattered papers along with mostly unintelligible words sprayed across any and every open surface. What is it that causes people to destroy these places?

    Entering into a place such as these always make me wonder about its past. Who was it that ran this machine? Did they enjoy the job, was it a profession or just a way to earn some cash to help them survive? High technology hadn’t arrived yet, but to the people who worked these places, it was as good as it gets. No matter what time in history, owners and investors are always looking for ways to increase production! We tend look at these places with modern eyes, not the eyes of those who inhabited them.

    Frank and I visited a couple places recently which brought up some more questions to ponder.

    One was a small town in Armstrong County. Originally called Yellow Dog, it later was renamed Shadyside Village. The town was built in the late 1800’s but the houses date around the early 1900’s. It was constructed for the workers of the Pittsburgh Limestone Company. To live there, they promised not to unionize or strike. They were called “Yellow Dogs” by the unions and it was because of this that the town got its name. The company went out of business in the 50’s but the town remained inhabited until the early 2000’s when people started getting sick from the water. The final resident moved out in 2011 or 2012. The place has sat empty and decaying ever since.

    People can visit the site by contacting the owner and paying a small admittance fee. The place is a mess. It appears as if the people just picked up their necessities and walked away. There is still food on the shelves, toys and clothing lay strewn across the floors. A piano sits in a living room with wedding portraits sitting on it. In other houses, debris looks as if it had been stashed in piles and then forgotten, the stacks high enough to impede access. Moisture has done a job on the buildings with sunshine, and rain, falling on the floors in the attics. Windows are broken, allowing vines into the houses and the paint is peeling. 

    Walking around the village requires a careful eye, not all the porches are stable and some of the banisters are only hanging loosely on the walls.

    Lots of people have come though these houses and I can’t imagine that the things left behind are in the same spots as they were when the owners left. It is doubtful that they left their wedding pictures sitting on the piano or decorated a still standing Christmas tree with old 45RPM records. To me, they seem placed there by opportunistic photographers, recorders of “history”. Surprisingly, there is very little graffiti.

    Over time, the houses will continue to deteriorate until it will become too dangerous to visit. The place will be forgotten to all except for some “old timers”. Trees and weeds will fill in the yards and the houses will collapse, leaving only the stone foundations. Like everything else, time will eventually remove it from our sight and our memories.

(on-line photo, 1989)

    A few days later, we visited another place, this one an old glass manufacturing plant on the outskirts of Jeannette. Established in 1889, The Westmoreland Specialty Company, later re-named The Westmoreland Glass Company, specialized in making milk glass amongst their other products. It went bankrupt in 1984 and has been slowly caving in on itself ever since.

    The roofs of the buildings have fallen in but the places which are still accessible have obviously been visited by many people. Graffiti is on almost everything. Fire companies have been called numerous times. A neighbor told me that he is worried that eventually one of the smokestacks will collapse onto the near-by railroad tracks, he wants it torn down. Whatever is going to happen, the process is well under way!

    We entered the ruins by way of an open door. A couple nicely placed stones helped us get past the high step. Once inside, the floor itself was relatively clear, the building stretched out into the darkness. Thankfully we had flashlights since there are open holes hidden in the dark. Not big enough to fall into, but large enough to break a leg if one was to walk into it unknowingly. The open doors and windows provided some light but the further into the building we went, the darker it got. 

    There are two large bottle ovens on the site, named because of their shape, not their end products. Each has spots in their chimneys where bricks are missing. The bases of them are massive, helping to support the weight of the huge stacks above. Piles of broken white glass, in all sorts of different shapes and shades were scattered around the furnaces.

    A circular ramp led up to the second floor. The metal roof had collapsed long ago and there were pathways in the dust that showed the ways that previous explorers and artists had gone. The two ovens had numerous arched entrances surrounding their bases, smaller ovens were situated around the two larger chimneys, each one had a purpose, but I don’t know what they were… I would have loved to see what it looked like when it was being used, I can only imagine, my knowledge of glass making is slim.

(on-line photo, 1989)

    Trees and shrubs have been growing inside these buildings for decades. Thorns were sharp and tears in clothing or skin could easily happen if I wasn’t careful. Somehow an old Jeep had made it onto the second floor, it’s partially dismantled carcass sat beside the fallen roof. The stacks and chimneys pushed up from the debris into the blue sky above, not wanting to yield to the forces of nature and gravity. Eventually they will fall, whether by time or man is yet to be known. It is extremely doubtful that anything could ever be salvaged from these ruins other than scrap steel and bricks.

    We returned to the car, our cameras cards and heads filled with memories. While wandering around, gazing at the architecture and the buildings remnants, once again we couldn’t help but wonder; how did it operate? Who were the people who worked here and are any of them still alive? 

    These places give us a glimpse into the past, they are simple, non-technical time machines. They show us how things were, 10, 20 or 100 years ago. This is why it is important that they are preserved, or at least documented. Seeing these sites is insightful, especially when you mate what you see with facts garnered from the internet. Not everyone can see them, that’s all the more reason to record them while they still stand!

In the overall view of time, our lives here on earth are but a brief flash, and like us, these remains will soon be gone…and forgotten.

Lovin' The Weekend

Ann Marie and I just returned from visiting the family on the far side of the state. It was a birthday party which initially drew us there but the biggest draw was to visit with the grand-kids! With our bags packed, we left early Friday morning. We had a few brief glimpses of the sun and from then on, clouds accompanied us.

    A bit before New Alexandria we got our first views of the Laurel Highlands. Looking a lot like a painting, there were banks of different colored mists which gave depths to the valleys and hills ahead. We always look forward to this section of rt.22!

    We stopped in Blairsville for breakfast and more coffee. Dean’s Diner provides a reliable meal and it’s always fun to “eavesdrop” on the regulars as they converse with the women behind the counter. With our appetites satiated, we continued on.

    We had plans of searching for a new (to us) iron furnace on the far side of the Susquehanna River. On the way, we attempted to re-visit another iron furnace (The Etna Furnace) after we passed through Holidaysburg. After driving down a bumpy road, we were stopped by a newly fallen tree crossing the road, about a half mile from the furnace. We opted to turn around and continue on. We had been there before and I’m sure, we’ll be back!

    In the state capital, Harrisburg, we ate lunch in a diner overlooking the river, not far from the Rockville RR Bridge. Then it was time to start our search for the Swatara Iron Furnace. I had written down the various roads to take and I’m happy to say, “we” only made one wrong turn. (I like to say, “What’s an adventure without getting lost once or twice?”) Shortly afterwards, we rounded a corner and there the furnace sat.

    The furnace was built in 1830 out of limestone. It was the first iron furnace built in Schuylkill County. It operated for about 20-30 years. (Depending on what you read) After the furnace went out of blast, the owners converted it into a forge. It looks very different today as compared to what it looked like when it was producing iron. The area around it was filled with sheds, buildings and workers. Smoke and noise filled the valley. Today it sits in a quiet valley with a small stream flowing by.

    The furnace is falling apart and there are numerous wedges that were pounded into the wall to help control natures destructive forces. A few years ago, the county took down some trees to help preserve the furnace but there are still lots of things growing out of the walls. The roots push the cold stacked stones apart over time.

    There are numerous historical sites in this area, no doubt we’ll be back to find some more of them!

    This area has numerous Appalachian Trail crossings so we stopped at a couple of them to do some short, (real short) hikes. I had done some hiking on the AT, including crossing this bridge, 10-15 years ago. (Those were the days!)

    Our next stop and the one we were looking forward to most, was at Chelsey and Jaime’s house. Mateo and Nico were both happy to see us and we basically ignored their parents as we played with the boys.

    It’s tough living so far away from them, but it also makes these visits together so much more exciting!

    Nico is always smiling and happy to play. His brother never lacks for something to do. He read me a couple of his books, turning the book so that I could see the pictures and then we did some mazes. The time flies when we are there!

    The next day was party time. The house was filled with relatives and friends. Children were running underfoot and conversations were bouncing off the walls. Boxes of pizza and dishes of dips and snacks kept calling our names.

    As evening advanced, Ann Marie and I said our good-byes and let the party continue without us. We’d be back in the morning!

    We returned after a good night's sleep and played with the boys for a while before we left for Pittsburgh. The house was filled with people busy taking orders for breakfast (brunch?) as we left. All we needed was a bit more coffee to fuel us on our way, that and a little more loving from the two nicest boys I know.

    Like all trips, the way back home was anti-climatic. We discussed the things we had done and seen, almost all of them dealing with the boys. We were sad to go but glad we came. It would’ve taken a lot to keep us away!

    We did our normal stop at Dietrich’s Meats in Krumsville to stock up with some PA. Dutch meats and then re-visited a lime kiln a few miles down the road, just to see how it’s surviving. We visited one of our favorite bookstores in Harrisburg, The Mid-Town Scholar, where I picked up an old Canadian Dictionary. (Eh, this should be interesting reading, fer sure!) Back on the roads with cars all around, we outran a strong storm. After that, it was clear sailing for the rest of the ride. We got back home around 7, ready for a good night’s sleep in our own beds.

    All in all, it could not have been a better trip. A little bit of adventure and a whole lot of love! 

Visiting a Couple old Distilleries

Jupiter was the only object visible in the sky as I loaded my camera gear into the car. Haze had hidden the stars and the moon was too close to the western horizon to be seen from my house. The sun still had another hour before it peeked over the eastern edge of the world. Even though the stars were hidden, I was still excited about the morning. We were going off on another photo-expedition and I was definitely looking forward to it!

    Frank and I were being joined by another Frank today. We all share the same ideas about going out and looking for the things that are hidden all around us, just waiting for us to find and photograph them.

    We all arrived with-in 5-10 minutes at our meeting spot. We piled all our gear into Frank’s truck and hit the road. (You’ll have to guess which Frank it was!) Crossing the Alleghany on the Hulton Bridge, we headed towards Westmoreland and Fayette Counties.

    Our first stop was to get a geocache. Frank found it almost as soon as he got out of the truck. Pretty good for not even having our GPSs turned on!

    A little less than a mile away we could see the 160 foot tall smokestack of the old S. Dillinger and Sons distillery. Sticking up into the sky, it marked our next stop. Even though the buildings are surrounded with fencing and “covered” with cameras, it didn’t stop us from walking around outside of the fence. A near-by neighbor told me about sneaking into the buildings with his friends as kids, wouldn’t it be great to have something like this in your neighborhood? I would’ve loved it!

    It has been almost 80 years since they shipped any whiskey from this site. It was built in 1834; fifty years later a fire destroyed much of it. There are still remnants of the original buildings on the site.

    After roaming around the property, we got back in the truck and headed south again. BUT FIRST, we stopped for another cache.  This was located beside a historical marker telling the story about the Morewood Massacre.

    This was a confrontation between striking miners and the National Guard. Workers at the H.C.Frick owned Morewood Mine marched to the company store where the National Guard opened fire on them, killing six men and fatally wounding another three. This wouldn’t be the only time we came across Henry Clay Frick today!

     Back on the road, our heads full of history, we made our next stop at a conveniently located Sheetz. Coffee and a snack, just what I needed! It is also always good to take advantage of a restroom when you find one, you never know when you might need one!

    Our last planned stop was at the abandoned Overholt Brewery. Sitting mere yards away from the Youghiogheny River, the buildings have sat empty for the most part since it closed in 1951. Many of the buildings are gone due to demolition and fire. Built in the mid 1850’s, it originally produced Monongahela Whiskey. This changed to Old Overholt Whiskey in 1870 when Overholt’s grandson, Henry Clay Frick took over ownership of the plant.

    Sadly, every building there has been tagged. I always find it sad to see how the aging grace of buildings like these is tarnished by graffiti.

    A high, cracked smokestack towers over the buildings, most of which are hidden by the high weeds and trees growing in and around them.

     Some of the structures are nearly invisible when you are standing 20 feet away. Poison ivy is everywhere.  Spider webs are stretched across every path you take or make, deer prints are plentiful.  Nature has definitely taken back the area. The insides of some buildings looked like a jungle!

    Six large grain silos sit near the smokestack which sits alone, unattached to any buildings. Most of the steps to the upper floors have been removed. There are places that previous explorers have circumvented the missing stairs, but we all stayed on the ground level. The architecture is wonderful, made of brick with arched windows and spiral staircases, it reminding me of the way buildings SHOULD be made, unlike the architecture of the modern day.

    We spent quite a while wandering around through the various buildings. Taking picture and looking around. The time passed quickly.  Back on the road again, we stopped briefly in Dunbar where we took a few more pictures. Then we turned the truck towards Alleghany County. We spent about 7 hours driving and exploring, covering about 150 miles.

    Back at home, one of the first things I did was to search for ticks. (None found!) Then I washed my clothes and took a shower to wash off any poison ivy oils that might be on them or my skin.

    I think…NO, I know that the Franks and I all had a great morning. What a wonderful way to start a day, out on the road with friends!