Poetically Perplexing Pittsburgh PA

[Ex-Ithacan]

the burgh, and SW PA in general , is a special place. Thanks for all the diverse and artful photos.

[photoLith]

Thank you guys for all the compliments. Heres a few more I took this past weekend further east of Pittsburgh around Altoona and Johnstown that I will consider for my book.


The 1844-48 Baker Mansion in Altoona, one of the few large Greek Revival homes of this type Ive seen in western PA, in fact its the only one I can think of that Ive seen. They are everywhere down in Louisiana and Mississippi.


The 1924 Baroque Revival Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in downtown Altoona. Probably the only Baroque Revival church Ive seen around here too.


Wopsy Road west of Altoona on state game lands in the Laurel Highlands.


The 1834 Lemon House built at the summit of the historic Allegheny Portage railroad, that was finished the same year as this house which served as a home and tavern for people traveling west over the mountains.

I plan on expounding upon all my photos in this book and will go into great detail about the history behind the areas or structures Ive photographed. Its going to take a lot of planning and research, a lot of which Ive already done.

[photoLith]

Ive also tried to map out all the early roads of western PA to find abandoned pre civil war houses and 18th century log houses. Ive also mapped out most of the notable pre 1850s buildings in southwestern PA and forts.

[Austinlee]

Amazing pics again, photolith. You truly have covered a lot of ground and spent a lot of time for the many historic buildings throughout this region.

[Austinlee]

Meadowcroft Rock Shelter, one of the oldest North American paleo Indian sites, disproves the Clovis first model of migration; near Avella PA

I first heard about this site only a year or two ago. I had no idea that what us European descendants call "Western Pennsylvania" has been continuously inhabited for over 19,000 years!!! That is more amazing than many of the more famous landmarks from the mere 1800's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meadowcroft_Rockshelter

[TXLove]

Your work is so stellar no matter where you have been or will go! I wish you the best with the book efforts and I know that it will be a success! Excellent work as always Photolith!!!!

[photoLith]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

I first heard about this site only a year or two ago. I had no idea that what us European descendants call "Western Pennsylvania" has been continuously inhabited for over 19,000 years!!! That is more amazing than many of the more famous landmarks from the mere 1800's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meadowcroft_Rockshelter

There's actually some debate on whether or not the earliest meadowcroft remains and other very ancient sites before the Clovis culture showed up in North America were actually Western Europeans who crossed over with the massive ice sheets that covered the North Atlantic 20,000 some odd years ago. I believe an arrowhead was found at meadowcroft from about 16,000 years ago if I remember correctly and the stuff below that to the 19000 year old range is just leftovers from fires, animal bones, and grains. There's a little creek below that that's kinda hard to reach so no tourists go there and it's so cool to walk up that stream knowing that people 19,000 years ago were doing the same thing.

[glowrock]

Only a few comments here:

1) Holy crap, those are amazing!
2) I know you have a ton of them already taken, but you should add a few photos of the Southside Slopes neighborhood in your book. At least one that includes the bifurcated streets!
3) I want the book as well!

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Brizzy82]

I've been browsing this subsection of the forums all morning, and this thread was the one that made me actually log in to my account so I could post a comment. Amazing. Pittsburgh looks incredible, not a city you hear too much about, but I would love to check it out some day. Thank you!

[photoLith]

A few more from yesterday on a trip up to northwestern PA at my girlfriends camp.


Mix Run named after country western star Tom Mix, of whom my girlfriend is related to, he was born just down the crick from this photo.


Re-introduced elk in Benezette in Elk County.


Near Mahaffey, PA


Mahaffey

[Evergrey]

I was just at that Mahaffey covered bridge two months ago.

They used to hold a "Tom Mix Festival" in Sinnemahoning... I went once as a child. Mix Run is one of the most isolated spots in PA.

[mSeattle]

Excellence in research and photography.

[Thundertubs]

Another solid set. Western PA really is a treasure trove.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Pittsburgh's a special place. What's with the reference to 'Mexican War'? Never heard that before.

[Matthew]

Originally Posted by photoLith

Mix Run named after country western star Tom Mix, of whom my girlfriend is related to, he was born just down the crick from this photo.

I like to read and occasionally post on an amazing history thread about Los Angeles. One of the subjects I remember being discussed was Tom Mix. Several forum members researched him and shared a variety of interesting posts on him. The forum members in that thread are excellent researchers. You may want to share this thread with your girlfriend. And if you have any questions, they can help you answer them.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...70279&page=726

[NYbyWAYofGA]

Your eye is ridiculous. These photos are sickening....

[photoLith]

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

Pittsburgh's a special place. What's with the reference to 'Mexican War'? Never heard that before.

The Mexican War streets hood was named after the Mexican American war because a general from said war owned most of the land where the streets were plotted out.

[STLeric]

Great pix...Just amazing... love Pittsburgh!

[jowens]

More great stuff P.L.!!

[texcolo]

I'm bumping this thread on general principle and the fact that these photos are awesome. You should sell calendars or something... if you want I'm a bit of a graphic designer I could do the graphic end.