Father Pitt

Category: South Side

  • A Stroll Down Sarah Street

    Sarah Street is the most splendid residential street in the New Birmingham section of the South Side—the part from 17th Street eastward that was developed after the Civil War. “Splendid” is relative, of course: even the richest parts of the South Side were not millionaires’ neighborhoods. But there are many fine and substantial Victorian rowhouses on Sarah.

    Although Carson Street is the commercial spine of the South Side, commercial buildings also sprouted on the back streets, and Sarah Street has some good Victorian commercial architecture. Some of the buildings are still backstreet bars or stores; others have had their ground floors turned into apartments.

  • B. M. Kramer & Co Building, South Side

    Old Pa Pitt has always regarded this as a masterpiece of industrial architecture. It occupies a whole block of Sidney Street between 20th and 21st.


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  • The Third-Largest Clock in the World

    It used to be the largest, but it was surpassed by the clock on the Istanbul Cevahir shopping mall in 2005, which in turn was surpassed by the almost comically enormous Mecca Clock in 2011. But the Duquesne Brewery clock is still the largest clock face in the Western Hemisphere, and it is the South Side’s most visible landmark, easily readable from across the river. Since the brewery stopped brewing, it has carried various advertisements; but for the moment it carries no message, except for the time, which is still correct.

  • A Passage Between Houses, South Side

    Often in Pittsburgh rowhouse neighborhoods there are narrow, tunnel-like passages between the houses that run from the street into the back yards. This one struck old Pa Pitt as especially picturesque and a bit mysterious.

    Camera: Canon PowerShot A590 IS.

  • The Slopes Seen from the Flats

    The South Side Slopes are a vertiginous neighborhood of narrow streets crowded with little frame houses. Traditionally the neighborhood was mostly German Catholic, whereas the flats below were mostly East European. Above, we see the Slopes from the intersection of Sidney Street and 27th; below, a view from 24th Street that includes the back of the old St. Josaphat’s church.

  • Row of Houses on 24th Street, South Side

    24th at Sidney

    This row of attractive houses is on the west side of 24th Street at the corner of Sidney. Note the arched windows: Richardsonian Romanesque was popular, and filtered down even to this level of domestic architecture.

    Camera: Samsung Digimax V4


    Map

  • Houses on Sidney Street, South Side

    A particularly fine cluster of Victorian rowhouses on Sidney Street, South Side, near the intersection with 23rd Street.

  • St. Matthew’s Church, South Side

    Like many other churches on the South Side, this one is becoming loft apartments. The exterior, at any rate, will be preserved.

    Camera: Canon PowerShot 590 IS.

    Addendum: The architect was Marius Rousseau, according to the parish’s Golden Jubilee book.

  • Sidney Street in the SouthSide Works

    When the New Urbanist SouthSide Works development was built, the Town Square here on Sidney Street was clearly meant to be its retail heart. But it also lined a previously empty stretch of Carson Street with new storefronts in architecture cleverly echoing, without imitating, the Victorian shops of the old South Side. In effect, it extended the prosperous Carson Street business district a few more blocks. The result has been that the Carson Street side prospers, while the Town Square has had some trouble filling vacant storefronts. Nevertheless, the prosperity of Carson Street, as it continues to grow, should leach into the Town Square.

    Camera: Canon PowerShot A540.

  • 2112 East Carson Street, South Side

    A well-proportioned building little changed since it was put up. You may notice, by the way, that older storefronts always have inset doors. Why is that? you ask. Somehow we have forgotten the reason for this obvious precaution, but our ancestors had much more practical minds than we have. For fire safety, doors should open outward. If they are flush with the sidewalk, however, they can open outward right into the face of a passing pedestrian and break his nose.

    Camera: Canon PowerShot A590 IS (hacked).