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Sixteenth Street Bridge
The architectural parts of the Sixteenth Street or David McCullough Bridge, built in 1923, were designed by Warren and Wetmore, architects of Grand Central Station in New York. The fact that the bridge does not fall down is attributable to the engineer, H. G. Balcom.
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Every Day in 2022
Throughout the year 2022, old Pa Pitt managed to put up at least one new article every day. To celebrate the changing of the years, here are twelve of his favorite pictures from last year, one for each month:
January
A vase of witch hazel.
February
Church of the Ascension, Shadyside.
March
Crocuses in the rain.
April
Fox squirrel.
May
Interior of Heinz Chapel.
June
Mammatus clouds at sunset.
July
Spotted Lanternfly nymph.
August
Retreating storm clouds behind the spire of Third Presbyterian Church, Shadyside.
September
Atlas on the Kaufmann’s Clock.
October
Chimney pots on the South Side.
November
The skyline of downtown with November leaves.
December
The colossal columns of the Mellon Institute illuminated from within at twilight.
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Carnegie Library, Hill District Branch
Another elegant little branch library by Alden & Harlow. Although the branch library moved a short distance away to a larger modern building, this one was fortunately taken over by a mosque and is therefore still loved and kept up.
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Ice Cascade in Banksville
Every year this cliff face in Banksville grows a beautiful cascade of icicles, and old Pa Pitt has taken pictures of it more than once. Here it is again, and no excuse is necessary.
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Negley No. 1 and No. 2, East Liberty
A matched set of probably doomed apartment buildings at the intersection of Negley Avenue and Rural Street, seen on an appropriately gloomy day. They were built between 1910 and 1923, and although they are mostly utilitarian boxes of apartments, their fronts are distinctive and interesting.
The treatment of the balconies creates a pleasingly complex rhythm, with broad and shallow rounded arches at the top, and slightly peaked Jacobean arches on the two lower floors. The windows in the center may have been stained glass, long since replaced when they were sold either by thieves or by an owner who could not afford to maintain them. The brick quoins add pleasing complexity to the texture.
Some kind of cornice or decorative strip has done missing from the fronts, revealing cheaper red brick behind it that was never meant to be seen.
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Victorian House on Mount Washington
With its steeply pitched roof and calculated asymmetry, it would probably be legitimate to call this house Queen Anne style. Note the gingerbreading of the porch roof.
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Art Deco Christmas in the Koppers Building
The lobby of the Koppers Building is one of our richest Art Deco interiors, and here it is decorated for Christmas.
