Some fun with the new Google Street View feature...
I went for a run this morning over the Washington Crossing Bridge, and then ran back up along Penn Avenue and saw volunteers picking up litter in Garfield. That gave me hope for the future, much needed after dodging the senseless mess of litter earlier in my run out along Friendship Avenue between the park and the new Children's Hospital. That's one trash strewn street.
Yesterday I filled a full bag of litter walking along Negley between Centre & Friendship.
This may well have been one of Pittsburgh's first Redd Up days, way back in 1929. Bob was there to supervise.
I'm headed out tomorrow morning to pick up litter along Centre Avenue, and then again in Friendship tomorrow evening as part of the October citywide clean-up.
During the depression, Gordon Shoes was contracted by the Catholic, Jewish and Protestant Charities to supply shoes to families whose husbands were out of work and money. Gordon's had it's own streetcar tokens printed out and distributed them freely to needy families. Benjamin truly had a generous heart. He never sent out bills and never refused those who were in need of shoes.The store had a ledger that kept track of who owed what, but at the end of the year, the book (which was always full) was thrown away and a new one was started. The business thrived on a plan of honor,service,ethics and minimal profits.
Bob and I watched this earlier today and then talked some about what it was like growing up on the Hill during the 1920s and '30s. He wondered if there were history projects related to life on the Hill and I thought of August Wilson - he was born a decade after Bob left the Hill, but his "Pittsburgh Cycle" includes The Piano Lesson from the '30s.
