Old Memory ATM

I came across this remarkable memoir by Pittsburgh native J.B. Corey (published by the Pittsburgh Printing Company). He wrote it in 1914, at the age of 82. Here is what some newspaper editors said in their introduction:

Here is his second encounter with Abe Lincoln during his time as a government clerk in DC:

Old Center of Everything

In the run up to the 'Burgh being the center of the world for a few days, it's worth remembering from whence we came. This from the 1899 Historic Towns of the Middle States:

Old G-20 Commons

I hope Pittsburgh can be a model for all things good and lasting during the G-20. I know hope is not a plan.

I came across the above print in the catalogue accompanying A Panorama of Pittsburgh: Nineteenth-Century Printed Views, a Frick Art & Historical Center exhibition in 2008. The September 22-25, 1857 date caught my eye, but when I read the description it got me thinking about ways we build community around events.

"It is an attractive print produced locally for posting prominently around the city in the days leading up to the fair. The colorful image of the fairgrounds invites viewers to come see for themselves the attractions, while text provides more information on the event. This print had an ephemeral purpose and most copies would have been posted in public spots where they would be unlikely to survive much beyond the event itself, if even that long."

A ways from there to #myG20 -- will it be ephemeral too?

Anyone know where the "Allegheny County & Western PA Fair Grounds" was in 1857?

Like Being There

Old Paralysis

A preview of the G-20 downtown experience?



A city waits relief!

Old 'Burgh Traffic...

...same as it ever was.

Old Netroots & New Sprouts

That's the title of the last page of the 1936 "Civic Pittsburgh" publication detailing reasons to rationalize local government (found on archive.org and originally contributed to the web for free download and perusing by EveNDon.com - where they have archived a bunch of old Pittsburgh publications).

After attending Netroots Nation today and pondering what Pittsburgh can learn from Netroots Nation, I thought of titling this post "The Alive Hand of Our Descendents Lies Lightly on Us" (and not just because I have been walking around the house holding my 2 month old son).

This was my first Netroots Nation, though I was an early member on Daily Kos back in 2003 (posting as Chance the gardener) and involved in some of the e-mail discussions amongst the original volunteer organizers for what was first called Yearly Kos in 2006. Four years later, it's remarkable to see 2,000 bloggers of all ages convening in our fair city, and to meet in person some of those I admire greatly for their progressive voices (which are not so much in the wilderness anymore).

So, what can progressives in Pittsburgh learn from Netroots Nation? I think simply creating more opportunities to come together in person is a good place to start, both to create more of an actual community and to anchor ourselves in on-the-ground activities that reach folks who maybe aren't as plugged in (i.e., our elderly neighbors).

It's also worth remembering that at just 4 yrs old, the annual gathering known as Netroots Nation is still just a kid. You wouldn't know it though from the organization -- it has been very well run, and the Convention Center is a great setting. The city has gotten good reviews from those I have spoken with in the halls...

Old Motley Population

A canoe trip passing through Pittsburgh by G.W. Featherstonhaugh.

Journal entry from July 24, 1835:

Old Pete and the 'Burgh

Old Honus

In honor of the Bucs beating the Cubs on the North Shore tonight, a shot of an older Honus Wagner (1916) sliding back into first base at Weegham Park.



The image comes from the Library of Congress collection, featuring hundreds of great shots from the Chicago Daily News.

I made this old Dead Ball Era movie about three years ago using many of those shots...55K views, Holy Cow!

Old Burgh Ephemera

There were 13 daily and weekly newspapers in 1864 Pittsburgh.

And five street passenger railways.

Old Sacrifice

A summer evening in Pittsburgh, June 1943, around the time my friend Bob was headed over to China to fly the Hump:

"OPA (Office of Price Administration) lawyers hold nightly hearings for offenders in the pleasure driving regulations. Policemen, accompanied by OPA investigators, stop the drivers, question them. If there is any question about their reason for driving, they are asked to appear at a hearing that same night or any time in the next three days. This man is furious because his gas ration book was taken away when he was caught driving to a baseball game."

Something to keep in mind when stuck in traffic headed to the next Bucco game...

No Special Burgh Affinity Here

From Edwin James' account of S.H. Long's expedition from Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains in 1819-1820:

"Pittsburgh has been so often described, the advantages and disadvantages of its situation, and the gloomy repulsiveness of its appearance, have been so often and so justly portrayed, that we should not think ourselves well employed in recounting our own observations."

Old Pittsburgh Map

President Obama's affinity for Pittsburgh extends to the arts. For while he flew to NYC to see a play, Joe Turner's Come and Gone is set in Pittsburgh (in 1911).

In line with all things old and in the Pittsburgh way, here is a map found in the Library of Congress collection, with no exact date. The legend says "A Dot = 200 persons." Sometime around 1850?

Image Courtesy of the Frances Loeb Library, Graduate School of Design, Harvard University (via the Library of Congress online collection)

Old Fitsburgh

From the nullspace, Pittsburgh ranks 16th on the list of 50 fittest MSAs (.pdf)

16th is pretty good when you consider our aging population (17.1% over 65 compared to the national MSA average of 11.5%). Interesting ecological approach to defining fitness, but it seems the parks and recreational opportunities are just that -- indicators of fitness opportunities, not necessarily fitness.

Old and in the Way

...in a good way.

Still Smiling

December, 1942 Remix

Shared again on a December evening.

Thanksgiving Post: The Tao of Bob

Bob reflects on aging, volunteering and what it means to connect with folks at Giant Eagle.

Looking West

Thursday marks the first meeting of the founding Elders Guild Community in Berkeley. From the announcement:

Please join us in creating the first Elders Guild Community. Our first meeting will be on Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at St. John's Church, 2727 College Ave. in Berkeley.

We are beginning here and now to launch the Elders Guild as an international organization of communities of people on the multigenerational, interdependent path of becoming elders.

That huge group of us who will come to be known as the elder boomers have the potential to transform our role as we age and leave a shining legacy for the generations that will follow. We can bring wisdom, support and healing to one another and to the children of our children.

The Elders Guild combines community, activism and deep lifelong learning in one organization. Our goal is for each of us to have connection, potency and a meaningful role at a stage of life when we have been conditioned to expect only diminished strength, capacity and escalating loss.

At a time when many of us are pondering what happens next, the Elders Guild is creating a bold new vision for the second half of our lives. Think of it as well-being insurance that will optimize our ability to age with grace, purpose and self-determination. The earlier we begin and the more we invest of ourselves in the process, the greater the likelihood of vitality, continued regeneration and dignity when our need is greatest.

It is not too late for us to rescue our dreams and aspirations for a better world for those who will follow us. Collectively and individually, our best years can be ahead of us.

At the first meeting we will present a working draft of the Elders Guild Handbook and begin the process of building the infrastructure for the Elders movement. For more information, please visit us on the web at the Live Oak Institute. Here is a link to Barry Barkan's recent Tikkun article, How Elders Can Rebalance The World