If you want to read some some really good poetry by a native Pittsburgher, much of it about all things Pittsburgh, I highly recommend Peter Blair, who I grew up with in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Pittsburgh. See: https://pages.charlotte.edu/peter-blair/
I have heard that Pittsburgh is a beautiful city. We here in northern Ohio who root for a team that plays the Steelers 2x a year we have a couple of names for the city that is very immature of us! Seriously though any city built on hills and around rivers is fantastic. Speaking of that apoplectic storm that delayed your flight it flattened me dahlia bed :( . As always thank you for your writings and the five 8!
It's a helluva bad time to be a Browns fan, lord knows. Which is too bad, because they have the coolest uniform colors in all of sports. I'm sorry about your dahlia bed!
I have an indirect connection to Pittsburgh. Although born in Montréal, Québec, I consider my hometown in Canada to be Cobourg, Ontario. It’s more or less across Lake Ontario from Rochester, NY, and was founded in 1798 by a United Empire Loyalist. The Pittsburgh steel barons of the 1870s started to summer in Cobourg first going after iron ore farther north. It could be brought by a railroad the town constructed to the extensive harbour in Cobourg for shipping to Pittsburgh. My assumption is that at some point they realized Cobourg is naturally air conditioned due it being right on the shores of Lake Ontario. Even now, with climate change, Cobourg is usually much cooler than the mega-city of Toronto, 65 miles to the east. Eventually, they built a series of mansions, some of which still stood along King Street when we moved there in 1959–I was 10 years old. The American summer enclave was one of the most fashionable on the North American continent. The good times lasted even past the crash of ‘29. But WWII finished their summer sojourns off. One more tidbit: the almost excessively large town hall contains a court room that’s a replica of the “Old Bailey” in London. You can find a 43-year old pamphlet here: http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/Cobourg/0000479851T.PDF
Having relatives from my ex’s side who are miners, steelworkers, linemen, bar owners, coupled huge Steeler fans I’ve been there often! I’ve always been struck by the beauty from the drive high above the three rivers area, and the warmth and generosity of its denizens, you’ve described the city through verse marvelously Greg!!
@Deborah - no, there will not. That entire era - including the debut of Monday Night Football (I stayed up well past my bedtime, watching my tiny B&W tv under the covers, and continued to watch MNF until the travesty of adding Dennis Miller to the booth) - is so far behind us that it almost doesn't feel real.
I grew up in central Indiana (late 60s-late 70s). At that time, Naptown (so nicknamed with good reason) was home to only one pro sports team - the Bobby Leonard-coached Indiana Pacers - so we had to look elsewhere for baseball and football. Dad grew up in New Castle, and Cincinnati was the closest MLB city to us. Consequently, I grew up watching the Steelers (TB, Franco, Bleier, Swann...OMG did the Steelers dominate!) and the Big Red Machine (Bench, Rose, Morgan, Griffey, Perez).
Lack of pro teams notwithstanding, we were witness to the breathtaking skills of The Great One when he played WHA hockey for the Indianapolis Racers (along with Mark Messier, Pat Stapleton & Kim Clackson, coached by Jacques Demers) before being picked up by Edmonton. Not so sleepy after all, eh?
You lucked into some excellent teams to watch, my goodness. I didn't know Gretzky spent time in Indy. Years ago, ESPN did a ranking of best athletes ever. He came in fourth or fifth, but honestly, if you just go by stats, his are SO MUCH BETTER than anyone else, it's not actually close.
My Norwegian grandparents lived in Detroit and Pittsburgh, PA in the 1920s as my grandfather with his mechanical engineer degree was head hunted by American steel giant Titan. So my mother and her brother were born in Detroit before the family moved back to Oslo with their two ‘anchor baby’ toddlers. 👫 I always remember my grandmother singing this song while cooking up a storm in the kitchen with my grandfather. They’re probably guilty of me heading west from Denmark to California in 1980 😉
I love Hem. Actually the song I was talking about--"Reservoir" is on the album Funnel Cloud, which is one of my favorites--but they are all good. Glad to meet another Hem fan!
Thanks for this tribute, Greg. I grew up in that city when the air was as foul as the rivers, and at night thje sky was red with the residue of roaring blasts furnaces. Even then it was a magnficent city, great to grow up in with its arm-and-hammer work ethic, its unionized power-to-the people civic toughrness, and its overall multi-ethnic tolerance for differences. That essence endures today in its prevailing cosmoplian spirit. All of that lives in me and powers who I am today, even after moving away thirty-some years ago fom Western Pennsylvania, where its core Northern Appalachian values endure. I still feel that pride when someone praises it the way you do here. Go back and explore its varied neiighborhood enclaves and learn about this country's backbone.
To be fair, I wrote that line on my iPhone on the plane right after the delay at the airport, so my brain was a bit frazzled. I'm not sure it's true, but I like it anyway. : )
How fun! I lived in Pittsburgh in the late 80’s while my then-husband was in law school. I really enjoyed living there - lovely people and delicious food. Did you have Premanti’s while you were there? The old Heinz factory is a treat!
Aug 13, 2023·edited Aug 13, 2023Liked by Greg Olear
I just love this piece and the poem. I live in Cincy and I've been wanting to take a trip to Pittsburgh because I hear it is similar to Cincy in layout and architecture plus I believe it still has two cable cars (Cincy used to have 5 until about 1948). I've always liked the Pirates and the Steelers and must have sensed something about the creation of their essence that gave them special energy (Bengal fans needless to say would be offended). There's something special to me about midwest/midwest adjacent urban areas and a strong sense of "Place".
ETA: That being said I hope my Reds sweep the series with the Pirates today!
Thanks, Kathleen. I've never been to Cincinnati, but my sense is that the vibe is indeed similar. Also: you have Joe Burrow now; Bengals fans are not allowed to make football complaints ever again!
Great article, Greg, and perfect timing for a 🍺! Years ago I attended a great PAS show (percussive arts society international convention) in Pittsburg. I was impressed by the city’s culture and vibe!
If you want to read some some really good poetry by a native Pittsburgher, much of it about all things Pittsburgh, I highly recommend Peter Blair, who I grew up with in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Pittsburgh. See: https://pages.charlotte.edu/peter-blair/
Oh, great, thanks, Jon!
I have heard that Pittsburgh is a beautiful city. We here in northern Ohio who root for a team that plays the Steelers 2x a year we have a couple of names for the city that is very immature of us! Seriously though any city built on hills and around rivers is fantastic. Speaking of that apoplectic storm that delayed your flight it flattened me dahlia bed :( . As always thank you for your writings and the five 8!
It's a helluva bad time to be a Browns fan, lord knows. Which is too bad, because they have the coolest uniform colors in all of sports. I'm sorry about your dahlia bed!
I have an indirect connection to Pittsburgh. Although born in Montréal, Québec, I consider my hometown in Canada to be Cobourg, Ontario. It’s more or less across Lake Ontario from Rochester, NY, and was founded in 1798 by a United Empire Loyalist. The Pittsburgh steel barons of the 1870s started to summer in Cobourg first going after iron ore farther north. It could be brought by a railroad the town constructed to the extensive harbour in Cobourg for shipping to Pittsburgh. My assumption is that at some point they realized Cobourg is naturally air conditioned due it being right on the shores of Lake Ontario. Even now, with climate change, Cobourg is usually much cooler than the mega-city of Toronto, 65 miles to the east. Eventually, they built a series of mansions, some of which still stood along King Street when we moved there in 1959–I was 10 years old. The American summer enclave was one of the most fashionable on the North American continent. The good times lasted even past the crash of ‘29. But WWII finished their summer sojourns off. One more tidbit: the almost excessively large town hall contains a court room that’s a replica of the “Old Bailey” in London. You can find a 43-year old pamphlet here: http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/Cobourg/0000479851T.PDF
Thanks for this...I LOVE historical tidbits like this! And I've never heard of Cobourg.
Having relatives from my ex’s side who are miners, steelworkers, linemen, bar owners, coupled huge Steeler fans I’ve been there often! I’ve always been struck by the beauty from the drive high above the three rivers area, and the warmth and generosity of its denizens, you’ve described the city through verse marvelously Greg!!
The poetry of Isaac G Reed in reference Pittsburgh/Johnstown is awe inspiring....
Thanks, Patrick! The topography I failed to mention, but yes, all beautiful.
Grew up in the City of Champions. There will never be another time like the Steelers reign.
@Deborah - no, there will not. That entire era - including the debut of Monday Night Football (I stayed up well past my bedtime, watching my tiny B&W tv under the covers, and continued to watch MNF until the travesty of adding Dennis Miller to the booth) - is so far behind us that it almost doesn't feel real.
I grew up in central Indiana (late 60s-late 70s). At that time, Naptown (so nicknamed with good reason) was home to only one pro sports team - the Bobby Leonard-coached Indiana Pacers - so we had to look elsewhere for baseball and football. Dad grew up in New Castle, and Cincinnati was the closest MLB city to us. Consequently, I grew up watching the Steelers (TB, Franco, Bleier, Swann...OMG did the Steelers dominate!) and the Big Red Machine (Bench, Rose, Morgan, Griffey, Perez).
Lack of pro teams notwithstanding, we were witness to the breathtaking skills of The Great One when he played WHA hockey for the Indianapolis Racers (along with Mark Messier, Pat Stapleton & Kim Clackson, coached by Jacques Demers) before being picked up by Edmonton. Not so sleepy after all, eh?
You lucked into some excellent teams to watch, my goodness. I didn't know Gretzky spent time in Indy. Years ago, ESPN did a ranking of best athletes ever. He came in fourth or fifth, but honestly, if you just go by stats, his are SO MUCH BETTER than anyone else, it's not actually close.
I saw a guy with an Immaculate Reception t-shirt. He was not a tourist, and he was not wearing it ironically.
Don't forget Michael Chabon is also a Pitt lit star.
Mysteries of Pittsburgh!
What a lovely tribute to a city which has its special charms. The poem....well, it wrecked me at the end.
Same! I keep reading it, and it keeps wrecking me.
You make me want to there, like David Simon makes me want to go to Baltimore.
Thanks, Teresa. I think Simon should make a show set there...
My Norwegian grandparents lived in Detroit and Pittsburgh, PA in the 1920s as my grandfather with his mechanical engineer degree was head hunted by American steel giant Titan. So my mother and her brother were born in Detroit before the family moved back to Oslo with their two ‘anchor baby’ toddlers. 👫 I always remember my grandmother singing this song while cooking up a storm in the kitchen with my grandfather. They’re probably guilty of me heading west from Denmark to California in 1980 😉
🎶 Guy Mitchell Pittsburgh Pennsylvania https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LNGRnJlvuhI
Thanks for sharing, Kirsten. That guy can really sing! What a cool song.
Oldies but goodies 🤩
Another goody, Greg--thanks! It reminded me of "Reservoir" on Hem's album Funnel Cloud, one of my faves.
Ooo, thanks, I'll have to check it out...
I think you will like it. Actually the name of the song is just "Reservoir" and it is on the album Funnel Cloud, which is great. Have a peaceful week.
I keep forgetting to tell you that yes, I do dig the song. Thank you!
“When I Was Drinking” off that album is one of my favorites ever. Thanks for the reminder of this terrific work!
I love Hem. Actually the song I was talking about--"Reservoir" is on the album Funnel Cloud, which is one of my favorites--but they are all good. Glad to meet another Hem fan!
Burgh in Pitts.
Beautiful City is that an Oxymoron?
Football is a felonious activity.
The locale was fabulous until about 1600.
As i read this i visualized the ghost of Howard Roark wandering the streets but avoiding the the bars where you could hear " a most disgusting song."
Thanks Sixto.
Cities: Human ant hills doomed to "Collapse."
Mans ego delivers the final Extinction.
In his "Quest for Fire."
Naoh
See, but I don't feel safe in the middle of nowhere, and certainly anywhere where there isn't enough water...
Have to know how to find aqua in Arroyos and cactus.
I'm hoping im my lifetime about 8 million folks leave the southwest and
Arizona and Nevada.become Roadless Wilderness.
Meanwhile i hear Detroit is making a comeback and the backstreet bars have Sixto Rodriguez imitators.
A most disgusting thought!
Thanks for this tribute, Greg. I grew up in that city when the air was as foul as the rivers, and at night thje sky was red with the residue of roaring blasts furnaces. Even then it was a magnficent city, great to grow up in with its arm-and-hammer work ethic, its unionized power-to-the people civic toughrness, and its overall multi-ethnic tolerance for differences. That essence endures today in its prevailing cosmoplian spirit. All of that lives in me and powers who I am today, even after moving away thirty-some years ago fom Western Pennsylvania, where its core Northern Appalachian values endure. I still feel that pride when someone praises it the way you do here. Go back and explore its varied neiighborhood enclaves and learn about this country's backbone.
Thanks, Paul. Beautifully said! And the spirit you describe is all still there, obvious and true.
"Density, we might say, if we like anagrams, makes destiny."
Dude...you have mad conclusion skills 😎
To be fair, I wrote that line on my iPhone on the plane right after the delay at the airport, so my brain was a bit frazzled. I'm not sure it's true, but I like it anyway. : )
Works for me
How fun! I lived in Pittsburgh in the late 80’s while my then-husband was in law school. I really enjoyed living there - lovely people and delicious food. Did you have Premanti’s while you were there? The old Heinz factory is a treat!
No, although everyone told me to do so. It just didn't fit into the flow of the days. We should have had at the airport.
I just love this piece and the poem. I live in Cincy and I've been wanting to take a trip to Pittsburgh because I hear it is similar to Cincy in layout and architecture plus I believe it still has two cable cars (Cincy used to have 5 until about 1948). I've always liked the Pirates and the Steelers and must have sensed something about the creation of their essence that gave them special energy (Bengal fans needless to say would be offended). There's something special to me about midwest/midwest adjacent urban areas and a strong sense of "Place".
ETA: That being said I hope my Reds sweep the series with the Pirates today!
Thanks, Kathleen. I've never been to Cincinnati, but my sense is that the vibe is indeed similar. Also: you have Joe Burrow now; Bengals fans are not allowed to make football complaints ever again!
We love our Joe Burrow! He's not only a great football player he's a caring community minded person.
I think you would like Cincinnati. I moved here in 1971 and hated it until about 2003. Now I'm obnoxiously fanatical.
The Paris of Appalachia was very good
Great article, Greg, and perfect timing for a 🍺! Years ago I attended a great PAS show (percussive arts society international convention) in Pittsburg. I was impressed by the city’s culture and vibe!
Thanks, Steven! Yes, crack open a brewski!