<html><body><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000"><DIV aria-label="Compose body">In 1965 I wrote and produced a slide presentation for training U.S. Steel's customer service people in their offices around the U.S. I made several visits to the Muriel St. facility to get background information on U.S. Steel's computer capabilities. I remember being impressed with the building's climate controlled environment and the raised floors to accomodate under-floor computer cables.</DIV>
<DIV aria-label="Compose body"><BR>Today, an i-pad is probably more powerful that the computer system in that building in 1965.</DIV>
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<DIV aria-label="Compose body">Bob <BR></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000; FONT-STYLE: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none" data-mce-style="color: #000; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><B>From: </B>"Derrick Brashear" <shadow@dementix.org><BR><B>To: </B>"Western PA Trolley discussion" <pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org><BR><B>Sent: </B>Friday, October 25, 2013 5:05:40 PM<BR><B>Subject: </B>Re: [PRCo] Burning Leaves--and Coal<BR>
<DIV><BR></DIV>it's a computer center<BR>
<DIV><BR></DIV><BR>On Tue, Oct 22, 2013 at 12:46 AM, Bob Rathke <bobrathke@comcast.net> wrote:<BR>
<DIV><BR></DIV>> In the 1970's, USS's Muriel St. facility was the Direct Mail Center -<BR>> computer operations, literature storage and fulfillment. If it's still<BR>> there, I'm not sure about its current function.<BR>><BR>> ----- Original Message -----<BR>><BR>> From: "Herb Brannon" <hrbran@cavtel.net><BR>> To: "Western PA Trolley discussion" <<BR>> pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org><BR>> Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 10:16:14 PM<BR>> Subject: Re: [PRCo] Burning Leaves--and Coal<BR>><BR>> It seems that back in the "big steel" days the main producers of smoke and<BR>> fire were the USS Homestead Works and just about everything J & L had<BR>> operating.<BR>><BR>> USS also has some type of operation on Muriel Street in Southside. I'm not<BR>> sure what they do there, however. USS also has a research center in<BR>> Homestead still operating. Even with all these operating facilities, the<BR>> number of people employed by USS comes nowhere near what those facilities<BR>> used to employ.<BR>><BR>><BR>> On Mon, Oct 21, 2013 at 10:53 PM, Dwight Long <dwightlong@verizon.net<BR>> >wrote:<BR>><BR>> ><BR>> > Herb<BR>> ><BR>> > But Irvin works is not a primary producer but rather a rolling mill (as<BR>> > you said) and so would not generate the "fire and brimstone" that<BR>> > characterized a primary steel producer.<BR>> ><BR>> > I went by Clairton on a train in July and did not notice any smoke at<BR>> all,<BR>> > just some condensed water vapor. I think the coking processes are so<BR>> > contained these days that very little emissions emanate from it. Besides<BR>> > environmental concerns, the steelmakers have learned that the effluents<BR>> > from the coke making process are valuable by products that need to be<BR>> > trapped and sold. The days of the beehive coke ovens that spewed all the<BR>> > byproducts into the atmosphere are long gone.<BR>> ><BR>> > Dwight<BR>> > ----- Original Message -----<BR>> > From: Herb Brannon<BR>> > To: Western PA Trolley discussion<BR>> > Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 10:41 PM<BR>> > Subject: Re: [PRCo] Burning Leaves--and Coal<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > Bob R,<BR>> > It still had that "orange glow" when I first moved here in 1972. Plus,<BR>> > when<BR>> > atmospheric conditions were right, it smelled like fire & brimstone,<BR>> > everywhere. Even today, on humid days, I still smell the "fire &<BR>> > brimstone" coming from the Irvin Works just over the hill (on Camp<BR>> Hollow<BR>> > Rd) to the south-east of my place.<BR>> ><BR>> > Contrary to popular opinion steel is not dead in Pittsburgh. The<BR>> Clairton<BR>> > Works still produces coke as it always did, the Edgar Thompson Works<BR>> > makes<BR>> > primary steel, the Irvin Works produces rolled steel and the relatively<BR>> > new<BR>> > Mckeesport Tubular Works (old National Works, now reopened) makes<BR>> tubular<BR>> > products for the Marcellus Shale drilling industry. So the sulphur and<BR>> > fire<BR>> > & brimstone can still be smelled on humid days and the orange glow is<BR>> > still<BR>> > available in Braddock and Clairton.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > On Mon, Oct 21, 2013 at 2:46 PM, Bob Rathke <bobrathke@comcast.net><BR>> > wrote:<BR>> ><BR>> > > Driving south from Zelienople at night in the 1950's you didn't need<BR>> a<BR>> > > compass to locate Pittsburgh - the sky there always had an orange<BR>> glow.<BR>> > ><BR>> > > ----- Original Message -----<BR>> > ><BR>> > > From: "John Swindler" <j_swindler@hotmail.com><BR>> > > To: "Western PA Trolley discussion" <<BR>> > > pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org><BR>> > > Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 10:16:09 AM<BR>> > > Subject: Re: [PRCo] Burning Leaves--and Coal<BR>> > ><BR>> > ><BR>> > ><BR>> > > Was chatting with some PTM visitors yesterday, and among the<BR>> "Pittsburg<BR>> > > smells" mentioned was J&L sulfur smell upon exiting Squirrel Hill<BR>> > Tunnels<BR>> > > and heading downgrade to Brady St. exit. They were old enough to<BR>> > remember<BR>> > > air pollution from late 1940s - (before my time).<BR>> > ><BR>> > ><BR>> > ><BR>> > ><BR>> > > > From: dwightlong@verizon.net<BR>> > > > To: pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<BR>> > > > Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:04:35 -0400<BR>> > > > Subject: Re: [PRCo] Burning Leaves--and Coal<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > Herb<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > In Beaver burning next to the curb was OK on concrete streets (we<BR>> > lived<BR>> > > on one) or brick ones (still several left in the 50s) but not on<BR>> > asphalt<BR>> > > nor tarred ones!<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > Tar? When I was in first or second grade I came home from school<BR>> for<BR>> > > lunch. On the way back to school the alley that I used as a shortcut<BR>> > was<BR>> > > being freshly tarred. I followed the tar dispensing truck,<BR>> fascinated.<BR>> > > When I got to school I was sent home immediately. I looked like the<BR>> > > proverbial tarbaby. Lots of turpentine and stiff scrubbing later,<BR>> and<BR>> > a<BR>> > > new suit of clothes, I returned and was admitted.<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > And we still had plenty of coal furnaces in our town back then,<BR>> > although<BR>> > > our house used gas. I well recall the smell of the coal burning on<BR>> > cold<BR>> > > winter days whilst delivering the Pittsburgh Press to my paper route<BR>> > > customers. The last time I encountered that smell was just a few<BR>> > years ago<BR>> > > in a suburb of Budapest while fotting the trams there. Brought back<BR>> > many<BR>> > > memories!<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > Dwight<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > From: Herb Brannon<BR>> > > > Sent: Monday, 21 October, 2013 10:48<BR>> > > > To: Western PA Trolley discussion<BR>> > > > Subject: Re: [PRCo] Burning Leaves<BR>> > > > When I was a child, in Akron, the common practice was to burn the<BR>> > leaves<BR>> > > > in the street but along the curb stones. Sometimes the piles of<BR>> > leaves<BR>> > > were<BR>> > > > so large that the fires would become too large and would spread to<BR>> > the<BR>> > > > treelawn. Then the fire department would be called to put out the<BR>> > fires.<BR>> > > It<BR>> > > > made for an exciting day or evening. Ranking right up there with<BR>> the<BR>> > > smell<BR>> > > > of burning leaves are also the smell of coal smoke and the smell of<BR>> > fresh<BR>> > > > tar.............three of the "little joys of life" now gone by the<BR>> > > wayside.<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > On Mon, Oct 21, 2013 at 10:33 AM, Dwight Long <<BR>> > dwightlong@verizon.net<BR>> > > >wrote:<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > > Herb<BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > > I can remember back in the 50s coming back to Beaver from auto<BR>> > trips to<BR>> > > > > the East that involved the Pa Turnpike—we would use the<BR>> Warrendale<BR>> > > exit and<BR>> > > > > the back roads to Beaver. Coming down into the (Beaver) valley<BR>> > off the<BR>> > > > > hill the whole floor of the valley would be engulfed in leaf<BR>> smoke.<BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > > Unhealthy, they say, but it sure did convey the impression that<BR>> > Autumn<BR>> > > was<BR>> > > > > upon us!<BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > > Dwight<BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > > From: Herb Brannon<BR>> > > > > Sent: Sunday, 20 October, 2013 10:36<BR>> > > > > To: Western PA Trolley discussion<BR>> > > > > Subject: Re: [PRCo] Phil asked about music<BR>> > > > > You mentioned something I really miss.............the smell of<BR>> > burning<BR>> > > > > leaves in October.<BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > > On Sun, Oct 20, 2013 at 8:37 AM, DF Cramer <<BR>> > alto_trombone@hotmail.com<BR>> > > > > >wrote:<BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > Well, what have I been up to? The beginning of the month I<BR>> > performed<BR>> > > > > > Copland, Brahms, & Dvorak with the Butler County Symphony,our<BR>> (my<BR>> > > wife<BR>> > > > > > plays cello) 28th season with the ensemble. I am back at IUP<BR>> and<BR>> > > > > delivered<BR>> > > > > > two arrangements of French Noels from the Baroque period to<BR>> > begin the<BR>> > > > > > semester and last week conducted a first reading of my "The<BR>> > Eternal<BR>> > > > > Flame",<BR>> > > > > > a commemorative piece for double trombone choir and narrator I<BR>> > wrote<BR>> > > to<BR>> > > > > > mark the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. All of<BR>> > that<BR>> > > will<BR>> > > > > be<BR>> > > > > > performed on November 19 at the university. Next week I perform<BR>> > with<BR>> > > IUP<BR>> > > > > > brass & organ faculty at Zion Lutheran in Indiana for<BR>> Reformation<BR>> > > Sunday<BR>> > > > > > and the following week we are doing Charlie Chaplin's "City<BR>> > Lights"<BR>> > > in<BR>> > > > > > Butler. Chaplin created the musical score for this silent film<BR>> > and we<BR>> > > > > will<BR>> > > > > > be showing the film as we perform. (Side note: if you want<BR>> > tickets<BR>> > > let me<BR>> > > > > > know as soon as possible--I usually get 4 free ones)<BR>> > > > > > Other than that, I spent quality time with Ed at the Alle-Kiski<BR>> > > > > Historical<BR>> > > > > > Society, led a new operator training class at PTM, printed and<BR>> > > stuffed<BR>> > > > > > ballots for PTM, and am going to the opera today to see Aida<BR>> > > (football<BR>> > > > > fan<BR>> > > > > > alert--Franco Harris is leading the Grand March in the opera<BR>> > today)<BR>> > > > > > I spend lots of time practicing and cleaning up leaves. I<BR>> mulch<BR>> > > some and<BR>> > > > > > burn others---yes we are still permitted to burn here.<BR>> > > > > > If you missed it--I also performed at the PTM 50th Anniversary<BR>> > > luncheon.<BR>> > > > > > See the most recent issue of PTM Trolley Fare, Fred Schneider<BR>> > took<BR>> > > some<BR>> > > > > > great images.<BR>> > > > > > Dennis F. Cramer<BR>> > > > > > http://home.windstream.net/dfc1/<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > > Date: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 05:49:49 -0700<BR>> > > > > > > From: pcc_sr@yahoo.com<BR>> > > > > > > To: pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<BR>> > > > > > > Subject: Re: [PRCo] still having issues<BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > > Stereo-vision isn't it Mr.Cramer! Soapbox opportunity; make<BR>> > the<BR>> > > most<BR>> > > > > of<BR>> > > > > > it!<BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > > You have not recently mentioned anything about your concert<BR>> or<BR>> > > music<BR>> > > > > > engagements.<BR>> > > > > > > I find them fascinating. Music is not at all unlike laughter<BR>> > is<BR>> > > it;<BR>> > > > > > both speak a universal language.<BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > > Yes; BB are the last posts I have seen. There was not much<BR>> of<BR>> > > anything<BR>> > > > > > before your BB posts for several weeks. You mentioned a book<BR>> in<BR>> > > relation<BR>> > > > > > to this; please tell more.<BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > > Phil<BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > > --------------------------------------------<BR>> > > > > > > On Sat, 10/19/13, DF Cramer <alto_trombone@hotmail.com><BR>> wrote:<BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > > Subject: [PRCo] still having issues<BR>> > > > > > > To: "pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org" <<BR>> > > > > > pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org><BR>> > > > > > > Date: Saturday, October 19, 2013, 3:52 AM<BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > > it seemed very interesting that after<BR>> > > > > > > I posted on the list, several emails came through. I assume<BR>> > people<BR>> > > > > were<BR>> > > > > > responding with reply all. I have received no posts from the<BR>> > list<BR>> > > other<BR>> > > > > > than those dealing with Billy Baxter.<BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > > Dennis F. Cramer<BR>> > > > > > > http://home.windstream.net/dfc1/<BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > > _______________________________________________<BR>> > > > > > > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>> > > > > > > Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<BR>> > > > > > ><BR>> > https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > > > -------------- next part --------------<BR>> > > > > > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>> > > > > > URL:<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > ><BR>> > ><BR>> ><BR>> http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131020/9fb2601a/attachment.html<BR>> > > > > > _______________________________________________<BR>> > > > > > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>> > > > > > Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways<BR>> > > > > ><BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > > --<BR>> > > > > Herb Brannon<BR>> > > > > *In Pittsburgh...*<BR>> > > > > *......the Greatest City In The U.S.*<BR>> > > > > Let's Go Pens<BR>> > > > > Let's Go Steelers<BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > > -------------- next part --------------<BR>> > > > > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>> > > > > URL:<BR>> > > > ><BR>> > ><BR>> ><BR>> http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131020/d92cc5ec/attachment.html<BR>> > > > > _______________________________________________<BR>> > > > > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>> > > > > Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<BR>> > > > ><BR>> https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways<BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > > -------------- next part --------------<BR>> > > > > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>> > > > > URL:<BR>> > > > ><BR>> > ><BR>> ><BR>> http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131021/0e66d86f/attachment.html<BR>> > > > > _______________________________________________<BR>> > > > > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>> > > > > Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<BR>> > > > ><BR>> https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways<BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > ><BR>> > > ><BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > --<BR>> > > > Herb Brannon<BR>> > > > *In Pittsburgh...*<BR>> > > > *......the Greatest City In The U.S.*<BR>> > > > Let's Go Pens<BR>> > > > Let's Go Steelers<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > ><BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > -------------- next part --------------<BR>> > > > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>> > > > URL:<BR>> > ><BR>> ><BR>> http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131021/d430bad4/attachment.html<BR>> > > > _______________________________________________<BR>> > > > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>> > > > Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<BR>> > > > https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways<BR>> > > ><BR>> > > ><BR>> > > ><BR>> > > > -------------- next part --------------<BR>> > > > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>> > > > URL:<BR>> > ><BR>> ><BR>> http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131021/f38f69c0/attachment.html<BR>> > > > _______________________________________________<BR>> > > > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>> > > > Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<BR>> > > > https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways<BR>> > ><BR>> > ><BR>> > ><BR>> > > -------------- next part --------------<BR>> > > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>> > > URL:<BR>> > ><BR>> ><BR>> http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131021/c545651e/attachment.html<BR>> > > _______________________________________________<BR>> > > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>> > > Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<BR>> > > https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways<BR>> > ><BR>> > ><BR>> > ><BR>> > ><BR>> > > -------------- next part --------------<BR>> > > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>> > > URL:<BR>> > ><BR>> ><BR>> http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131021/ef4874f2/attachment.html<BR>> > > _______________________________________________<BR>> > > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>> > > Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<BR>> > > https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways<BR>> > ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > --<BR>> > Herb Brannon<BR>> > *In Pittsburgh...*<BR>> > *......the Greatest City In The U.S.*<BR>> > Let's Go Pens<BR>> > Let's Go Steelers<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > -------------- next part --------------<BR>> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>> > URL:<BR>> ><BR>> http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131021/4b939712/attachment.html<BR>> > _______________________________________________<BR>> > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>> > Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<BR>> > https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > -------------- next part --------------<BR>> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>> > URL:<BR>> ><BR>> http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131021/72c41870/attachment.html<BR>> > _______________________________________________<BR>> > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>> > Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<BR>> > https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways<BR>> ><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> --<BR>> Herb Brannon<BR>> *In Pittsburgh...*<BR>> *......the Greatest City In The U.S.*<BR>> Let's Go Pens<BR>> Let's Go Steelers<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> -------------- next part --------------<BR>> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>> URL:<BR>> http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131021/f8c35954/attachment.html<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>> Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<BR>> https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> -------------- next part --------------<BR>> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>> URL:<BR>> http://mailman.dementix.org/pipermail/pittsburgh-railways/attachments/20131022/23a4cf6d/attachment.html<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> Pittsburgh-railways mailing list<BR>> Pittsburgh-railways@mailman.dementix.org<BR>> https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways<BR>><BR>
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