Car Life

[Bob Rathke]

A Pittsburgh friend sent me a copy of the article which was in the 11/21/00 issue
of the P-G (page F-1).  Later, he sent me some copies of the actual Christmas
card.  The watercolor painting was done by Mary Lois Verilla for the Leukemia
Society.

The painting shows the car turning from Liberty Ave.onto Wood St.  The retail
signs are accurate (also  visible is a Claber's store sign), even if the car route
(96) isn't.  I remember all of those retail stores being at that location in the
1964-67 era.  I used to buy film at Eiben & Irr which opened there in the early
60's.  Eiben & Irr moved to 10th St. and Penn Ave. by 1968, and the Dimling's
store was converted to fast food and other stores by 1970.  So, that would date
the background scene to, say, 1963-67.

Inaccuracies aside, it's a nice painting.

Bob 12/28

------------------------------

Derrick J Brashear wrote:

> On Thu, 28 Dec 2000, John Swindler wrote:
>
> > Speaking of geographically challenged people and organizations, has anyone
> > checked the Christmas Card sent out by Port Authority Transit this year?
> > Entitled a "View of Pittsburgh" and features PRC 1651 in half-half paint
> > scheme at Liberty Ave., downtown Pittsburgh.  Has Eiben & Irr, Baum Bldg,
> > and Dimling's Candy store in background.  Nice card. But wonder if anyone at
> > PAT questioned the 96-East Liberty & 62nd St. headsign on 1651?
> >
> > However, otherwise, still a nice snowy scene, and well worth trying to get a
> > copy.  It's a Commercial card, so Pittsburghers might want to be on lookout
> > for after-Christmas sales.
>
> Was this a watercolor? If so, the Post-Gazette had a feature on the artist
> and her work a few weeks ago, including a "print" of that card. Somehow I
> pitched it and hence failed to pass on the info to you guys
>
> -D