[PRCo] Chrstmas in Pgh=1950's and 1960's

[Harold Geissenheimer]

Greetings to all
Lets put Christ back in Christmas.  Lets redefine political correct

MERRY CHISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

Pittsburgh in the 1950's and 1960's.   Pleasant days,

A metropolitan area with an excellent downtown plus other city centers like
McKeesport.

Daily newspapers in Pgh (2), McKeesport, Homestead and Tarentum.

The South Park County Fair for the many parts of Allegheny County which were
still rural.  and the fair served by high density trolley service.

Five downtown department stores, Kaufmans, Hornes, Gimbels, Frank & 
Seder and
Rosenbaums.

Few parking garages, lots of small stores.  Viable business districts  
in North Side,
East Liberty, Oakland, etc.   No redeelopment 

Diverse neighborhoods.  Ethnic and geographic.  Did any other city have a
Fineview or the houses on the South Side only served by a flight of stairs?

And the Inclines, Was it 17 at one time?

Carnegie Mellon was still Carnegie Tech.  Allegheny County was just 
startiing
their community college system..

The Isaly Dairy store was every where.  I used the Blvd of the Allies 
store and
the ones on East Ohio Street, Dormont, and Wilkinsburg.  Nothing like a
chipped ham sandwich and an icecream soda,

Most kids rode a trolley or bus to school.   Except in rural areas like 
Robinson Two,
no school buses.  South Hills Jct had South Hills High.  Kids from Brookline
took the trolley.

Trolleys and buses had open windows in the summer, except for the 1700's
which I never liked.  Now you know why we rebuilt the 1600's.  My choice

Lots of school rivals....Dormont vs Mt Lebanon, Perry vs Allegheny, etc.
Better than average public schools.  Even the school supt sent his boy to
Alderdice

TV just starting.  Remember the Dumont network?  We had downtown movies,
the Penn, Stanley, Fulton, Harris and the Warner.  Roller skating up 
stairs at
Matket House.

The Pirates played at Forbes Field.  Pitt at Pitt stadium.   Now even 
Three Rivers
stadium is gone..  High school football and basketball big time stuff

Each town and neighborhood had their picnic day at Kennywood
or West View (Yes, we had two amusement parks).  Denver still has
two parks including the older Lakeside Park.

I belonged to the Pittsburgh Electric Railway Club , no Trolley Museum yet.

Several Christmas cards that I received highlighted this era in 
Pittsburgh history::
     -      Liberty at Wood: Painting by Mary Lois Verilla (Dimlings in 
background
             with PCC turning into Wood
     -      Under the clock at Kaufmans by Linda Barnicott with a V 
front PCC

And an excellent photo card by Art Ellis of rebuilt PCC 1779 with LRV front
on Drake (from the 1970's).  This was a snow shot....beautiful.

Thanks to all who sent greetings.   Again, Merry Christmas.

Harold Geissenheimer