[PRCo] UNPAVED STREETS IN PITTSBURGH 1935

[Fred Schneider]

IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT THE CITY DIDN'T PAVE ALL ITS STREETS ALL AT ONCE.   CITY STREETS WERE PAVED BEFORE COUNTRY ROADS BUT THIS SHOWS THE EVEN PITTSBURGH WAS PEPPERED WITH DIRT STREETS IN THE 1930S.   JIM SHUMAN REMEMBERED WALKING DOWN A BOARD SIDEWALK ALONG A DIRT STREET IN BUTTE, MONTANA IN 1940 JUST IN TIME TO SEE A MAN EVICTED FROM A BAR ... HE SAID THE MAN CAME FLYING THROUGH THE SWING DOORS HEAD FIRST AND LANDED IN THE MUD.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gwAdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZY4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=1367%2C4620434

 Pittsburgh Press, Tues., Jan. 15, 1935, page 15

 Digest of article:

 --Mr. Fix It—

MUDDY WATER SWIRLS DEP AROUND FEET

 Complaints to Mr. Fixit-it About Unpaved Streets Are Increasing



Mr. Fixit suggested that in winter the number of calls complaining of unpaved streets and unrepaired boardwalks in the city may have doubled.   Story is significant because, in a modern era where all sidewalks and streets are paved, it shows that in 1935 many city streets and sidewalks were still not paved and many neighborhoods still depended on outhouses for sanitation.

 Examples in the story of unpaved streets included Moore Street on Herron Hill, Christy Street in Sheridan, Bellevue Street in Fineview and Kirk St. in Carrick.