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