[PRCo] Burning Leaves--and Coal

Bob Rathke bobrathke at comcast.net
Fri Oct 25 19:14:26 EDT 2013 

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. 

Today, an i-pad is probably more powerful that the computer system in that building in 1965. 
  
Bob     

----- Original Message -----

From: "Derrick Brashear" <shadow at dementix.org> 
To: "Western PA Trolley discussion" <pittsburgh-railways at mailman.dementix.org> 
Sent: Friday, October 25, 2013 5:05:40 PM 
Subject: Re: [PRCo] Burning Leaves--and Coal 

it's a computer center 


On Tue, Oct 22, 2013 at 12:46 AM, Bob Rathke <bobrathke at comcast.net> wrote: 

> In the 1970's, USS's Muriel St. facility was the Direct Mail Center - 
> computer operations, literature storage and fulfillment.  If it's still 
> there, I'm not sure about its current function. 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> 
> From: "Herb Brannon" <hrbran at cavtel.net> 
> To: "Western PA Trolley discussion" < 
> pittsburgh-railways at mailman.dementix.org> 
> Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 10:16:14 PM 
> Subject: Re: [PRCo] Burning Leaves--and Coal 
> 
> 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 
> >   > > > > 
> >   > > > > 
> >   > > > > 
> >   > > > > 
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> >   > > > > _______________________________________________ 
> >   > > > > 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 
> >   > > > 
> >   > > > 
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> >   > > > _______________________________________________ 
> >   > > > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list 
> >   > > > Pittsburgh-railways at mailman.dementix.org 
> >   > > > 
> https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways 
> >   > > > 
> >   > > > 
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> >   > > > _______________________________________________ 
> >   > > > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list 
> >   > > > Pittsburgh-railways at mailman.dementix.org 
> >   > > > 
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> >   > > > 
> >   > > 
> >   > > 
> >   > > 
> >   > > -- 
> >   > > Herb Brannon 
> >   > > *In Pittsburgh...* 
> >   > > *......the Greatest City In The U.S.* 
> >   > > Let's Go Pens 
> >   > > Let's Go Steelers 
> >   > > 
> >   > > 
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> >   > > _______________________________________________ 
> >   > > Pittsburgh-railways mailing list 
> >   > > Pittsburgh-railways at mailman.dementix.org 
> >   > > https://mailman.dementix.org/mailman/listinfo/pittsburgh-railways 
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> >   > 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 
> > 
> > 
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> > 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Herb Brannon 
> *In Pittsburgh...* 
> *......the Greatest City In The U.S.* 
> Let's Go Pens 
> Let's Go Steelers 
> 
> 
> 
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