 Place name archaeology
Viewing
suggestion: View a few of the neighborhood profiles from North Side
Pittsburgh History Series program (see North
Side Program Log) and ask students to make a note of some of the place
names mentioned (neighborhoods, street names, building names, etc.)
- How did
some of the places in the North Side get their names?
Using maps
of the area, make a list of some of the place names in your neighborhood
or region: Street names, bridges, towns, streams, hills, and other land
features.
Hypothesize
how each of these places may have gotten their names:
- Who might
have named these places? Why? When?
Research the
names of these places, then discuss:
-
Which
places were named after people? [Pittsburgh, Frick Park, Schenley
Park, Stanwix St., Carnegie, Grant St.] Who were these people? Why
were these places named after them? Who gave the places these names?
Was it a tribute or just because they got there first? What is the
story behind their settling the area? Why did they settle here?
-
What
places are named after natural features? [Ridge Ave., Water St.,
Spring Hill, Panther Hollow, the Strip, Oakland, Squirrel Hill] Which
of those names now refer to things that aren't there any more? Why
have they disappeared?
-
What
names represent ideas or ideals [Homestead, Homewood, Spring Garden,
Mount Lebanon]
- What
names offer clues of past activities? [Observatory Hill, Millvale,
Ambridge] Are those activities still practiced at these places? If not,
what happens at these locations now?
Compare these
modern place names with those on historic maps (historic maps of Pittsburgh
can be downloaded from the Western
Pennsylvania History Discussion and Activities page). What places
have changed names? Why might they have changed?
Extension:
Look up the geographical names at the USGS' Geographic
Names Information System (http://mapping.usgs.gov/www/gnis/) for access to maps, aerial photos, census maps, and information from the
EPA's Surf your Watershed site!
Plan a new regional
mass transportation system
Viewing suggestion:
View segments on the riverboat crews, trolleys, inclines,
trains, old highways, and airports as preparation for this discussion.
See Rivers and Valleys Related Video.
What are some
of Pittsburgh's unique challenges for mass transportation? [Lack of a
clear grid system; hills and rivers that funnel into tunnels and bridges...]
What transit challenges does it share with all cities? [Unwillingness
to carpool or ride mass-transit, pollution, fossil fuel use...]
What are some
of Pittsburgh's unique opportunities for mass transportation? [Waterways
that lead to Downtown; miles of unused railroad track and right-of-way...]
Brainstorm ways
the region could use its waterways and other assets to supplement the
existing mass transit system and encourage more ridership (Remember the
trolley parks!).
Narrow the list
to three or four possibilities and discuss how feasible each idea is by
listing its pros and cons.
Visit the Port
Authority's web site for the latest information about the region's
transit plans.
Interview
a veteran of Pittsburgh's transportation history
Viewing suggestion:
View segments on the riverboat crews, trolleys, inclines,
trains, old highways, and airports as preparation for this activity.
Interview someone
who has been involved in Pittsburgh's transportation industry to find
out how things have changed in his or her lifetime and what life was like
"on the road."
As a class,
brainstorm some positions that might have been involved: railroad worker,
river boat crew, truck or bus driver, trolley operator, diner or truck stop worker, pilot, airplane mechanic, road construction
contractor or worker, etc.
You may have
to do some asking around to find potential subjects, but you'll soon find
a friend of a friend of a friend who knows someone if you keep asking!
Start by talking to related businesses close to home or a senior citizen
facility.
Use this Oral
History Interview process to learn how to conduct your interview:
Asking the right questions will help you get better stories and not just
"yes," "no," and "uh-huh" answers! Be sure
to get a signed release form so
you can save the tape and use quotes from the interview.
Ride
or walk a rail-trail!
Find a trail
and maps at one of the following sites:
Then, take a
hike! Look for signs of the railroad still remaining. What are these artifacts?
How was the land changed to grade the rail bed? Where does this route
start and end? What kinds of train and cargo were carried on this route?
Can you see clues along the line of the kinds of industry or commerce
that served or were served by the rail line? What kinds of things aren't
there anymore?
Does the rail
line run along a waterway? Why? What kinds of activities are happening
along this river or stream now (consider recreation, commerce, industry,
etc.)? Why? What clues can you see of past activities that are no longer
active?
What watershed
is the stream in? Where is the water flowing? What waterway will it join
up with next? What streams run into this river or stream?
As you ride,
imagine what it was like to walk or ride a wagon over a road like this
200 years ago. The early roads were about the same width as our today's
trails, but not nearly as well paved or evenly graded! Most travel on
those rough mountain roads -- even in a horse-drawn wagon was at a walking
pace. And most were much more hilly. But a rail trial or hiking trail
gives you a pretty good idea of scale of those old roads -- and a real
respect for our ancestors who crossed the mountains on them!
Your own Road Show
In Pennsylvania Road Show, producer
Rick Sebak travels the back roads of Pennsylvania to find the unusual
treasures hidden right beneath our noses. Every old road has secrets waiting
to be discovered by people whose eyes are open. Roads change over time,
but almost always leave clues behind about what they once were.
Pick
an older road nearby and travel it, looking for interesting clues to the
past along the way. If possible walk or ride a bike along it so you have
time to look. Some possibilities: East Ohio Street, Allegheny River Boulevard,
Ohio River Boulevard, Carson Street, Route 8, Route 19, Route 22/30 (William
Penn Highway), Route 30 (Lincoln Highway), Route 40 (National Road), one
of the Belt system roads (Orange Belt, Green Belt, etc.).
- Get out and
walk around when you find something unusual -- an abandoned bridge or
railroad, an old building facing away from the road, milestones along
the path.
- Take pictures
or video of what you discover. Try to find old photographs of the road
and the people places, and events surrounding it.
- Find old
maps to help you identify what you find along the way. Or use the maps
to help you decide where to go looking for clues (can you find any evidence
of the trolley tracks you found on the old map?)
- Talk to older
folks and ask them what they remember about the road. Videotape their
stories.
After
collecting your material, put together a print, web, or video "Road
Show" travelogue to show others what they might find while traveling
this road. Here are some Road Shows people have put on the web:
If
you put your Road Show on the web, let
us know and we'll link to it!
How
far from the fountain?
Estimate the
distances between the point and ten Downtown landmark using scale and
a coordinate system.
Courtesy of PHLF.
Surf
your watershed
Where does
the water that runs off your roof finally end up? That is your watershed!
Find out all about your watershed -- water quality, sources,
wildlife, industry and much more -- at the Environmental Protection Agency's Surf your Watershed web site:
Redeveloping riverfront
The bad news
is that the age of steel and other heavy industry along the rivers is
over. The good news is that thousands of acres of riverfront are available
for other uses for the first time in over 100 years! Local governments
and businesses are working together to find new uses for these old industrial
sites that will bring new jobs to the area and continue our progress in
cleaning up the environment.
One very successful
effort is the development of Washington's Landing on Herr's Island
in the Allegheny River under the 31st Street Bridge. Washington's Landing
combines housing, light industry, housing, and recreation (rowing, a boat
marina, and the Three Rivers Heritage Trail for biking and walking).
Another effort
is the High Technology Center between Second Avenue and the Monongahela
on the old J&L South Oakland Works. The the old Homestead Works of US Steel is being redeveloped for entertainment and commerce.
Research these
efforts to find out what more about the past and future of these sites.
Then, create your own mixed-use riverfront development. Work in teams
to cover all the environmental, economic, architectural, and preservation
considerations of such a project:
- Find an
abandoned industrial riverfront site somewhere near you.
- Locate geological
maps and aerial views of the area and map out the area available. USGS
maps and aerial views are available by searching the Terraserver:
http://terraserver.microsoft.com/
- Conduct a
survey of residents (or the class) to determine what they would like
to have happen at the site.
- Discuss and
decide what activities could successfully work together and generate
income to support itself and provide jobs for the community
- Create your
plan for redevelopment, including drawings, maps, and a business and
environmental plan telling how you will generate income in an ecologically
friendly way.
Recycle and reuse
Another approach
to our riverfronts is not to take the old down and put up new, but to
put to new uses the structures that are already there. By applying imagintion
and elbow grease, we can have the best of the new and the old. Of course, Station Square is the oldest riverfront reuse effort in the area.
Pittsburgh's
riverfronts are full of grand old buildings looking for a new lease on
life. "Adaptive reuse"--preserving an old building by giving
it a new use--is now considered a great way to keep yesterday's architecture
around for the future. See how some students propose to reuse the old Lawrence Paint Building next to Station Square. Then have students
choose an out-of-work building in your community to put to a new use.
Or have them give the Armstrong Cork Building in the Strip District
a makeover. In the process learn about plans, elevations,
and other scale drawings architects use to communicate their ideas. This
is a great cooperative learning exercise that mirrors a real-life cooperative
urban planning process. Go to the Recycle and
Reuse page.
Floods and
droughts
The United State
Geological Survey keeps data from all its river gauges since they've gone
into effect -- most in the 1930s. Using the historical streamflow data
for river gauges in Pittsburgh, it is possible to see a portrait of some
of the city's major river events!
Discuss these
streamflow graphs from the USGS
server:
Over the years
when do the highest and lowest water levels usually occur during the year?
Over a decade, how often does the streamflow go extremely high?
How can you
tell when the floods occur? How long does it take the flood to develop?
How long does it last? How long does it take the flood to subside and
flow return to normal?
Why does the
USGS measure streamflow rather than river levels? What is the relationship
between flow and levels? You can find information about historic water
levels at the Pittsburgh
PA Hydrologic Services Area.
- What does
a flood look like? How does it develop over time?
- What does
a drought look like? How does it develop over time?
- What is
the average waterflow/month for one decade? Highest month? Lowest month?
- What difference
did the flood control projects make between the 1936 and 1972 floods?
Follow up by
having students do their own searches and plot graphs of riverflow in
the activity Ebb and flow: Find historical river data for
your area at the USGS (below).
Ebb and flow: Find historical river data for your
area at the USGS
Begin with
the discussion of Floods and Droughts on the
Discussion page.
The United State
Geological Survey keeps data from all its river gauges since they've gone
into effect -- most in the 1930s. You can find historical streamflow data
for a river gauge near you by following the links on these pages:
Once you get
to the historical streamflow, enter a range of dates. You will choose
whether you want data or a graph -- start with a graph. You'll download
the data later.
Start by entering
a year to see when the high water and low water periods usually are during
the year. Then look at a whole decade period to see if you can find years
with more or less waterflow. Find the largest stream flow you can (most
likely a flood), then focus on that year or a few months of that year.
Analyze the
graphs:
Over the years
when do the highest and lowest water levels usually occur during the year?
Over a decade, how often does the streamflow go extremely high?
How can you
tell when the floods occur? How long does it take the flood to develop?
How long does it last? How long does it take the flood to subside and
flow return to normal?
Download the data to
plot your own graphs
Download the
streamflow amounts for a selected period and use a spreadsheet program
to work with the data. Generate your own graphs to compare different eras
or average the data. Work with your math and science teacher to construct
your investigation.
Here are some
ideas to investigate:
- What does
a flood look like? How does it develop over time?
- What does
a drought look like? How does it develop over time?
- What is
the average waterflow/month for one decade? Highest month? Lowest month?
Graph the average.
- When did
the flood control projects start to make a difference?
Do the graphs
give you enough detailed information or do you need to use the data?
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