Remembering Pittsburgh

~ March's theme is books with cities in the titles ~

Author: Len Barcousky
Genre: Non-fiction
Publisher: The History Press, 2010
Pages: 160
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: The doomed Whiskey Rebellion, the Great Fire that destroyed a third of the city in 1845 and Lincoln's speech urging residents to shun talk of secession—all have made the pages of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and its predecessors. Since 1786, the paper has covered local events, and reporter Len Barcousky is a part of this long tradition. This collection of his "Eyewitness" columns draws on next-day stories to tell the history of the city, from President Coolidge's almost-silent visit in 1927 to a report on the first woman hanged in Allegheny County. Join Barcousky as he vividly recounts the compelling history of the Steel City.

Review: Today Pittsburgh's role in westward expansion is minimized, if mentioned at all. Pittsburgh was the first gateway to the west and key players of the day all traveled through.

I really enjoyed reading about the Pittsburgh I've only heard about through family lore and stories.

My favorite history professor was also quoted in this book, the late Dr. David Dixon who taught at Slippery Rock University.