Parkway Steps - WPA Projects on Waymarking.com

These steps, like any of the thousands in this county, were built to facilitate factory workers' travel to and from work in a world with few automobiles and steep terrain.

Chalfant, as you will see when you approach the site, is a small community built on a very steep hill. It is less than a half-mile wide at its widest point. When these steps were built, there were three registered autos in this borough of 800 residents. For the most part, they worked in the industrial Turtle Creek valley to the east. The Westinghouse LRA (Large Rotating Apparatus) and the U. S. Steel Edgar Thompson plants still loom large, even though they are shadows of their former selves.

The project did more than just provide a way to and from work: it provided work to dozens of Chalfant residents, stores, and suppliers as the project got in to full gear. When it was complete, it was a monument to hard work during hard times - and stands proud still due to the efforts of local residents.

This WPA project was added to the list of Pittsburgh History & Landmark Foundation's Historic Landmarks on 10/22/2009.

References and Articles: Post Gazette Article, 12/07/2008 Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation newsletter

Project type: Other Date built or created: 10/17/1936 Location: Runs between Parkway Avenue and North Avenue City: Chalfant, PA Condition: Good upkeep with a little wear and tear Website for additional information: [Web Link]

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