It was Friday July 12, 2013 and we were headed for Pittsburgh. I was in my usual spot while on the road – a snug pocket in a well-padded camera case as I rode in the back seat of the Avenger. I had figured the next four days would be boring for me as there were no Presidential sites in Pittsburgh (where we would spend three days with Tom McGrew) nor in Punxsutawney (one day to see the famous groundhog and his digs). Once we got to McGrew’s home in Mt. Lebanon, PA, which is a suburb of Pittsburgh, Tom made me feel at home as he insisted that I reside on a shelf in his living room rather than to be tucked away in my case. At least I got to nod to anyone who walked past me. It would’ve been cool to see the sites of Pittsburgh, but I silently stood guard to keep intruders away. My photographer took a bunch of photos of the sites in Pittsburgh and Punxsutawney and I am going to share some of my favorites with you now. I hope you won’t be bored since these are not Presidential sites and I’m not in any of the photos.
“Won’t you be my neighbor?” The Fred Rogers Memorial Statue is situated along the Allegheny River near Heinz Field. The lumpy statue was created by Robert Berks and was open to the public in November 2009; which was six years after Rogers’ death on February 27, 2003.
Downtown Pittsburgh as seen from the Duquesne Incline.
The view from the top of the Duquesne Incline offers a spectacular look at Heinz Field (left) and further to the right at PNC Park. From here it’s also easy to see the fork of the three rivers – Ohio River to the left; Allegheny River in front of the stadiums; and Monongahela River in the foreground to the right.
Tom McGrew stands alongside the gravesite of actor Frank Gorshin located in Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Gorshin is most famous for his portrayal of The Riddler in the 1960’s Batman television show. “Riddle me this, Batman; what is Vicki thinking as she stands in the background?” It’s likely ‘Oh no, not another cemetery’!
One cannot go to Pittsburgh and not eat at Primanti Brothers. People line up for their famous sandwiches; which include fries and coleslaw INSIDE the sandwich.
A view from the South shore of the Allegheny River that features PNC Park (home of the Pittsburgh Pirates) framed by the Roberto Clemente Bridge.
With his namesake bridge in the background, this bronze statue of Pirates Hall of Fame outfielder Roberto Clemente is situated just outside of PNC Park
PNC Park in Pittsburgh offers spectators one of the most scenic views in any MLB stadium in the country. On this day, the Pirates were hosting the New York Mets.
After being selected as the first over-all pick by the Pirates in the 2011 MLB Draft, Gerrit Cole made his MLB debut on June 11, 2013. With the Mets’ David Wright on third, Cole delivers a pitch just a little over a month into his rookie season. The Mets beat Cole and the Pirates 4-2.
They say that you should never put ketchup on a hot dog! That being said, no one would ever call the Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen a hot dog; even though he was one of the best outfielders in baseball in 2013.
Vicki was in seventh heaven as we were trapped behind an Amish buggy on a winding road while on our way to Punxsutawney on July 15, 2013. The only thing that would have made the scenario better for her is if the Amish would have been selling quilts or pies from the buggy.
Punxsutawney Phil seemed to be looking for a snack in his permanent home located at “Phil’s Burrow” inside the Punxsutawney Library. The only day that Phil leaves the library for work is on February 2nd when he makes the two-mile trek to Gobbler’s Knob on Groundhog Day.
Speaking of Gobbler’s Knob, this is the faux tree stump where Punxsutawney Phil is brought to forecast the weather on Groundhog Day; and he has been doing meteorology since 1887 at this site. However, the ground hog at Punxsutawney was not known as Phil until 1961. How accurate is the furry rodent? Phil is right somewhere between 35 to 40 percent. Maybe Phil should just flip a coin instead of looking for his shadow!
One of our last stops in Western Pennsylvania was in Mercer County where we found the Kidd’s Mills Covered Bridge that was built in 1868. Too bad an Amish buggy wasn’t travelling through the bridge!
Once we were finished in Pennsylvania in the late afternoon, we made our way into Ohio and spent the night at the Comfort Suites Youngstown North motel. We were in perfect position for an early morning visit to William McKinley’s birthplace in Niles, Ohio. Although I spent the night standing on the desk rather than next to the TV, it was still better than staying cooped-up in the camera bag. I was looking forward to the morning as we would finally get to see some Presidential sites once again.
My name is Thomas Watson and I've been a U.S. history fanatic since I was 9 years old. In 2013, I decided to take my passion to the next level when I purchased a Thomas Jefferson bobble head with the sole intention of photographing that bobble head at Presidential sites. From that first day on July 10, 2013 at Spiegel Grove in Fremont, Ohio, this journey has taken on a life of its own. Now, nearly 40,000 miles later, I thought it was time to share the experiences, stories, and photos of Jefferson's travels. Keep in mind, this entire venture has been done with the deepest respect for the men who held the office as our President; no matter what their political affiliations, personal ambitions, or public scandals may have been. This blog is intended to be a true tribute to the Presidents of the United States and this story will be told Through the Eyes of Jefferson. I hope you enjoy the ride!
