Welcome to Thursday Doors! This is a weekly challenge for people who love doors and architecture to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos, drawings, or other images or stories from around the world. If you’d like to join us, simply create your own Thursday Doors post each (or any) week and then share a link to your post in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time). If you like, you can add our badge to your post.

Well, this post went sideways when I discovered that I had a large collection of drive-by doors from the main street of my old home town (Bridgeville). Some of those doors haven’t changed in over 50 years. The doors are described in the captions. They might not mean much to most people, but they bring back a lot of good memories for me and my brother.

I hope you will take a few minutes to check the comments for links to other participants. If not, please come back on Sunday for the complete recap.

All five of my current books are now available in audio book form thanks to Amazon KDP’s Virtual Voice process. The voice is AI generated, but I can honestly say, it’s pretty darn good. The audio books are reasonably priced (all below $7 US) and, if you already own the Kindle version and want to add an audio version, you can do that for $1.99. There is a five-minute sample on the book page for each book. If you’re interested, click on any of the Dreamer’s Alliance book links below the image or on the link below for my latest book.

Bridge to Nowhere

113 responses to “Driving by Pittsburgh Doors”

  1. Brick buildings are so homely, Dan.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It seemed to be the material of choice in and around Pittsburgh for many years, Patricia.

      Like

    2. His Dan,

      Love that shape on #12…love brick buildings!! A sense of durability always come through, for me anyway. Thanks for sharing.

      Pat

      Like

  2. […] to Dan for hosting Thursday Doors, taking over ably after creator Norm stepped aside. Thursdays just wouldn’t be the same […]

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  3. […] For Thursday Doors, an international and weekly photography kindly challenge hosted by Dan Antion. […]

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  4. […] Posted for Dan’s Thursday Doors […]

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  5. The memories that counts. I’m still impressed with the church, lovely building.
    Here is mine:

    Thursday Doors – Glasgow

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Sofia. Many memories are attached to these doors.

      Your contribution is delightful, and inspired me to look up the designer. Thanks.

      Liked by 2 people

  6. I love the look-back in these. What they used to be. But to think that a place that used to sell paperbacks and newspapers and cards and great stuff like that now sells vaping products is too sad. The whole look of the town, though, certainly speaks of sturdiness. The dentist, bad doctor, postal workers, etc., might all be gone, but those buildings carry on.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I almost didn’t include the Vape Shop, Maureen. I used to spend time scanning the magazine rack in the news shop. Imagine, all those subjects, important enough to have a magazine. Sad that most of those stores are gone (or behind the security line at an airport). In simpler times, you could spend an entire day on that street. Today, we have time to take photos because we’re stuck in traffic.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. […] I can only begin to imagine what the fragrance must be around that wisteria at the time Shirley took the pictures. For more pictures of doors around the world, visit Dan’s site for today’s Thursday door feature. Being a Penquins fan, I was delighted today to see his own post features doors from Pittsburgh, PA. Here is the link…https://nofacilities.com/2022/10/13/driving-by-pittsburgh-doors/ […]

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  8. Good morning Dan, I have you to blame for getting me going this morning… read on.. https://dymoonblog.com/2022/10/13/thursday-doors-nz/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I enjoyed your post very much, and I like knowing that we have a fan in Canada (and an anti-Flyers fan). Thanks!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Dairy Queen! Those doors are always a welcome sight! (K)

    with wings we could travel through time (Thursday Doors)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad you enjoyed that. I was so happy to see that is has remained open all these years.

      Lovely poem from you today, and an amazing building.

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  10. Haha! Apparently we went to the “bad doctors” brother…also a bad doctor! I called him Dr. Quack.

    I agree with Maureen that where once newspapers and magazines and books were sold, the building now houses vaping products that, instead of engaging the mind, fog it up. Sad indeed.

    Your grandmother’s new church is just beautiful. Love the twin bell towers with stained glass windows and a very welcoming entryway.

    It’s a tribute to that hardware store to still be in business at the same location after all these years when so many small town businesses have faded away.

    Looks like you and your brother had a grand time “remembering when”, and you can’t put a price on that.

    Ginger

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I enjoyed our text exchange as we tried to remember “what was where.” My brother reminded me that our father always referred to Doctor Hess and “Mr. Hess” – I remember being taken to him a couple of times when we lived in that town.

      The recent transformation of the news shop is sad. I have so many memories of browsing inside that store, choosing exactly in what magazine / comic book to invest my allowance.

      I interviewed the current owner (family) of the hardware store for a blog post many years ago. They have worked hard to keep the store going.

      I hope you have a nice weekend, Ginger – stay dry!

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  11. His Dan,

    Love that shape on #12…love brick buildings!! A sense of durability always come through, for me anyway. Thanks for sharing.

    Pat

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Brick was the dominant building material in and around Pittsburgh. I do love seeing brick buildings, especially ones that have survived for decades.

      I enjoyed your doors today !

      Like

      1. Yes, those are especially cool to come across. Glad you enjoyed my doors. A good day to you ,Dan.

        Pat

        Liked by 1 person

  12. […] doors of this beautiful season. Happy Thursday Doors to all and please visit our door host, Dan at No Facilities, to see what other door lovers around the world are sharing today. Until next […]

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  13. A trivial question: Does Main Street go through the downtown area of Pittsburgh? I ask because the buildings in your photos don’t look like the type that would be in the hub of a cite.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. No, I’m sorry, I should have pointed out that while we were visiting Pittsburgh, these photos are from the small suburb where we grew up (Bridgeville). Not much on the scale of a city, but still rather busy. I was able to get these pictures as we were stuck in traffic.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. […] which are sprinkled among the rice paddies. You can tell each by its temple. We passed by the doors of many, and paused a while at each to take a photo. Some are surrounded by huts, others stand at a […]

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  15. That recommendation for the Lebanese takeaway, complete with the phone number is much appreciated :)

    Here’s mine for the week, also drive-bys, but at longer distances: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2022/10/13/villages/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. They were still operating in takeaway only mode, but the food was delicious.

      I enjoyed your lovely photos!

      Liked by 1 person

  16. This was a nice trip back to your childhood, Dan. It made me think of the stores we used to go to to buy candy and scan the latest comics. Once I moved down here to Florida, I never went back to NJ. I pulled up photos of the house I grew up in and barely recognized that, so don’t even want to think of what all the old haunts look like. I imagine you and your brother had fun going down memory lane with these photos.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We texted back and forth last night, trying to remember (with precision) what shop used to be where on that block. Sadly, that news stand, two restaurants and a bar are missing from the modern day street. Amazing that an appliance store remains in business.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Beautifully nostalgic doors. I love the church doors very much, the Dairy Queen certainly brings back memories. These are amazing Dan.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad you like these, Holly. I always like to include church doors, and I can’t resist ice cream.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. The door on the dentist’s office is the same style as the one on my in-laws house. Don’t see that style too often in residential let alone commercial buildings.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s funny. You don’t see it often. I guess if I visited your in-laws I’d have a chill go up my spine. I never enjoyed going in that door.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. I love the shape of that Presbyterian Church! And how bad a person does it make me that I read “Sarasnick” as “sarcastic”? A sarcastic hardware store? You go in and the clerk says, “You’re going to fix it yourself? I guess you know which end of a plunger to use.”

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I LOVE sarcasm! This is great, Marian.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Oh, Marian, you crack me up. That would be funny, but I’d like shopping there.

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  20. My favorites here are the Dairy Queen and the church. I am fascinated by turn-of-the-century church buildings.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. No one has complained about the Dairy Queen. I always like to include church doors. I’m glad you like these, Jan.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Church doors are compelling even the most simple, and ice cream brings out the kid in us. 😊 great pics!

    Liked by 1 person

  22. […] For Thursday Doors challenge hosted by Dan at No Facilities […]

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  23. Thank you for this personal tour, Dan. I appreciate it. Again, both churches come out victorious as the most stylish.

    I have perhaps not as many doors in my post but plenty of memories as well. Funny how this happens, and how some views never change. https://manjameximexcessive6.wordpress.com/2022/10/13/thursday-doors-13-10-22-maribor-4/#Maribor#Slovenia#park

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Manja. It looks like we were both reminiscing this week. Your doors are beautiful and the other photos help me imagine the scene, so I enjoyed them all.

      Liked by 1 person

  24. There is something about brick buildings! Always so quiet and yet so eye-catching :)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I have always loved brick buildings, Damyanti. Maybe because I grew up in and around so many.

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  25. We love Lebanese food. I just wish it were close enough to visit. Seeing these buildings reminds me so much of towns in the Midwest. My doors are from the Southwest today: https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2022/10/13/thursday-doorsinside-doors/#PaintedDesertInn/#cabinetdoors#1932Studebaker

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We don’t have much mid-eastern food available locally. I think, in terms of architecture, western Pennsylvania and Ohio start looking like everything in between east and west.

      I enjoyed your doors!

      Liked by 1 person

  26. Oh my. No yellow house this time? It’s always bittersweet to return to the old neighborhood. Here are my “doors” – appropriately skeletons of doors! https://jttwissel.com/2022/10/13/thursdaydoors-a-long-labor-of-love/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. No yellow houses, but a couple buildings with yellow-ish brick that we saw a lot of growing up.

      I loved the post you shared today!

      Like

  27. Lovely walk/drive down memory lane. A great way to showcase buildings and their doors as a personal history journal of sorts. I like buildings with rounded corners. And the Post Office is fabulous and functional.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thew rounded portion of that church is amazing to me. I was glad it had a door (I would have included it anyway). I have many memories of being in that Post Office. I’m glad you enjoyed this post. I certainly enjoyed yours.

      Like

  28. A great trip down the memory lane via door photos!
    This is mine from Bavaria:

    Doors at Lake Tegernsee/Bavaria

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad you liked this post.

      I really liked the unusual patterns in the doors you shared today!

      Like

  29. HI Dan, it is interesting to see these pictures. The building that was a bowling alley refers – that isn’t the bowling alley that featured in your childhood is it?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad you liked these. Robbie. That is not the bowling alley of my childhood. The store that was the news stand, and the theater both inspired segments of that story. My father did manage a different bowling alley in this town (he didn’t own it) and I did set pins there, but I changed many aspects of that building for the story.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hi Dan, I did recall that your father didn’t own it. I never knew anything but mechanical pins in my childhood bowling life. I wasn’t good at bowling. They later discovered my eye sight wasn’t poor. It’s nice to see a few pictures related to your story.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. We had Rubberband Duckpins (see link below) when I started setting pins. They didn’t have mechanical pinsetters that could handle them. We moved to the larger, more common Tenpins later.

          https://www.bowlingheritage.com/item/rubber-ducks/

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          1. Hi Dan, thanks for the link, I’ve never seen, or heard of, these Rubberband Duckpins. How interesting.

            Liked by 1 person

  30. The Presbyterian Church has a unique shape, and the post office is a lovely building. I love the little tower on top.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That church has been added into onto several times but I like the shape. The post office still feels like home to me.

      Liked by 1 person

  31. What wonderful memories! It’s like coming home again and again and again.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We always enjoy going back.

      Liked by 1 person

  32. Terrific shots, Dan. Thanks.

    Liked by 1 person

  33. Great to see where you once lived Dan. It looks like an amazing place. I really like the General Dentistry, lovely door and brickwork.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It was a quiet little town. I look back with lots of fond memories.

      Liked by 1 person

  34. […] For Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge. […]

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  35. Lovely brick homes and shops but my fave this week is the domed church.

    Here is mine https://mywanderings.travel.blog/2022/10/14/still-in-daylesford/

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  36. thanks for sharing some family memories. my favorite is the DQ…looks like the ice cream cone on top lights up at night. Here’s my TD: https://wheatsaltwineoil.wordpress.com/2022/10/13/wild-wonderful-thursday-doors/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s funny, this town turned a train station into a library and a parked caboose into the children’s library. It looks a lot like one of the doors you share today.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. what a creative idea to turn a station into a library! I’ll bet the kids love the caboose.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. I would love the caboose :)

          Liked by 1 person

  37. […] Antion offers the opportunity to learn about doors in the world with his Thursday Door Challenge, please visit with us, it’s fun to see various interpretations of doors. Ciao, Valentina My […]

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  38. Interesting name Vape Crusade for Wise News, Newspapers, magazines, paperback books, greeting cards, etc. Was that the time when newspapers told a real news?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes it was. Magazines on every subject with articles you could trust.

      Like

  39. I enjoyed your drive-by of memories and doors Dam :)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks. I’m glad 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  40. Dan, I really enjoyed these doors. The entire post has a very personal feeling about it. Hugs on the wing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad you enjoyed this bit of personal history, Teagan. I had fun trying to figure out what was where.

      Liked by 1 person

  41. […] to another episode of Thursday Doors! I have had a few interruptions along the way this last month or so. But thankfully there are no […]

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  42. Hope you never had to find out first hand how bad that doctor was. Nice when you know the history first hand.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think he made a couple of house calls when I was very young. I wasn’t very old when my parents found a better doctor.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Now house calls are an era or so past! The closest we came to that was our family dr. met us at his office on a Sunday morning to save us an ER bill. But glad your parents found a better one.

        Liked by 1 person

  43. […] October 13, 2022 Written by onemillionphotographs Thursday Doors: Garnet Ghost Town, Montana […]

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  44. Great collection of doors.. Going back to childhood places makes you very nostalgic at times. I feel the same about places I lived at when a child. Here is my entry Dan..

    Chiddingstone Castle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It is fun to think about those simpler times.

      I love the photo you shared today!

      Like

  45. Anne Fraser @theplatinumline.blog Avatar
    Anne Fraser @theplatinumline.blog
    1. That is a great door. You also have a very nice collection of photos.

      Like

    1. As long as those dolls stay in the beautiful cabinets, Robbie, we’re good. You did a wonderful job of hitting both challenges. Thank you for including Thursday Doors. I hope you’re having a great weekend.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks, Dan. Weekends are always nice, unless I have to work. Thankfully, I’m not working this weekend after 15 straight days of working. I get quite tired when I don’t get any time off.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Sounds like you deserve a break.

          Liked by 1 person

  46. Dan, I enjoyed reading the captions of your doors. Great memories in your post. I hope to join Thursday Doors next week.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Natalie. It’s always great when you can join us.

      Like

  47. Fun collection as usual.

    My contribution:

    Thursday Doors – Wizard Of Oz

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks – I enjoyed reading your post. Thanks for including the marker.

      Like

  48. I love the brick buildings! I am again joining at the last minute. :) Here’s more doors from Seville. I hope you have a wonderful weekend, Dan!

    The Barrio de Santa Cruz or former Jewish Quarter of Seville: https://brendasrandomthoughts.wordpress.com/2022/10/15/thursday-doors-the-barrio-de-santa-cruz-seville/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You’d never be counted out, Brenda. I usually have a few doors trickle in near the “official” end point, but I tend to ignore that. Especially for cool doors and a bonus treasure :-)

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Haha…that’s good to know. Thanks so much! :)

        Liked by 1 person

  49. Hi Dan – lovely reminiscences of your youth doors, and with the changes made over the years … I’d love to try the Lebanese restaurant … great photos – cheers Hilary

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That restaurant is really good. It’s only open for takeaway, but that worked for us.

      Liked by 1 person

  50. As always…great selection of doors!! It was also a great trip down memory lane for you!! Thanks for sharing!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad yo liked it, Kirt. It was fun working out the details with my brother.

      Liked by 1 person

  51. I’m sure these brought back great memories. I love the round-ish church, and the Dairy Queen that’s still there since your Little League days.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s the little things that create great memories.

      Like

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