I’ve been working on a special project that has me doing some research in and around the City of Pittsburgh. That might not come as much of a surprise to any regular readers, but I am learning some things about my old hometown.

One of the things I knew but had to confirm was the order of names for The Sisters—my three favorite bridges—the 6th Street, 7th Street and 9th Street bridges. They are also the Roberto Clemente, Andy Warhol and Rachel Carson bridges. Pittsburgh has named many bridges after famous sons and daughters. The Sixteenth Street Bridge has been similarly designated as the David McCullough Bridge.

If you’re unfamiliar with David McCullough, let’s just say that he was a historian and that he won both a Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award—twice! He also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Not bad for one lifetime.

With David McCullough on my mind, I was happy to find a meme that spoke to something that he and I both enjoy.

David McCullough quote

This post has been part of One-Liner Wednesday, a weekly challenge by our favorite prompter, Linda G. Hill.

Note: After seeing the passion for libraries shown in some of the comments, I feel I should add a link to this post about a threat to our libraries by Judy at New England Garden and Thread.

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

74 responses to “9th Street Wisdom—1LinerWeds”

  1. I agree about the American public library system, Dan! I have two county library cards. My daughter has more. When I check out books from one county, I can return them anywhere, not limited to the county where I checked out.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. When our daughter was little, my wife took her to three different area libraries. They were wonderful resources.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. I’m happy to know about the health of your public libraries, Dan. I hope the new administration doesn’t cut off funding. Our libraries are retentive of the corruption and administrative mismanagement that plagues this country. There are a few good libraries that are funded privately but the rest still have books from pre-1994 mainly.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Judy raised that exact concern in a post on her blog earlier this week, Robbie. I should add the link to the article, but I’ll share it here.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh dear, I have been expecting this, Dan. I don’t live in America but it cuts my heart deeply.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. You are lucky there Dan our Library system is failing… hanging on by not thriving like yours. Glorious photos today. 💜

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Willow. If you check the link under Robbie’s comment, you’ll see that this administration has taken the first step toward cutting funding for libraries. It’s scary.

      Like

      1. I have just read this Dan it is appalling ! What an awful thing to do… Sadly there will be many more to come from Trump’s administration!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. I would agree that some money needs to be carved out of our budget, Willow, but for crying out loud have a little sense about what you cut.

          I didn’t set out to raise this issue, but the funding the Feds provide(d) to libraries and museums was a drop in the ocean of federal spending. It’s a terrible thing to cut. This is something that literally can help every person in the country.

          Like

  4. During the Depression not one library closed, but during the Time of Trump, how many will close? That is the question.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. A scary question, for sure, Alley.

      Like

  5. A very worthwhile piece of news

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you. A resource we must hang onto.

      Like

  6. David McCullough! What a threat he was, writing about our history! Isn’t it comforting to know that we might be protected from such wasteful institutions as libraries and museums? Tsk. Imagine the terrors of having education at the fingertips of everyone. There could even be differing viewpoints thoughtfully expressed in words of more than one syllable — we can’t have that!

    Stepping down from my soapbox, I will say that your fog photos are beautiful.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Climb up on that soapbox any time you like, Maureen. “There could even be differing viewpoints thoughtfully expressed in words of more than one syllable…” I love it.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Murphy’s Law Avatar
    Murphy’s Law

    Our libraries remained open during the Depression, and during Covid, but I’m not so sure during Trump. Here I was thinking I still lived in the USA, land of the free, home of the brave.

    Nice to see Snoopy back home. Love all the foggy photos. Your Hyacinths are so determined to bloom they give me hope Dan….not just that spring will show its true colors, but that somehow this country will get back on track.

    Old Glory in the spotlight. A beautiful sight.

    Ginger 🦋

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thanks Ginger. I do worry about sustaining the funding necessary to keep this resource alive. I’ll try to remain optimistic (it’s all I know).

      Snoopy has been doing some spring cleaning at her place. I forgot to give it the fall clean-out it needed. I don’t think she’s happy with me.

      I’m glad you liked the pictures. I hope you’re having a great week.

      Like

  8. Cheers to the Steel City honoring favorite sons & daughters. The foggy pics are my favorite. Unfortunately, (in my opinion) it’s a matter of time when our library system gets attacked. Then again, some would say that has already started.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The library system has fought off attacks by technology for decades. I hope they can fight off the funding cuts, Frank. Thanks for adding the link.

      That section of the Allegheny River really makes one feel he/she’s in Pittsburgh. I love those bridges.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. I love your foggy morning images in this post, Dan!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Deborah. I love walking in the fog.

      Like

  10. Thank you David McCullough. Our libraries have reinvented themselves and have become the hub of our community in a time when community is hard to find. Yesterday, our NH reps announced they were closing our first in the nation state library. Within 24 hours, residents expressed such opposition that they took it off the table. Who knew we would have to work so hard to hold on to our history and access books and other learning options. One of my errands today is to return two books and pick one up on hold. I value that opportunity and appreciate it sincerely.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Hoorah for the people of New Hampshire, Judy! I added a link in the comments to your article earlier this week. I didn’t think to add it to the post, but I underestimated the passion people have for libraries. I think I’ll correct that now.

      Liked by 2 people

    2. I also live in NH, but had missed the article about the closing of Concord’s library. I’m glad it was taken off the table, but the States are all taking a beating with the Federal departments being wiped out. EVERYthing is at risk right now, and I don’t know how the states are going to manage. As someone who is on Social Security Disability, with housing and food assistance, Medicare/Medicaid… Everyday millions of us are at risk, national treasures at risk…

      Liked by 2 people

      1. You are correct that the States are taking a beating and everything is at risk. Upheaval doesn’t come close to covering the current status of things.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. A lot of states won’t be able to fill the gap, and there are several that wont want to. Both situations are sad.

        Liked by 2 people

  11. I love that quote on libraries!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. When I saw it, I knew I had to share it, GP.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. […] to access books and other learning materials would be such a struggle. My good friend, Dan, at NoFacilities, had a wonderful quote by David McCullough today, and it included this fact: “During the […]

    Liked by 1 person

  13. I loved David McCullough. A true gentleman and a fascinating read.
    Wonderful quote.
    ❤️

    Liked by 2 people

  14. I love the photos of fog. It is one of the benefits of some morning walks.

    I didn’t realize that libraries didn’t close during the depression.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. My view of the flag changes throughout the year, Frank. Right now, I’m starting into the sun around 7:30. Pretty soon, the sun will be high in the sky.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. I like the fact that no libraries closed during the depression. And the fog and no fog sets.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I love walking in the fog.

      Like

  16. The man doesn’t read! He has probably never even been inside a library! The stupidity that governs us is despicable.

    It’s the same with the arts. Have you read the shows he wants to bring to the Kennedy Center? Has anyone told him those shows are old and don’t tour anymore? He doesn’t have a clue!

    I am so disappointed and disgusted with what has become of our country. And no one seems to be doing anything about it.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I’m not sure what can be done, Lois but someone in Washington whose job isn’t in jeopardy better figure it out.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Knowing there are more libraries than McDonalds makes me wonder why there are more fat people than well read?

    Like

    1. Does it help if some of us are fat AND well read? :)

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Are you peeking? hehehe

        Liked by 2 people

    2. That’s funny, Violet. I remember when our daughter was little. My wife would drive to McDonald’s to get her some fries, but she would take her to one of three area libraries for hours at a time.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Well, my first thought upon reading your post was the political news that I’ve been seeing reported about museums and libraries, but thought “nah… Not on a One-Liner, I won’t go there.” I see others have already have. I’ve been watching our libraries under threat before Trump 2.0, where a very insidious group of people are hitting at state and local levels to purge “unseemly” books from not only public school libraries but ALL libraries. A few years ago I contacted our local library to see if we needed to be concerned here, in my town. So far so good, but it is a real problem in a lot of places and it happens quietly. One (of many) recent, stupid/sad things is the US has blocked Canadian access to a library straddling the Canada-US border between Stanstead, Quebec, and Derby Line, VT. It was built deliberately to straddle the frontier between the two countries – a symbol of cooperation and friendship between Canada and the US.That said, McCullough was wonderful. I used to look forward to when he was on TV programs offering “perspective.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I didn’t start out to make a political statement. I almost never do that, but this is a passionate crowd, and I’m not going to try to control where the topic goes.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Pittsburgh has been the home to many accomplished folks. I’m of the belief that people will need to become more active in preserving local libraries.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ironically, one of Pittsburgh’s accomplished folks was the one-time richest man in the world (1901), Andrew Carnegie. He went on to build over 1,600 libraries in the US and over 2,500 worldwide.

      Our town library was built with private funds, book sales, bake sales, flower sales, you name it they sold it. Only after it was built, operating and being enjoyed by many did the town finally agree to add it to the budget. People can support local libraries, but small towns can’t fund an Inter-Library loan program around the country. Something like that needs some help.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. I agree, Dan, that public libraries are SO important. Maybe not to Trump and other corrupt right-wing billionaires who prefer an uneducated, compliant populace. :-(

    Liked by 1 person

    1. This wasn’t where I was heading with this post, Dave, but the passion flows where the passion flows.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. D.L. Finn, Author Avatar
    D.L. Finn, Author

    It’s always fun to research even when something is familiar there is always something new to learn. Great pics and one li erst too. Always am drawn to the fog.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We learn when we follow research, Denise. I learned more about David McCullough.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. The research sounds fun! I absolutely love fog pictures. It gets my imagination stirred. :)

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Mine, too. It’s fun to see where it takes us,

      Like

  23. My one trip to Pittsburgh impressed upon me all the bridges you could see from the Duquesne Incline. A truly impressive view.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s a beautiful scenic spot.

      Liked by 1 person

  24. I’m a big fan – and user – of libraries and I am so worried about their fate. I doubt if many of us realized how vulnerable libraries, along with our national parks, the Post Office, social security, healthcare, public media, etc. are. Maybe it’s our lack of imagination or their lack of human decency, but now we know that they could disappear fast.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Nothing is truly safe, Janis.

      Like

  25. rainye3d9687827 Avatar
    rainye3d9687827

    Realy? So awesome

    Liked by 1 person

  26. I feel guilty now because I haven’t used our library since Covid, Dan. I got out of the habit and it’s the wrong side of town for us, but I really should make an effort.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I renewed my library card when I retired, but I don’t make the best use of it.

      Liked by 1 person

  27. I love the foggy scenes. Libraries are critical for a literate society.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love walking in the fog. I’m not sure everyone wants a literate society 🙁

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I was thinking your second comment, but I didn’t say it. ☹️

        Liked by 1 person

  28. My mother was a junior high school librarian–now it’s rare for schools to even still have a library, let alone a librarian. So to cut funding to the Public Libraries is unconscionable.

    When they tried to cut hours here in the city, we managed to get it undone and re-funded. But funding is an even bigger problems for communities that don’t have the resources that we do, and the people to fight back. And many smaller museums also rely on that money to stay open.

    And to do it so that they can give tax cuts to people that already have way way more than they will ever need…

    Anyway, I signed the petition at the ALA. Thanks for the link. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s so hard to understand why they want to do this. Libraries and museums are among the sacred spaces we have created.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I’m not sure there’s any reasoning going on anywhere in our government right now.

        Liked by 1 person

  29. Frightening times we live in. I can’t think of a higher honor than to have a bridge named after you – symbolically so lovely.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I do fear we have some tough times ahead.

      Like

  30. Thank you for all the foggy pictures! You know I love those! I’m a big fan of public libraries, too. I’ve haunted them since I was a child. I may haunt them as a ghost, too, but I promise not to slime anybody.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. I love this! I didn’t know the streets were names after famous people, of course I had a big smile over Roberto Clemente. And of course David Mccullough’s quote – wow! Did you know that the first thing scientists from Germany in WWII did when they came to America was to get a library card?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I didn’t know that, Jennie but I’m not surprised.

      Liked by 1 person

Add your thoughts or join the discussion. One relevant link is OK, more require moderation.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Trending