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This church is located in one of many declining Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Some steep hills took me up to the neighborhood where I noticed a church in not too bad of shape. At first glance, it didn't appear abandoned, but upon a second look, I saw some windows boarded up and some graffiti. I went up the steps and looked in the door, not expecting to be able to get in, just peering inside. I noticed the last set of doors and one was popped slightly open. I pulled it open and got in. The sanctuary looked nice and new and the pews were still there. Some graffiti surrounded the high walls and the alter was no longer there. Modern stain glass lined the walls and from the front you could see an organ on the top level overlooking the sanctuary. Through the back you could go the fellowship hall, once an older house, connected to the church. Beautiful finished wood adorned the place along with a kitchen and some chairs. The basement was dark and the water was about ankle deep. 2005 marked the closing date for this church, no doubt a heavy blow to an already hard-hit, lower-class, post-industrial, declining neighborhood.
The houses in this neighborhood were older and many were falling apart, however, it was not completely obvious which ones were abandoned. There is perhaps some small beacon of hope; some small reassurance for the residents of this community. Look at Detroit in its many bad spots. While this neighborhood has certainly seen better days, there are no houses lining the streets that are burned to the ground. No 30-story shells of buildings with all of its windows knocked out. No 3 million square foot plant in the middle of the city used as an artist's canvas and an arsonist's den. The tenants in this area can take comfort in the fact that where they live is far better than Detroit.
4. In awe of this sanctuary...This is one of my few finds that have not already been completely ravaged.
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11. Flooded basement which had a stage and a curtain.
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[last edit 6/7/2014 1:17 AM by orgullo gringo - edited 2 times]
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Delete those two pictures of the outside. Otherwise pretty cool. I think I attended mass there a time or two in my younger days.
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I could see a polka band playing on that stage
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The downstairs of that church looks very familiar, but the upstairs doesn't match what I remember. I guess two churches could have matching basements.
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Posted by Tom
The downstairs of that church looks very familiar, but the upstairs doesn't match what I remember. I guess two churches could have matching basements.
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Looks like the basement of the church my family used to go to as well. I think it's a pretty common layout.
https://www.flickr...62837453@N07/sets/
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Just a heads up, I believe this place was closed down by the parish because it contained a ton of black mold and wasn't worth the price of removal. A respirator may be a good idea for future visits.
[last edit 11/12/2015 6:45 PM by tiftastic - edited 1 times]
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