Neighborhood of the week: Squirrel Hill (Forest Hills, Manor: homes, theatres, live)

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Paul2421

squirrel hill was the original destination of white flight from the north side, etc. the east end was the "suburbs" of early pittsburgh.

The East End was the original "suburbs" of Pittsburgh, but it was more during the streetcar suburb era from 1890-1915, and focused on areas in and around East Liberty. Squirrel Hill boomed 10-20 years later. And it wasn't so much 'white flight" either, as there were only trivial amounts of black people in Pittsburgh anywhere other than the Hill District during that era.

Still, it is true that Squirrel Hill is essentially a dense, prewar suburb which happened to be located within city limits.

[Paul2421]

Originally Posted by eschaton

The East End was the original "suburbs" of Pittsburgh, but it was more during the streetcar suburb era from 1890-1915, and focused on areas in and around East Liberty. Squirrel Hill boomed 10-20 years later. And it wasn't so much 'white flight" either, as there were only trivial amounts of black people in Pittsburgh anywhere other than the Hill District during that era.

Still, it is true that Squirrel Hill is essentially a dense, prewar suburb which happened to be located within city limits.

white flight doesn't have to be from black people.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Paul2421

white flight doesn't have to be from black people.

Wiki disagrees.

Seriously though, while it's technically true that you can call any migration of white people "white flight" the term loses all salience if you use it in such a broad manner. For example, you can argue that the settlement of the western frontier was due to white flight. Or the pilgrims migrating to Plymouth was white flight. I think it has to involve leaving an area which is more "diverse" for one which is less so for the term to have meaning. Doesn't have to be black people only however, and the areas don't have to be getting worse. There are suburban portions of New Jersey where white people are now leaving because they have become Asian majority, and the Asian-American controlled schoolboards are making the schools more narrowly focused on test prep and cutting extracurriculars.

[Paul2421]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Wiki disagrees.

Seriously though, while it's technically true that you can call any migration of white people "white flight" the term loses all salience if you use it in such a broad manner. For example, you can argue that the settlement of the western frontier was due to white flight. Or the pilgrims migrating to Plymouth was white flight. I think it has to involve leaving an area which is more "diverse" for one which is less so for the term to have meaning. Doesn't have to be black people only however, and the areas don't have to be getting worse. There are suburban portions of New Jersey where white people are now leaving because they have become Asian majority, and the Asian-American controlled schoolboards are making the schools more narrowly focused on test prep and cutting extracurriculars.

i agree. that was my point. racially mixed is different than black.

[TBonzie]

I lived in Squirrel Hill in the mid-1960s for two years, right across the street from Alderdice (my sister went there). I was in 2nd and then 3rd grade and went to Colfax.

It was a great neighborhood for a kid. And on Saturdays, my brother and I rode the bus in to Carnegie museum/library.

I still miss the buckeyes up on Beechwood Blvd. We moved up to N.C. from Florida, but sadly enough, no buckeyes around here.

If I ever hit the lottery, I'd buy a place up on Beechwood Blvd.

[PGH423]

I love the business district and houses in Squirrell Hill. It's a beautiful area.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by TBonzie

I still miss the buckeyes up on Beechwood Blvd.

You know where they have lots of Buckeyes? Columbus.

[TBonzie]

Actually, my daughter lives in Columbus!

[Copanut]

Back in the mid 70's I lived in Forest Hills and worked in Oakland. I used to take the back way home through SH and on Tuesdays it was double feature night at the old Guild Theater on Murray Avenue. I think it was 5 bucks for two flicks. Killed a bunch of Tuesdays that way. Not far from there was Heads Together in the Underground Mall. They sold pipes and records n'at. Once a month they would have a Saturday Midnight sale, 3 records for 10 bucks. You can find it all at the Underground Mall. One thing about SH, I don't think they ever had a hotspot bar. At least I never heard of one.

[Goinback2011]

Not far from there was Heads Together in the Underground Mall.

That place always reeked of patchouli to cover up the pot smell. To this day I associate patchouli with the East End.