Ninth Street Bridge could be renamed to honor Rachel Carson

Pittsburgh Post Gazette ^ | Dec 5, 2005 | Jerome L. Sherman

[Ditto]

Rachel Carson, a driving force behind the modern environmental movement, grew up in a modest homestead in Springdale Borough near the Allegheny River. For the budding marine biologist, the river's waters were an early inspiration.

Now, more than four decades after Ms. Carson's death, her presence may return to those waters.

Allegheny County Council tomorrow will consider renaming the Ninth Street Bridge in her honor. If the resolution is approved, Ms. Carson would join Roberto Clemente and Andy Warhol as namesakes for the three Downtown "Sister Bridges" that cross the Allegheny.

"This is long overdue," said Esther L. Barazzone, president of Chatham College, Ms. Carson's alma mater and home of the Rachel Carson Institute. "People realize that Rachel Carson is truly world class. We need to strengthen our connection to her."

Ms. Carson's 1962 book, "Silent Spring," criticized the harmful effects of pesticides, sparking a prolonged battle with the chemical industry. In 1970, six years after Ms. Carson's death, the federal government founded the Environmental Protection Agency. Two years later, the government banned the use of the pesticide DDT in the United States.

"Silent Spring" also pushed many people to rethink their connection with the natural world.

"It was wonderful. It inspired me," said Ron Meyers, a former visiting assistant professor with Chatham's environmental studies program. "It showed the courage of environmentalists."

"Silent Spring'' has been translated into almost every known language, according to Fiona Fisher, interim executive director of the Rachel Carson Homestead, a national historical landmark on Marion Avenue in Springdale.

"She used science in a way that ordinary people could understand," Ms. Fisher said. "People began to question what was being done."

[martin_fierro]

That is one uuuuugly bridge.

Poor New Ken. It usedta be a nice place.

[Willie Green]

Poor New Ken. It usedta be a nice place.

We used to go there a lot when I was little.
Dad worked up in Tarentum/Brackenridge, so us kids would go to the company Christmas party they had for kids up there. And we'd also do a lot of shopping in New Ken. But as we got older, we were too big for the Christmas party. And it was easier for us to go shopping at the "new" malls that were built in Monroeville and the North Hills. (Yeah I know... I'm gettin OLD... (((sigh))) )

[cyn]

oooh, that had to hurt!

Though I'm kinda surrprised it took someone so long to make this move ... does #24 sound like reasonable motive, in addition to the pandering?

Ya'll take care.

[ssaftler]

Hey, don't give the council idiots any ideas. With all the bridges in Pittsburgh, I'm sure they can find a way to name them after some of Carson's "partners in crime" that you noted!

[Spiff]

How about a memorial for the uncounted millions of dead who died of insect borne diseases who would otherwise have lived if it wasn't for this woman and her crusade against a beneficial chemical.

[Badray]

Yeah. 24 makes a lot of sense. It's just sad to see Eileen taken in by their garbage. Even if she didn't know the harm that would occur, it still happened. It's nothing to memorialize.