Smells from Yesteryear (Pittsburgh, New Castle, Washington: house, neighborhood, high school)

[Curlygurl]

Hello, all!

I saw this thread over on the Cincinnati forum and thought, since I grew up in Pittsburgh, that I would start this over here.

So, what smells do you remember from your childhood. As for me, growing up in the 80s, this is what I smelled:

First, and foremost, sulphur from the "still mills". I can remember being outside with my mom and her saying "The pollution sure is bad tonight." We were so matter of fact about it, it never really occurred to us that it might be bad.

Next, is kielbasa. I grew up in a Polish neighborhood in Port Vue and Sunday dinner meant going to somebody's house after Mass (it seemed everyone was Catholic in those days) and having kielbasa, cabbage, halushki, and other yummies.

Then, there is the smell of leaves, especially in White Oak park; to this day when I smell autumn leaves, I am taken back there.

And let us not forget the bakeries! Danishes filled with lekvar, and apricot, or cream cheese...my dad would take me into the bakery early on a Sunday and we'd get a dozen danishes...ah, how I miss those danishes. They just don't have them here in cincy.

So, what about you? Any aromatic memories out there?

[nuwaver88]

I remember going by the old Nabisco plant in East Liberty when they were baking Nilla Wafers. That whole part of the East End had the smell that a giant vanilla cookie Yankee Candle was burning.
Leaf burning is no longer allowed in Allegheny County, but it was when I was a kid. When I go out of county in the autumn, I sometimes get that smell, which brings back memories.
I used to go over to my Italian grandmothers about one Sunday every few months for dinner. Upon entering her Stanton Height's home was the aroma of a big pot of homeade tomato sauce, and garlic and olive oil. I sometimes make this sauce on cold and dreary Sundays and it emits a wonderful smell throughout the house.

[ditchdigger]

I remember going by the old Nabisco plant in East Liberty when they were baking Nilla Wafers.

That's the absolute first one on my list, but I connect it with baseball, because we played both organized little league and pick up games on the fields at Mellon Park. Later, in my twenties, we played softball at a couple of the fields within smelling distance of the Iron City brewery.

Leaves and burning leaves, yes to those also.

Also, I have a very dis-stinked memory of the rendering plant on Herr's Island. (Washington's Landing) Crossing the 31st St Bridge going somewhere in the car with my uncle, it was like, "Ewwww! What's that smell?" He explained what it was, and fortunately, by the time he had it explained we were well up the road. I was there on the island years later, when they were demo'ing that plant, and it still stunk...

[dfriel]

how bout the smell of baking bread from braun's bakery down in manchester. I went school at st. andrews. Or alcsan pweeeh! I was in a car going to play a softball game when my son said Oh whats that smell and before I could think of something my buddy who was driving said brunt poop Ray

[Katarina Witt]

The very first on my list is the 'rotten egg' smell of the Armstrong Cork Works in Beaver Falls. Our high school played football at Geneva College's Reeves Stadium right next to the cork works. One night, I was walking through the stands on "the other side" selling candy, when the cork works let out some exhaust. Someone asked me, "Does Beaver Falls always smell this bad"? Being my witty self, I responded, "Only when (insert name of team) comes to town".

Next would be burning leaves. I know it's bad to do, but they smell wonderful!

[SorryIMovedBack]

I didn't grow up in Pittsburgh, I grew up in Youngstown and New Castle areas. I remember the smell of all the metals industry. There was always a bit of sulfur wafting in the breezes. lol. Always.

I also can recall the smell of antique cars (they still smell the same, btw) and also the smell of unleaded gasoline.

[FrannyBear]

Driving by Mancini's Bakery in McKees Rocks. That bread smell was fantastic. Still love the bread when it is fresh and hot -- hard to come by though. Also the smell of my Grandma's homemade pizza with sauteed green peppers. The aboslute best ever.

Also the smell of leaves in Pennsylvania -- that is my "go to" smell of happiness on a sunny October day.

[catchtwenty2]

One of my former bosses grew up on Frazier Street in Oakland in the 60s-70s. When he would reminisce about growing up, he almost always mentioned odd snow colors.

[SammyKhalifa]

Coke Plant.

[ebyrnes]

The smell of Wonderbread on the Northside, when we went to visit our Gram.

And while it isn't a smell, we grew up on a candy called sens-sens - NOT the version that they still sell today in little packets. My Mum and I still talk dreamily about them since they were such a delicious, odd flavor.

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