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  Celebrating Pittsburgh's Pioneering Spirit

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Celebrating Pittsburgh's Pioneering Spirit

From the suspension bridges of Pittsburgh to the forecasting groundhog of Punxsutawney -- this region has long been a center for innovation.  Dave Crawley celebrates Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary with a look at Western Pennsylvania "firsts!'

Pittsburgh Firsts 
A Poem By Dave Crawley

This is a city constructed by steel.
But that's not the limit of Pittsburgh's appeal.
It's just one of many good reasons to cheer,
As we honor our 250th year.

So many firsts are worthy of mentions.
First green building for holding conventions.
Our own Rachel Carson laid out a plan,
And that's how the movement for green space began.

Inventor George Westinghouse, great man of science -
Linked up with most every household appliance.
Pittsburgh made plate glass. It's here to this day.
Commercial radio? KDKA!

Route 40 was built as the first federal road.
Since 1811 it carried the load.
The first super highway brought joy undiminished
(Though it does seem the Turnpike still isn't finished).

Colonel Drake dug a well in the Titusville soil,
And his land became known as the "Valley of Oil."
First service station was in our back yard.
They built the place right down on Baum Boulevard.

The Bantam of Butler. The first jeep in line.
(Detroit made the cash when they stole the design.)
Those first silent movies were really a treat.
First theater? Downtown, on Smithfield Street.

Dr. Salk invented the Polio Shot.
First triple transplant: Oakland's the spot..
George Ferris dreamed up a remarkable Wheel,
And the Zippos of Bradford are still a big deal.

First mass produced ketchup put Heinz right on track,
And Jim Deligatti cooked up the Big Mac..
The Klondike bar is just the right fit,
And Latrobe is the home of the banana split.

Punxsy Phil's the first groundhog to give us the weather,
And Meadville made zippers to zip things together.
Pitsburgh's where Bingo first made the scene,
Along with the Lawrence Welk bubble machine.

The first World Series to end with one swing.
The first team to win its fourth Super bowl ring.
And now there are five. So when all's said and done:
When speaking of Pittsburgh, "We're number one."