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| Pittsburgh's people's historyThe Point of Pittsburghby Charles McCollester Battle of Homestead Foundation ISBN: 978-0-9818894-1-2 Reviewed by Mike Matejka Pittsburgh PA is traditionally associated with heavy industry, a multi-ethnic river town where powerful industries met their match through aggressive unionization. 
This new history shows there’s more to Pittsburgh than steel. This “people’s history” starts with the Native Americans and early settlers. The conflicts between these peoples as they intermingle sets the book’s tone. As industry develop and new immigrants pour in, new conflicts arise, not only between industry and labor, but also between ethnic groups, until unity overcomes division. There are fascinating and nationally significant union stories in Pittsburgh, including the 1877 uprising, Homestead, Pressed Steel Car and steel strikes and the murder of Fannie Sellins. But this book is more than a unionization chronicle. It is a history of the community, including sports, entertainment, religion, education and the mingling of diverse peoples that is not only Pittsburgh’s story, but America’s. There are wonderful illustrations by retired union insulator Bill Yund that help bring these stories to life. |