The tiny community of Duck Hollow dates back to the 1900's, and pre-dates the slag. Duck Hollow exists on the east bank of Nine Mile Run at it's mouth on the Monongahela. Duquesne Slag Company purchased the entire west bank in the 1920's. It is interesting to note that the 1923 Citizens Committee on City Plannning of Pittsburgh identified Nine Mile Run Valley as the best possible site in Pittsburgh for a park and recreational development.

Looking south we see part of the stream bed slated for culverting. This image does not illustrate the proximity of the slag on the western bank. However it does illustrate the aesthetic value of even the most historically polluted streams. Nine Mile Run was initially identified by Olmstead at the turn of the century for it's opportunity "despite" the sewage problem at the time!

Looking north; Nine Mile Run, and it's watershed emenates from the culverted municipalities of Edgewood, Swissvale, Pittsburgh, and Wilkinsburgh. Combined sewer problems overwhelm the natural flow and effectivly produce a lifeless stream. County Healthy officials have been working for years to rectify the violations.

Like most "post industrial landscapes"... ...there is nothing there. Even on these semi-natural hillsides with stands of Beech and other hardwood... That is..............unless you look closely!