77 years ago: political graffiti on the 28th Street Bridge

Posted on by

On October 7, 1935, a City photographer recorded this hand-painted political advertisement on the southeast wing wall of the 28th Street Bridge.  Despite the unprofessional quality of his campaign outreach, Joe Dobbs was elected, and was quoted in the Pittsburgh Press on Friday, April 11, 1941 about the “rampant” numbers business in the 6th Ward (which includes Polish Hill), and how the police would not co-operate.

It should be noted that  many hard-working, church-going Polish Hill residents played the numbers in those days; it was just a part of life.  Most of the people interviewed by Mark O’Connor for his oral history project recounted being sent by parents or grandparents to pass along a scrap of paper and a few pennies for the daily numbers.

Constable Dobbs’ request was opposed by Alderman John Fiorucci, who said, “… why should Dobbs ask to have two deputy constables appointed?  The numbers business isn’t rampant.  And besides, Dobbs doesn’t do any work as constable himself.  He hasn’t done any since the six month following his election in November, 1934”.

It’s interesting that this graffiti remained in place for almost a year after the election — and that someone from the City saw fit to record it.

4 thoughts on “77 years ago: political graffiti on the 28th Street Bridge”

  1. The name “kiddo’ on the wall was also Alderman John Fiorucci’s nick name. Alderman Fiorucci lived 2 doors away from me at the rear of Herron and Ruthven Street.

  2. Joe Dobbs (Dobrosielski), from Paulowna Street, was later elected Allegheny County Coroner, despite being a carpenter with political connections but little education. He was the main reason why the office of Coroner became an appointed position and a person like Cyril Wecht ended up in the job.

  3. yep I remember the numbers game in fact my dad won when i was born he played our house number 955 because thats the time I was born.and as I grew up I was one of those kids that they gave the notes too and the money to give popeye to play the numbers.

  4. @Dee, Iforgot about thename Popeye being one of the numbers runners. I don’t think my parents played the numbers, at least I didnt knpw about it.

Comments are closed.