Now portrays the city through 161 pairs of matching photographs. Each archival image, culled from old books, municipal records, and library collections was rephotographed in 1986-89 from the same camera position, forming an evocation of the past and a record of urban continuity and change. The Early Architecture of Western Pennsylvania is a work of precision, beatuy, and integrity. The 416 photographs present a splendid array of early dwellings, barns and other outbuildings, churches, arsenals, banks, inns, commercial buildings, tollhouses, mills, and tombstones. The 81 measured drawings ignore alterations made after 1860 and show the buildings in their orignial condition, with the floor plan for each structure and line drawings showing the profiles of moldings and ornamentation.
Special attention is given to details such as window sashes, shutters, cornices, and roofs.
Signature stones and hardware convey the quality of the early craftsmen's work, and in all cases stone joining has been faithfully drawn, joint for joint, to record the charm of old wall patterns. Fifield has organized the downtown itineraries into walking tours. The driving portion of the itineraries is easier to follow if the drive has a navigator or has plotted the route ahead of time. Neighborhood maps are included here, but a current city street map is an essential tool. Most of the tours can be completed in one morning or afternoon outing.