Larimer Senior Stories (Sign Project)
2018-2020

From 2018 to 2020, the Larimer Senior Group and artist John Peña collaborated on a temporary work of public art. The project, “Larimer Stories,” consisted of an exterior display structure with removable text that changed every two weeks. The text shared stories from the oldest residents in Larimer about their lives in the neighborhood. Each story unfolded over a series of months while the seasons framed the gradually paced narrative.

Story Number 1

The story below was told by Larimer’s oldest living resident, Anthony J. Mainiero. He continued to collaborate with the group until his death in 2025. As the elder resident, the senior group chose to highlight Tony’s story first in the summer of 2018.

For context, Tony is referring to National Biscuit, aka Nabisco, which was based in the East Liberty/Larimer neighborhood and produced rations during WW II. It is currently the site of Bakery Square and Google Headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA.