Dave-good speaking with you for a few minutes on the phone today. I'm glad you enjoyed your view from the top of Carrie furnace. There used to be a "hot metal bridge" that ran from Carrie across the Mon to the Homestead plant. There would be a train of submarine cars(hot metal cars) of molten steel brought to the Homestead plant for processing. The bridge used to be approximately where the east Waterfront bridge entrance is next to the blue Italian Marcegaglia steel co building is today. Part of the Italian steel building used to be the old 140 inch mill spares building.
Bill-When I started working at the Homestead works in the early 70's, there were 8,000-10,000 people working at the plant. I worked in No 1 Machine Shop(there were 3 machine shops in the Homestead Works)which was part of Central Maintenance-we did the bulk of major repairs/rebuilding for all of the steelmaking equipment of US Steel's plants throughout the Mon Valley. Our shop was nicknamed "The Big Shop" As you said-it was hard work but there were good paying jobs for those who would work and by applying yourself, individuals could work their way up the ladder through apprenticeships and experience. Unfortunately many of these types of industrial jobs have gone by the wayside. I started by sweeping the floors as a laborer and after moving up a little at a time, got on the machinist apprenticeship, and after 8,500 hours of school and on the job training, I received my journeyman machinist papers in 1979. My last day of work there, I doubled out(worked 16 hrs) and then my foreman told me that was probably my last day(it was). That was 1983. Sorry to wander off topic-I could go on for hours.
Nick
Nick,
I always enjoy our conversations!
Dave
