Ancestral Golden Era Jobs

Paisley · May 2, 2006

My dad's father was in the cavalry (when they were on horseback) and then was a blacksmith & homesteader. He married the schoolteacher who boarded with his parents. During WWII, they went to Washington state and worked in a shipyard where aircraft carriers were built. My grandmother was a welding inspector.

My mom's dad was a farmer; her brother fought in WWII and I think he later had a car dealership.

Both my parents had relatives who moved to Washington state during the 30s to get jobs picking apples. Some of the descendants still live in the area and work in the apple processing plants. But my dad's cousin did really well in business: he bought a McDonald's franchise.

PrettyBigGuy · May 2, 2006

My paternal Grandfather was a machinist durring WWII. He had 3 brothers, 1 of which was also a machinist and the two of them worked on components for the atomic bomb. The other 2 brothers went to war (where one was KIA). After the war my grandparents opened a neighborhood grocery store / deli in Chicago. Supermarkets eventually did in that business, so after that he drove a delivery truck for a bakery and she went to work making hearing-aids for Zenith.
I'm not sure about my maternal grandparents, but I think my grandfather and his brother ran a printing company for a while. I'll have to research this. Great thread!
PBG

Tin Pan Sally · May 2, 2006

Father; Professor Emeritus of Bacteriology
Mother; Registered Nurse
Paternal Grandfather; Shipping, poultry buyer
Paternal Grandmother; Seamstress
Maternal Grandfather; Musician (he could play anything)
Maternal Grandmother; Milliner
I come from a long line of hat-makers and musicians. How funny.

My parents met when my mother was in nurses training on a special program that allowed her to go for free as long as she would serve in WWII upon completion. The war ended before she was done. My father was an orderly in the same hospital in Chicago. Their romance wwas interupted when he went to fight in WWII and became a decorated soldier. When he returned stateside he decided to specialize in preventative research in microbiology rather than become a physician. He became a dean and head of the bacteriology dept at university. He also decided to marry my mother. They were very respectful and loving to each other and remained married 45 years. My father became very ill with emphysema (like many WWII vets who saw combat). He died in the hospital with my mother by his side holding his hand.
Yes, it is a novel in the making actually.

Vladimir Berkov · May 2, 2006

My maternal grandfather started out as a salesman, later the manager of a plumbing supply company in New Mexico. His wife was a housewife, although I am not sure what she did before she met him.

My paternal grandfather also was originally a salesman, also a shirt model for Arrow shirts. He started his own steel fabrication business which still is in operation, my father is now the president. His wife was a secretary for the president of Columbia University in the 20s before she married him, then she was a housewife.

Berlin Buster · May 2, 2006

One grandfather worked for his father's construction business as a carpenter's apprentice before the War, and afterwards, took it over (probably would have done so sooner if Pearl Harbor had not happened); the other grandfather was an errand boy before he lied about his age and joined the Merchant Marines in the late 30's.

Both Grandmothers were still in school during the Golden Age, surprisingly enough - though after WWII both dropped out of school, lied about their ages, and married my grandfathers. One set is still married to this day, the other grandmother is a recent widow.

Lincsong · May 3, 2006

Everyone here has quite a mix of occupations and family history. I forgot my Dad, who came of age in the 1940's so he qualifies. He got his first job at 15 years old working at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941 was exactly one week after he turned 16. He watched the attack from the house where he was living in the Kalihi (Ka-Lee-He) section of Honolulu. He was sleeping and heard the sounds of bombs and bullets, he looked out of the window and Pearl Harbor was covered in smoke. He looked above him and saw Japanese planes.

Since his job at Pearl Harbor was not considered War Essential he was drafted in January 1944, one month after turning 18. When he showed up at the Army induction he was asked what did he want to do, he replied; airplanes. So they sent him into the Army Air Corps. He went to boot camp in Wichita Falls, Texas and spent the next year being shipped to airfields in Wyoming, Idaho and finally Marin County, California where he spent the remainder of the war waiting to be shipped to the Pacific.

When the war ended he was sent back to Hawaii where he got his old job back but was laid off six months later. Some friends had written him from California and told him to move back to California because there were plenty of jobs. So he paid $600 for a one way ticket on Pan Am to California.

Big Man · May 4, 2006

Talk about working ...

I never knew my grandfather Brown, as he died 20 some years prior to my birth, but I grew up hearing stories about him to the point that I feel like I know him. It was said that he was a man who liked to joke, and always had something interesting to say.

When talking about work, he would often tell folks: "I've been working all my life, even from the time I was born."

This statement would generally solicit a response of: "Why, Mr. Brown, you know you didn't have to work when you were a baby."

My grandfather would then smile and say: "Of course I did, I milked and spread manure from day one."

Naama · May 4, 2006

My grandmother was a nurse and a conductor for the tramway (no, not at the same time), her brother was a trucker and had to serve during WWII as well (even if he didn't wanted to) where he was pronounced dead (when he really was only injured very badly) and then got into war captivity. "Funny" thing (if you want to call it that) when my grandma and he are talking about the pronounced dead thing he doesn't want to belive her when she says how upset the whole family was..... Strange old man he is...........

Naama

Baron Kurtz · May 4, 2006

Paternal Grandfather was a painter. Grandmother a librarian & freelance seamstress ...

Maternal grandfather was a painter. Grandmother stay at home (largely because of crippling wartime injury (drunken GI in his jeep ran her over)) ...

bk

GateXC · May 4, 2006

Paternal grandfather was a glider pilot with the 13th Airborne in WWII but never saw action. He was 28 when he went into the service and all the other guys in his outfit called him "Pops" as he was so much older than they were. After the war he was the fire supervisor for Scovil Manufacturing in Waterbury, CT.

Paternal grandmother worked at Scovils during the war assembling Norden bombsights and then stayed home to take care of the kids.

They also ran/owned a small Italian grocery store in Waterbury for several years in the 40s and 50s.

Maternal grandfather was a blacksmith back in Austria til WWII when he was drafted into the German Army. During the war he was stationed around Salzburg and ran the smoke machines that hid the valleys from Allied bombers. Post-war he became an auto mechanic (knowing nothing about cars) but picked it up real fast and eventually was running the largest garage in Graz, Austria before moving to NYC in the early '50s where he continued as a mechanic.

Maternal grandmother kept the home.

fortworthgal · May 4, 2006

My paternal grandfather was a machinist until he was killed in the war in 1944. Paternal grandmother was a stay-at-home mom.

My maternal grandfather ran a dairy and worked part-time in the Worcester State Hospital in Massachusetts - the old, beautiful Kirkbride building:
http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/buildings/worcester.html

One of my uncles works at the new hospital today. Maternal grandmother assisted with the dairy and was a stay-at-home mom.

Big Man · May 4, 2006

fortworthgal said:
... My maternal grandfather ran a dairy and worked part-time in the Worcester State Hospital in Massachusetts - the old, beautiful Kirkbride building:
http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/buildings/worcester.html

One of my uncles works at the new hospital today ...

Very interesting link. The old "state hospitals" were/are some really interesting places. I work at Broughton Hospital http://www.broughtonhospital.org, which is also a Kirkbride Plan hospital. We were founded in 1875, and my great grandfather (on my Mother's side) as well as my grandfather and grandmother (on my Dad's side) worked here.

All of our old buildings are still in use. It is such a shame to see so many of these old buildings, built in such grand style, sitting abandoned.

Pilgrim · May 4, 2006

My maternal grandfather was a farmhand and worked at a variety of jobs, dying early of alcoholism. As a result, my mother is very sensitive on the subject of drinking.

My paternal grandfather worked for Westinghouse in the Pittsburgh area for many years. I learned a few years ago that he was the foreman of the crew that turned the armatures (the rotating parts) that went into the electrical generators in Boulder Dam.

More on this story: Boulder Dam - completed in 1935 - was a huge project and everything in it was built a a huge scale. For many years, it was the world's largest dam. Part of its function is generating 2.8 million kilowatts of power annually. The electrical generators installed in the dam were so big that only one lathe in the US was capable of creating armatures to fit, as they were required to be more than two stories tall. Therefore, the job was assigned to Westinghouse, where my grandfather was the foreman of the crew assigned to the job! (The dam was re-named Hoover Dam in 1947.)

I assume the completed armatures were shipped west via railroad and installed on-site.

fortworthgal · May 5, 2006

Big Man said:
Very interesting link. The old "state hospitals" were/are some really interesting places. I work at Broughton Hospital http://www.broughtonhospital.org, which is also a Kirkbride Plan hospital. We were founded in 1875, and my great grandfather (on my Mother's side) as well as my grandfather and grandmother (on my Dad's side) worked here.

All of our old buildings are still in use. It is such a shame to see so many of these old buildings, built in such grand style, sitting abandoned.

How interesting that you work in a Kirkbride building! I didn't know any of them were still in use. They are so beautiful in kind of a strange, surreal way - almost like something out of a storybook. It is certainly an interesting architectural choice for an asylum!

My grandparents ran a dairy for a while, and then operated a farm. My grandfather worked part time at the Worcester Hospital for many years, ranging from about the mid 30s up through the 60s I believe, when the Kirkbride building closed. I have no clue what he did there - I do know that he worked in the "violent patients" ward for a while, and once a patient ripped a large chunk of his hair (and scalp) out during some type of melee. My Uncle - his youngest son - now works at the new Worcester State Hospital. Once he sent me a couple of stamped facility towels. I thought that was the coolest thing ever. lol

Zach R. · May 5, 2006

I know that my paternal great-grandfather was a mill supervisor in Gastonia, North Carolina. He was the guy that controlled the moneybox and ALWAYS had a cigar in his mouth.
My paternal grandfather worked at the Pentagon from right before the war ended and through his four years of service. I believe thereafter he became a salesman...now he just plays golf everyday.

My paternal grandmother, who died when my dad was in his early twenties(mid '80s), was a homemaker.

My maternal grandfather isn't as old, he was a boy during the '50s and has had various jobs, from working in a cotton mill as a young man to a self-employed package courier to a white-collar office manager.
My maternal grandmother was a seamstress(as far as I know) until I was born, when she quit so that she could look after her new grandson.

I'm not very close with my father's father(and his wife), but I don't go two days without seeing my mother's parents.

Benny Holiday · May 5, 2006

So many interesting stories!

I only just received my Dad's war service record, which I applied for a few weeks back. When he joined the Air Force, in July 1943, he was 18 years old and his occupation was listed as 'electrical welder'. He'd been in the Army before that, but they found he was under age and discharged him.

After he was discharged from the RAAF in January '46, he was a mechanic and truck driver, and that's how he met my Mum's father, who had previously been a dock worker (wharfie in Aussie terms). They drove trucks from Sydney to Melbourne from the 1940's into the 50's.

Oddly enough, my maternal Grandad was 13 years older than Dad. They were good friends, and that's how Dad met Mum . . . who was 13 years younger than Dad!

I've only ever heard my grandmothers spoken of as being housewives. I wonder if they had any wartime jobs? I'll have to investigate that one.

warbird · May 5, 2006

My paternal great grandfather was a soldier in the Spanish American War. He was injured and released from the military in San Fransisco. He decided to walk back home to Tennessee. Spent the next year or more doing so. He did take a few train rides along the way. He married a full blooded Cherokee woman and became a farmer with 10 boys and 2 girls. All of his sons became career military officers, all serving in WWII, and all surviving.

His daughter, my grandmother, was a surgical nurse. She also was an elected official who represented her district here in the state house for 16 years.

My paternal grandfather an officer in the military, as were all of his 5 brothers, then he came home to run the courthouse. He eventually became vice-mayor.

My maternal grandmother was born in Europe, but moved to the US at 13 to enter the University of Chicago. Yes, she was a smart lady, but I think they did start college somewhat earlier back then. She graduated with her doctorate at 20 and became a missionary, going to southeastern Africa (Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and Mozambique) for the next 30 years. She was the most fascinating person I have ever known. Was fluent in 10 languages and could speak in 4 or 5 more. She ended up starting a orphanage and had her children writing to her all of her life. Of course many were in their eighties themselves by the time she died.

My maternal grandfather was a minister, nationally syndicated newspaper columnist and author. He read a story in a Chicago newspaper about my grandmother and started to write to her. Eventually he went to Africa to meet her, they fell in love and he married her. He was 75, she was 45. They ended up with two daughters and moved back to the states. He died at 80 however, and she lived until just a few years ago, dying at 104. She ministered until well into her eighties and went hiking with me until into her nineties.

Marc Chevalier · May 5, 2006

warbird said:
He was 75, she was 45. They ended up with two daughters ...

Adopted?

Tin Pan Sally · May 5, 2006

Yeah, a woman at 45 is still fertile, but 75 is too old to reproduce, isn't it? My parents were in their 40s when they had me (I was a surprise)

"Doc" Devereux · May 5, 2006

Tin Pan Sally said:
Yeah, a woman at 45 is still fertile, but 75 is too old to reproduce, isn't it? My parents were in their 40s when they had me (I was a surprise)

Tell that to Charlie Chaplin.

To the best of my knowledge, once a man has hit puberty he's fertile for the rest of his life.

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