The picture shows my mom in a hat at work, celebrating her 18th birthday. They had gathered in the place where they took breaks at lunch to enjoy it together. My mom is wearing the hat while a coworker holds her cake.
My mom's dad, Josephat St Jean, was the forman in the card room at Woonsocket Spinning.
Born February 12, 1869 in Glasgow, Scotland, William Naismith, son of Archibald and Anne Naismith, arrived in the United States in November, 1891. He took up a position as a designer at Hall and Company worsted wool manufacturing in Jamestown, New York.
Other than the U.S. Army working at Pohlson's was Joseph's only job. He was with them for 60 years rising from stock clerk to foreman and finally the owner of the company
I worked part-time after school and some summers. My job was to inspect second quality elastic (ie. for underwear, etc.). It was hot summers. No air conditioning. One summer, I was the youngest employee and worked with many older workers. It was noisy due to the machinery and sometimes hot, yet one of the best jobs I ever had due to the camaraderie!
Harold was the oldest of 6 children, 5 boys and 1 girl. Harold's father, Louis Sadwin started Sadwin Manufacturing which was later owned and operated by two of his brothers, Sherwood and Dan. Sherwood and Dan's partnership eventually dissolved with Dan opening up his own business on Social Street while Sherwood continued running Sadwin's.
There were two Sadwin locations. Harold owned the Sadwin's which initially opened on Court Street, moved to Main Street and then moved to its final location on Park Avenue.
Frances worked at the Finkelstein mill as a seamstress for 48 years.
Archie worked very hard as a card tender. He was dedicated to the mill and took pride in his work. He was never once late to work and if overtime was available he almost always volunteered.
Working as a winder was hard work, especially in the summer when the windows of the mill could not be opened. Ella was on her feet all day.
Delia was hired by the Woonsocket Rubber Company during World War II as a defense worker. Her duties during the war years included working on materials used in the camouflaging of U.S ships, U.S. aircraft and air landing strips in an effort to mislead the enemy. This work was secret and Delia did not speak of it until after the war ended.
Delia remained at Woonsocket Rubber after the end of World War II, working until 1955.
