Edward M. Chorzempa worked at Jacob Finkelstein & Sons from 1939 until 1942, when he enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces at the age of 21. At the firm, he worked multiple jobs; cutter, sewing machine operator, and canvas worker, focusing most of his efforts in the cutting room. By all accounts, he was a most popular young man; handsome, bright and extremely athletic. Eddie was born in 1921, graduated high school in in 1938 and joined the Armed Forces on July 11, 1942.

Julie was born and lived most of her life in Woonsocket, she was for a time referred to as "The Beautiful Girl on Willow Street". Julie worked in the mills while her soon to be husband William Bedard, was away in the Korean War. Julie and William were married on September 6, 1948 and remain married to this day. They have 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Julie grew up speaking french at home and took English classes while at school. Julie and her 2 sisters taught their parents how to speak English. Julie lived in a triple decker in Woonsocket until her marriage.

Sophie worked in the mills for over 30 years. She was a founding member of St. Stanislaus Church in Woonsocket.

Bill worked full time on the second shift in the mills while still in high school to help support his family. He was the oldest of 3 boys. Bill enlisted in the Coast Guard after high school at age 18 during WWII. Upon returning from the War he married Julie Blanchette. They have been married for 69 years. Bill joined the reserves after WWII and his unit was activated during the Korean War and again he was shipped out to Africa. Bill was able to complete his schooling after the Korean War attending Providence College and going on to get his Masters at Brown.

Albert served in the U.S. Army as a military policeman. He ever married. Al spent a good deal of his life caring for his mother and his sister who was wheelchair bound. Sadly, he died in a car accident in 2001 at the age of 79.

Marie Ursule Agathe Payeur was born on March 19, 1907 in Notre Dame de Ham, PQ, Canada. Ursule was the 6th child of Arthur and Marie Louise Payeur. Arthur was the owner of the Fortin-Payeur “embouteilleure” soft drink bottling company and Marie Louise was a mother, homemaker and seamstress. Ursule spent her first 15 years in Notre Dame de Ham and Thetford Mines, Canada. Then in 1922 the family decided to move to Springvale, Maine and in 1923 they moved again and this time it was to Woonsocket, RI.

Don worked in the mills during his summers off from school. Working in the mills also gave Don an appreciation of just how hard working in a mill could be. The mills gave him the opportunity to pursue and fund a college education.

Clem Labine was a fixture on the iconic Brooklyn Dodgers baseball teams of the 1950s, sharing the field with future Hall of Famers like Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Duke Snider, Sandy Koufax and Pee Wee Reese. But before and after his remarkable fourteen-year pro ball career, (3 World Series rings and 2 All Star appearances), Clem was also a fixture on the “Jacob Finkelstein & Sons team”. Clem began working at the factory during his high school summers, beginning in 1942 at the age of sixteen. In 1944 he enlisted with the 101st Airborne and served until 1946.