Stephen E. O'Donnell

Submitted by Woonsocket_Admin on Mon, 09/05/2016 - 13:04
Submitter's First Name
Paul
Submitter's Last Name
O'Donnell
Relationship to Honoree
Son
Submitter's Phone Number
4012748064
Submitter's Email Address
pmpdonnell@att.net
Donation Amount
25.00
Mill Employee First Name
Stephen
Mill Employee Middle Name
Edward
Mill Employee Last Name
O'Donnell
Mill Employee Birth Date
Mill Employee Birthplace
Norwood, MA
Mill Employee Workplace 1
Norwood Press
Job Title 1
Printing Pressman
Mill Employee Start Date 1
1935
Mill Employee End Date 1
1956
Mill Employee Nickname
Steve
Mill Employee Ethnic Identity
Irish
Mill Employee School
Norwood High School
Mill Employee House Worship
St. Catherine's of Sienna (Norwood, MA)
Biography Text

Steve left high school in his sophomore year in order in order to work and help support his family. He eventually went on to become the Shop Steward for the Printer's Union at Norwood Press. His son, Paul, has memories of his father going over the lists of workers' names on Sundays and other organizing activities for the Union. The union meetings for Norwood Press were held at the Lithuanian Hall in Norwood.

Steve  was laid off of his job in the 1950's. The company which owned the mill at that time, Berwick and Smith, sold it to a different company which then promptly moved all operations down South. Needless to say being laid off like this was very upsetting and Steve often found himself unemployed for many years after. He eventually found full time, permanent work at Plimpton Press for the last 10 years of his working life.

His son remembers his father always had ink under his fingernails, part of the job. He also remembers his father telling him to not get into the printing business as he could see how much of the jobs being done by people were becoming automated. His son became a teacher instead.