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November 1911. Chicopee, Massachusetts. "Group of workers in Dwight Manufacturing Co. Stanley Twarog, one of the smallest boys, 81 Park Street. Works in spinning room. Tony Soccha, shortest boy in front, overalls. Very young, 65 Exchange Street. A bobbin boy in Room 7; has been there a year." Photograph and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size.
I wonder if little Stanley there ever thought his great-grandson would be a senior partner in one of Boston's most notable law firms.
I wonder what happened to Tony Soccha.
I wonder how many hours a night these kids spend chatting on the internet.
Stanley Michael Twarog lived at 64 Cross Street, Chicopee, in 1910, with his father Michael and his mother Francis along with three siblings. In 1920 he lived at 40 Gilmore Street, with the same family members. He was born May 5 or 11, 1896, in Chicopee. In 1930 he is listed on the census at 246 Bradford Street, Pittsfield, Berkshire County, married to Anna, with three children: Stanley, 4 years 8 months; Evelyn, 2 years 11 months; and Eugene, 1 year 1 month. Stanley Junior, PFC USMCR, was wounded in action in WWII.
Now this bunch, even though they're looking into the sun, don't appear that unhappy. In fact they look like they're really having a good time.
I just spent the last hour reading about the fight between the advocates of child labor laws and the Dwight Manufacturing Company. Thanks, Shorpy, for frequently sparking my intellectual curiosity.
(Dave: Do you have any photos of Braddock, Pa in the 1920's or so?)
I honestly never expected to see a Western Massachusetts picture on Shorpy, let alone Chicopee! (I'm not sure why I thought that.) I live about 1½ miles from that Park Street location. I'm going to have to drive by to see if the building is still there.
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