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Genesis
“For over 100 years, the lives of the people in the Lehigh Valley have been bound to the
Bethlehem Steel industry as it flourished and as it declined. Night and day, the pulse of
the life of the people in the Valley beat with the sounds of the steelmaking. Then there was
silence and remembrance.”
So begins Billee Nickell Smith, Producer/Videographer, in her script that grew out of the
unsettling calm that followed Bethlehem Steel's close. In the spring of 2000, Smith went to
Photographer/Videographer, Bruce Ward, with her powerful vision: the lives, the rich
experiences, the culture, the dangers, the glory of Bethlehem Steel must be documented!
A
year later, in 2001, after videotaping the personal histories of more than a dozen Steelworkers,
Smith and Ward saw that much more needed to be done and they reached out to the community. A
small group of Steelworkers and community members who are interested in preserving their
cultural history formed the Steelworkers' Archives.
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An overwhelming legacy remains.
After
122 years of steelmaking and the employment of up to 165,000 people in 1957, the once mighty No. 2
U.S. Steelmaker, Bethlehem Steel, made its last cast in Bethlehem on November 18, 1995.
The Last Cast, Morning Call Photo
Whether through work, family or friends, by its bounty or its decline, everyone in the
Lehigh Valley was touched by the Steel.
The Steelworkers' Archives was formed in 2001 to ensure that the legacy of the Steelworkers is
preserved.
The goal of the Steelworkers' Archives is to create a permanent community center in
Southside Bethlehem for the preservation of the history of steelworkers, their rich heritage
and diverse cultures, their struggles and accomplishments.
The Archives will collect and
safeguard artifacts and memorabilia, documenting the extraordinary lives of the men and
women who toiled to create steel. Video and audio recordings of Steelworkers are ongoing.
In addition to viewing the collections, visitors will be able to search genealogical
records and learn about family members who worked at the Steel.
Board of Directors 2006-2007
Wilbur Freitas, President
Ken Ziegenfuss, Jr., Vice President
Jerry Werkheiser, Secretary
Dennis Pearson, Treasurer
Peter DePietro, Trustee
Tom Sedor, Trustee
Rick Walck, Trustee
Richard Check
Lestor Clore
Mike Dzwonczyk
Stanley R. Frantz
Chico Freitas
Mike Kramer
Edward A. Leskin
Amey Senape
Billee Nickell Smith
Bruce Ward
Joe Wilfinger
Archivist
Susan Vitez
Special Thanks to:
Linny Fowler
Joseph and Edward Leskin
PA State Representative Steve Samuelson
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania DCED Community Revitalization Assistance Program
Pennsylvania Federation of Injured Workers
NuNet, Inc. - Jason DiProperzio, John Keown for
donating hosting of this web site
Synergistic Designs - Stanley R. Frantz for
designing and building this web site
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About the Steelworkers' Archives