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Recent Steel Related News
Steelworkers Share Experiences with Northampton Community College Students
Archive members Susan Vitez, Richie Check, Lester Clore, Marlene Burkey, Lorraine Farrel, Ed Leskin,
and Dennis Pearson shared their experiences working at Bethlehem Steel with members of NCC's Update Class
on On April 20th, 2011. The class expressed its thanks for their efforts in this letter.
Last Cast 10-Year Anniversary
“Remembering the Last Cast at Bethlehem Steel:
A Community Reflects as it Forges its Future”
DATE: Saturday, November 19, 2005
TIME: 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Zoellner, Baker Hall, Lehigh Univ.
On November 18, 1995, Bethlehem Steel made its last cast and the blast
furnaces were extinguished forever. Ten years later, on Saturday, November 19, 2005, the community will
gather to remember the impact of “The Steel” on Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley. It will feature
professional musician Roland Kushner, singing songs about the lives of steelworkers interspersed with
brief monologues by period steelworkers about different eras spanning the history of Bethlehem Steel.
The presentation will also include a montage of photographs of the Steel site past and present as well
as video clips from oral histories taken of former steelworkers. The evening will conclude with a
question and answer reception where audience members can interact with participants, former
steelworkers, local artists and other organizations dedicated to preserving the memory of Bethlehem
Steel and the community. This event will be organized by Amey Senape and Andrea Freimuth, both graduate
students at Lehigh University working through the History Department, and directed by George Miller &
Kate Scuffle. Monologues will be given by Stan Frantz, Pat Sonne, Bruce Ward, Pete DePietro and Jerry
Werkheiser.
Join us for an evening of reflection on “The Steel” and what it meant for the Lehigh Valley as we look to
the future.
This FREE event features:
- Songs about Steelworkers by Roland Kushner
- Performance monologues chronicling the history of Bethlehem’s steelworkers written & directed by
George Miller & Kate Scuffle
- Mixed-media presentations
- Community reception including refreshments and Q&A with former steelworkers, local artists and
organizations dedicated to preserving the memory of Bethlehem Steel and our community
Sponsored by:The South Bethlehem Historical Society, Lehigh University’s History, American Studies,
Science, Technology & Society and Office of Community & Regional Affairs Departments, The PA Federation of
Injured Workers, Steelworkers’ Archives, Save Our Steel and Fox Optical.
Workers Return to the Steel with Photography Project
Where's Joe?
The Ghosts of Bethlehem Steel, Part III
digital photographs by Theo Anderson
On Friday, March 18,2005, six former steelworkers and two Lehigh
University photographers were granted permission by the new owners of
the former Bethlehem Steel property to access areas of the former Bethlehem
Plant that were not part of the super security zone that visitation
except for a select few was strictly forbidden.
These six former steelworkers were part of a project envisioned by
the Lehigh University photographers to take pictures of the now abandoned
plant placing former steelworkers in the setting.
The mission this day was highly successful as the former steelworkers
were both excited and nostalgic about the visit to the former worksite
which occupied most of their time during their working years. The fact
is, that that to them the Bethlehem Steel was a community which ebbed
and flowed and was very much apart of their lives.
Facilities toured were the former # 2 machine shop, the rigger's
wash room, the EFN, the blowing engine house, the treatment facility
for naval guns and the Blast Furnace.
The eyes of Rick Check, Lester Clore lighted up as they inspected
their former wash room .... And were amused by still existent writings
on the wall about a former boss and discovery of a library of adult
material still tucked away in a desk.
Les Clore and Pete De Pietro saw reminders of their past campaigns
for Union Office still pasted on the wall ... And then the discovery
of a working schedule which contained the name of Richard Check and
Bruce Ward, former President of the Steel Workers Archives (but not
on this tour).
Ken Zeigenfuss an electrician was featured in pictures taken at the
EFN where he had worked among many other places.
And of course, Dennis Pearson was happy to see again and be photographed
at the # 2 Machine Shop where he had worked as a summer employee
during his college years .... But at the same time Pearson saw that
almost all of the facilities he had worked at during his regular employment
years was gone .... The Spring Pit Air Compressor Station, The Merchant
Mill Air Compression Station, Lehigh River Pump House, Saucon River
Pump House, and # 1 and #2 Boiler House .... What remained to be seen
by him was a still existent Lehigh River inlet which he had been sent
many times to rake to keep debris fro clogging up the water intake line
, gas traps which he services as trap man, and finally the Blowing
engines at the Power House where he had gone with as a bag carrier for
Millwrights when they were sent there to service Boiler House equipment
there.
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