Bricks and mortar.
It's still a common phrase
for a physical building,
even though the construction industry
now relies on many more engineered materials
than just bricks, blocks, and stone to build structures.
It's still a common phrase
for a physical building,
even though the construction industry
now relies on many more engineered materials
than just bricks, blocks, and stone to build structures.
But a hundred years ago
one of the principal skilled trades
that helped build modern America
was that of the bricklayer.
It was work that required
specialist knowledge of construction methods,
mathematical calculations, and stamina.
Lots of stamina.
one of the principal skilled trades
that helped build modern America
was that of the bricklayer.
It was work that required
specialist knowledge of construction methods,
mathematical calculations, and stamina.
Lots of stamina.
In fact the ancient tools of a mason,
the compass and the square,
became the symbols of Freemasonry,
a fraternal society which originated
in part from the medieval craft guilds of stonemasons.
the compass and the square,
became the symbols of Freemasonry,
a fraternal society which originated
in part from the medieval craft guilds of stonemasons.
However those first masons did not use any musical tools
like the tuba, clarinet, or cornet in their guilds order.
But these brickies from
Pennsylvania certainly did.
like the tuba, clarinet, or cornet in their guilds order.
But these brickies from
Pennsylvania certainly did.
They are the
Bricklayers Band
of the Bethlehems PA. Union No. 8.
Bricklayers Band
of the Bethlehems PA. Union No. 8.
This large photo about 4" by 10"
shows 26 men dressed in a simple uniform
of white duck trousers, white shirt and broad cap
standing on a brick sidewalk and portico
and holding various wind band instruments.
shows 26 men dressed in a simple uniform
of white duck trousers, white shirt and broad cap
standing on a brick sidewalk and portico
and holding various wind band instruments.
The plural Bethlehems on the bass drum head
refers to the collective townships
of Bethlehem, South Bethlehem, and West Bethlehem,
which are divided by the Lehigh River and Monocacy Creek.
In 1917 they merged into the singular community of Bethlehem, PA.
This wonderful birds-eye view map of Bethlehems
from the Library of Congress archives was made in 1878
and shows off dozens of major structures -
churches, banks, factories, and homes,
all made of brick and stone.
refers to the collective townships
of Bethlehem, South Bethlehem, and West Bethlehem,
which are divided by the Lehigh River and Monocacy Creek.
In 1917 they merged into the singular community of Bethlehem, PA.
This wonderful birds-eye view map of Bethlehems
from the Library of Congress archives was made in 1878
and shows off dozens of major structures -
churches, banks, factories, and homes,
all made of brick and stone.
 |
| 1878 Birds-eye view of Bethlehems, PA Source: www.loc.gov |
Except for the bass drum, the photo is unmarked. But the name and place of the band was enough to quickly find it in the October 1912 edition of The Bricklayer Mason and Plasterer, the aptly named official journal of the Bricklayers, Masons, and Plasterers International Union of America. This trade union was formed in 1865 and is the oldest labor organization in North America as it also represents Canadian workers hence the "international union" label. In 1912 its journal included sections written in French, Italian, and German, the later printed in the old Fraktur typeface.
 |
| October 1912 The Bricklayer, Mason, and Plasterer Source: Google Books |
Subtitled "An Illustrated Monthly" the Bricklayer, Mason, and Plasterer was filled with dense reports on union affairs; lengthy lists of building contracts; numerous ads for levels and trowels; admonishments to Smoke Union Made Cigars and Tobacco; and a surprising number of photos.
_ _ _
 |
| August 1912 The Bricklayer, Mason, and Plasterer Source: Google Books |
In 1912 bricklayers were evidently suspicious of concrete construction, as this "new" engineering was considered inferior to fireproof brick and susceptible to catastrophic failure. Every month the journal reported on building collapses with photos of cracked or disintegrating concrete. Interestingly in 1912 the journal also reported on the finishing work on the Woolworth Building in New York City. With 57 floors and a height of 792 feet it was the tallest building in the world from 1913 to 1930. It required an enormous number of bricks.
_ _ _
But my real reason for reading through an old trade union journal was found on page 248 in the journal's "mail bag" section. It is a copy of the identical photo, captioned Bricklayers' Band, Union No. 8 Pa. A letter accompanies the image:
 |
| October 1912 The Bricklayer, Mason, and Plasterer Source: Google Books |
No. 8 Pa. Takes Part in Labor Day Parade.
The Bricklayer, Mason and Plasterer:
Under another cover we are sending you a photograph of the Bricklayers' Band of Union No. 8 Pa., which made its first public appearance on Labor Day, accompanied by about 130 members of the union. We proceeded to Bangor, Pa., on two special cars to take part in the Four Cities Labor Day parade.
Our Bricklayers' Band was organized May 8, 1911, and under the leadership of our worthy vice-president, Brither Steyers, it has become a grand success.
With best wishes to one and all, I remain,
Yours fraternally,
Emery Haney,
Secretary No. 8 Pa.
Bethlehem, Pa., Septermber 29, 1912
* * *
The Bricklayers' Union Band of Bethlehems had a short life to judge by the absence of any reports of the band in Pennsylvania newspapers after 1917. As the war years disrupted so much of American manufacturing and industry, employment for bricklayers probably became too challenging for the union to keep up its musical subsection.
Laying long repetitive courses of brick is hard methodical work. The sound of tapping bricks and slapping mortar into place is actually quite a rhythmic skill that trains the ear for a steady tempo. So did bricklayers whistle while they worked?
This is my contribution to Sepia Saturday
where everyone needs another brick in the wall.
where everyone needs another brick in the wall.
4 comments:
Good question, about whistling brick layers. No idea. I enjoyed learning a bit about a building trade, and I imagine it continues today.
Excellent post. I wasn't sure what to contribute and you've done well.
You seem to be able to match every theme with you band photos! My great-grandfather was a Baptist minister, but earned money to feed his family by working as a plasterer. I was surprised to find a picture of him that appears to be participation in a local parade with his plasterers (and others) union - all dressed in white with white hats. Maybe I'll find some records one of these days.
Great photo and story behind it. I worked a couple of blocks from the Woolworth Building for years...will look at it with new eyes after reading your post. I also have an ancestral connection to bricks: One of my German great-grandfathers on my Mom's side arrived in the U.S. in the mid 1800s and set up a brickworks in Gloversville, N.Y. -- from which the makings of many of the town buildings came.
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