Its 10:40 am and
Jan. 24th, 2005 10:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dancerjodiI paid my bills. I finally programmed phone #s into my cell phone (so that I can leave my address book out of my purse). AND, I finished my book on http://nhpr.org/view_content/7178/ .
I enjoyed it quite a bit - an easy read, though it kind of jumped around. I think it gives a good picture of what life was like in the early industrial mills, the friction around immigration, the poor conditions of workers, the early efforts of fledgeling labor unions, the impact of WWII on economy, and industry changes resulting in massive loss of jobs. Most of the book focused on the mills in Lawrence in Lowell (where a majority in New England were), though they talked a bit at the beginning of the Waltham Mill (it was the first) and those in other areas such as New Bedford, Fall River, and in NH (Manchester and Nashua).
I loved this final paragraph:
"The rivers of New England long ago ceased to generate power for the mill machines that clothed the world. Now, on warm, sun-filled days the rivers carry people on canoes and kayaks as they explore the old industrial waterways. They are people who work in sleek technology plants and gleaming skyscrapers. They shop at L.L. Bean and in glittering malls and do not worry about bread money. In the distance, they see the deserted mills with weeds reaching up to shattered windows and gloomy interiors. They wonder about the past, about ghosts, about broken dreams. They turn around and drift downstream, searching for scenery more pleasing to the eye."
I enjoyed it quite a bit - an easy read, though it kind of jumped around. I think it gives a good picture of what life was like in the early industrial mills, the friction around immigration, the poor conditions of workers, the early efforts of fledgeling labor unions, the impact of WWII on economy, and industry changes resulting in massive loss of jobs. Most of the book focused on the mills in Lawrence in Lowell (where a majority in New England were), though they talked a bit at the beginning of the Waltham Mill (it was the first) and those in other areas such as New Bedford, Fall River, and in NH (Manchester and Nashua).
I loved this final paragraph:
"The rivers of New England long ago ceased to generate power for the mill machines that clothed the world. Now, on warm, sun-filled days the rivers carry people on canoes and kayaks as they explore the old industrial waterways. They are people who work in sleek technology plants and gleaming skyscrapers. They shop at L.L. Bean and in glittering malls and do not worry about bread money. In the distance, they see the deserted mills with weeds reaching up to shattered windows and gloomy interiors. They wonder about the past, about ghosts, about broken dreams. They turn around and drift downstream, searching for scenery more pleasing to the eye."
