My maternal grandfather was employed by the CCC in California and did some of the work in the parks in and around Yosemite and the John Muir area on the coast. The place where we would picnic when I was growing up in Southern Oregon had a park that was created by the CCC, and had amazing stone fireplaces for cooking. My Mom was proud of the work her Dad had done.
My maternal grandfather was employed by the CCC in California and did some of the work in the parks in and around Yosemite and the John Muir area on the coast. The place where we would picnic when I was growing up in Southern Oregon had a park that was created by the CCC, and had amazing stone fireplaces for cooking. My Mom was proud of the work her Dad had done.
During the Depression, my grandfather, who was disabled due to a club foot, worked in the shipyards along the Delaware River. Because of his kindness, fairness, genuine humility and respect for each person he met, he was a white man who managed the segregated African American part of the shipyard. I guess due to segregation, a black manager wasn't allowed and no
other white man was willing to work there. I still have a hardhat from his work that has the word 'Captain' scratched in by hand by his crew. He respected the hard work his crews did and they respected him in turn. He never had any problems working in that capacity. He was able to provide for his family. Before that government job, they were hungry much of the time. Turnips and fried bologna were a staple. He was, of course, a wonderful grandfather. One rarely meets a human being who respects and validates people for who they are, ...nothing else is required.
BR, it'd be great to have met your granddad. He sounds like our Grinny (grandmother who smiled a lot!). She marched on Washington with Rev Dr King, and always said that she shared his dream. Still, we got her to stop driving in the nick of time.
TPJ...What an inspiration! An activist 'Grinny'! Truly wonderful to have a person like that in your life. Wish I had known her. She must have been fascinating to talk with.
Grinny was committed but genteel. Her daughter & my mom? Now there was a FEROCIOUS liberal Democrat!
Living in 1930s-40s NYC, Grinny attended numerous parties with scruffy, impassioned leftist fellow-travelers. She wasn't interested in ideology, and speculated that they came partly for free food & drinks. A bit of a snob, she also thought that they should bathe more often.
My maternal grandfather was employed by the CCC in California and did some of the work in the parks in and around Yosemite and the John Muir area on the coast. The place where we would picnic when I was growing up in Southern Oregon had a park that was created by the CCC, and had amazing stone fireplaces for cooking. My Mom was proud of the work her Dad had done.
During the Depression, my grandfather, who was disabled due to a club foot, worked in the shipyards along the Delaware River. Because of his kindness, fairness, genuine humility and respect for each person he met, he was a white man who managed the segregated African American part of the shipyard. I guess due to segregation, a black manager wasn't allowed and no
other white man was willing to work there. I still have a hardhat from his work that has the word 'Captain' scratched in by hand by his crew. He respected the hard work his crews did and they respected him in turn. He never had any problems working in that capacity. He was able to provide for his family. Before that government job, they were hungry much of the time. Turnips and fried bologna were a staple. He was, of course, a wonderful grandfather. One rarely meets a human being who respects and validates people for who they are, ...nothing else is required.
BR, it'd be great to have met your granddad. He sounds like our Grinny (grandmother who smiled a lot!). She marched on Washington with Rev Dr King, and always said that she shared his dream. Still, we got her to stop driving in the nick of time.
TPJ...What an inspiration! An activist 'Grinny'! Truly wonderful to have a person like that in your life. Wish I had known her. She must have been fascinating to talk with.
Grinny was committed but genteel. Her daughter & my mom? Now there was a FEROCIOUS liberal Democrat!
Living in 1930s-40s NYC, Grinny attended numerous parties with scruffy, impassioned leftist fellow-travelers. She wasn't interested in ideology, and speculated that they came partly for free food & drinks. A bit of a snob, she also thought that they should bathe more often.
A moving tribute to your grandfather and vivid description of the circumstances. Thank you.