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Working in Paterson: Occupational Heritage in an Urban Setting

Audio Titles

"21st Avenue is still considered the heart of Paterson."
"90 percent of our customers are Spanish, and they come back because we speak Spanish with them, make them feel comfortable."
Adapting to life in New Jersey
Al Buonforte's background
"All of us were illegally working."
"All the buyers come from around the country, around the world, for market week."
All the different ways to turn and cut metal
"Always God, in my life, since I was a child; without him I go nowhere."
"And for seven weeks we met everyday."
Angelo Basileo talking about "The Midnight Sons," part 1
Angelo Basileo talking about "The Midnight Sons," part 2
Angelo Basileo talking about "The Midnight Sons," part 3
"Any business you're beginning, you need to wait 3 or 4 years to see the reaction."
"Any Hispanic hairdresser would learn how to do both types of hair, black people's hair and white people's hair."
Apprenticeships at Kalkstein Silk Mills
"As a kid I always wanted to be a cop."
"As a small kid, all you saw were those professions: teacher, preacher, miner."
"At one point in time it was the center for shopping -- Paterson had everything. "
"At one time I worked as a beamer."
"At one time, I recall, I was somewhat of an entrepreneur."
"At that time, for immigration you needed an affidavit of support; it was very little, now it's more strict."
"At the time it was very easy to find a job."
"At this point we need both rooms going, both industries going under one shop."
"Back in the sixties, it was a lot different."
"Beautiful work, that guy was an artist with a pair of shoes."
The biggest challenge of the textile industry.
Bob Dale talking about evolving technology
"The bone is hard and it makes the string vibrate perfectly."
"But prior to the Italians being in this area, it was also considered an Irish section."
"Buyers don't know much about sewing, they look at a garment and want it to be pretty."
"Can I tell you my favorite Paterson story?"
The character of Paterson
Charles Mangrum's first day at Kalkstein Silk Mills.
Chronology of Rose Vecchierella's jobs.
"The church, the school, and the home worked together."
"The colors would change, but the process itself was always the same."
"Come on out. Join us. We're going to strike."
"Cooking has always been my hobby."
"The customers want you to use every inch you can of the material that they supply."
Demonstration of a facial massage.
Description of equipment and operations in different areas of Teshon plant.
Description of photo of workers at Newberger's towel factory that includes Anne Murphy.
Description of work area and work tools.
Different burial traditions.
Different jobs at mill.
Disagreements between machinists and engineers
Discussion about how judgeship fits in with neighborhood law.
The division of labor at Elsa's Fashions
"Do you consider yourself an American now?"
"Dominican people are good people, very dedicated; we can do everything or anything that you want."
"The dream is to come to the U.S. but they go to other places: Argentina, Venezuela, Spain, England, and now Japan."
The dyeing process, part 1 of 3.
The dyeing process, part 2 of 3.
The dyeing process, part 3 of 3.
Easter Benson's morning routine
The effect of GATT and NAFTA on the business.
"Either shining shoes, or stockboy, or washing cars, washing windows; I did anything in order to make a buck."
"Even if they move out, some people will still come back here."
"Even the day I brought her home, I worked from the bed."
"Even when I was off duty, I'd spend more time a headquarters than at home."
Even when serving a soda, do that well, be polite.
"Every day, every Monday morning, three minutes or four minutes, whatever it was, he'd push it back."
"Every person that owns a business, it's hard to let it go, you don't want to give it up."
"Every woman wants long nails because their hands look better with long nails."
"Everybody speaks Spanish, they have no need not to."
"Everything is cooked daily."
"Everything's got to have a certain place."
"Factory work wound up bringing a lot of people here, and still does to some extent."
Finding work in America
First impressions of work at the dye house.
First work experiences on the farm
Florence DiStefano's first job in the garment industry.
"Foundry work is hard, hot, and dirty."
The Funeral Home as a home: living with your business.
"Garbage has to be picked up, and we are the guys that do it."
Gardening, Hutspot, and calendar customs
"The garment industry is a go-nowhere job; it's there to help you survive."
"Go, I say, come out to the store to buy material, and I make you a dress."
Growing up in Paterson
Growing up in the People's Park neighborhood
Growing up on State Street
Hairdressers' clientele.
"The hardest job I ever had in here."
"Has Paterson changed since you moved here originally?"
"He came by himself first, then he sent for us."
"He came here, like me, with nothing, and everything he made he made with his own hands."
"He introduced the first shuttleless looms in Paterson."
"He showed me all the rudiments of tailoring."
Heating lunch in dye vats.
"Here's a woman who's Hispanic who has made it."
"His name is on the prison wall."
"Hispanic businesses, small businesses, are one of the things that have regenerated economic life in Paterson."
History & "Genealogy" of Hot Texas Wieners
History of Kalkstein Silk Mills, Inc.
Hitchhiking to California
"Holidays, in particular, were always busy."
Hopes for the future of E&A
"How do you make one of those?"
"How long does it take to cook a wiener the way you cook it?"
How Milagros Cueto learned to make dresses.

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