Historic Pittsburgh Mansions of the Golden Age

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Built by powerhouse business tycoons with names like Mellon, Westinghouse, Heinz and Frick, Pittsburgh’s Golden Age mansions tell an important story about the history of Pennsylvania’s Steel City. Notably, these estates tie the city directly back to the earliest days of the booming steel industry that impelled its development. With help from author Melanie Linn Gutowski and her book “Pittsburgh’s Mansions,” let’s take a look at some of the most singular and historic mansions of Pittsburgh.

The Golden Age of Pittsburgh

As Gutowski reports in the introduction of the book, during Pittsburgh’s peak years — roughly 1830 through 1930 — the city housed more millionaires than New York City. Wealthy residents came out of the Western Pennsylvania manufacturing industry, with big companies riding the waves of coal, oil and of course, steel. They built their estates in the center of the city, especially in the historically posh East End — home to the Squirrel Hill, Shadyside and Point Breeze neighborhoods — and out into surrounding areas, like Allegheny City. The influx of wealth and availability of land enabled owners to build expansive, extravagant mansions in and around the city.

John Worthington’s Squirrel Hill Mansion. Reprinted from Pittsburgh’s Mansions
  • John Worthington’s Squirrel Hill Mansion — At 5505 Forbes Avenue in the East End once sat the historic Squirrel Hill mansion built by South Penn Oil Company executive, John Worthington. Architect Louis Stevens designed the home in a distinctly Jacobean Revival style exterior with English Revival interior. In 1915, Worthington commissioned Stevens to design a new wing with crenellated parapets, a signature feature of Jacobean Revival design. In the book “Squirrel Hill,” the author points out the lavish plasterwork relief, molded-oak wall paneling and ornate decorations that signified Worthington’s wealth. The mansion was acquired by the congregation of Temple Sinai in 1946 and still serves as a synagogue today.
  • The B.B. Mellon Residence in Shadyside — Within the East End is Shadyside, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh that boomed in the second half of the 1800s. The rich and powerful built their homes along Shadyside’s Fifth Avenue‚ otherwise known as “Millionaire’s Row.” Among the most famous was the Richard Beatty Mellon and Jennie King Mellon estate, which sat atop a hillside on Fifth Avenue. It boasted elaborate formal gardens and a famous Tiffany mural that’s now owned by the Carnegie Museum of Art. The home’s carriage house now belongs to Phipps Garden Center, and the land is a part of Mellon Park. The old iron gates from the estate still encircle Mellon Park and the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.
  • The H.J. Heinz Greenlawn Estate — Built by condiment king H.J. Heinz, Greenlawn was a grand Penn Avenue mansion surrounded by estates owned by business magnates like Andrew and Thomas Carnegie and George Westinghouse. Those who knew Heinz reported that he was an energetic and ambitious man who often changed the look of the house and filled it with expensive works by French painter Adolphe William Bougureau.
  • F.T.F. Lovejoy’s Edgehill Estate — American industrialist Francis Thomas Fletcher Lovejoy amassed considerable wealth during Pittsburgh’s Golden Age, primarily through the creation of the United States Steel Corporation. He built the sprawling estate at Braddock and Edgerton Avenues in Point Breeze with the assistance of famed architecture firm Alden and Harlow around 1905. Though the Edgehill estate is no longer standing, photos indicate that it was one of the most exquisite in all of Point Breeze.
  • Clayton at The Frick Pittsburgh — If you want to get a sense of Pittsburgh’s Gilded Age in person, then a visit to The Frick Pittsburgh is in order. Industrialist Henry Clay Frick built the Victorian-style Clayton estate, where he lived with his family between 1883 and 1905, with help from architects Andrew Peebles and Frederick J. Osterling. Now, the stunning Frick mansion is part of the Frick Arts & Historical Center at 7227 Reynolds Street. Museums and lush gardens surround the Clayton, and the restored Victorian mansion is open for public tours six days a week. 
  • The McCook Estate in Shadyside — Another one of the Golden Age mansions that survived the 20th century is the McCook Estate along Millionaire’s Row, which now serves as a posh hotel called the Mansions on Fifth Hotel. Prosperous Attorney Willis McCook commissioned the 20,000-square-foot, 1906 Tudor and Elizabethan revivalist style estate — which, by the way, cost just $300,000 to build back then — for himself, his wife Mary, and his 10 children. In his book “Pittsburgh’s Shadyside,” author Donald Doherty notes the McCook Estate’s handsome carved stone fireplace and elaborate woodwork in the dining room. You can still see some of the home’s original finishes when you stay at Mansions on Fifth.
  • George Westinghouse’s Solitude in Point Breeze — American entrepreneur and engineer George Westinghouse rose to fame after he invented the railway air brake and other major tools for the electrical industry. He — like contemporaries Frick, Heinz and McCook — settled in Pittsburgh’s East End. The city demolished the Second Empire style mansion, Solitude, in 1919 to make way for a new city park called Westinghouse Park. Some believe that Westinghouse and his engineers made ground-breaking electrical discoveries on the property, and that evidence of this is buried deep underneath the park. The rivalry between Westinghouse and Thomas Edison was legendary as they both raced to bring electricity to the country. Westinghouse’s great-grandson, George Westinghouse IV, joked that the site is home to the grave of Thomas Edison, but historical excavations uncovered only intriguing artifacts and no graves.

Want to learn more about Pittsburgh’s Golden Age mansions? Read Gutowski’s book that offers even more rich details of these stunning homes.

10 Unsung African-American Heroes You May Not Know

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In honor of Black History Month and our Black America series, we’ve put together a list of ten of Black history’s little-known, but still significant heroes.

Claudette Colvin

While many were taught that Rosa Parks was the first to famously refuse to give up a bus seat, nine months before her 1943 protest in Montgomery, Alabama, then fifteen year old Claudette Colvin was arrested for refusing to give her seat to a standing white woman after school. Colvin was forcibly removed from the bus and arrested, but would later go on to be one of the principal plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case Browder vs. Gayle, which declared bus segregation unconstitutional under the fourteenth amendment.

Bayard Rustin

Political activist Bayard Rustin was involved in politics from an early age – as a child, his family was involved in the local NAACP, and were friends with well-known Black political leaders like W.E.B. DuBois. A pacifist who practiced a philosophy of nonviolent resistance, Rustin went on to educate some of the Civil Rights Movement’s most well-known faces, such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and also helped to organize some of the movement’s largest events, like the 1963 March on Washington, and a 1947 Freedom Ride.

Recy Taylor

Recy Taylor’s story, though unpleasant, served as one of the first foundations for racial activism. While returning home from church in 1944, Taylor was abducted and sexually assaulted by six white men, before being abandoned on a roadside. Her case, and its neglect by the Alabama government, soon brought the attention of the local African-American community and national NAACP. While Taylor’s case was dismissed twice in court, it is now considered a major step in the formation of the Civil Rights Movement.

George Washington Carver

Despite being one of the most highly regarded scientists in American History, Carver’s contributions are today mostly unknown to the general public – a botanist and inventor, Carver was a leader in environmentalism, and promoted the usage of alternative crops. His theories on how alternative crops (like peanuts and sweet potatoes) could be used to improve the quality of life of poor farmers were praised throughout the country, and he was even dubbed “Black Leonardo” by a 1941 issue of “Time” magazine.

Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler

Though no photos of Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler have survived, her legacy has lived long past her time. Not only was Dr. Lee Crumpler the first female African-American physician, but her work led her to publish “Book of Medical Discourses in Two Parts” in 1883, which is widely regarded as one of the first medical texts written by an African American author. Dr. Lee Crumpler practiced throughout Boston and Virginia during her time as a physician, and cared for freed slaves after the end of the Civil War.

Fred Jones

Inventor Fred Jones’ contributions during his lifetime were momentous, and can be felt to this day. A naturally gifted mechanic, Jones was self-taught, which helped him to invent a portable air-conditioning unit for trucks in 1938. This unit could be used to preserve perishable foods during transport, and the patents Jones were awarded for the product led to the formation of the Thermo King Corporation. His inventions were increasingly vital during WWII, when they were used to transport blood and medicine to battlefields and hospitals.

Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm was as determined a politician as she was an educator – the first Black woman elected to Congress, Chisholm served as the director of a daycare center for many years before joining the US House of Representatives for New York. During her time as a representative, Chisholm helped to expand the food stamps program in New York, and helped to found the Congressional Black Caucus. Chisholm also went on to run for the presidential bid in 1972, becoming the first African-American to be a major-party candidate.

William Hastie

The first African American federal and appellate judge, William Hastie led a distinguished private law career before being appointed as to the United States District Court for the Virgin Islands by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937. Hastie worked for two years as a federal judge before becoming a law educator at Howard University School of Law, where he taught the soon-to-be famous Thurgood Marshall. Hastie would later be appointed as an appellate judge by Harry Truman, and serve in appeals court for twenty-two years.

Amelia Boynton Robinson

Activist Amelia Boynton Robinson started out small with her contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, before becoming one of the principal strategists in the multiple protests in Selma, Alabama. Firstly an educator, Boynton Robinson worked with her husband Samuel William Boynton to improve conditions for African-Americans in Selma. She later went on to work with Civil Rights leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis to coordinate the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, and remained a leader in local civil rights activism.

Matthew Henson

Although history largely ignored Matthew Henson until the late 20th century, his contributions in the field of exploration have made him a significant name today. A gifted seaman, Henson spent many years as a cabin boy, where he learned principles of navigation, and other vital knowledge to working as a crewman. Henson later went on to accompany Commander Robert E. Peary to his many expeditions to the Artic, including the 1909 expedition where their team discovered the North Pole, and Henson planted the American flag.

The Rich Heritage of Mardi Gras in New Orleans

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Millions of people all across America consider Mardi Gras to be cause for celebration, but no place does Mardi Gras quite like New Orleans. The Big Easy is home to some of the most astonishing, famous public festivities every single year. It’s also considered the place to come celebrate, drawing tourists and adventurous spirits from all over the world.

How much do you really know about Mardi Gras in New Orleans? What traditions and happenings are considered “must-sees”? What are we really celebrating when we celebrate Mardi Gras and where did the holiday originate? Let’s address the answers to all of these questions and more.

What Is Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras is more than just a colorful cultural phenomenon. It’s also a Christian holiday that comes attached to a rich history, as well as one that has complicated connections to early pagan fertility rites. Mardi Gras as an occasion is celebrated all over the world, especially in areas with a large Roman Catholic population.

Also called Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent officially begins (Ash Wednesday). Traditionally, it was a day to eat, drink, and be merry one last time before the sacrifice, penitence, and heavy fasting associated with Lent began in earnest. In particular, people prepared elaborate feasts to use up food items that were not allowed during Lent. (Examples include butter, eggs, meat, or dairy.)

Although the Catholic Church has relaxed many of the dietary restrictions associated with Lent since those days, rich feasts and merrymaking remain popular ways to celebrate Shrove Tuesday and get ready to observe Lent.

In Southern Louisiana and New Orleans, in particular, the celebrations associated with Mardi Gras start roughly two weeks prior to Shrove Tuesday. Festivities include parades organized by New Orleans social clubs called krewes, social events like balls, and multicultural festivals of all types.

A Look at the Origins of Mardi Gras

Of course, Shrove Tuesday and the approach of Lent are only part of why people celebrate Mardi Gras as we know it today. According to historians, it also has connections to pagan fertility rituals that date back thousands of years. (The spring rites of Lupercalia and Saturnalia are just two examples.)

Once Christianity made its way to Rome, the religious leaders of the time had their work cut out for them when it came to converting the masses. More often than not, they found it easier and more beneficial to simply “Christianize” existing traditions instead of attempting to abolish them completely.

That said, the debauchery and wanton nature of the original rites were eventually transitioned into Mardi Gras, something that was just as much a prelude to the forty-day Lenten period as it was about welcoming spring with a huge celebration.

Naturally, we call the occasion Mardi Gras (or “Fat Tuesday”) because of the all-out binging on any stores of eggs, cheese, meat, or milk that remained in the house before fasting and eating only fish during the lengthy period of Lent. It’s also thought that pre-Lenten festivals are known as “carnival” because of this tradition. (The Medieval Latin term “carnelevarium” means “to take away meat.”)

Mardi Gras Comes to America

Although no one knows for certain when the very first Mardi Gras celebration took place here in America, most historians believe it happened on March 3, 1699. French explorers Bienville and Iberville arrived in the area which is now Louisiana, bringing with them the French tradition of Mardi Gras. They decided to have a proper celebration and wound up dubbing the spot “Point du Mardi Gras” as a result.

In the decades to come, French settlements all over Louisiana – New Orleans included – would continue to celebrate Mardi Gras each and every year. They did so by organizing parades, holding lavish masked balls, and serving elaborate communal feasts. The fun would come to a temporary end once the Spanish gained control of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. However, the bans would only remain active until 1812 when Louisiana officially became a U.S. state.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans would see a boisterous revival in 1827. That’s when a group of dedicated students decided to dress up in colorful costumes and dance their way up and down the streets of the city. (They were mimicking festivities they’d seen in person while visiting Paris.) Ten years after that, New Orleans’s first proper Mardi Gras parade in recorded history would take place, setting the stage for a much-loved tradition that continues today.

The First Mardi Gras Krewes

The year 1857 would see yet another Mardi Gras tradition take place – the first krewe-organized event. A secret society made up of New Orleans businessmen would organize and sponsor a grand torch-lit Mardi Gras procession. The procession would include many of the celebratory staples parade-goers know and love today, including floats and marching bands.

This particular group of businessmen called themselves the Mistick Krewe of Comus, the very first Mardi Gras krewe. Ever since, krewes, in general, have been an important part of Mardi Gras in New Orleans and elsewhere in Louisiana. They are the ones responsible for sponsoring and organizing the parades, balls, and other events without which Mardi Gras couldn’t be considered complete.

Today, there are over 60 different active krewes with more being organized all the time. Krewes aren’t just active during Mardi Gras, either. Many organize additional events throughout the year, as well as visit nursing homes, establish social activities for young people, and otherwise make their communities better places to be.

Mardi Gras Around the World

Currently, Louisiana is the only U.S. state where Mardi Gras is considered a legal holiday. However, American people from coast to coast also love to celebrate in their own unique ways. In some states – like Mississippi and Alabama – Mardi Gras is considered to be almost as big a deal as it is in Louisiana.

Mardi Gras also continues to be celebrated in multiple nations around the world. This is particularly the case anywhere the population boasts a significant percentage of Roman Catholics. The following are just a few examples:

  • In Brazil, Mardi Gras traditions look much like the ones we have here in America, benefiting from a unique blend of African, Native American, and European influences.
  • Our neighbors up north in Canada love Mardi Gras as well. Quebec City, in particular, throws a giant yearly bash known as the Quebec Winter Carnival.
  • In Germany, costume balls and parades are the order of the day, just as they are here in America. They also promote women’s empowerment with a tongue-in-cheek tradition that calls for the cutting off of men’s ties.
  • Italians make their way to Venice, a city that’s been known throughout history for its breathtaking masked balls. The Venetians don’t disappoint, either, doing justice to a time-honored tradition that dates back to the 13th century.
  • Denmark finds children dressing up in costume and going door to door to gather candy for Fastevalan, similar to what American children do on Halloween. On Easter Sunday, Danish children also ritually (but non-violently) flog their parents.

This year, Mardi Gras takes place on February 28th. How will you be celebrating?

The Origins of Popular Mardi Gras Traditions

As touched on above, there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that Mardi Gras is a huge deal, not only in New Orleans but elsewhere as well. However, many people have no real idea where some of the most time-honored Mardi Gras traditions got their start. Did you know the reasons behind the following?

Wearing Masks

Masks are nearly as synonymous with Mardi Gras as Santa Claus is with Christmas, but they’re more than just beautiful ways revelers express themselves and get ready to have a good time. The tradition of donning masks on Mardi Gras dates back hundreds of years to a time when various social classes weren’t normally allowed to mingle to the extent they do today.

Masks were a way to hide one’s identity during the festivities. Anyone, from the rich elite to the very poor, could mask themselves, be anyone, and go where they pleased without being judged. The concept continues to this day, as it is legal in New Orleans for all Mardi Gras attendees to wear masks, although some business owners may post signage requesting that they are removed before coming inside. It’s required by law for float riders to wear them.

Flambeaux

Flambeaux are flame torches, as well as time-honored symbols of Mardi Gras in many cultures. They were traditionally carried through the streets so the fun and partying could continue until well after dark, usually by slaves or free people of color who were looking to earn a little extra money. (Festival goers customarily tossed coins to torch bearers in thanks for lighting the way for the floats and festivities.) Most flambeaux consisted of shredded rope soaked thoroughly in pitch.

Naturally, we no longer need old-school torches to light up the streets of New Orleans on Mardi Gras. However, the tradition still remains. It’s just become more of a performance than anything else, with torchbearers dancing, performing acrobatics, or spinning their lights to entertain the crowd.

Throwing Beads

Everyone’s familiar with the concept of Mardi Gras beads. However, the beads as a tradition started with their colors – gold, purple, and green. These particular shades were chosen by the very first Carnival king back in 1872 and represent power (gold), faith (green), and justice (purple). Originally, the beads of various colors were to be tossed to people that represented one or more of those three qualities.

The very first Mardi Gras beads were made of glass, which naturally wasn’t the best material for something made for tossing. That said, the tradition of throwing the beads didn’t really become a deeply ingrained part of the festivities until plastic beads became the norm.

The Carnival King

If you’ve ever spent Mardi Gras in New Orleans, you may already know that each and every year a new festival king is crowned. He is known as Rex, King of the Carnival. The very first Rex was crowned in 1872, and – although no one knows this for sure – he was said to have been the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia.

Alexis had been visiting the United States and befriended George Armstrong Custer over the course of a hunting expedition in the Midwest. His visit to New Orleans was said to be organized by a group of local businessmen looking for a way to draw even more business as well as tourism to the city after the Civil War.

To this day, a new Rex is chosen each year by the Rex Organization. It is always someone who is prominent in New Orleans society. Rex is also ceremonially given the key to the city by the mayor each year.

Zulu Coconuts

Each of the many Mardi Gras krewes active today has its own set of traditions that they bring to the table each Mardi Gras. One of the oldest traditionally black krewes is the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club. Their claim to fame is the handing out of Zulu coconuts (or “golden nuggets”) to parade goers and revelers.

The first recorded references to these coconuts date back to 1910. At that point in time, the nuts were left in their natural state. However, in later years, it became a tradition to adorn them with elaborate paint and decorations instead. Although there are many traditions Mardi Gras revelers look forward to, the possible receiving of a Zulu coconut is one of the most highly prized.

As you can see, Mardi Gras in New Orleans is so much more than just a reason to have a little fun and celebrate life every spring. It’s also a time-honored tradition steeped in history and rich in local culture. It’s not hard to see why so many people from all over the world consider the Crescent City to be the place to celebrate.

The Heritage of Hoodoo in Memphis

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The following article is written by Tony Kail, author of A Secret History of Memphis Hoodoo

The practice of Hoodoo, a set of folk practices incorporating magic, spirituality and healing has a distinct heritage in the Memphis and Mid-South region. For hundreds of years the use of roots, herbs and charms have been a fixture in the Bluff City. It’s earliest presence seen in the late 1800s as Africans who were taken as slaves were taken from their homeland and relocated throughout the Mississippi Delta. After years of struggling to survive amidst racial violence and segregation the culture of hoodoo has managed to maintain a presence in Memphis.

Memphis has the distinction of being home to a number of important personalities, events and places that are significant in hoodoo history. The large population of rootworkers and conjurers who practiced hoodoo was evident as famed folklorist Harry Middleton Hyatt chose Memphis as part of his 1930’s epic study  ‘Hoodoo Conjuration, Witchcraft and Rootwork’ considered to be the ‘bible’ of hoodoo folklore.

Memphis became known nationally as a city where hoodoo prevailed. Sports teams were often quick to refer to Memphis teams as having the power to ‘jinx’ and Memphis-based coaches claimed to have used hoodoo curios like black cat bones and horseshoes to bring luck to local sports teams. Rootworkers like Beale Street’s ‘Doctor Scissors’ and local conjurer ‘Uncle Dub’ became known throughout the city for their ability to heal and perform magic. 

Objects like floor wash, baths, and oils are used in hoodoo to bring about change in issues like love, luck, or protection. Reprinted from A Secret History of Memphis Hoodoo.

Famed Memphis blues artists like W.C. Handy, The Memphis Jug Band, Lillie Mae Glover and Memphis Minnie all wrote about hoodoo in their song lyrics. Glover became known around Beale Street as a practitioner of hoodoo and actually provided spiritual services for many local blues artists.

Memphis was home to several Hoodoo product manufacturing companies. Companies like Lucky Heart Cosmetics, Keystone Laboratories, Collins Laboratories and others became known around the world as suppliers of oils, powders and various magical curios. Numerous shops around Memphis including Beale Street’s oldest business A. Schwab became markets for mojo related merchandise.

Through the years Memphis became a sanctuary for numerous African-American spiritual temples and churches that incorporated root working into their practices. The historically significant New Orleans based spiritual church ‘The Eternal Life Christian Spiritualist Church’ had a branch in Memphis in the 1940’s established by an associate of founder Mother Leafy Anderson.

Memphis legend trippers are all too familiar with a community falsely labeled as ‘Voodoo Village’ in South Memphis. For years teenagers have taken dates out to the property in search of bizarre rituals and occult ceremonies. The truth is that the property has nothing to do with Voodoo or dark activities but is a spiritual temple known as the ‘Saint Paul’s Spiritual Temple’ that honors African and African-American based spiritual traditions including rootwork.

Memphians and visitors to Memphis may be surprised to learn of the rich cultural history of hoodoo and its significance to the city. Hoodoo related curios and trinkets can still be found in shops on Beale and some remaining neighborhood pharmacies still carry herbs used in forms of traditional rootwork healing. While the appearance of many of these products seem to conjure a certain feeling of nostalgia it is important to keep in mind that hoodoo and rootwork are living cultures. Many Memphians still practice these traditions as serious forms of healing and spirituality. Images of blues singers with black cat bones and mojo bags are popular representations of southern hoodoo but it is important to respect that they are remnants of a sacred system of healing and practice that was used to survive and thrive by those once taken from their homes in Africa.

The Enduring Imprint of New Orleans Brass Bands

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When you picture the art and culture associated with New Orleans, the sight and sound of the city’s signature brass bands probably tops the list, and with good reason. After all, true New Orleans natives never pass up an opportunity to have a parade, which is never complete without a brass band. Brass bands are an important part of events like jazz funerals, city festivals, and more.

The history and significance of these bands are rich with accomplishments, and the cultural imprint continues to evolve to this very day. Here we’ll take a closer look at the time-honored story of one of the world’s most distinctive musical traditions.

Where Did Brass Bands Get Their Start?

Brass bands, in general, have their roots in the wars and military battles of 19th century Europe.  Drums and bugles were part of the way military units communicated orders and coordinated movements, both on foot and when on horseback. Occasionally, the very talented musicians that took care of these responsibilities would entertain themselves off the battlefield by forming bands.

Eventually, these bands and the types of music they played would make their way into civilian life in America and beyond, setting the tone for the music of the day. The popularity of brass band music only continued to spread, thanks to musical geniuses – like one-time Marine Corps Band member, John Phillip Sousa – who were constantly exploring new ways to improve on its signature sound.

Although there are variations, a standard brass band today consists of trumpets, trombones, a tuba, a saxophone and/or clarinet, a snare drum, and a bass drum. The sheer portability of this set-up makes it easy for the band to travel just about anywhere, just as the 19th-century buglers and drummers did during wartime – through the streets, into local barrooms, to international festivals, and so forth.

That Signature New Orleans Sound

Throughout the 19th century, Sousa-style marching bands were all the rage in New Orleans. At the same time, African traditions – like ring dancing and the playing of music — were also alive and well among the slaves in Congo Square. Creoles and free people of color of the time were often accomplished instrumentalists as well.

After the Emancipation in 1865, we saw the formation of the first black brass bands, each of which was rooted in all of these influences. Before long, these bands became staples at major public events like baseball games, funerals, festivals, and business openings. By the 20th century, many black brass bands were incredibly famous and were important parts of not only the black community but New Orleans in general.

Brass bands also had a profound formative influence on the rise and development of jazz starting in 1900. It was not at all uncommon for established jazz ensembles to double as brass bands, or for major jazz musicians of the time to also perform in brass bands. Greats like Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Jelly Roll Morton are just a few examples.

As jazz continued to evolve into an American art form, brass bands and the distinctive type of New Orleans jazz they played would become the center of events like the jazz funeral, one of the city’s most emblematic traditions. They’d also become staples in second line parades, as well as other large-scale community events, and they remain so to this day.

The Continued Influence of the Brass Band

As the years continued to roll on, the signature sound and spirit of the New Orleans brass band continued to change, grow, and evolve. For instance, the rise of hip-hop helped shape the sound of the brass bands we know and love today. This influence can be heard especially strongly in songs by bands like the Soul Rebels.

In 2005, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina would make preserving and embracing everything that makes New Orleans unique even more important.  The brass band would continue to grow in stature and importance as a result. Over the course of just a few years, groups like the Hot 8 Brass Band would go from playing local parades, clubs, and parties to touring America and Europe. New bands would also emerge under the influence of the ones that came before and introduce their own takes on the classic sound we all know and love.

Today, the New Orleans brass band is still very much thriving, and with good reason. What other type of music better expresses the changing experiences of multiple generations without ever once losing its own unique identity?

The American Textile Worker

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Manufacturing has been an important part of the American economy since the late 1800s.  Throughout the Southeast textile mills were established to create jobs for local workers and to keep investments in the community.  Places that were once dominated by an agrarian economy transformed into industrial powerhouses that brought changes to the community and local workers.  People across the country left farms and small towns to work in vastly different industrial environments for a steady paycheck year round.

Wrap yarns are laid on textile equipment. Reprinted from Central Georgia Textile Mills

For many years children were employed in the textile mills to perform tasks that the adults could not perform as well as they were cheaper labor. During the early 1900s children would often work alongside their mothers as helpers until they were old enough to secure a job of their own in the textile mills.  It was not until changes were made regarding child labor laws and the high unemployment for adults in the Great Depression that child labor of the textile mills ended.

Women have always been an important part of the workforce of the textile mills and they stepped into men’s positions when they were gone to fight in World War I and World War II. During the wars many textile mills across Central Georgia become major producers for war products, such as tents, parachutes and camouflage items.

After World War II, securing a position in a textile mill allowed the worker to get benefits that sometimes included housing, onsite healthcare, pensions, childcare, schools and extracurricular actives.  These benefits were in part thanks to the unionization of workers in the individual textile mills and across the industry. Though Textile mill workers were often known as “Lint Heads” due to being covered with cotton lint after their shift.

By the 1960s technology and society norms changed the textile worker positions and the community of the textile villages. Textile mill workers no longer wanted to live in housing provided by the mills and the textile mills wanted to stop being landlords so textile mill villages shut down.  With the new technologies came a reduced workforce since less labor was needed to produce the products. Along with a reduced workforce, the workforce became less segregated in regards to racial and gender achieving equality in textile mill positions. Technology also brought new changes to the mills. Many of the textile mills had been in operation for almost 100 years and the aging buildings and equipment was expensive to replace. Those that were able to modernize where out producing others that did not have the ability to modernize.

Still today there are textile mills producing products across Central Georgia, The Thomaston Mill in Thomaston, Georgia which originally opened in 1899.  The American textile mill worker will still continue to be an important part of the American spirt due to the decline in American Manufacturing. 

To find out more about the history of the American textile worker check out Billie Coleman’s book, Images of America: Central Georgia Textile Mills.

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