1940 Census Infographic

Archives.com has just published a great infographic designed to help genealogists find their families in the 1940 census that is scheduled to be released on Monday, April 2nd. Check it out here to get a jump start! 

Wordless Wednesday: Zelma and Christie

Tombstone Tuesday: A Steelworkers Grave

Tombstone of Florian J. Ruffing

Florian was born in Pennsylvania the grandson of German immigrants and the son of a steelworker. He followed in his father's footsteps working at Carnegie Steel Company. I can not even fathom the back breaking, dangerous work he had to endure day in and out for only 15 cents an hour on average. My father remembers Florian settling down at home with his favorite drink The Boilermaker. It seems whiskey was the favorite drink of many a steel worker. 

" In the mill, clouds of ore dust or rolling mill scale or other grit coated workers' lungs. Many a workman justifies his daily glass of whiskey on the ground that it ‘takes the dust out of my throat."  Labor Investigator John Fitch in 1907

For more information on the Pennsylvanian Steel Industry check out these links:

Rivers of Steel

ExplorePAHistory

Carnegie Steel Company Wiki

Zelma and the 1940 Census

With the release of the 1940 census fast approaching there are a few ancestors I'm anxious to research. Meet Zelma Maude White. In 1940 she would be 36, one year younger than I am now. In 3 short years she would be sending a son off to fight in a world war and several years after that another son to fight in Korea. Together with her husband Andrew Garland, she would run The Hiltop Restaurant on Route 2 in Hermon, ME. A love of food they passed down and resides strongly in me today. I can't wait to see what the 1940 census will reveal about Zelma.