11) “You got something behind you.”

Denise is one of the few women working in what remains of Barre’s granite industry. She worked as a sandblaster for many years. A lot of experienced workers like her are leaving the industry...and the younger generations are not coming in to take their place. Her workplace now has a CNC machine; it can carve a memorial all on its own. She manages paperwork now as an expediter, but she misses the sandblasting room. As president of her trade union, the Granite Cutters Association, she would like to see more people get into the good union jobs available in the granite industry and join the labor movement.

Oral history transcript to be performed: Denise Guilmette, Granite Expediter, former Sandblaster (2017, original)

Guest performer: Sharon (Skye) Forest

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