3) “There was never trouble getting a job.”

Machines and automation have been putting people out of work for some time, and the Depression is no exception. But, not long ago, there was an industrial boom that required massive amounts of labor - which is why Donegal, a Scottish man, and his family came here. A man could move from job to job as he pleased. But the work wasn’t easy. Working in Barre's granite industry was dangerous. Many workers died before they reached their 40s. Granite carvers had it the worst. The best carvers, the “artists”, died faster than they could be replaced.

This is an independently produced show. Please consider supporting En Masse on Patreon.

Oral history transcript to be performed: Donegall, Stone Carver (1930s, Federal Writers’ Project interview)

Guest performer: Greg Hooker

Sound & Music Credits

Music: “Canción de canteros”. From the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.  Association for Cultural Equity.

Music: "Failte Rudha Bhatairnis​". From the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Association for Cultural Equity.

Sound Effect: "Ambience, Machine Factory, A." by InspectorJ. From freedsound.org. CC BY

Sound Effect: "Garden Shovel" by Roulaine. Free freesound.org. CC BY

Sound Effect: "Paper_Shuffling_Crinkling_Crisp" by bewagne. From freesound.org. CC BY

Sound Effect: "Wall Clock Ticking" by straget. From freesound.org. CC BY

Sound Effect: "Waves » Crowd in a bar (LCR)" by Leandros.Ntounis. From freedsound.org. CC BY