Bethlehem Steel Legacy Community Collection

Bettye Ridgley started out at Sparrows Point in 1978 as a mechanical helper in the hot strip mill, later moved into the labor gang and finally, worked as a crane operator for 25 years. She was also very involved in the union, serving as shop steward for the crane unit and a Secretary and later Chairman of the Political Action Committee for Local 2609. She recalled her time at Bethlehem Steel as, “a fantastic journey. No day was the same, it was just fantastic.” Read about her career and other on our blog: https://www.thebmi.org/woman-of-steel-bettye-ridgley/. Photo courtesy of Bettye Ridgley.

Third generation Sparrows Point worker Jerry Good's grandfather and father were among the thousands who migrated to Baltimore from Appalachia in the twentieth century. He said, "They left to improve their lives by not being imprisoned in the mines and sharecropper lives. To each one, this was a major step up to middle life and a style that would never have been attained in the hardscrabble or mines. Then to some, the mills became the same circumstances." Pictured is the boarding house on "E" Street in the company town of Sparrows Point owned by his grandparents, Perry and Lillian Allison.

Donna Clementoni composed "The Millwright's Poison Pillow," a poem about her father-in-law, Mario Clementoni, Sr. He's pictured here with his bride, Mildred, on their honewymoon. Known as “Motts” in his family, he began working at Bethlehem Steel after World War II and spent his entire career at Sparrows Point. He will turn 95 in June 2021. https://www.thebmi.org/millwrights-poison-pillow/

John Washington, pictured here, worked at Bethlehem Steel's Sparrows Point mill from 1944 until his retirement in 1983. He passed away in February at age 98. According to his obituary, "A former coworker reports that John was the first black crane operator in the tin mills. He often suffered the indignities of racism, but his priority was making a decent living to care for his family." Hear more about Mr. Washington and the experiences of other Black steelworkers in a Zoom panel discussion on 4/21 at 7 pm. More info at thebmi.org. Photo courtesy of Ernestine Scott. https://www.thebmi.org/programs-events/black-workers-at-bethlehem-steel/

This photo was taken by Joseph Schenk, a machinist in the Seafarers International Union who served on the ore ships that supplied Sparrows Point. His son, Michael, recalls, "The steel mill could not have functioned without the ore ships. [...] Most American industry would not have existed without the seafarers who moved the raw materials and finished products." Born in Vienna, Austria, he migrated to Baltimore and served on the Liberty Ships built at Sparrows Point during WWII. Photo courtesy of Michael Schenk.

This 1983 article from the "Bethlehem Review" describes Bethlehem Steel's Readiness program, an attempt to improve relations between management and the union. Charlie Conklin, featured in this article, recalls: "I do think that the Readiness program did change my life, not only at Sparrows Point but the rest of my life." Images courtesy of Charlie Conklin.

Josh Clark worked as an engineer in the tin mill at Sparrows Point when it was owned by Arcelor Mittal, shortly before its doors closed for good. This photo shows a fire that burned down the front end of the 5 stand rolling mill in 2011. Josh recalled, "we stripped the damaged parts off and rebuilt the front end of the mill in two weeks. Everybody worked 18 hour days for weeks to get the mill up and running again. It was one of those amazing moments when you see what people who know what they are doing can accomplish when you just let them get the job done and stay out of their way."

Happy International Women's Day! Pictured is Rita Hamlet, who was among the first women to work at Bethlehem Steel’s Sparrows Point mill after the consent decree of 1974 opened pathways to employment for women and African American workers. She remained there for nearly 30 years. Read more about Rita and other on our blog: https://www.thebmi.org/rita-hamlet/

A second-generation steelworker, Gordon Davis worked in many different positions during his 40 years at Sparrows Point. He described the scene in this 1989 photo: "Number 12 Battery. Coke Ovens, 10AM. Lid man sealing the lids after being (charged/filled) with coal, clay, slurry mix. Notice the shadow of tower in background. Water quench tower’s purpose is to cool down hot coke to allow it to travel on the conveyor belt lines." See more of Gordon's photographs on our "From Point to Point" blog: https://www.thebmi.org/gordon-davis/

John J. Bohli, Jr. worked at Sparrows Point from 1949 until his retirement in 1981 as a foreman in the pipe mill. He is pictured here in 1960, in the front row on the right, with other staff from the pipe mill. His daughter Barbara recalled, "he had an excellent work ethic and I believe he was proud to be part of Bethlehem Steel. My father was a wonderful husband and raised 10 children." Photo courtesy of Barbara Fitzgerald.

Charlie Conklin shared this memory: "This photo is the Loop Class of 1959 taken in Bethlehem, PA before we all were sent to the plant of our choosing. I selected Sparrows Point because it was the largest steel plant in the world, as I remember. Sad to say that it was the longest Steelworkers Strike in its history (116 days), so the mill was not operating when I arrived at Sparrows Point. We toured the plant, from coke ovens all the way to the finishing mills - flat rolled products to the pipe mill and rod mills. Impressive but still!! One thing that I remember when I moved into a row house in Dundalk was the happiness shared about the mill being down from the women there - Why. Because they could hang out their laundry to dry on clothes line outside and not get orange soot on them as when the mill was operating. Yes - when the mill did start back up, I had to clean off my front car windows from the orange soot. That was life."