Thomas Kay Woolen Mill workers, circa 1932. WHC Collections, M3 1992-008-0001

This image (M3 1992-008-0001) was donated to the museum by a former mill employee who estimated the date was about 1932.  It was taken on the west side of the site, nearest 12th Street looking east towards the west face of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill Building.  The building to the far left of the image contained administrative offices for a time.  It was torn down to make way for the more modern stucco building that now stands here.

Thanks to the sleuthing of WHC staff and research volunteers, we have been able to look a bit more deeply into the lives of the workers pictured in this photo. Use the links below to learn more about the individuals pictured.

Men

Front Row

Seated left to right

Barker, Amos — Wet Finisher

Lehman, Carl — Boss Dresser

Yarnell, Jay — Spinner

Noack, John — Spinner

Carthew, Mac –– Spinner

Fisher, John — Weaver

Noack, George — Spinner

Loewen, William “Bill” — Boss Carder

Lindemann, John — Carder

Boedigheimer, Fred — Weaver

Boedigheimer, Carl — Weaver / Loom Fixer

Ohmart, Lee — General Laborer

Seamster, Robert “Bob” — Weaver

Seamster, Hubert — Weaver

Hemann, George — Boss Weaver

Hall, Ferdig — Loom Fixer

Back Row

Standing left to right

Donaldson, Oscar  — Boss Spinner

Ohmart, Roy — Bookkeeper

Deacon, George “Harry” — Weaver

Meiske, Bud — Hander-in

Page, Albert — Filling Carrier

Lehman, Fred — Weaver

Reid, Edward “Ed” –Weaver

Blanchard, Harry — Weaver

Women

Front Row

Seated left to right

Burton, Janet [LeRoy] — Blanket Binder

Back Row

Standing left to right

Papenfus, Elsie [Hammer] — Specker

Apple, Minnie [Wood] — Spooler

Swanson, Pearl [Heath] — Sewer

Manning, Clara [Allport] — Weaver

Goss, Florence [Osburn] — Weaver

Follrich, Ruth [Young] — Weaver

Barker, Bertha “Betsy” [Hull] — Burler

Campbell, Milia [Connawarf] — Burler

Wolf, Clara [Steininger] — Specker

Pickens, Hazel [Cushow] — Seamstress

Myers, Daisy [Eastborn] — Specker

Lillian S. Greene — Weaver

Barnes, Dora [Lehman] — Weaver

Christie, Harriet [Page] — Winder