page_25



	This photo from 1993 shows a former defense plant, in Cleveland, Ohio, where I worked 6 months, from May throught October,1944, before I joined the U.S.Navy. After I finished high school, early 1944, I decided to go to Cleveland and work a few months until just before I became 18 years of age.( when I would join the Navy ). I paid $3.00 per week to room at a house owned by a family who were originally from Watauga County, N.C. I ate out, as the $3.00 per week only included a place to sleep and bathroom privileges. Several others from Watauga County also roomed there while they worked at defense plants, making war material for use in WW2. I worked at this plant from 6:30 AM to 6:30 pm 6 days per week and sometimes on Sundays. I operated A drill press and was paid $1.12 per hour. I went back to Watauga County the last of October and joined the Navy. I took this photo, May 1993, as Reba and I were driving across the United States to board a ferry boat at Bellingham, Washington, for a boat trip to Alaska. This structure had been vacant for several decades.

		PREVIOUS PAGE......NEXT PAGE