The men who built the Empire State Building were not just nameless laborers, but rugged individuals who defied gravity and pushed the limits of human endurance to create an icon of American engineering. They were known as "roughnecks" - a tight-knit fraternity of Scandinavians, Irish-Americans and Kahnawà:ke Mohawks - who spent their days strolling on the thin edge of nothingness.
Their lives were marked by hard work and sacrifice. Victor "Frenchy" Gosselin, a connector who caught suspended beams and moved them into place, lived a life that was as glamorous as it was perilous. He was immortalized in Lewis Hine's iconic photograph, "The Sky Boy," which has become synonymous with the building itself.
But there were others like Gosselin - men whose stories have been lost to history. Vladimir Kozloff, a Russian-born union leader who fought for workers' rights; Matthew McKean, a Scottish carpenter who left behind a family of his own; and Ferruccio Mariutto, an Italian terrazzo craftsman who died young from asbestos exposure.
And then there was Dick McCarthy - a second-generation American who may have been the real-life "Sky Boy." Kurtz's speculative theory is based on a tantalizing physical resemblance between McCarthy and Hine's photograph. Whether or not he's correct, it highlights the tragic loss of identity that has occurred over time.
The story of the Empire State Building is often told as one of American ingenuity and grandeur. But what about the lives behind the headlines? The narratives of architecture tend to disregard the human cost of construction - the sweat, the blood, the sacrifice. It's time to give these workers their due. Their stories are not just marginalia; they're the very fabric of our built environment.
Men at Work: The Untold Story of the Empire State Building and the Craftsmen Who Built It by Glenn Kurtz is a testament to this overlooked history. It's a story that challenges us to see the architects, not just as creators, but also as people - with their own struggles, triumphs, and tragedies.
Their lives were marked by hard work and sacrifice. Victor "Frenchy" Gosselin, a connector who caught suspended beams and moved them into place, lived a life that was as glamorous as it was perilous. He was immortalized in Lewis Hine's iconic photograph, "The Sky Boy," which has become synonymous with the building itself.
But there were others like Gosselin - men whose stories have been lost to history. Vladimir Kozloff, a Russian-born union leader who fought for workers' rights; Matthew McKean, a Scottish carpenter who left behind a family of his own; and Ferruccio Mariutto, an Italian terrazzo craftsman who died young from asbestos exposure.
And then there was Dick McCarthy - a second-generation American who may have been the real-life "Sky Boy." Kurtz's speculative theory is based on a tantalizing physical resemblance between McCarthy and Hine's photograph. Whether or not he's correct, it highlights the tragic loss of identity that has occurred over time.
The story of the Empire State Building is often told as one of American ingenuity and grandeur. But what about the lives behind the headlines? The narratives of architecture tend to disregard the human cost of construction - the sweat, the blood, the sacrifice. It's time to give these workers their due. Their stories are not just marginalia; they're the very fabric of our built environment.
Men at Work: The Untold Story of the Empire State Building and the Craftsmen Who Built It by Glenn Kurtz is a testament to this overlooked history. It's a story that challenges us to see the architects, not just as creators, but also as people - with their own struggles, triumphs, and tragedies.
anyway, I'm kinda disappointed in this article, feels like it's missing the point. i mean, yeah, the guys who built the Empire State Building were total heroes, no doubt about it 
but let's not forget that we're talking about human beings here, not just nameless laborers. their lives were marked by hard work and sacrifice... yeah, no kidding 
what really gets me is how often we gloss over the struggles of construction workers in our narratives of architecture 
"oh, they built this amazing building, let's celebrate!" but where's the context? where are the stories of the people who actually did the work? 
! I mean, can you even imagine working at 80 stories high, no safety net to catch you if you fall? 
The thought of it gives me chills just thinking about it. We gotta give these workers some serious props for their bravery and skill 
. Let's make sure to preserve their memories and celebrate the human side of architecture 
! The Empire State Building might be an iconic symbol, but it's the men behind the scenes who made it all possible 
!
it's like whoa to think about all these behind-the-scenes heroes who built our fave NYC landmark without getting any recognition 
I mean Victor Gosselin is already a legend in my book but there are so many more stories that need to be told like Vladimir Kozloff and Matthew McKean and Ferruccio Mariutto 
they were real heroes who risked thier lives to make these structures possible 
but we only get to see the finished product and not the ppl behind it 
what about their stories? their sacrifices? 
. I mean, they're not just nameless laborers; they were human beings with families, friends, and struggles