The smokestacks that loom over Pittsburgh’s Waterfront shopping area are a juxtaposition of past and present, working class and upper class, and a reminder of what flourished and left. Steel came to Pittsburgh in the second half of the 19th century bringing jobs for people in the city, while the Pittsburgh coal seam southeast of the city supplied work to people in 53 counties, fueling the city’s industry and local Appalachian economies alike. The steel industry continued to grow until the industry’s peak during World War II. But in the mid-1980s, the steel industry headed to Mexico and elsewhere, leaving doubt that the city would recover.

Jobs in the mills ranged from shoveling sand for seven hours a day to the tedious task of operating an overhead crane, and from laborers to foreman in the mines. Steel mills had dirty and dangerous working conditions, and the labor was strenuous. Most steel mills operated 24 hours, as people took shifts making sure every step of the process was always attended to. But at the end of the day, it was honest work, and a way to earn money to provide for the family.

Despite difficult work and conditions, the strong sense of camaraderie existed in the mills. Entire neighborhoods were built up around the prospering mills, promoting strong local economies and communities ties. Gift remembers his childhood community fondly. “You grew up here, and everybody was family. I had four uncles on one street. So it was a great community growing up back then.” Workers took pride in a hard day’s work, knowing that they were providing for their family.