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Melissa Quirk, English teacher at Drury High School in North Adams, explains her "I Am From" project:
"Students first listened to songs like
Lauryn Hill's ‘Every Ghetto, Every City,' and read poems like George Ella Lyon's ‘Where I'm From.' I asked them
to consider what it means to be ‘from' a place. They then brainstormed what places, smells, sayings, traditions, etc.
they considered themselves ‘from,' and wrote ‘I Am From' poems about themselves. Some of them were very poetic,
and I feel that I learned a lot about my students by reading these self-reflections."
"Then, in light of their ongoing research project on North Adams ‘past,
present, and future,' I asked them to consider what they've been learning about the mill children. I asked them to select
a specific child they'd learned about from Joe Manning and from the Lewis Hine photographs. They were to learn more by reading
about that child on Manning's website, then imagine life from that child's point of view. Finally, they were to write an ‘I
Am From' poem as though they were that mill child."
"My hopes were that through reflecting inward before exploring outward, students would be better able to empathize
with the mill children. I wanted them to have more than a ‘cut-and-dried' experience of North Adams history, and to
humanize it in a way that creates a connection for them. By becoming more invested in and connected to our town, perhaps they
will be able to understand themselves and their role as a resident here more clearly."
Here are some of the results. All of the children depicted were photographed
by Hine at the Eclipse Mill, except one, Addie Card, who was photographed by Hine at a cotton mill in nearby Pownal, Vermont.
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| Richard Fitzgerald, Eclipse Mill, North Adams, MA. |
Richard Fitzgerald
By Emma Elizabeth WaryjaszI am from the piercing sounds of a mill,
And walking home every day up a steep
hill.
From a caring Irish family and the youngest of five,
I worked in a mill to help my family survive. I am from the times that I would cherish,
And family
members who perished.
Starting with grandfather, uncle and brother,
To the death of my mother.
Ending with
my sister, grandmother, and father. I am from
working in North Adams until 1922,
Then moving to bustling Boston to try something new.
From working hard as a truck
driver until 1942,
When I enrolled in the Army during World War II.
I was a semi-skilled route man with little education,
But I was proud that I could serve my nation. I
lived in Boston until May 8, 1967,
That day I flew and ascended to heaven.
I had no children or wife of my own,
But I was never alone.
No one now might know who I was, but that's okay.
I was part of history and so are
all of you here today. I am from North Adams,
a place I call home.
Richard Fitzgerald
By Alex CandiloroI am of Irish decent,
I am from an Irish immigrant mother
and a second-generation
Irish-American father.
I came in to this world in 1897,
From the small valley town of North Adams. I have a grammar school education
Then I worked in a mill.
I am the youngest of a family of five,
But one of my siblings died very young. I come from a family with bad memories,
Many of my family died when I was young.
From my uncle committing
suicide,
To my brother dying in the mill.
Later I am confirmed catholic and more bad news,
My mother, father
and sister have all died to. Away from North Adams
to Boston I went,
Made a home with my brother.
A truck driver I became.
Then the Army called my name,
As
a "semi-skilled route man" My life came
to end at the age of seventy,
Leaving no known family behind.
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| Albert Duquette, Eclipse Mill, North Adams, MA. |
Albert Duquette
By Nick TrombleyI am from Connecticut in the spring,
From Joseph and Regina, their eldest child.
I am from many names,
From Joseph Albert Duquette, Puggy Duquette,
and Young Eddie Leonard. I am from boxing at an early age.
I am from looking like Popeye,
even though he did not exist during my
lifetime.
I am from a pipe at fifteen. I
am from the Army in WWI.
I am from North Adams and different city streets.
From Reed, Union, Eagle, and Grant streets.
I am from a loving wife, Celina. I am from various
occupations.
From boxer to athletic trainer to the cotton mill.
I am from a bad heart,
Passing away at age
thirty-nine.
Albert Duquette
By Renee Sherman-GauthierI am from Connecticut, born in May,
From Joseph and Regina,
the first
of 5 children,
from 569 West Main to 54 Reed Street,
I am just a sweeper at the mill. I am 15 years old, without a care in the world,
from growing up to going into
the war,
to boxing known as "Puggy" or Eddie Leonard,
I am just a sweeper at the mill. From marrying Celina in 1922,
to giving up boxing in 1925,
I am working
at the cotton mill once again,
I am just a sweeper at the mill. I am from the picture,
that looks like Popeye,
I am 15 years old, not knowing where I'll go,
I am
just a sweeper at the mill.
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| Addie Card, North Pownal Manufacturing Co., Pownal, VT. |
Adeline Card
By Matthew ScanlonI am from the Green Hills of my home state, Vermont.
From the tall mountains and flowing rivers.
From
a poor family that has me to work just to get by.
From my Family name, Card.
From sole-less shoes or none at all.
I am from cotton mills and spinning thread.
From lazy boys and hard-working girls.
From tied back hair that's
dirty blond.
I am from long dresses and dirty aprons.
I am from a passed mother and a deadbeat dad.
I am from
my sister Annie, and my grandparents, William and Adelaide.
I am from my name, Adeline.
That's where I am from.
Back to Eclipse Mill, North Adams, Massachusetts
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