One more note. I had a visit from a smelter retiree yesterday. He hasn't been out here for a few years. One thing that struck him after his many decades of working in Ruston was how quiet it is around here now. There was constant operation noise; the converter's hum, the whistle at shift change, constant movement 24 hours a day. Things really have changed ~ and most of us (myself included) have no idea what Ruston was like until just a few years ago...
Please excuse the poor quality, these are old fashioned photocopies:
More from Jim Wingard's files:
4 comments:
Lemuel was my Dad. His birthname was Lemuel Leonhidist Wingard. He was known in the early days as Lem, Leon until settling on Leo L Wingard (Lemuel).
Mary Amanda Wingard was my grandmother who unfortunately died young.
L J Wingard was my grandfather Lemuel Jonathan Wingard known as LJ.
When I moved here about 30 years ago, the rumble of the smelter could be felt through your shoes. There was a muted roar even on Winnifred and constant squealing of conveyors was more or less depending on the wind and weather. It was a very loud silence when it finally shut down.
A burst water main above the pot line resulted in multiple explosions that required evacuation of the school. The only obvious damage was a hole in the side of the building. The size of the hole was hard to gauge in such a large building but it was big enough to toss a two-story house through. Just a little thump folks, move along, nothing to see here....
Is this the same Lemuel Wingard who worked as a fishery agent in Bristol Bay Alaska and later owned his own fish company?
to: Bob King said...
Is this the same Lemuel Wingard who worked as a fishery agent in Bristol Bay Alaska and later owned his own fish company?
I remember my Dad talking about his relative who owned a cannery in Alaska but the name escapes me. Contact was lost after the move, there wasn't the opportunities we have today.
Sorry, I will ask my aunt and followup.
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