JAMES R. JUSTIN
ELECTRIC LINEMAN MUSEUM
This Museum is a website dedicated to the history of the Electric Lineman. This industry was central to the bringing of modern technology to America in the beginning of this century and remains an essential ingredient to our daily living. Without power lines, we would not have power. Its as simple as that. The job of stringing and maintaining these lines was and remains one of the most dangerous in the country. This page is dedicated to the history of this industry and to telling the stories of the men who work or worked in it.
I am interested in telling the story of the Lineman from the beginning of the story, the very first lines, to the current time.
The page is built by the visitors. If you or a loved one or family member is or was a lineman, send your stories to me by email.
This page is dedicated to James Richard Justin, my grandfather, who was a pioneer lineman in the first half of this century. Born in England to Irish parents, Owen Justin and Rose Reidy, in 1891 he came to this country via Boston in 1892. A resident of Lowell, Massachusetts he married Anne Britton and had a son James Frederick Justin. But he was not often at home for he was an Electric Lineman, putting up the first power poles and stringing some of the first power lines to America's cities. This kept him on the road for long stretches at a time as he followed the work. At times he would come home and visit. Eventually he would come and take the family on to a new home nearer the work as longer projects were found. Thus young James would be schooled for a time in Brooklyn Public Schools. Also in this way he brought the family to New Jersey in the 1930's. There James Richard would continue to work. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union. He worked for a time with a Philadelphia Power Company. He also began to work for Public Service in North Jersey where he remained until he passed away, in poor health from the hard lifestyle of the early Electric Lineman, the age of Iron Men and Wooden Poles.
----- famjustin@aol.com
The Stories of other men are set forth below. Send me YOUR STORY today!
CLICK HERE TO E-MAIL ME!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
Lineman:What's the first thing you do when you hang a transformer?
Apprentice: That's easy, make up all the grounds!
Lineman: NO you big dummy. You tighten the bolts so it won't fall off the pole!
OTHER STORIES WANTED BY ME FOR SIMILAR PAGES
State Guard and Defense Forces
Crucible Steel and War Industries
Levittown and other Construction and Electrician
Olympic Park, Lunar Park, Crystal Lake, Lake Hopatcong, Coney Island etc.
Back to Justin Oral History Center
OR VISIT THESE OTHER HISTORY RELATED SITES
Visit Justin's All The Web's Aircraft!
Why Am I doing this? My late grandfather worked as a Lienman in the teens and onwards through the 40's. I am thus motivated to create the pages I discuss above in part as a tribute to my grandfather as well as to all participants. I trust you will help me with this task and share your history with me.
Legal Stuff
PLEASE NOTE THAT BY PRESENTING ANY INFORMATION TO ME YOU THEREBY EXPRESSLY
PERMIT ME TO EDIT FOR STYLE, LENGTH OR OFFENSIVE CONTENT AND PUBLISH
SAME TOGETHER WITH A REFERENCE TO YOUR NAME AND OTHERWISE USE THE INFORMATION
PROVIDED AS I SEE FIT AND WITHOUT FURTHER PERMISSION FROM YOU ALTHOUGH IF
YOU REQUEST YOUR NAME AND OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION WILL NOT BE POSTED WITH
THE STORY. FURTHERMORE YOU WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO COMPENSATION FOR ANY USE OF
THE MATERIAL PROVIDED. YOU ALSO AFFIRMATIVELY DECLARE AND CERTIFY THAT
YOU ARE THE PARTY REPRESENTED AND THAT THE STORY IS TRUE TO THE BEST OF YOUR
KNOWLEDGE ( UNLESS INDICATED AS JOKE OR TALL TALE OF COURSE). FINALLY
PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME BALONEY, IF YOU HAVE REAL STORIES OR TALL TALES OR
JOKES ET CETERA SEND THEM. BUT DO NOT SEND ME SPURIOUS STUFF, I'M TRYING
TO SET UP SOMETHING FOR PEOPLES EDUCATION AND THE ONLY VALUE OF IT WILL BE
ITS AUTHETICITY SO PLEASE NO GAGS. THANKS.
