Women in Steel “1944”

From an issue of the Northwestern Safety News in 1944

Transcribed and edited by Dana Fellows, 2014

These ladies stepped in during World War II and worked in Field Fence at the mill. Mrs. William Milby; Miss Gladys Wilson; Mrs. Ed Sanders; Mrs. Helen Adair: Mrs. Leonard Michel; and Mrs. Margaret Murray. Jack Shierry is the man to the right.

During World War II many women went to work to help out while men were overseas defending our country. Northwestern Steel & Wire Company was no different than other factories at the time. Mrs. William Milby; Miss Gladys Wilson; Mrs. Ed Sanders; Mrs. Helen Adair: Mrs. Leonard Michel; and Mrs. Margaret Murray “Kept ‘Em Rolling” in the Field Fence Department at Northwestern Steel & Wire Company. These “Women of Steel” had a big job to do in keeping the rolls of fence going onto the conveyor so that they would be carried to the Shipping Platform at the mill. Mrs. Murry’s and Mrs. Michel’s husbands are in the United States Armed Forces. Mrs. Milby’s husband works in the Bundling Department and Mrs. Sanders’ husband, Eddie, operates a crane in the West Scrap Yard.

In the picture, these ladies are en-route to the Fire Escape. Point is that this escape was blocked by pipes. The Pipe-fitting Crew got a moment to move them the other day – and another Safety Job was completed.

Oh yes! “Jack” Shierry, foreman of the Field Fence, you might say stole the show from Pete Peters of the Shipping. These ladies all work for “Pete” but their duties confine them to Jack’s Department. Jack just stepped into the picture.