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Published -
- December 29, 2017
- 4:30 pm
The skyscrapers of Manhattan needed a new, bolder type of construction worker.
They got them in ‘roughnecks’ – hardened men who worked without safety harnesses, hard hats or even bathroom breaks.
How did the workers who built skyscrapers differ from workers in other construction jobs?
The 1920s marked a transformative period for the city of New York, as the landscape filled with towering skyscrapers that defined the Big Apple. These iconic buildings, including the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and the Woolworth Building, continued to inspire architecture and engineering for years to come. However, the construction of these structures was not without its dangers. In the early days of skyscraper building, hundreds of workers faced perilous conditions that demanded courage, commitment, and skill.
Skyscrapers are complex structures that require a unique set of construction techniques. The tools used in building conventional buildings were inadequate for skyscrapers, and many new methods had to be developed to get to the great heights needed. The workers who built them were known as “skyboys”, and they came from all walks of life. They were lured to the job due to the high wages they were offered, but soon realized the risks that came with the job. These workers were some of the bravest and most skilled of their generation.
The biggest challenge in erecting skyscrapers was the towering height of the buildings. The workers had to work under circumstances that threatened their lives every moment. They had to brave frigid winds and icy conditions that could freeze their hands and bring on frostbite. One of the biggest risks of building these buildings was the high-rise falls that came when workers slipped while moving materials on scaffolding. Without safety harnesses and OSHA regulations, the workers had to be extra cautious and skilled in working at such heights.
The workers had to be acrobatic in their movements, able to balance themselves on beams as though on a tightrope as they maneuvered the massive steel beams that were used to construct the skeleton of the buildings. These beams were often so heavy that they required many men to move them in unison. Nonetheless, the workers had the dexterity needed to steer these beams into place, often making daring steps and leaps across dangerous gaps.
The workers had to have an unbreakable spirit that kept them undaunted as they encountered all manners of dangerous situations. They had to be willing to risk their lives in order to accomplish the task at hand, knowing that every step they took could take them closer to their goal or put them in harms way. However, for many of these men, the risks were worth it, as they saw the construction of these buildings as a testament to their grit and determination.
In conclusion, the brave and skillful men who built 1920s New York skyscrapers are often overlooked, but they are as much a part of the history of these iconic structures as the architects and engineers who designed them. Their legacy still stands today, as modern construction techniques still borrows a lot from the methods they pioneered. Despite the dangers they faced, they were proud to know that their efforts had helped create a new skyline that the world marvels at to this day. The legacy they left behind is a reminder of the indomitable spirit of the working-class people who built America, and the courage and skill that they brought to their craft.
