For eleven seconds, a man clinging to a steel cable high above Manhattan is all that stands between him and oblivion. His face contorted in concentration, he reaches for a bolt on his work outfit, the vast expanse of New York City unfurling like a patchwork quilt beneath him.
This image, captured by Lewis Hine during the Empire State Building's construction, encapsulates the daredevil spirit of its ironworkers - men who defied gravity to construct the world's tallest skyscraper. These roughneck heroes were the unsung champions of America's urban boom, their sweat and toil shaping the nation's skyline.
History often romanticizes architects like Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon, but the true story behind the Empire State's construction lies with its 3,000 workers - men from diverse backgrounds who risked life and limb to bring the building to life. Hine's photographs reveal a kaleidoscope of lives - Victor "Frenchy" Gosselin, a connector extraordinaire; Vladimir Kozloff, a union secretary fighting for worker rights; Matthew McKean, a Scottish carpenter separated from his family.
Behind every iconic image lies a personal story - one that challenges the notion that only the mighty and powerful are worthy of attention. Kurtz's book Men at Work sheds light on these forgotten workers, their struggles, triumphs, and ultimate sacrifices.
In an age where architecture tends to erase the human cost of construction, Kurtz's narrative serves as a poignant reminder that it is the collective effort of the many, not just the few, that shapes our built environment. The Sky Boy may have become an iconic symbol, but it's time to unearth the stories behind his image - and those of the men who made the Empire State possible.
This image, captured by Lewis Hine during the Empire State Building's construction, encapsulates the daredevil spirit of its ironworkers - men who defied gravity to construct the world's tallest skyscraper. These roughneck heroes were the unsung champions of America's urban boom, their sweat and toil shaping the nation's skyline.
History often romanticizes architects like Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon, but the true story behind the Empire State's construction lies with its 3,000 workers - men from diverse backgrounds who risked life and limb to bring the building to life. Hine's photographs reveal a kaleidoscope of lives - Victor "Frenchy" Gosselin, a connector extraordinaire; Vladimir Kozloff, a union secretary fighting for worker rights; Matthew McKean, a Scottish carpenter separated from his family.
Behind every iconic image lies a personal story - one that challenges the notion that only the mighty and powerful are worthy of attention. Kurtz's book Men at Work sheds light on these forgotten workers, their struggles, triumphs, and ultimate sacrifices.
In an age where architecture tends to erase the human cost of construction, Kurtz's narrative serves as a poignant reminder that it is the collective effort of the many, not just the few, that shapes our built environment. The Sky Boy may have become an iconic symbol, but it's time to unearth the stories behind his image - and those of the men who made the Empire State possible.
i mean dont get me wrong shreve lamb harmon are cool and all but lets be real theyre not the ones risking life and limb up 80 stories high in the steel beast thats the empire state building for u 
anyways ive been reading this book men at work by kurtz and its SO important we need to remember these guys who gave everything for a paycheck and their families sufferin from homesickness but still showin up to work every day 
their stories are literally being erased by history and thats just not right 
but what about the frenchy the russian guy the scottish carpenter who had to leave his family behind? those are the kinds of stories we need to be hearing more of 
it's time we give them the recognition they deserve 
. Don't get me wrong, their contributions are legit, but we're already aware that these ironworkers were doing some crazy stuff to build that skyscraper 
. Still, I guess it's nice that someone's giving these workers some long-overdue attention 
i mean its like wow! and i love how lewis hine captured the moment its so intense 
but what im really feeling right now is that we need more stories about these unsung heroes who built our cities 
It's crazy thinking about how hard those ironworkers had it, working hundreds of feet in the air with no safety net 
. And meanwhile, we're just looking at pictures and reading books about their stories... it's like we forget that there were actual people behind all these amazing buildings 
. I think it's so cool that Lewis Hine took those photos and showed us a different side of history – one that's not just about the big bosses but also about the everyday guys who made it happen 
. Seriously though, it's crazy to think that for 11 whole seconds this guy was literally all that stood between him and oblivion 
. Anyway, I think it's time we gave these unsung heroes their due, after all, someone's gotta keep our skylines looking sharp 
.
. It's time to shine a light on the forgotten stories of men like Victor "Frenchy" Gosselin and Vladimir Kozloff 
They were literally the ones who made the Empire State possible, and now they're just kinda... forgotten 
. We need to start giving more props to these unsung heroes! 
. It's crazy to think about how their hard work shaped our city's skyline 
. We need more books like Kurtz's Men at Work that shed light on the unsung heroes behind iconic structures 
It's crazy thinking about these workers putting their lives on hold every day just to build some giant skyscraper. And it's not like they were getting any recognition back then either... 
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I feel like these workers are often forgotten but their story is so much more interesting than just some fancy building