LIFE CHANGING EVENTS

IRVIN WORKS WAS UNITED STATES STEELS MOST MODERN STEEL MILL IN THE MON-VALLEY AND WHEN I GOT A MILLWRIGHT APPRENTICESHIP IN 1981 I THOUGHT I HAD IT MADE FOR LIFE. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, LIFE FOR ME AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS CHANGED FOREVER. WHEREAS ARLENE KNEW FRUGALITY, I NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING- BUT WAS ABOUT TO LEARN. WE WERE HEATING OUR HOUSE WITH OIL BACK THEN AND FUEL OIL HAD DOUBLED IN PRICE, SO ONE THING WE DID INVEST IN, WHICH I HIGHLY RECOMMEND, IS AN ADD-ON WOOD FURNACE. WE HAVEN'T BOUGHT A DROP OF FUEL SINCE 1982 AND I REALLY ENJOY FINDING AND CUTTING FREE WOOD. THE 80'S IN WESTERN PA.  WERE NOT GOOD TIMES. MAYBE 100,000 PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS AND A HIGH PERCENTAGE HAD DEFINITE SKILLS- MILLWRIGHT APPRENTICE DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE. IRVIN WORKS SURVIVED AND SO DID I; WENT TO SCHOOL FOR WELDING, GOT A JOB AT A BOILERMAKER SHOP AND WHEN THAT CLOSED IN 1993 GOT INTO FIELD CONSTRUCTION AS A BOILERMAKER OUT OF BOILERMAKERS LOCAL 154 PITTSBURGH PA.