HARD WORK

Steve got a job along with his dad at the U.S. Gypsum Co. mines and plant located on the southeast side of Fort Dodge. Steve described the mining process:  the miners would go underground, break gypsum from the walls with pick axes and drills and load it in the form of rock into carts. The carts were on metal tracks (similar to small railroad cars).  When the carts were full, mules would pull them above ground where the mills would crush the rock to be made into plaster and wallboard, often referred to as drywall.  I think that Steve once told me that the miners were paid based on the number of carts they filled in a day.

Here is a post card of the U.S. Gypsum Mills in Fort Dodge. Where Steve and his father worked. (Click on the  image for a larger view.)

Even though it was the Depression there was some work at the mines and mills.  Here is a link to a brief article about U.S. Gypsum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USG_Corporation

And here is a link to a brief video within a look at an abandoned gypsum mine:
http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/eightwest/Tour_the_Gypsum_Mines