Mrs. Katie Long
1886-1982
Loom Operator at the Lawrence-Webster Mill and Ballard’s Mill,
producing wool cloth and clothing in Malone, NY from 1907- 1951
Detailed descriptions of both mills
TAPE 1
Track 1
Growing up in Champlain and Rouses Point; moving to Malone in 1907; family life; housing and living conditions; dances, music, and other social events.
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Track 2
School; childhood games; death of father in 1915; funeral services; food, cooking, and home preservation; clothing; home remedies.
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Tape 2 Side 1
Growing up and way of life in Malone, late 19th and early 20th Centuries; Church attendance and beliefs, Sunday school at the Centenary Methodist Church in Malone, NY; attendance at the Salvation Army services in Malone, NY; Description of various holidays and meals.
Begins work in 1907 in woolen mill and learns to run a loom at the Lawrence-Webster Woolen Mill in Malone, NY; Description of the Lawrence-Webster Mill -original building and moving to newer one. Day to day work in a woolen mill as a weaver
Moving over to the Ballard Mill and getting adjusted to it.
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Audio
[audio:http://www.reynoldstonnewyork.org/wp-content/FCRTR-092-2-A.mp3]
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Tape 3 Side 1
Detailed description of working at Ballard’s Mill; the operation of a loom and all the steps that went into making the best wool clothing for out-door wear: spinning yarn, dyeing yarn and preparing it for use. Making clothing etc. Talk of the world famous Ballard’s Plaids, designs that are still used today. Details on the buildings and grounds of both mills and operations and the names of people Katie Long worked with.
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Audio
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Tape 3 side 2
Working at the Ballard’s Mill and the slow decline of the business. Business in decline from late 30’s even during WWII, Wages and work expectations and need to find alternate employment during lay-offs:Working for Judge and Mrs. Lillian Lawrence [1]as a housekeeper
[1] See Oral History interview with Mrs. Lillian Lawrence: CLICK HERE
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Audio
[audio:http://www.reynoldstonnewyork.org/wp-content/FCRTR-092-3-B.mp3]Click on Audio link to listen to interview:
Click on link for PDF of Transcript: