EPISODE 9 "HISTORY IS VERY PERSONAL."
Christine is a true Vermonter in every way: she is part Abenaki, and her entire family has been here for generations. Growing up working-class in a working-class town, she knows what it feels like to be disregarded. When she finally gets the chance to go to college as a working mother, she is awakened to her own intelligence. She decides to teach history, focusing on the history of women and Native Americans. She believes history is very personal, and her students learn history by making it personal. She makes a decent living, but it is only because her union has fought hard for it -- and they have to keep on fighting for it. Oral history transcript to be performed: Christine Smith, Librarian at Spaulding, former History Teacher at Spaulding HS (2017, original). Narrator: Sb Sowbel THEME SONG CREDIT The “John Henry” song at the beginning of our show is from the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Used courtesy of the Association for Cultural Equity. RESEARCH CITATIONS
SOUND & MUSIC CREDITS Music: "Cascade" by Parallel Park. From Free Music Archive. CC BY-NC-SA Music: "Coming Round" by Parallel Park. From Free Music Archive. CC BY-NC-SA Sound Effect: "ambience house with tv" by H0ugH. From freesound.org. CC BY-NC Sound Effect: "atm money bank machine" by Nkzdra. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Ambience, Seaside Waves, Close, A" by InspectorJ. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Cafe busy with children" by Stevious42. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Classroom" by sarcasticbracket. From freesound.org. CC BY-NC Sound Effect: "College library ambience" by Hourofmidnight. From freesound.org. CC BY-NC Sound Effect: "GroupOfCollegeStudentsInClassroom" by adamlhumphreys. From freesound.org. CC BY-NC Sound Effect: "Library sounds" by artemis_ch. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Paintings at the exhibition » Lecture01" by LG. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Prinknash Abbey Ground (Graveyard) at Dusk" by kernowrules. From freesound.org. CC BY-NC Sound Effect: "Sad or Happy Movie Scene" by Soundscapes55. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Wall Clock Ticking" by straget. From freesound.org. CC BY
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EPISODE 8 "IN THIS AREA, I WAS STUCK"
Many people did struggle during the Recession, and some never fully recovered. Paul dedicated his life to the liberal arts, helping students achieve their dreams, including a young poet with a speech impediment. When the cumulative effects of the 2008 crisis kicked in, however, Paul was laid off. He found work as a Retail Merchandiser, but it paid less than $15 an hour. Oral history transcript to be performed: Paul Cook, former Retail Merchandiser and Academic Advisor (2017, original) VOICE CREDITS Storyteller: Paul Cook Narrator: Reverend Earl Kooperkamp THEME SONG CREDIT The “John Henry” song at the beginning of our show is from the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Used courtesy of the Association for Cultural Equity. RESEARCH CREDITS
SOUND & MUSIC CREDITS Music: "Burbujas de agua" by Circus Marcus. From Free Music Archive. CC BY-NC Music: "intro_outro" by Circus Marcus. From Free Music Archive. CC BY-NC Music: "La penúltima del jueves" by Circus Marcus. From Free Music Archive. CC BY-NC Sound Effect: "00588 paperwork 1" by Robinhood76. From freesound.org. CC BY-NC Sound Effect: "Applause 4" by VlatkoBlazek. From freesound.org. CC BY
EPISODE 7 "IS THIS MY LIFE?"
Fast forward about 80 years to about a decade after America’s second-biggest economic contraction, the Great Recession. The granite industry is still dying, but it’s not wholly dead. The industry is also much safer than it used to be, thanks to workers fighting for better working conditions in the first half of the 20th century. For more highly skilled workers, there are still jobs. Gampo left the building trades to become a granite carver. He is one of about a half a dozen stone carvers left in Barre. He is an artist. Oral history transcript to be performed: Gampo Wickenheiser, Stone Carver (2017, original) VOICE CREDITS Storyteller: Gampo Wickenheiser Narrator: George Brin RESEARCH CITATIONS
SOUND & MUSIC CREDITS Music: "Anti-Exposed Video" by Captive Portal. From the Free Music Archive. CC BY-NC Music: "Drums For Jobs" by Captive Portal. From the Free Music Archive. CC BY-NC Sound Effect: "Soft Rain on a Tent & Bird Ambiance" by Kingcornz. From freesound.org. CC BY
EPISODE 6 "POOR DEVIL"
Outside of the sheds, work was still dangerous. Workers were crushed, injured, and combusted. Jack gives us a tour of the abandoned quarries, which he punctuates with bittersweet memories and reflections. He tells a joke about a trick laid-off workers used to get a meal. In the end, Jack just wants to be able to get by. Oral history transcript to be performed: Jack Gills, Derrick Operator (1930s, Federal Writers’ Project interview) VOICE CREDITS Narrator: Richard Gaiotti THEME SONG CREDIT The “John Henry” song at the beginning of our show is from the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Used courtesy of the Association for Cultural Equity. RESEARCH CITATIONS
SOUND & MUSIC CREDITS Music: "Unidentified Cajun harmonica tune (II)" by Unidentified [harmonica]. From the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Sound Effect: "Bar Crowd - Logans Pub - Feb 2007" by lonemonk. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Cableway » Cableway_03" by alessandro.gargiulo. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Flamenquillo_PlazadelSol" by tallers. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Hail, Interior, Light, A" by InspectorJ. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Kuppi rikki / Porcelain cup falls and breaks on the floor" by YleArkisto. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Old train » Train 06 (two trains)" by Glaneur de sons. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Railway station crowd" by arnaud coutancier. From freesound.org. CC BY-NC Sound Effect: "Rain on a construction site" by oloyolol. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "voices » 20070916.yell" by dobroide. From freesound.org. CC BY EPISODE 5 "EVERYBODY'S GOT TO LIVE" If work couldn’t be found in the formal job market, people would find or make work for themselves in the informal market, which is often criminalized. During the heydays of the granite industry, widows of deceased workers supported themselves and their families by running boarding houses or making and selling food, wine, and spirits. Melicenda makes Italian dinners for the wealthier residents of Montpelier, but she does so at great risk. She lives in constant fear of the police raiding her home. Oral history transcript to be performed: Melicenda Bartoletti, Cook and Caterer (1930s, Federal Writers’ Project interview) VOICE CREDITS Narrator: Jenny Blair THEME SONG CREDIT The “John Henry” song at the beginning of our show is from the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Used courtesy of the Association for Cultural Equity. RESEARCH CITATIONS
SOUND & MUSIC CREDITS Sound Effect: "60-writing" by Leoctiurs. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Family Ambience, Background Noise" by f-r-a-g-i-l-e. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Party Sounds » Party Crowd 1" by Kolezan. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Weaving mills and factories" by phonoflora. From freesound.org. CC BY
EPISODE 4 "MY FATHER SWORE THE KITCHEN BLUE"
Families wanted better, longer lives for their children than what the granite industry could offer. Palmira’s father was furious when she was dating a stone carver. Their family had endured a hard journey to America from Santander, Spain in search of better lives. And it did seem like they were moving up in the world when Palmira landed a job as a switchboard operator. But, Palmira had dreams of becoming a teacher. During the Depression, however, it was hard to see a future beyond being a switchboard operator. Oral history transcript to be performed: Palmira Fernandes, Switchboard Operator (1930s, Federal Writers’ Project interview) VOICE CREDITS Narrator: Weiwei Wang THEME SONG CREDIT The “John Henry” song at the beginning of our show is from the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Used courtesy of the Association for Cultural Equity. RESEARCH CITATIONS
SOUND & MUSIC CREDITS Music: "Ai, ama! Gaztian nintzanian dama". From the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Association for Cultural Equity.
EPISODE 3 "THERE WAS NEVER TROUBLE GETTING A JOB"
Machines and automation have been putting people out of work for some time, and the Depression is no exception. But, not long ago, there was an industrial boom that required massive amounts of labor - which is why Donegal, a Scottish man, and his family came here. A man could move from job to job as he pleased. But the work wasn’t easy. Working in Barre's granite industry was dangerous. Many workers died before they reached their 40s. Granite carvers had it the worst. The best carvers, the “artists”, died faster than they could be replaced. Oral history transcript to be performed: Donegall, Stone Carver (1930s, Federal Writers’ Project interview)
VOICE CREDITS
Narrator: Greg Hooker THEME SONG CREDIT The “John Henry” song at the beginning of our show is from the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Used courtesy of the Association for Cultural Equity. RESEARCH CITATIONS
SOUND & MUSIC CREDITS Music: “Canción de canteros”. From the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Association for Cultural Equity. Music: "Failte Rudha Bhatairnis". From the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Association for Cultural Equity. Sound Effect: "Ambience, Machine Factory, A." by InspectorJ. From freedsound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Garden Shovel" by Roulaine. Free freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Paper_Shuffling_Crinkling_Crisp" by bewagne. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Wall Clock Ticking" by straget. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Waves » Crowd in a bar (LCR)" by Leandros.Ntounis. From freedsound.org. CC BY
In honor of International Workers' Day, I give you the first few episodes of En Masse! Listen using the players below or find En Masse wherever you get your podcasts. A new episode will be released each Friday. The final episode of Season 1 "Bedrock" will be released on Friday, July 3rd. Subscribe to automatically get the latest episodes on your device.
Episode 0: Introduction to Season 1, "Bedrock"
Episode 1: "You're in a different world."
Episode 2: "You got to keep up with the times."
VOICE CREDITS FOR EPISODE 1: "YOU'RE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD"
Storyteller: Sarah Miller Narrator: Jennifer Gagnon VOICE CREDITS FOR EPISODE 2: "YOU GOT TO KEEP UP WITH THE TIMES" Storyteller: "Umbrella Pat" Narrator: Noel Reyes THEME SONG CREDIT The “John Henry” song at the beginning of our show is from the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Used courtesy of the Association for Cultural Equity. RESEARCH CITATIONS FOR EPISODE 0 "INTRODUCTION"
RESEARCH CITATIONS FOR EPISODE 1 "YOU'RE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD"
RESEARCH CITATIONS FOR EPISODE 2 "YOU GOT TO KEEP UP WITH THE TIMES"
SOUND & MUSIC CREDITS FOR EPISODE 0 "INTRODUCTION" Music: "16/9" by Circus Marcus. From the Free Music Archive. CC BY-NC Music: "Ambient Piece #4 (02-13-2017)" by Abishai. From the Free Music Archive. CC BY-NC-ND Music: "Ambient Piece #1 (12-25-2016)" by Abishai. From the Free Music Archive. CC BY-NC-ND Music: “Canción de canteros”. From the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Association for Cultural Equity. Music: "Mε Πιάνουνε Ζαλάδες" by Caligine. From the Free Music Archive. CC BY-NC-SA SOUND & MUSIC CREDITS FOR EPISODE 1 "YOU'RE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD" Music: “Symphony of Bells” by Abishai. From the Free Music Archive. CC BY-NC-ND Sound Effect: "Animal world » Day in polish countryside - birds, dog" by tom_woysky. From freesound.org. CC BY-NC Sound Effect: “Country Ambience” by CastleofSamples. From freesound.org. CC BY SOUND & MUSIC CREDITS FOR EPISODE 2 "YOU GOT TO KEEP UP WITH THE TIMES" Music: "Streetlife Silentfilm” by Lobo Loco. From Free Music Archive. CC BY-NC-ND Sound Effect: "Animal world » Day in polish countryside - birds, dog" by tom_woysky. From freesound.org. CC BY-NC Sound Effect: "BELLS, BEEPS, SIGNALS recordings » 01112 church bells 3" by Robinhood76. From freesound.org. CC BY-NC Sound Effect: "farmland » farmland February NL SHORT 130228_00" by klankbeeld. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Foley » Chains 2" by freemaster2. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Foley » RainUmbrella" by HerbertBoland. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "New Foley Sounds- by Allan K Zepeda » Rocks Falling No-Reverb Edition 16 Bit. Foley Sound" by ALLANZ10D. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Puke/Vomiting" by Joao_de_Deus. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "Rocks » rocks1" by mystiscool. From freesound.org. CC BY Sound Effect: "sound_design_excerpts » Janitor's Bedroom Ambience" : CC BY Sound Effects: "Vehicles » farm sowing machine 2" by soundmary. From freesound.org. CC BY On May Day (5/1/2020), an oral-history docudrama will be released as an inaugural season of a new podcast called En Masse. Season 1 "Bedrock" investigates various experiences of class and capitalism from the WPA-era to the present in the long-time “Granite Center of the World,” Barre, Vermont. Listen starting May 1st. Available wherever you get your podcasts.
Music Credit for trailer: Ambient Piece #1 (12-25-2016) by Abishai: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Abishai/Various_Extras/03_Ambient_Piece_1_12-25-2016 AVAILABLE WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS SEASON ONE: BEDROCK Barre, VT was once called the “Granite Center of the World." Quarries wide and deep gave rise to an industry that promised to bear the task of immortality. Granite of exquisite quality augured not only exceptional monuments and memorials but exceptional lives for generations to come -- free from the privations of the old country -- or so it was thought. There are hundreds of years worth of granite left in Barre’s quarries, but now they only employ a few people. Today, some refer to the town as “Scary Barre” -- its history as a center of industry and radical labor politics overshadowed by its sinking economy and struggles with poverty. Using performances of oral histories, we will witness how work has changed through economic crises, how those changes are still unfolding, and how they have affected us all. CREATIVE PARTNERS FOR SEASON 1, BEDROCK Andrew Sullivan for editorial advice. Dylan Kelley, editor of the Herald of Randolph, for production support. WGDR, Goddard College Community Radio, for use of their production studio. Special thanks to our storytellers and narrators. |
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