In this fourth column, I am speaking to the governor of Burgenland, Austria, Mr. Hans Niessl, at the Atlas Cement Company Memorial Museum about the Burgenland heritage in Northampton, Coplay and the Lehigh Valley.

In previous columns, I wrote about local residents who left Burgenland to work in local cement plants.

Today, I remember my father’s cousin and my godfather, Mr. Frank Wolfer, who came to America in 1922 from Burgenland. His father, also named Frank, came to America in 1907 because their farm of 35 acres could barely support the family.

When he arrived at New York’s Ellis Island, Frank said, “I came to Northampton on the ‘Green Horn’ train, a demeaning term for unskilled immigrants. In those days, there was no ‘political correctness,’ there was no fuss, as we have today on many issues.”

He boarded in Newport and worked during the period when the Atlas became famous, being awarded the Panama Canal cement contract. His son Frank was born in 1913 and went back to Austria at 6 months of age. His father would return and purchase a small farm with his savings. World War I ended the flow of immigrants to the United States, so young Frank stayed in Europe until 1922 with his grandmother. His parents returned to America, and Frank would come later, escorted by a friend.

My father, Anthony, also came to America with a friend after his parents were able to finance his journey to the USA. This was a common practice, as many families were large.

Frank spent three days at Ellis Island until arrangements could be made to bring him to Northampton on a Central of New Jersey train. His father met him at the railroad station behind VFW Post 4714 on Main Street. Many immigrants resided in the bank row on lower Main Street. The row of double homes housed 10 to 12 residents in some homes.

Frank’s father worked at the Atlas at Plant No. 3. In 1922, the plants were recruiting new employees, especially young men. The Atlas employment agent was named Prest Everett. He seemed to know everyone. He canvassed the neighborhood knocking on doors. He knew Frank Wolfer had a son who was big for his age.

At the Wolfer home, he said, “I understand you have a big son. Where is he?”

Frank came to the door.

Mr. Everett asked, “How old are you, Frank?

Frank answered that he was 14. “Well, you’re old enough. Report to the employment office right now,” Mr. Everett said.

Frank walked out to the plant. They looked him over and hired him by simply writing his name in an employment book. No physical, not paperwork because most immigrants could not write English.

He was proud when he said, “I was hired at the rate of 26-1/2 cents an hour for 10-hour shifts. That was good money to me and all my friends. I was assigned to the coopershop (barrel making). The plant had two shops assembling barrels with over 100 employees.”

The men who assembled were called raisers. The young men brought the staves and material to the raisers. A good raiser could assemble 300 barrels and could earn $5 a day. The building had no heating system, but small pot-bellied stoves were used to heat and draw barrels together.

In the summer, the heat was so intense that, on occasion, boys fainted, but they persisted.

As Frank said, “It was my first job. I wanted to keep it.”

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In two weeks, they loved F.D.R.

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Northampton Area Historical Society will hold a special program 10 a.m. March 10. Come and see photos of “Old Northampton” at borough hall, 1401 Laubach Ave. Larry Oberly will share the photos of the early business community.