I4m currently working on my latest novel for which I need detailed information an how the Golden Gate bridge was built. That means, I want to know, who worked on it (names of the companies involved, names of people working there). I want to know anything on how the men worked out there, about their working-conditions and, probably the most important item, who died out there during the work. How did they die ? What did exactly happen ? What were the victims4names and what did they do in the time of their lifes not being out there on the bridge ? I also want to know about the surviving workers. Is there anyone still alive, who could help me ? I also need information on the town itself during that time of the building-process (late thirties). Politicians, every-day-life,people of major interest, buildings, social situations. I4d be so glad about every hint. Thanks a lot in advance.

-- Kevin Vennemann (csac3155@uibk.ac.at), September 23, 1999

Answers

Your question is more complex than can be answered concisely in this forum. However, you can get started by visiting the Bridge's own web site at http://www.goldengate.org/ They have a good history section that will get you started. Here are two titles that will also provide excellent data of the type you are researching: "Spanning the Gate" by Stephen Cassady (Square Books/Mill Valley, CA, 1979); "Golden Gate" by Allen Brown (Doubleday & Co./Garden City, NY, 1965) Both these books contain quite a bit of personal information on the men who built the bridges, including some of their off-duty activities. (Rumor is they drank a bit...)

Good luck.

John Martini

-- John Martini (martini@slip.net), September 24, 1999.

For a feel of day-to-day life, can't beat reading the daily newspaper! I recommend calling Bay Microfilm Inc, at 800/359-FILM. They have most of the major SF newspapers from that time period available. You can purchase your own copy for a relatively modest price, then use it at your local library at your convenience. Good luck!

-- dorothy (leland@dcn.davis.ca.us), September 27, 1999.

The bridge was designed by Joseph Baermann Strauss and well i dont know much either because i'm doing a speech

-- (campbellmichael@home.com), April 07, 2001.

The bridge was designed by Joseph Baermann Strauss and well I dont know much either because i'm doing a speech

-- (campbellmichael@home.com), April 07, 2001.

My husband's grandfather was one of the oldest living men who worked on the Golden Bridge. He had an article written about him in one of the Trenton, New Jersey newspapers back in the early 1990's. His name was Walter Weber. Unfortunately, he passed away in July of 1994, but he told some great stories (repeatedly, believe me!) about his time as an engineer for Roebling Steel and the contract that they had to help build and supply materials for the Golden Gate bridge. One of his favorite stories was about the German ships that came through the San Francisco Bay. Men were furious about the German's having access to the bay because of the war and they would often throw many items from the bridge and aim them at the ships as they passed under them as they worked on the bridge. He also talked about one of the other companies that had been contracted to help supply steel for the bridge...Bethlehem Steel. He went into great detail about the logistics of how the bridge was built in that newspaper article that I mentioned to you and you might find it to be very useful. Have a great time writing your book! :o)

-- Beth Hoffman (GBKPHoff@aol.com), March 21, 2003.

That's a great story about bridge workers dropping objects onto passing German ships, but it doesn't ring true. The Germans didn't invade Poland until 1939 -- two years after the bridge was finished. Since World War II hadn't started, what were the workers mad about?

If they held grudges, I guess they could have still been p.o.'d about World War I.

-- John Martini (jamartini@slip.net), March 22, 2003.

Check out my website for more.

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The San Francisco History Experience.

-- SFHE editor (chunkylover53@sfhe.tk), March 22, 2003.

Go to this website, it has some very helpful information! http://www.civil.bcit.ca/edufacts/goldengate.html

-- KNGuidry (kristy_128@yahoo.com), July 26, 2004.