Construction Curiosities #91
St Paddy's Day Special: Irish Influence in American Construction
Hey! Happy St Patrick’s Day Weekend! Matt here.
Welcome to the Construction Curiosities newsletter!
This weekly Newsletter explores the Curiosities of the Construction Industry. It's meant to help Drag the Construction Industry into the 21st Century by making you think, smile, and become motivated to drive innovation in your realm of the industry.
The Newsletter will focus on 4 primary areas of Innovation:
Technology & Tools
Growth Marketing
Upskilling/ Mentorship
Being People First in all of the Above
We won’t hit on each of these topics every week but that’s what is in rotation!
Summary
This week we will look at:
Irish Influence in American Construction
One Announcement: CY Mail Bag
One Video: Structural Engineers Celebrate Pi Day
One Meme: GC on Bid Day vs Buy Out
Irish Influence in American Construction
I, in no way, intend to turn this into a political conversation but no matter how you look at it, immigrants have always played a critical role in the American Construction Industry.
We all know that whether from the Irish Potato Famine of the mid-1800s or even much earlier there has always been an Irish presence in America. And you may even be drinking a Green Beer or at least wearing green underoos this weekend to celebrate St Patrick.
But what you may not have known is the impact and influence the Irish immigrants have played in the American Construction Industry throughout history.
Here’s some notable contributions that were made by the Irish over the years:
Erie Canal (1817-1825):
Irish immigrants played a significant role in the construction of the Erie Canal, a monumental project that connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, vastly improving trade routes in the early United States. The harsh working conditions and low pay are well-documented aspects of this project.
They have been called the “Backbone of the Erie Canal” as over 3,000 Irish immigrants were hired on to dig trenches (339 miles long.)
Cumberland Road (Construction began in 1811): Often considered the first major improved highway in the United States built by the federal government, many Irish immigrants were employed in its construction, contributing to the development of the nation's early infrastructure.
Transcontinental Railroad (1863-1869): Irish immigrants were among the main labor forces that built the Union Pacific portion of the Transcontinental Railroad, facing grueling conditions as they laid tracks across the plains and mountains to connect the eastern and western United States.
San Francisco's Development:
After the Gold Rush, Irish immigrants were instrumental in building San Francisco's infrastructure, including the city's famous cable car system. Their labor helped San Francisco recover and rebuild after the devastating earthquake and fire of 1906, although the earthquake occurred slightly after the period in question, the groundwork laid by Irish laborers set the stage for the city's resilience.
Churches and Cathedrals Across America: Patrick Charles Keely, another Irish-born architect, designed over 600 churches and numerous cathedrals for the Roman Catholic Church across the United States, predominantly in the 19th century. His work contributed significantly to the architectural landscape of America, blending Irish ecclesiastical architectural traditions with American styles. Keely's churches are found in cities like Boston, Brooklyn, and Chicago, serving as enduring examples of his impact.
The White House:
Perhaps the most famous example of Irish architectural influence in America is the design of the White House in Washington, D.C., by James Hoban, an Irish-born architect. Hoban won a competition in 1792 to design the President's House (as it was then known) and oversaw its initial construction and later reconstruction after it was burned during the War of 1812.
Hoban entered the competition with a design that drew heavily on classical architecture, specifically inspired by the Leinster House in Dublin, Ireland (now the seat of the Irish Parliament), and the Palladian style, which was popular at the time.
So this year on St Paddy’s day, make a little toast to those tough Irishmen from yesteryear that left an impact on American Construction and Architecture.
🚨 One Announcement 🚨
I’m gonna try something new and see if anyone wants to play.
Introducing the Construction Yeti Mail Bag!
Going forward, I’ll have a Mail Bag section in the newsletter where we answer Reader’s Questions. I’ll do my best or will punt and bring in an industry expert (more qualified than myself) in the topic to answer!
Questions can be anything you are Curious about. Just try to keep it within one of those 4 primary focuses (at the top)….
Maybe. 😏
To participate send your Mail Bag to matt@constructionyeti.com
Make sure you put “Mail Bag” in the subject line so I can keep it straight from all my fan mail. 🤥
One Video
Thursday was Pi Day. (3.14) 🥧
How did you celebrate?
This video by mvvvc_ on Instagram took me back to my college days, those Steel Design Classes, and my Steel Bible. He does a great simple explanation of how Pi plays an important role in determining a columns buckling strength.
One Meme
See y’all next week! ✌
