![]() Having once hunted, trapped and farmed throughout the northeast woodlands, the Mohawks of the Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois Confederacy, eventually took to the high steel in burgeoning metropolitan areas. Just as early European settlers had observed Mohawks walking fearlessly across rivers on narrow logs, early ironworkers showed an unusual aptitude for climbing and working on steel beams. Lawrence River, which borders their reserve near Montreal. ![]() The Mohawk Skywalker tradition began in 1886 when some daring Mohawk men from Kahnawake took jobs helping build the Victoria Bridge across the St. Related: Decades of Living and Breathing Photography – Fred Rosenbergįor more about photography, photographers, and photographs, check out our blog.Undated photograph of Robert McComber, from Caughnawaga Indian Reserve, working on high steel constructions site in downtown Montreal as a welder. ![]() Not much else is known about this iconic photograph, but now you know the little bit of the story behind it. The men did really sit on the beam and chow down, but it wasn’t their idea, and certainly not a regular occurrence. It was really all a publicity stunt by the Rockefeller Center to advertise their new RCA building, which was almost finished. The photograph isn’t even a candid shot of a once lunch event. So, the photographer, just like nine of the 11 workers, officially remains anonymous.ĭespite the tantalizing idea that these brave men ate their lunch on an I-beam 850 feet above Manhattan’s busy streets every day, that’s simply not true. ![]() As a result, there is no way of knowing for sure if Ebbets, who was present, is the one who took that specific shot. Ebbets was the one behind the lens, only to discover that there were actually several photographers present at the time. Lewis Hine was thought to be the photographer for some time, but then that theory was rejected. The identity of the photographer has been just as difficult to pin down. If he is to be believed, then two of the remaining nine workers were his father, Sonny Glynn, and his uncle, Matty O’Shaughnessy. A claim has been made by Pat Glynn regarding the identity of two others, but there is no definitive proof at this time. A 2012 documentary, “Men at Lunch,” by Seán Ó Cualáin revealed that two of the men were Joseph Eckner and Joe Curtis. Some have mistakenly thought the photograph was taken atop the Empire State Building, but it was actually taken on the GE Building (at that time known as the RCA Building), which is part of the Rockefeller Center.Īs far as the subjects of the photograph, they were immigrant iron workers who, all but two, have remained anonymous to this day. Thought by some to be a fake, the original glass plate negative was discovered, proving its authenticity. In 1932, the New York Herald-Tribune published the now famous portrait of 11 men on a lunch break from their laborious construction work. Have you ever wondered about the story behind the famous photograph of construction workers eating lunch on a steel beam above Manhattan? Is the photo real or fake? Who are the men pictured? Who photographed it? Why was it taken? Did they eat lunch like that every day? Well, we have some answers for you. You can choose from our exclusive styles or create your own with our powerful yet easy-to-use tool. Create your own personalized photo calendars and enjoy your favorite moments all year round.
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