Johns-Manville, The Story of Ted Kowalski

Rather than me telling a story this week, I have picked out a first hand recollection from the 1987 book entitled Ellis Island, the Coal Mines, to the Asbestos Capital of the World. I have chosen the comments by Ted Kowalski beginning on page 133.

Mr. Kowalski, like many in his generation, moved to Manville, N.J. to escape the coal mines of Pennsylvania, only to have jumped from the frying pan into the fire. That is, moving from the risk of black lung disease to eventually having asbestos lung disease. I will let Mr. Kowalski tell it in his own words.

I apologize if any of the wording is difficult to read. This is just one of many stories by long time residents of the area that are preserved for the future.

Let me know if you would like to borrow this book from my library to read all 243 pages compiled by the Borough of Manville when the plant was closing. You can reach me at TheAsbestosBlog@gmail.com or by leaving a comment. Thank you. Marty