Tag Archives: gandy-dancers

The Humble Spike Maul

As a day to celebrate, Saint Patrick’s Day is filled with images that are simultaneously hackneyed and cherished. The leprechaun, the green top hat, the harp–and then there’s the shamrock.  Here on the west side of the Atlantic, most of … Continue reading

Posted in history, Ireland, labor, nostalgia, railroad construction, railroading, social criticism, writing | Tagged , , | 6 Comments