They Built This City: Interview with Ironworker James "Barney" Marquette

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Today’s job market often focuses on openings in the technology world. We tend to overlook the many jobs that require physical strength and exertion – along with agility and a good mind. For example, Ironworkers still exist. There are approximately 70,000 Ironworkers in the U.S. - with 2000 in Minnesota and North Dakota. Ironworkers play a vital role in nearly ALL aspects of our built environment and infrastructure. Whether it be new construction, renovation or maintenance on commercial, industrial, transportation, power generation or public facilities projects, Ironworkers had a hand in creating it.

We spoke to James "Barney" Marquette, a member of Ironworkers Local #512 to learn more about his career as an Ironworker. He started his career at the age of 21 in 1966 and retired in 2004 at the age of 59. During this time, he helped build many iconic landmarks of the Minneapolis skyline.    

April 1972, IDS Building in Minneapolis

James ”Barney” Marquette and Harold Morris attaching aluminum fascia/cladding to the top of the IDS at 750 feet - "57 stories up."

Q:  You grew up in St. Michael, MN. What did your parents do for work?

A:  My father worked at Gluek’s Brewery in Minneapolis until it closed in 1964, then he worked at Grain Belt Brewery until he retired. My mother managed a tavern that her dad owned in Buffalo, MN.

Q:  Tell me about your family. What is your wife’s name, and how did you meet?

A:  My wife’s name is Mary, she grew up in Corcoran, MN and we have three daughters. Mary and I met at a dance at the Rogers Dance Hall. We got married in 1967, one year after I started as an Ironworker. 

Q:  You’ve worked on some iconic Minneapolis buildings, including the IDS Tower. When working on the IDS, who were you working for?

A:  The company name was Flour City Ornamental Iron Works. Flour City was the contractor for all the windows and ornamental components. (Note: Flour City also did work on the Foshay Tower, which was the tallest building in Minneapolis until the IDS Tower was built. Flour City had a diverse and colorful history.)

Q:  As an Ironworker you worked on jobs all around downtown Minneapolis. Where were living at the time?

A:  I lived right here in this house that I build 55 years ago, in my hometown of St. Michael, MN.  I never moved to Minneapolis to be closer to work.

Q:  What type of tasks were you doing when you first got out in the field?

A:  I carried steel rebar for the first ten years before the apprenticeship - my shoulders would be raw until they calloused up. Some of the rebar we carried were 40’ long and 1½” diameter - it would take two guys to carry the load and the rebar would still flex down to the ground between us.

Q:  How much an hour did you make when you first started in 1966?

A:  We made $4 an hour, everyone in the union made the same scale, whether you were on the ground or in the air.

Q:  How were you trained for iron work?

A:  I went through an apprenticeship for three years. We learned how to weld, and we would build various mockups of what we would see on the job sites.

Q:  What were the standard safety practices that your adhered to, and what type of footwear did you have?

A:  When I first started there was not much provided for safety protocol, we did not start tying off until the late 60’s. (Tying off is connecting a safety line to yourself, you can see one clipped to Harold Morris in picture #1). Ninety five percent – almost all - of the guys wore Redwing Irish Setter boots, they were comfortable and had good traction.

Q:  What type of weather conditions would shut down a job?

A:  In the winter we would shut down at 20 degrees below zero, or if the wind was over 25 mph the tower cranes would shut down.

Minneapolis Ironworkers on break

Q:  Can you please provide us with names of the crew in the above break/lunch photo?

A:  Me (Barney Marquette) in the green shirt, in the back is Harold Morris, far right is Floyd Case, in the white sweatshirt Ted D. ”The Greek,” in the blue sweatshirt is Burdell Hodges and not pictured is Dick James, who took the picture. 

Q:  Did you ever work with the guys on the IDS crew on other jobs?

A:  Yes, but only Dick James - we were on various jobs together.

Q:  What are some of the most memorable jobs that you worked on?

A:  Of course, the IDS, I was there for 2 years, then there were the three power houses at the Becker Power Plant, I was there for 8½ years. I also worked on the US Bank Building, it’s the one with the halo on top.

Q:  When did you retire?

A:  I retired in 2004 after 45 years and the pay scale at that time was $32 an hour.

Q:  Now when you travel around the Twin Cities with family and friends do you point out the buildings you worked on?

A:  Yes, all the time. Seeing the buildings we worked on brings back great memories. I often point them out to my wife Mary, and she always responds with, “Yes Barney, you’ve told me about that building before.”

Q:  What is Dick James doing in the below photograph?  

A:  He was replacing a trolly wheel, the I-beam was several feet away from the bldg. and the glass was brought to it, then moved on the trolly around the building to the spot it was to be installed.

Dick James lying chest down on IDS building I-beam

Dick James on IDS building above 35W South

Dick James standing on IDS building above the Foshay Tower

IDS building open I-beam looking north at the Mississippi River