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Brothers Holohan, White, Marx and yours truly.

JohnNY
JohnNY Member Posts: 3,298
edited November 2016 in THE MAIN WALL
When the Revolutionary War ended, there were still many British servicemen and diplomats still living in New York City along with their families. When the last of the British finally left, the city was still in ruins. A major shipping hub and finance capital, the city had to be fixed, and quickly.
Enter a determined group of skilled tradesmen and artisans who got together and in 1785 officially formed the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen. Their mission was plain. They were to provide trade education and apprenticeships for those willing to work in the trades and to help provide care for the many widows and orphans left in the wake of The War. The newly educated tradespeople would be key players in the rebuilding of New York City and the neighboring states would follow.
Fast forward to current day, the General Society still provides free education to students who have entered the trades and are sponsored to receive instruction in plumbing, electrical, drafting, historical preservation, construction project management and other programs.
For sworn members of the G.S.M.T., Dan Holohan gave one of his last steam seminars at the Society's magnificent building a block away from New York's Grand Central Station last year. The building was funded by a very grateful Andrew Carnegie for just under $500,000 well over a century ago and is now listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. So taken with his passion for retelling the history and significance of steam heating in our country, the Society invited Mr. Holohan to sign his name in the same book signed by every member since 1785. This invitation and solemn swearing-in ceremony declared him a lifelong member of this 231-year-old benevolent society. It is a tremendous honor and a great privilege to be trusted to help keep the organization going in the direction it has been for so many generations.
Dan asked me to work with him in solving the building's incredibly costly steam heating problems. Due to lack of funding in recent years, the Paul System fell into a terrible state of disrepair. The boilers were decommissioned decades ago and the system was connected to NYC's municipal steam supply. With all proceeds taken in by the Society going to free eduction and little-to-none going to infrastructure repairs, the non-profit's eighteen thousand dollar ($18,000) monthly heating bill was no longer a sustainable situation. We brought the system in by the reigns again and it is purring along smoothly as of this past month. Dan Holohan will speak to our methods in detail in an upcoming article that I hope you will enjoy.
For these and some other volunteered efforts, I'm honored to say that on November 2, 2015, I was granted the same privilege of membership along with famed architect Peter Pennoyer, and signed the book listing our names among every other member since the year 1785.

Luckily, The Society received some other generous donations including the uncommon wiring and control skills of Alex "Wire Nut" Marx, who is currently rewiring the display cases of the GSMT's most treasured artifacts along with the field modifications he made to keep the city steam supply under control by re-purposing existing controls in a way that is more efficient and effective than Dan and other members and I thought possible. Alex is a hydronics controls savant and it is fascinating to watch him work.
The generosity of Taco's and Johnny White's donations and access to his engineering team allowed for us to develop a system to reclaim a great deal of energy that is typically lost by heating a building with city (district) steam. That previously lost energy now heats the building's domestic hot water for free.

Days ago, by the recommendation of the Board of Governors of the GSMT, on the 1st anniversary of my swearing in, Mr. John Hazen White and Mr. Alex Marx were also sworn in as members of The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen.
I congratulate both of my new trade Brothers and cannot thank them and Dan Holohan enough for allowing me to share in such a unique and rewarding life experience with the finest people I know in this industry.
I know we all also want to thank the Society's Executive Director, Victoria Dengel, and President Gerard Drohan, for their confidence in us.

Thank you for reading this. It's a proud time for us.







Contact John "JohnNY" Cataneo, NYC Master Plumber, Lic 1784
Consulting & Troubleshooting
Heating in NYC or NJ.
Classes
Harvey Ramerrick in AlaskaSWEIBob Bona_4GordySailahDave H_2CLambMilanDLionA29

Comments

  • Bob Bona_4
    Bob Bona_4 Member Posts: 2,083
    Impressive! Congratulations, all!
    JohnNY
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,603
    Well said, Brother John. Thanks. Here's a pic of Andrew Carnegie's signature in the same book. He listed his profession as Cotton Spinner. That was his first job as a lad.
    Retired and loving it.
    Bob Bona_4SailahMilanD
  • Erin Holohan Haskell
    Erin Holohan Haskell Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 2,355
    Congratulations!

    President
    HeatingHelp.com

    Bob Bona_4
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,596
    Job well done!! Congratulations to all!!
    Bob Bona_4
  • Hilly
    Hilly Member Posts: 428
    Congratulations Dan. I cannot wait to hear about what went on in that building.
    Bob Bona_4
  • Very nice posting @JohnNY. Thanks for taking the time to share with us. A fine and rewarding read.
    New England SteamWorks
    Service, Installation, & Restoration of Steam Heating Systems
    newenglandsteamworks.com
    Bob Bona_4MilanDJohnNY
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,603
    It's a joy working you, Sister Victoria. Thanks.
    Retired and loving it.
  • Tim McElwain
    Tim McElwain Member Posts: 4,642
    Congratulations to some amazing people. It sure is a privilege to know all of you.
    Bob Bona_4JohnNY
  • RayWohlfarth
    RayWohlfarth Member Posts: 1,662
    Wow So cool Imagine future generations looking at the building Congrats to all of you
    Ray Wohlfarth
    Boiler Lessons
    JohnNY
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 23,515
    What a nice legacy for all, y-all. Congratulations
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    JohnNY
  • Mark Eatherton
    Mark Eatherton Member Posts: 5,858
    Congratulations to all in this endeavor. I am humbled and happy to say I consider each one of these folks as good friends. Carry on gentlemen. Society appreciates your contributions.

    ME

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

    JohnNY
  • JohnNY
    JohnNY Member Posts: 3,298
    edited November 2016
    Good friends indeed.
    Thank you, Mark.
    Contact John "JohnNY" Cataneo, NYC Master Plumber, Lic 1784
    Consulting & Troubleshooting
    Heating in NYC or NJ.
    Classes
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,603
    Thanks, my friends.
    Retired and loving it.
  • The Wire Nut
    The Wire Nut Member Posts: 422
    Well said John! Thank you Brother's Dan and John for the opportunity and honor of letting me contribute in a small way to the preservation and continuation of this noble and venerable institution. It's not only a great honor to work along side both Dan and John (the "Steam Team"!) on these important projects but it was almost overwhelming to be made a member alongside so many august fellow brothers and sisters going back over 230 years.

    I would also like to thank Sister Victoria Dengel whose grace, charm, wit and intelligence not only make what we do a reward rather than a labor and whose presence, hard work and diligence is so important to the Society's well being, continuing legacy and its collegial and welcoming atmosphere.
    "Let me control you"

    Lost in SOHO NYC and Balmy Whites Valley PA
    SWEI
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,424
    No one deserves this more than you all.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    Erin Holohan HaskellJohnNY
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,546
    Holy Cow! Just saw this thread. EXTREMELY proud of all of you and to count you'll as old friends.....don't think there is a higher honor in the Industry......Well done boys. Drinks on me next time...drinks all around! OUTSTANDING. You should all get Sir Before your name....Mad Dog
    JohnNY
  • icy78
    icy78 Member Posts: 404
    I really have no right (knowledge-wise) to comment on this, but I find it so interesting that I have to say congrats, and thanks for posting it!
    JohnNY
  • developergirl
    developergirl Member Posts: 1
    Hello! Probably only the second time in my life to post a comment! John, your narrative is brilliant and to say thank you to you, Brother Holohan and Brother White for what you've done for us at the Society could never be enough!! I am going to share the narrative and pictures with all of the people with whom I've discussed our great GSMT! Cheers! Sister Fogliano
    JohnNY
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,603
    Thank you, Sister. And congratulations on getting your own day in Westchester County history!
    Retired and loving it.