AUTO SHOP,MachineSHOP ..The most amazing teacher was AUTO SHOP GUY ..Expert Auto Mechanic ,Electricical Engineer,Lawyer ..What a Great GUY ! Genius …They were elective classes,not mandatory…I took both for 3 years 10-11-12 grades.WE never changed tires that wasent a skill..WE did valve jobs ,RING jobs ,brakes mostly .WE were lucky the Teacher owned part of and was President of the Largest car junk yard in NJ ,so when we didnt have work to do on cars he brought in a Junk car to practice on..WE also fixed Teachers cars ,and Policemens private cars since the Police Station was next to the school ,(behind it )…..
Elizabeth ,NJ had more manufacturing jobs than any other place I know of ,It was a Great place to learn HOW to do things..3 major BEARING manufacturing plants ,Auto assembly ,plants Singer Sewing machine manufacturing plant (5000 employees).Sewing Factories(I owned one)150 employees….5 major Drug Manufactures(MERCK) the largest..Philps DODGE Copper products…etc BAYWAY Oil Refinery in Linden NJ next door…
George Washington and Alexander Hamilton started the first manufacturing in the country in Passiac NJ,near a waterfall for power….If you wanted to know HOW to do something somebody in Elizabeth knew how to do it….